Priti Arun | Govt. Medical College chandigarh (original) (raw)

Papers by Priti Arun

Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2007

The present epidemiological survey was conducted by the department of psychiatry, Govt. Medical C... more The present epidemiological survey was conducted by the department of psychiatry, Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh to estimate the pattern of alcohol and other substance dependence in rural and slum dwellers population of Chandigarh. In this survey 6.88% individuals of the total population surveyed (2992) fulfilled dependence criteria of ICD-10. Alcohol was the primary substance of dependence for majority of urban slum substance users and rural areas users. Age at first drug use was 20.89 +/- 5.31 years (mean +/- S.D) among rural population and 19.75 +/- 5.4 years (mean +/- SD) in urban slums. Majority of them reported having health related complications (85.71%) followed by family problems (77.31%) due to drug dependence. This survey reflects the need to intensify efforts at the community level to reach the unreached.

Community Mental Health in India, 2012

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 2015

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in India face a host of challenges, whil... more Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in India face a host of challenges, while seeking care which ranges from unavailability of information to difficulty in availing services. To develop a psycho-education intervention module for parents of children with ASD and to study its impact on parent stress and knowledge. Child Guidance Clinic Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Interventional study. Parents of children diagnosed with ASD as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) Edition criteria, recruited through consecutive sampling. Total number of 18 participants participated in the two phase study. Phase I included preparation of a parent training module through a four stage process and Phase II was evaluation of impact of the final version of the module on parental stress and knowledge. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test using SPSS version 17.0. There was an improvement in all the domains of parenting stress and knowledge. Social stress score and total stress score showed significant improvement. Parent psycho-education intervention module on ASD decreases parenting stress, and improves knowledge about ASD. Psycho-education intervention module is a feasible and acceptable way of parent empowerment.

International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research, 2015

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is frequently comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity d... more Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is frequently comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is associated with substantial functional impairments. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are well-established drugs for the management of ADHD. Some studies from Western countries have reported these drugs to be effective in the management of ODD comorbid with ADHD. This study aimed to assess if methylphenidate and atomoxetine are efficacious in treating Indian children with ODD comorbid with ADHD. In this prospective, open-label study, 37 patients of age 6-14 years with a diagnosis of ODD comorbid with ADHD randomly received either methylphenidate (dose 0.2-1 mg/kg/day) or atomoxetine (dose 0.5-1.2 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Improvements in ADHD and ODD symptoms were assessed using Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic parent rating scale (VADPRS). At 8 weeks, there were statistically significant improvements in both ADHD and ODD symptoms in both methylphenidate and atomoxetine groups, as per VADPRS. The improvements produced and tolerability was comparable in the two groups. 80% of the patients from methylphenidate group and 64.3% patients from atomoxetine group ceased to fulfill the criteria for the presence of ODD at 8 weeks. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are effective in the treatment of ODD comorbid with ADHD in short duration.

Somatic complaints are common occurrence in medical setting. However attempts towards management ... more Somatic complaints are common occurrence in medical setting. However attempts towards management has lacked consensus over approach. There is lack of empirical evidence especially from India. This case illustrates the multimodal approach in management of a case of somatoform disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting.

Indian journal of clinical psychology

Assessed the total number, frequency, and most common type of stressful life events perceived by ... more Assessed the total number, frequency, and most common type of stressful life events perceived by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and determined whether IBS patients differ from normal controls in perceived stressful life events. 30 IBS patients and 30 controls were compared on the Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale. IBS Ss perceived a significantly greater number of stressful life events in the preceding 1 yr than did controls. 90% of IBS patients perceived 3 or more life events compared with 43.3% of controls. The most frequently reported life events were going on a pleasure trip or pilgrimage, change in eating or sleeping habits, major purchase or construction of house, death of relative, change or expansion of business, sexual problems, and family conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

With ever increasing number of cancer patients and modalities of treatment for them, a novel popu... more With ever increasing number of cancer patients and modalities of treatment for them, a novel population is fast increasing. This is the population of cancer survivors, with its own specific set of psychological problems. This review tends to explore in detail, psychiatric morbidity amongst this population and its impact on their lives. Subsequent to this, various psychotherapeutic interventions for this population are discussed systematically, ranging from 'Educational' to 'Mind-Body-Spiritual' interventions and the current evidence for their efficacy is reviewed. Finally, overall efficacy of these interventions in the lives of cancer survivors and their place in their treatment plan is discussed.

