The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence rate of priority psychiatric disorders in a rural area in Kerala and to find out the sociodemographic correlates of the morbidity. A door to door survey had been conducted by trained surveyors to identify individuals with priority psychiatric disorders. The detected cases were examined by a psychiatrist at their houses in the village itself, to confirm as to whether they were having any psychiatric disorder. Out of the 1094 households surveyed (having a population of five thousand two hundred and eighty four), seventy seven individuals were found to have priority psychiatric disorders giving a prevalence rate of 14.57 per thousand. Females in general showed increased mental morbidity. An increased prevalence rate has been observed among Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. An increased morbidity is noticed among the people belonging to the lower socioeconomic status.

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Palm prints of 55 male and 33 female schizophrenic patients from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh were examined for a possible association between palmar dermatoglyphic characteristics and the disease. There was a marked difference between patients and normal controls with regard to palmar C line termination, axial triadic, number of ridges at the a-b inter digital area and the frequency of various palmar flexion creases.

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Microcephaly with mental retardation forms a distinct subgroup among mentally retarded individuals. The paucity of studies on the etiology of this condition in India made the investigators to study this population. It HTO aimed to study the demographic and clinical characteristics, and the etiologic pattern in children with microcepltaly and mental retardation The sample consisted of 82 children who were examined by detailed clinical assessment and a battery of investigations. A definite etiology could be found in 56% of children which have been grouped into prenatal embryonic, prenatal maternal/environmental, and birth and neonatal causes. Non-genetic causes were the most common. The prenatal etiology constituted nearly twice that of birth and neonatal causes. Majority of the etiologic factors were preventable. The role of socio-environmental factors has been discussed As a group, the neurological disorders were found to be the most commonly associated medical condition. Malnutrition, specially of severe degree, was significantly associated with this group compared to the general population. The study findings indicate that there is a significant place for prevention.

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Subjective and objective burdens of the carers of schizophrenic and bipolar affective disorder patients were assessed. Burden was found to be higher among the carers of schizophrenic, young, male, low income and unemployed patients. This study shows a more comprehensive way of assessing family burden with due emphasis on positive mental health and coping resources of the carers.

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Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia can coexist in patients taking antipsychotic drugs. Persistence of both parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia during a two year follow up period after discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs is reported. Etiological significance of antipsychotic treatment is discussed.

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