Data on the nature and extent of major eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia is lacking in non-white, native populations of the developing world, leaving a gap in understanding the determinants of these disorders. In a study on 210 medical students examined by a two-stage survey method, 31 subjects were found to have distress relating to their eating habits and body size not amounting to criterion-based diagnosis of eating disorders. The characteristics of this eating distress syndrome are described in relation to the major eating disorders.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

The aim of the study was to compare once-daily with divided dosage lithium treatment in acute mania. In 79 retrospectively studied subjects who met the DSMIII-R criteria for mania, 26 independent and dependent variables were analyzed. The two groups of patients (categorized according to dosage schedule) were broadly comparable with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics. The two groups also did not differ on the outcome measures of lithium efficacy and lithium adverse effects. It is concluded that single dose lithium therapy is clinically comparable with divided dose lithium therapy in acute mania. Possible advantages of switching over to once-daily lithium regimes are discussed.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

A case is reported of diazepam - induced amelioration of prominent auditory hallucinations experienced by a female paranoid schizophrenic. With the assumption that subvocal speech may be primary to such hallucinations, it is proposed that diazepam may have acted by exerting a relaxant effect on speech musculature. This is a hypothesis testable in future research.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

The increasing use of buprenorphine among drug dependent subjects demands systematic enquiry into the clinical profile of buprenorphine withdrawal. Six male buprenorphine dependent (parenteral) subjects were observed for opiate withdrawal over a two week period. The onset of withdrawal occurred 48 hours after the last dose, peaked around the third day and lasted up to ten days. The withdrawals were similar to morpliine type drugs and moderate in intensity.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Eighty six consecutively admitted unmedicated patients, with a current duration of illness of less than two years, who fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for mood disorder or schizophrenia were assessed for catatonic signs over a three week study period Thirty two of them could be rated as catatonic, most of them starting to exhibit the signs at the time of admission or a few days thereafter. While the percentage of manic patients showing catatonic signs was comparable to earlier studies, a significant proportion of patients belonging to the Schizophrenic and Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder group also exhibited these signs. The reasons for obtaining such a high percentage of catatonias are discussed. It is contended that short lasting catatonic signs are a common feature of acute psychiatric admissions and are ignored when viewed within the framework of an affective or psychotic illness.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

The aim of the study was to assess two psychological parameters, sensation-seeking (SS) and alienation (AL), in a sample of thirty DSM-1II diagnosed opiate dependence cases, and to compare them on these two parameters with two non-drug-abusing control groups, one from the patients' own peer groups and the other from the general population. The opiate dependent subjects were found to score higher both on SS and AL than those in the control groups. Further, there was a gradient of the degree of correlation between these two psychological variables amongst the three groups studied. The opiate dependent group showed the highest positive correlation. The general population control group showed the lowest degree of correlation, and the self-matched control group was intermediate. These findings are consonant with an "SS-AL combination" hypothesis for the genesis of opiate addiction. Briefly, the hypothesis states that a higher sensation-seeking need, coupled with an inability to meet this need through socially sanctioned channels, leads on to repeated experiences with drug taking behavior, thus fostering dependence. The present study provides preliminary data supporting this hypothesis.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Forty four patients attending the affective disorder clink at J1PMER Hospital who were on prophylactic lithium for bipolar affective disorder were studied, Intra-individual comparison for severity of illness was made between periods of similar duration with and without lithium prophylaxis. It was found that during lithium prophylaxis patients did significantly better on the following parameters: number of episodes of illness, duration of episodes, hospital admission, neuroleptic dosages and duration of antidepressant treatment. Of the 44 patients included in the study, 45% were good responders, 39% were partial responders and 16% were poor responders. Late age of onset was found to be a significant predictor of good response to lithium.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

The present study of fifty patients was aimed at determining the prevalence and nature of recent life events and their role in the precipitation of mania. The role of other factors like family history of psychiatric illness and personality temperament were also taken into account. The study showed that 54% of patients with manic episodes had life events in the preceding one month. The commonest type of life event perceived was a financial problem, large loan, marital and family conflicts and damage to property or crops. Perception of life events had a statistically significant relationship with family history of mental illness and educational status.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Psychiatric morbidity among individuals at high risk of acquiring HIV infection has been reported in the form of anxiety, phobias and panic. We report three cases of seronegative men indulging in high risk behavior who continued to manifest somatization disorder despite the knowledge of their serostatus. Possible reasons and implications for future work are discussed.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

This is a questionnaire study analyzing the influence of various medical school experiences on 146 final year medical students' interest and respect for psychiatry. The results indicated that clinical postings, lectures, contact with psychiatric patients and psychiatry faculty had a positive influence on majority of students. Many students perceived non-psychiatric faculty and fellow students as critical of psychiatry. Students with greater career interest in psychiatry were more positively influenced by contact with patients, faculty and clinical postings. When compared to results reported from developed nations, medical school experiences had a similar influence on our students. However, it is doubtful whether our findings can be generalized to other medical schools in Indian and further studies form other medical schools are warranted.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]