A prospective study was carried out to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity as well as pat... more A prospective study was carried out to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity as well as pattern of presenting symptoms in the general emergency room services. A total of 18,799 patients visited the emergency room out of which 268 (1.42%) were referred for psychiatric consultation. Out of these patients, 253(1.25%) were found to have diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Most of the patients were in the age group of 21-35 years (51.1%), married (65.67%) and from urban background (70.14%). Males (52.23%) outnumbered females. The most common diagnosis was substance use disorder, followed by dissociative disorder, other anxiety disorder, somatoform disorder, depressive disorder, schizophrenia , intentional self harm, bipolar affective disorders, organic mental disorders, epilepsy and stress related disorders. Most common presenting symptoms were pain/numbness, ghabrahat/palpitation, sadness of mood, and substance related withdrawal.

Industrial psychiatry journal

Existence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is scantily researched in ... more Existence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is scantily researched in India. There is dearth of information on prevalence of ADHD in college students worldwide. Further, fewer studies in the past have evaluated the impact of ADHD on the psychological well-being of college students. To study the prevalence of ADHD among college students and psychological problems related to ADHD. Cross-sectional study. A total of 237 students were recruited from various medical, engineering, and commerce and arts colleges of Chandigarh, India. They were administered the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale v1.1(ASRS) and the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) to diagnose adult ADHD. To assess comorbidities; General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ); Zung Depression Rating Scale (ZDRS); Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES);and questions on emotional stability, social problems, and substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) were administered on all participants. A total of 13 studen...

Indian journal of psychiatry, 1993

Thirty patients with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) were evaluated for personality profiles a... more Thirty patients with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) were evaluated for personality profiles and psychiatric morbidity. In comparison with normal controls, these patients were more neurotic, showed more anxiety and had a higher incidence of neurotic depression, anxiety neurosis and alcoholism. IBS was found to be more common in young, urban males and sedentary workers.

Indian journal of psychiatry, 1998

Thirty subjects of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 30 normal controls were-compared. IBS patie... more Thirty subjects of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 30 normal controls were-compared. IBS patients showed significantly higher alexithymia score, depression, neuroticism and stress scores. When alexithymia was taken as independent variable it was found to correlate positively with depression and neuroticism. No correlation between stress score and alexithymia was found.

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2000

Applicability of Rutter-B Scale for completion by teachers was assessed on a representative sampl... more Applicability of Rutter-B Scale for completion by teachers was assessed on a representative sample of 963 school children between the ages of 4-11 yrs. The findings revealed that at the recommended cut-off score of 9, the scale has low sensitivity (51.8%) and very low specificity (34.1%). Concordance between assessment by Rutter-B Scale and clinical assessment to pick up psychiatric disorder was 33.6%. Limitations of the scale as a screening instrument in child psychiatry epidemiology are discussed.

The Indian journal of medical research, 2002

Population studies on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in d... more Population studies on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in different countries of the world, have reported varying rates of disorders. There are very few studies in India and these vary widely in methodology and reported rates of disorders. The main objective of this research was to study the extent and nature of psychiatric disorders in school children in a defined geographical area and to study their psychosocial correlates. School children, aged 4-11 yr, in the city of Chandigarh, were studied using multi-stage random sampling, and multi-informant assessment procedure. Teachers assessment on Rutter-B Scale (Stage I) was followed by parent interview (Stage II) for all children on the Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule which is an Indian adaptation of Achenbach's Childhood Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Children scoring above the cut-off at Stage I and/or Stage II were assessed clinically by two psychiatrists (Stage III) who intervi...

