Anil Nischal

Suicidal behaviour of Indian patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.

Background, Setting and Design: The chronicity, distress, high rates of comorbidity and varying degree of non response to treatment in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may contribute to suicidal behavior. There is relatively little information on suicidal behavior in OCD subjects. Our study design is Single point non-invasive, cross sectional, clinical study of new and follow up cases. Materials and Methods: Assessment of Suicidal Behavior in patients of OCD attending the adult Psychiatry O.P.D. of Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) U.P. Lucknow using (DSM-IV) criteria for diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I disorders, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Rating Scale, Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), Becks Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Statistical Analysis: Mean standard deviation and t test for independent samples, Pearsons correlation coefficient. Results: Statistically significant differences were seen in the SSI score between the “Clinical” and “Sub-Clinical” cases with Clinical group having higher scores. Value of correlation coefficient between YBOCS score and SSI and BHS score is positive and statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: “Clinical” group of patients had significantly higher scores of suicidal ideation measured by Scale of Suicidal Ideation (SSI). There was a significantly positive correlation between disease severity (YBOCS Score) and degree of suicidal ideation (SIS Score).

Sociodemographic and clinical profile of homeless mentally ill inpatients in a north Indian medical university

Homeless mentally ill (HMI) persons are a highly vulnerable and socially disadvantaged population, deprived of even the basic minimal human rights. Data on HMI in India is scarce. This retrospective chart review aimed to evaluate socio-demographic, socio-cultural and clinical profile of HMI patients, and to study reasons of homelessness and outcome related variables in these patients. One hundred and forty homeless persons were admitted to the department of psychiatry of a north Indian medical university from February 2005 to July 2011. Of these, one hundred and twenty-seven (90.7%) had psychiatric illness and six had only intellectual disabilities. The majority of HMI persons were illiterate/minimally literate, adult, male, and from low socioeconomic and rural backgrounds. Most of the patients (55.7%) had more than one psychiatric diagnosis. HMI had considerably high rates of co-morbid substance abuse (44.3%), intellectual disabilities (38.6%) and physical problems (75.4%). Most (84.3%) were mentally ill before leaving home and 54.3% left home themselves due to the illness. Most HMI responded to the treatment. After treatment of mental illness, it was possible to reintegrate about 70% of the patients into their families. Families were willing to accept and support them. Untreated/inadequately treated mental illness was the most common reason for homelessness. Easily accessible treatment and rehabilitation facilities at low cost can improve the plight of such patients. Further research in this area is required.

Suicide and antidepressants: What current evidence indicates

The documented efficacy and long-term benefit of antidepressants in patients with recurrent forms of severe anxiety or depressive disorders support their use in those individuals with these disorders, who experience suicidal thoughts or behavior. In general, it is assumed that antidepressants are beneficial for all symptoms of depression, including suicidality. However, some evidence suggests that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors [SSRIs] may cause worsening of suicidal ideas in vulnerable patients. Systematic reviews and pooled analysis of experimental, observational, and epidemiological studies have investigated the use of SSRIs and their association with suicidality. Taking account of the methodological limitations of these studies, the current evidence fails to provide a clear relationship between their use and risk of suicidality in adults. However, in children and adolescents, there appears to be a bit of increased risk of suicidal ideations and attempts, but not of completed suicides. This risk can be anticipated and managed clinically. Clinicians are, therefore, advised to maintain a close follow-up during the initial treatment periods and remain vigilant of this risk. This advisory, however, should not deter clinicians from the use of effective dosages of antidepressants for a sufficient period of time, in every age group of patients, when clinically needed, and if found suitable otherwise.

Infanticide by a mother with untreated schizophrenia.

Summary This case report describes a 30-year-old mother of four with a 6-year history of obvious paranoia and psychosis from a poor rural farming community in India. Her symptoms and social functioning deteriorated over time, but the family did not seek medical care until she killed her 3-month-old daughter while under the influence of command hallucinations. Subsequent treatment with antipsychotic medication resulted in control of her psychotic symptoms and greatly improved psychosocial functioning. This case is an example of one of the many negative consequences of a community’s failure to recognize and treat mental illnesses. The patient had severe symptoms that were obvious to all for 6 years prior to the infanticide, but the family’s lack of basic knowledge about mental illness, the lack of locally available mental health care, and the relatively high cost of care prevented family members from obtaining the treatment that almost certainly would have prevented the tragic death of her infant. Changing these three factors in poor rural communities of low- and middle-income countries is the challenge we must work together to address. Infanticide secondary to untreated mental illness is a glaring reminder of how urgent this task is.

Obsessive slowness presenting as catatonia in a patient with Borderline Intelligence

Obsessive slowness is described to be a syndrome of extreme slowness in ways various tasks are performed. Its existence as an independent syndrome is challenged by authors, who regard it to be a part of obsessive compulsive disorder. We describe here a case of a 24-year-old male patient who presented with catatonic symptoms. Diagnostic difficulties and management issues are highlighted.

Assessment of cognition in non-affected full biological siblings of patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia is a devastating psychotic illness which is like the most mental disorders, shows complex inheritance; the transmission of the disorder most likely involves several genes and environmental factors. It is difficult to judge whether a particular person without schizophrenia has predisposing factors for the said disease. A few studies have shown the relative sensitivity and reliability of cognitive and psychophysiological markers of brain function as the susceptibility factors for schizophrenia which may aid us to find people with an increased risk of complex disorders like schizophrenia. The present work is an exploration on cognitive impairments in unaffected siblings of patients suffering from schizophrenia with a framework to explore why a mental disorder occurs in some families but not in others. Materials and Methods: This is a single point non-invasive study of non-affected full biological siblings of patients with schizophrenia, involving administration of a battery of neuropsychological tests to assess the cognitive function in the sibling group and a control group of volunteers with no history of psychiatric illness. The control group was matched for age, gender, and education. The siblings were also divided on the basis of the type of schizophrenia their siblings (index probands) were suffering from and their results compared with each other. Results: The siblings performed significantly poorly as compared to the controls on Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), continuous performance test (CPT), and spatial working memory test (SWMT). The comparison between the sibling subgroups based on the type of schizophrenia in the index probands did not reveal any significant difference. Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is a global impairment in the cognition of the non-affected siblings of patients of schizophrenia. Cognitive impairment might be one of the factors which will help us to hit upon people who are predisposed to develop schizophrenia in the future.

