Haque S Nizamie

History of psychiatry in India

History is a screen through which the past lightens the present and the present brightens the future. Psychiatry by virtue of its ability to deal with human thoughts and emotions and provide a pathway for healthy minds provides an important platform towards being a mentally sound human being and largely the society. This review takes a sneak peek into the foundations of modern psychiatry in India. The description is largely based on the time frame, which provides a better understanding of the factual information in each period starting from the Vedic era and culminating in the post independence period.

Electroencephalographic abnormalities in clozapine-treated patients: a cross-sectional study.

The objective of our study was to examine the electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities associated with clozapine treatment. It was a cross-sectional study on 87 psychiatric patients on clozapine treatment. 32 channel digital EEG was recorded and analysed visually for abnormalities. EEG abnormalities were observed in 63.2% of patients. Both slowing and epileptiform activities were noted in 41.4% of patients. The EEG abnormalities were not associated with dose or duration of clozapine exposure.

Repetitive love proposing: A case report and review of phenomenology of impulsivity and compulsivity

Interest in opposite sex is a normal phenomenon; however, when this interest starts affecting ones own or others life in a pathological manner, it warrants clinical attention. We report the case of a young man who had a tendency to propose love to girls impulsively. Apart from the presence of this, otherwise, normal behavior in a pathological manner, another dimension of this case was that he was having obsessive-compulsive disorder too. Since both impulsivity and compulsivity are repetitive in nature and result in a sense of relief when the act is committed, the chance of impulsivity to be misconstrued as compulsivity is high. In light of important differences between compulsive and impulsive behavior, the psychopathology of the present case has been discussed.

Ultrasonographically measured change in thyroid status in lithium treated adult patients with mood disorder

Background: Lithium, which is frequently used in the treatment of mood disorder, can lead to various types of thyroid dysfunctions. Although clinical examination and biochemical assessment are fundamental to any thyroid work-up of lithium-treated patients, assessment findings vary widely depending on the investigator. Ultrasonographic measurement of thyroid volume has, therefore, been performed in lithium treatment populations and found to be a sensitive tool. Aim: We aimed to determine and compare thyroid gland volume using Ultrasonography and laboratory parameters, (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH], T3, and T4) in long-term lithium and other mood stabilizers treated patients with mood disorder. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we performed ultrasonography examinations and thyroid function test of 30 patients on lithium treatment and 30 patients on other mood stabilizers. Results: The ultrasonographically measured thyroid volume was significantly increased in patients receiving lithium therapy as compared to the patients receiving other mood stabilizers. The total triiodothyronine (T3) was significantly increased with trends toward increased total thyroxine (T4) and decreased TSH in patients receiving lithium therapy as compared to the patients receiving other mood stabilizers. Conclusion: These results highlight the need of including ultrasonographic measurement of thyroid volume as a part of standard thyroid work-up before initiating lithium prophylaxis and during follow-up. Additional studies on the incidence and mechanism of lithium associated hyperthyroidism are needed.