Indian pediatrics, 2003

Trichotillomania, though uncommon, is one of the causes of unexplained hair loss, especially in c... more Trichotillomania, though uncommon, is one of the causes of unexplained hair loss, especially in children. Three girls in the age group of 4-6 years were observed in our pediatric dermatology clinic to have trichotillomania. In one child, there was co-existent alopecia areata. All were referred to the child guidance clinic and they all showed improvement with behavior therapy. A close liasion between the dermatologist, psychiatrist and parents would go a long way in preventing this alopecia

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2004

The number of geropsychiatric outpatients is on an increase in North India.Such patients visit ma... more The number of geropsychiatric outpatients is on an increase in North India.Such patients visit many clinics for treatment of their problems. Not much research has been done in this part of the country in assessing the clinical profiles of such patients. As such the present study was undertaken to assess the sociodemographic characteristics and the pattern of psychiatric and physical disorders in the elderly outpatients. A single institutional retrospective study of 3 years was designed. Data was collected year wise and reconfirmation of diagnoses was done using ICD-10 criteria. A total of 181 completed case records of elderly outpatients aged 60 years and over were included in this study. The case records had a printed, semi-structured format; complete and reliable information was available in all the records.Data obtained was analysed using frequency distribution. Results showed that Mood disorders(48.07%), Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (15.47%) and Organic,incl...

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2004

Prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse is very high. Majority of drug users do not seek treatment w... more Prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse is very high. Majority of drug users do not seek treatment which is a major concern for professionals. This study was undertaken to find out the reasons of not seeking treatment for substance use in the community and the factors which motivate drug users to seek treatment from various treatment services. Sample consisted of 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 100 persons who were dependent on alcohol & drugs and were not receiving any treatment. Group 2 comprised of 48 patients of substance abuse from the same area who were seeking treatment. Both the groups were administered specially designed proforma for assessing reasons of seeking and not seeking treatment. Psychological well being was reported by majority as a reason for not seeking treatment. Other reasons for not seeking treatment were short term useful effects of drugs, lack of awareness about drug related complications, fear of withdrawal symptoms and not being aware of treatment facilities....

The Indian journal of medical research, 2011

In recent years, health-related quality of life (QOL) has been regarded as the most important dim... more In recent years, health-related quality of life (QOL) has been regarded as the most important dimension of outcome in schizophrenia. Recent research has shown that atypical antipsychotics improve QOL in patients with schizophrenia. Importance of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been demonstrated in restoring function and health related quality of life in depressed patients. However, there are no data on patients of schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was therefore, to assess the improvement in quality of life after ECT in treatment resistant schizophrenia. Thirty consecutive patients of treatment resistant schizophrenia were given ECT sessions twice a week and assessments were made with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia (PANSS), WHO QOL Bref, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and Clinical Global Impressions. The group improved significantly on all the domains of quality of life scale except the domain named satisfaction with social relations...

Indian Pediatrics, 2014

To compare the short term efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in childre... more To compare the short term efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Open label randomized parallel group clinical trial. Child Guidance Clinic of a tertiary care hospital of Northern India from October 2010 to June 2012. 69 patients (age 6-14 y) with a diagnosis of ADHD receiving methylphenidate or atomoxetine. Methylphenidate (0.2-1 mg/kg/d) or atomoxetine (0.5-1.2 mg/kg/d) for eight weeks. Treatment response (>25% change in baseline Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS); Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS); Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S) at eight weeks and adverse effects. Treatment response was observed in 90.7% patients from methylphenidate group and 86.2% patients of atomoxetine group at an average dose of 0.45 mg/kg/d and 0.61 mg/kg/d, respectively. The patients showed comparable improvement on VADPRS (P=0.500), VADTRS (P=0.264) and CGI-S (P=0.997). Weight loss was significantly higher in methylphenidate group (-0.57±0.78 kg; P=0.001), and heart rate increase was observed at higher rate in atomoxetine group (7± 9 bpm; P=0.021). Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are efficacious in Indian children with ADHD at lesser doses than previously used. Their efficacy and tolerability are comparable. TRIAL REGISTRATION NO.: CTRI/2011/08/001981.

Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 2014

Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2007

The present epidemiological survey was conducted by the department of psychiatry, Govt. Medical C... more The present epidemiological survey was conducted by the department of psychiatry, Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh to estimate the pattern of alcohol and other substance dependence in rural and slum dwellers population of Chandigarh. In this survey 6.88% individuals of the total population surveyed (2992) fulfilled dependence criteria of ICD-10. Alcohol was the primary substance of dependence for majority of urban slum substance users and rural areas users. Age at first drug use was 20.89 +/- 5.31 years (mean +/- S.D) among rural population and 19.75 +/- 5.4 years (mean +/- SD) in urban slums. Majority of them reported having health related complications (85.71%) followed by family problems (77.31%) due to drug dependence. This survey reflects the need to intensify efforts at the community level to reach the unreached.

Community Mental Health in India, 2012

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 2015

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in India face a host of challenges, whil... more Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in India face a host of challenges, while seeking care which ranges from unavailability of information to difficulty in availing services. To develop a psycho-education intervention module for parents of children with ASD and to study its impact on parent stress and knowledge. Child Guidance Clinic Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Interventional study. Parents of children diagnosed with ASD as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) Edition criteria, recruited through consecutive sampling. Total number of 18 participants participated in the two phase study. Phase I included preparation of a parent training module through a four stage process and Phase II was evaluation of impact of the final version of the module on parental stress and knowledge. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test using SPSS version 17.0. There was an improvement in all the domains of parenting stress and knowledge. Social stress score and total stress score showed significant improvement. Parent psycho-education intervention module on ASD decreases parenting stress, and improves knowledge about ASD. Psycho-education intervention module is a feasible and acceptable way of parent empowerment.

International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research, 2015

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is frequently comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity d... more Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is frequently comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is associated with substantial functional impairments. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are well-established drugs for the management of ADHD. Some studies from Western countries have reported these drugs to be effective in the management of ODD comorbid with ADHD. This study aimed to assess if methylphenidate and atomoxetine are efficacious in treating Indian children with ODD comorbid with ADHD. In this prospective, open-label study, 37 patients of age 6-14 years with a diagnosis of ODD comorbid with ADHD randomly received either methylphenidate (dose 0.2-1 mg/kg/day) or atomoxetine (dose 0.5-1.2 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Improvements in ADHD and ODD symptoms were assessed using Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic parent rating scale (VADPRS). At 8 weeks, there were statistically significant improvements in both ADHD and ODD symptoms in both methylphenidate and atomoxetine groups, as per VADPRS. The improvements produced and tolerability was comparable in the two groups. 80% of the patients from methylphenidate group and 64.3% patients from atomoxetine group ceased to fulfill the criteria for the presence of ODD at 8 weeks. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are effective in the treatment of ODD comorbid with ADHD in short duration.

Somatic complaints are common occurrence in medical setting. However attempts towards management ... more Somatic complaints are common occurrence in medical setting. However attempts towards management has lacked consensus over approach. There is lack of empirical evidence especially from India. This case illustrates the multimodal approach in management of a case of somatoform disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting.

Indian journal of clinical psychology

Assessed the total number, frequency, and most common type of stressful life events perceived by ... more Assessed the total number, frequency, and most common type of stressful life events perceived by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and determined whether IBS patients differ from normal controls in perceived stressful life events. 30 IBS patients and 30 controls were compared on the Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale. IBS Ss perceived a significantly greater number of stressful life events in the preceding 1 yr than did controls. 90% of IBS patients perceived 3 or more life events compared with 43.3% of controls. The most frequently reported life events were going on a pleasure trip or pilgrimage, change in eating or sleeping habits, major purchase or construction of house, death of relative, change or expansion of business, sexual problems, and family conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

With ever increasing number of cancer patients and modalities of treatment for them, a novel popu... more With ever increasing number of cancer patients and modalities of treatment for them, a novel population is fast increasing. This is the population of cancer survivors, with its own specific set of psychological problems. This review tends to explore in detail, psychiatric morbidity amongst this population and its impact on their lives. Subsequent to this, various psychotherapeutic interventions for this population are discussed systematically, ranging from 'Educational' to 'Mind-Body-Spiritual' interventions and the current evidence for their efficacy is reviewed. Finally, overall efficacy of these interventions in the lives of cancer survivors and their place in their treatment plan is discussed.