A study of individuals with intentional self-harm referred to psychiatry in a tertiary care center

Background: Intentional self- harm (ISH) is one of the commonest yet neglected entities of Consultation liaison Psychiatry. More researches in the field of ISH are needed to effectively manage this problem. Aim: To study the socio-demographic and clinical profile of subjects of ISH referred to Psychiatry in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: All subjects of ISH referred to department of Psychiatry, of a tertiary centre, on specified days were recruited in to the study after obtaining an informed consent. Socio-demographic details, details of psychiatric assessment were documented using a semi structured proforma. Appropriate management was done. Results: Forty one subjects were included in the study. About two third of them belonged to the age group of 18 to 35 years. 56% of them were males, and 71% were married. House wives and students formed a significant proportion of sample. Most common method of ISH was self-poisoning. About two third of the patients had no diagnosable psychiatric illness. Interpersonal conflicts with family members (47%), conflicts with spouse (22%), broken emotional relationship (18%) were common causes for impulsive acts of ISH. Conclusions: ISH is common amongst young, married males. About two third of those who attempt ISH have no diagnosable psychiatric illness, in rest, neurotic stress related disorders, personality disorders and substance use disorders were predominant.

Burden of care in the caregivers of patients with anxiety disorders

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are one of the frequently encountered psychiatric disorders in psychiatric clinics which have significant impact on the psychosocial well-being of the patient as well as their caregivers. Study Design and Aims: This study is a non- invasive, cross sectional study of 91 patients with anxiety disorder (except obsessive compulsive disorder) aimed to assess the burden of care on their key-relatives and to study various socio demographic and clinical variables of the patient in relation to burden of care on key-relatives. Methodology: Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders other than obsessive compulsive disorder and their key relatives satisfying the selection criteria were enrolled in the study. Assessment was done on semi-structured proforma, ICD 10 DCR, SCAN (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry), International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE), Burden assessment schedule, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Result: Total adjusted burden score in our study was 40.41 which is suggestive of mild burden. It was found that the burden of care was higher in male gender, married individuals, in joint families, among spouses, urban background, in the age group 41 to 50 years, low income group particularly on farmers and laborers. Generalized anxiety disorder was associated with more burden of care in comparison to other anxiety disorders. Conclusion: Key relatives of patients with anxiety disorder have significant burden of care in different domains along the socio-demographic strata.

A descriptive study of pattern of psychiatric referrals and effect of psychiatric intervention in consultation-liaison set up in a tertiary care center

Background: There is paucity of published data pertaining to consultation psychiatric services (CLP) in India. The data available reflect the under developed status of this subspecialty and need for strengthening the same. Research assessing the effectiveness of CLP services is the need of the hour. Objectives: Current study was taken up with the aim to study the pattern of psychiatric referrals in a teaching hospital, and to study the effect of intervention in CLP at the end of 4 weeks. Materials and Method: Sample was drawn from Indoor patients referred to department of psychiatry. Psychiatric diagnosis was made using International classification of diseases (CD-10 DCR). Clinical Global Impression severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I) ware used to assess the effect of psychiatric intervention after 4 weeks. Results: about half of patients were referred from Internal Medicine, followed by Neurological sciences and surgical branches. About 30% of patients had no diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Common reasons for referral were evaluation of medical patient having co- morbid psychiatric symptoms, followed by assessment for intentional self-harm, past history of psychiatric illness, and substance use. There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean CGI-S scores after four weeks (t=16.356; p <0.001). Mean CGI-I score after 4 weeks was 1.89(±0.993). suggesting much improvement. Conclusion: Majority of patients are referred to Psychiatry from internal medicine and neurology. About one-third of the patient did not receive any Psychiatric diagnosis. Psychiatric intervention was found to be significantly beneficial.

A cross-sectional study of cognitive functions and disability in schizophrenia from a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Cognitive functions are important predictors of day to day functioning. Cognitive functions are significantly affected in schizophrenia and various other psychiatric disorders. There are very few Indian studies studying the relationship between cognitive functions and disability. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to assess the cognitive functions in stable patients of schizophrenia and compare them with normal controls and also to study the relationship between cognition and disability in these patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty stable patients of schizophrenia attending psychiatry outpatient clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India were included in the study. Thirty healthy volunteers with no psychiatric illness matched for age, gender, and education were also included cognitive functions were assessed using Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia and disability was assessed using WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Results: Highly significant difference (P < 0.0001) was found between the cognitive functions of the schizophrenia group and healthy control group. The patients of schizophrenia had a maximum disability in the area of life activities followed by participation and cognition. There existed a significant negative correlation between cognition and mobility (r = −0.45, P < 0.05), getting along with people (r = −0.44, P < 0.05), life activities (r = −0.42, P < 0.05), participation (r = −0.39, P ≤ 0.05), and total scores on WHODAS 2.0 (r = −0.48, P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive functions are an important predictor of disability. Cognitive deficits exist even in the stable patients of schizophrenia which is significantly higher than the healthy group.