District mental health program: Then and now.

District Mental Health Program (DMHP) is part of the broader National Mental Health Program (NMHP) launched in 1982. In India, DMHP has evolved over the years, moving from a pilot project to an integrated component of the NMHP. Efforts have been made to expand services, protect the rights of individuals with mental illness, and integrate mental healthcare into the primary healthcare system.

A Study of Neurological Soft Signs and Cognition in Schizophrenia.

Introduction: Neurological soft signs (NSS) are delicate neurological abnormalities that comprise deficits in motor coordination, problems with the sequencing of complex motor acts, and sensory integration difficulties. These are nonspecific with no specific localization in the brain. NSS are found in many patients with Schizophrenia.

Comparison of cognition and alexithymia in patients of schizophrenia with and without comorbid alcohol use: A cross-sectional exploratory study.

Background: Cognitive impairment and alexithymia are commonly associated with schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder independently. Both can lead to poor prognosis and recovery. In patients with dual diagnosis, this association can be more prevalent and severe.

Lurasidone-induced anemia: Is there a need for hematological monitoring?

Lurasidone is a newer drug used for treating schizophrenia and depression in bipolar disorder. Although comparatively safe, some side effects can occur with its use such as akathisia, extrapyramidal reaction, metabolic syndrome, and hyperprolactinemia. Blood dyscrasia with lurasidone is rarely reported in the literature except for few case reports.

Clozapine-induced bicytopenia: An unusual side effect.

Agranulocytosis is a rare documented side effect of clozapine which can be associated with grave consequences. When it is associated with other blood dyscrasia, prognosis worsens further. In literature, there are very few cases of pancytopenia and bicytopenia caused by clozapine.

A case of psychosis due to Fahr's syndrome and response to behavioral disturbances with risperidone and oxcarbazepine.

Calcification of basal ganglia or Fahr's syndrome is a rare disease characterized by bilateral and symmetrical intracranial deposition of calcium mainly in cerebral basal ganglia. Motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms are prominent features. We report a case presented with a few motor symptoms, features of delirium and prominent psychiatric symptoms (disorganized behavior) predominantly evident after the improvement in delirium.

Emetophobia: A fear of vomiting.

Emetophobia is an intense, irrational fear of vomiting including fear of feeling nausea, seeing or hearing another person vomit, or seeing vomitus itself. It may occur at any age and we need to understand its symptomatology. We report a case of emetophobic child whose fear of vomiting started after an attack of acute appendicitis.

SSRI-induced coagulopathy: is it reality?

Objectives: To study the effect of escitalopram and fluoxetine on coagulation profile in patients with major depression.

Method: This was a prospective, open-label, single-centre study in 40 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The patients were diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria.

Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) associated with citalopram use.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). SIADH is associated with hyponatraemia without oedema. We report the case of a patient who developed acute-onset hyponatraemia that progressed rapidly to serious neurological dysfunction shortly after the introduction of citalopram.