A prospective study was carried out to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity as well as pat... more A prospective study was carried out to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity as well as pattern of presenting symptoms in the general emergency room services. A total of 18,799 patients visited the emergency room out of which 268 (1.42%) were referred for psychiatric consultation. Out of these patients, 253(1.25%) were found to have diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Most of the patients were in the age group of 21-35 years (51.1%), married (65.67%) and from urban background (70.14%). Males (52.23%) outnumbered females. The most common diagnosis was substance use disorder, followed by dissociative disorder, other anxiety disorder, somatoform disorder, depressive disorder, schizophrenia , intentional self harm, bipolar affective disorders, organic mental disorders, epilepsy and stress related disorders. Most common presenting symptoms were pain/numbness, ghabrahat/palpitation, sadness of mood, and substance related withdrawal.

Industrial psychiatry journal

Existence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is scantily researched in ... more Existence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is scantily researched in India. There is dearth of information on prevalence of ADHD in college students worldwide. Further, fewer studies in the past have evaluated the impact of ADHD on the psychological well-being of college students. To study the prevalence of ADHD among college students and psychological problems related to ADHD. Cross-sectional study. A total of 237 students were recruited from various medical, engineering, and commerce and arts colleges of Chandigarh, India. They were administered the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale v1.1(ASRS) and the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) to diagnose adult ADHD. To assess comorbidities; General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ); Zung Depression Rating Scale (ZDRS); Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES);and questions on emotional stability, social problems, and substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) were administered on all participants. A total of 13 studen...

Indian journal of psychiatry, 1993

Thirty patients with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) were evaluated for personality profiles a... more Thirty patients with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) were evaluated for personality profiles and psychiatric morbidity. In comparison with normal controls, these patients were more neurotic, showed more anxiety and had a higher incidence of neurotic depression, anxiety neurosis and alcoholism. IBS was found to be more common in young, urban males and sedentary workers.

Indian journal of psychiatry, 1998

Thirty subjects of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 30 normal controls were-compared. IBS patie... more Thirty subjects of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 30 normal controls were-compared. IBS patients showed significantly higher alexithymia score, depression, neuroticism and stress scores. When alexithymia was taken as independent variable it was found to correlate positively with depression and neuroticism. No correlation between stress score and alexithymia was found.

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2000

Applicability of Rutter-B Scale for completion by teachers was assessed on a representative sampl... more Applicability of Rutter-B Scale for completion by teachers was assessed on a representative sample of 963 school children between the ages of 4-11 yrs. The findings revealed that at the recommended cut-off score of 9, the scale has low sensitivity (51.8%) and very low specificity (34.1%). Concordance between assessment by Rutter-B Scale and clinical assessment to pick up psychiatric disorder was 33.6%. Limitations of the scale as a screening instrument in child psychiatry epidemiology are discussed.

The Indian journal of medical research, 2002

Population studies on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in d... more Population studies on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in different countries of the world, have reported varying rates of disorders. There are very few studies in India and these vary widely in methodology and reported rates of disorders. The main objective of this research was to study the extent and nature of psychiatric disorders in school children in a defined geographical area and to study their psychosocial correlates. School children, aged 4-11 yr, in the city of Chandigarh, were studied using multi-stage random sampling, and multi-informant assessment procedure. Teachers assessment on Rutter-B Scale (Stage I) was followed by parent interview (Stage II) for all children on the Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule which is an Indian adaptation of Achenbach's Childhood Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Children scoring above the cut-off at Stage I and/or Stage II were assessed clinically by two psychiatrists (Stage III) who intervi...

