Lunatic asylums: A business of profit during the colonial empire in India.

The knowledge about "maladies of the mind" was in the early stages of development and far from being considered as medical conditions till the mid-19 century. Around this period, the British began to establish "Native-Only" lunatic asylums in India, particularly in the Bengal Presidency of their colonial empire. These institutions were primarily meant to provide custodial care and to rehabilitate those creating nuisance, particularly the wanderers and vagrants.

Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on markers of bone loss.

Several preclinical and clinical studies show that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) are associated with bone loss and an increase in fracture risk, not many reports on their effect on bone turnover markers. This cross-sectional study evaluated the effect of SSRIs treatment on bone turnover markers in Indian population for the first time. Inclusion criteria were subjects of either sex and age 18-45 years undergoing treatment with an SSRI for at least 3 months, regardless of the indication.

Psychiatry in Delhi: History and current status.

Delhi hasn't always enjoyed the status of the India's capital, but it has always played a pivotal role in the history of India as a gateway city. The same way, it received mental health services much later than the rest part of country, but it has witnessed an evolution from colonial era to the birth of state of art modern psychiatry services. Journey started with the landmark inaugural meeting in Delhi University of few visionaries paving the birth of Indian psychiatry society.

Prevention, early intervention, and harm reduction of substance use in adolescents.

This paper presents a systematic review on the effectiveness of prevention, early intervention, and harm reduction including treatment of substance abuse among adolescents for tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. Taxation, public consumption bans, restriction on advertisements, and minimum legal age for consumption, are effective measures to reduce the use of tobacco and alcohol. School-based prevention and skill-training interventions are effective tools to reduce substance use among adolescents.

Rising Trend of Use of Antidepressants Induced Non- Puerperal Lactation: A Case Report.

Non puerperal lactation or galactorrhea is a well known side effect of antipsychotic drugs but has been infrequently described with the use of antidepressants. In past few decades, there have been emerging trend of isolated case reports of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors induced non puerperal lactation. We report a case of non puerperal lactation following usage of second generation tricyclic antidepressant, nortriptyline and resolution on withdrawing the drug.

Sleeping beauty: kleine-levin syndrome.

Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) alias sleeping beauty syndrome, is a rare sleep disorder. Clinically presenting as episodes of hypersomnolence, behavioral and cognitive disturbances, hyperphagia and hypersexuality. KLS may have an idiopathic onset or may be precipitated by neurological event or infection.

Mistaken gender identity in non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Gender identity is the sense of belonging that one feels for a particular sex psychologically and socially, independent of one's biological sex. There is much less systematic data on gender identity in females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). We report a case of non-classical CAH presenting as a case of gender identity disorder.

Effect of psychological stress on fertility hormones and seminal quality in male partners of infertile couples.

The present study evaluated the effect of psychological stress on male fertility hormones and seminal quality in male partner of infertile couples. Seventy male partners of infertile couples were evaluated for level of psychological stress using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) questionnaire, serum total testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by electrochemiluminescence assay and serum GnRH by ELISA. Seminal analysis was performed as per WHO guideline.

Pharmacotherapy of smoking cessation.

Nicotine in tobacco smoke causes not only pathophysiological changes in the smoker's body, but also develops tolerance to its own action with repeated use. Repeated exposure to nicotine develops neuroadaptation of the receptors, resulting in tolerance to many of the effects of nicotine. Pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation should reduce withdrawal symptoms and block the reinforcing effects of nicotine without causing excessive adverse effects.

Onset of schizophrenia at 100 years of age.

Although generally regarded as a disease of young adults, schizophrenia does occur in older ages. Doubts have been raised about the validity of diagnosing schizophrenia in very old age. We have described herein a rare and unique case of a woman who had onset of "schizophrenia" as per ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR criteria at the age of 100 years.

Rape: Legal issues in mental health perspective.

Rape of women by men has occurred throughout recorded history and across cultures and religions. It is a crime against basic human right and a most common crime against women in India. In this article, rape is discussed from legal and mental health perspective.

Prevalence of depression in students of a medical college in New Delhi: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Medical education is associated with various pressures and stresses which can lead to depression. This study was undertaken to discover the prevalence of depression in medical students and various factors contributing to depression.

Method: This is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study.

Tobacco smoking: how far do the legislative control measures address the problem?

India ratified the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in February 2004 and enacted legislation called, "Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003" which specifically called for an end to direct and indirect form of tobacco advertisements. Under its Section 7, the Act also stipulates depiction of pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. Since the enactment of the legislation, the tobacco companies are prohibited from any kind of advertisement.

Myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders and health-seeking behavior in Delhi, India.

Objectives: To assess the myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders and health-seeking behavior in general population and medical professionals of India.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 436 subjects (360 subjects from urban and rural communities of Delhi and 76 medical professionals working in different organizations in Delhi). A pre-tested questionnaire consisting items on perceptions, myths, and beliefs about causes, treatment, and health-seeking behavior for mental disorders was used.

Relationship of Psychosocial Risk Factors, Certain Personality Traits and Myocardial Infarction in Indians: A Case-control Study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of psychosocial factors (lack of social support, stress and subjective well-being) and personality traits with myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials And Methods: A case-control study involving 100 cases and 100 matched controls was conducted in Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi.

Results: Stress over 1 year was significantly higher in cases (P < 0.

Tardive Meige's syndrome associated with olanzapine.

Meige's syndrome is characterized by blepharospasm and oromandibular dystonia. It has been reported as a complication of typical antipsychotics. To the best of our knowledge, case of olanzapine-induced tardive Meige's syndrome has not been reported in the literature.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as mania.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, invariably fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system developing after measles infection. Besides neurological symptoms as initial presenting symptoms, rare reports of its presentation with pure psychiatric symptoms have been reported. We here report a case of 14 year old male who initially presented with manic symptoms and then subsequently diagnosed to be suffering from SSPE.

Kleine-Levine syndrome in an adolescent female and response to modafinil.

Kleine-Levine Syndrome (KLS) is a disorder characterized by a triad of periodic hypersomnia, hyperphagia, and hypersexuality. KLS, although more common in young males, it has also been seen in females. Treatment options available for its management include mood stabilisers like lithium, stimulants like amphetamines, antidepressants and other options including electroconvulsive therapy.