Indian pediatrics, 2003

Trichotillomania, though uncommon, is one of the causes of unexplained hair loss, especially in c... more Trichotillomania, though uncommon, is one of the causes of unexplained hair loss, especially in children. Three girls in the age group of 4-6 years were observed in our pediatric dermatology clinic to have trichotillomania. In one child, there was co-existent alopecia areata. All were referred to the child guidance clinic and they all showed improvement with behavior therapy. A close liasion between the dermatologist, psychiatrist and parents would go a long way in preventing this alopecia

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2004

The number of geropsychiatric outpatients is on an increase in North India.Such patients visit ma... more The number of geropsychiatric outpatients is on an increase in North India.Such patients visit many clinics for treatment of their problems. Not much research has been done in this part of the country in assessing the clinical profiles of such patients. As such the present study was undertaken to assess the sociodemographic characteristics and the pattern of psychiatric and physical disorders in the elderly outpatients. A single institutional retrospective study of 3 years was designed. Data was collected year wise and reconfirmation of diagnoses was done using ICD-10 criteria. A total of 181 completed case records of elderly outpatients aged 60 years and over were included in this study. The case records had a printed, semi-structured format; complete and reliable information was available in all the records.Data obtained was analysed using frequency distribution. Results showed that Mood disorders(48.07%), Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (15.47%) and Organic,incl...

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2004

Prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse is very high. Majority of drug users do not seek treatment w... more Prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse is very high. Majority of drug users do not seek treatment which is a major concern for professionals. This study was undertaken to find out the reasons of not seeking treatment for substance use in the community and the factors which motivate drug users to seek treatment from various treatment services. Sample consisted of 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 100 persons who were dependent on alcohol & drugs and were not receiving any treatment. Group 2 comprised of 48 patients of substance abuse from the same area who were seeking treatment. Both the groups were administered specially designed proforma for assessing reasons of seeking and not seeking treatment. Psychological well being was reported by majority as a reason for not seeking treatment. Other reasons for not seeking treatment were short term useful effects of drugs, lack of awareness about drug related complications, fear of withdrawal symptoms and not being aware of treatment facilities....

The Indian journal of medical research, 2011

In recent years, health-related quality of life (QOL) has been regarded as the most important dim... more In recent years, health-related quality of life (QOL) has been regarded as the most important dimension of outcome in schizophrenia. Recent research has shown that atypical antipsychotics improve QOL in patients with schizophrenia. Importance of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been demonstrated in restoring function and health related quality of life in depressed patients. However, there are no data on patients of schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was therefore, to assess the improvement in quality of life after ECT in treatment resistant schizophrenia. Thirty consecutive patients of treatment resistant schizophrenia were given ECT sessions twice a week and assessments were made with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia (PANSS), WHO QOL Bref, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and Clinical Global Impressions. The group improved significantly on all the domains of quality of life scale except the domain named satisfaction with social relations...

Indian Pediatrics, 2014

To compare the short term efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in childre... more To compare the short term efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Open label randomized parallel group clinical trial. Child Guidance Clinic of a tertiary care hospital of Northern India from October 2010 to June 2012. 69 patients (age 6-14 y) with a diagnosis of ADHD receiving methylphenidate or atomoxetine. Methylphenidate (0.2-1 mg/kg/d) or atomoxetine (0.5-1.2 mg/kg/d) for eight weeks. Treatment response (>25% change in baseline Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS); Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS); Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S) at eight weeks and adverse effects. Treatment response was observed in 90.7% patients from methylphenidate group and 86.2% patients of atomoxetine group at an average dose of 0.45 mg/kg/d and 0.61 mg/kg/d, respectively. The patients showed comparable improvement on VADPRS (P=0.500), VADTRS (P=0.264) and CGI-S (P=0.997). Weight loss was significantly higher in methylphenidate group (-0.57±0.78 kg; P=0.001), and heart rate increase was observed at higher rate in atomoxetine group (7± 9 bpm; P=0.021). Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are efficacious in Indian children with ADHD at lesser doses than previously used. Their efficacy and tolerability are comparable. TRIAL REGISTRATION NO.: CTRI/2011/08/001981.

Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 2014