Keshava Pai

Post-stroke depression and lesion location: A hospital based cross-sectional study

Background: Depression is a common neuro-psychiatric consequence of stroke, affecting approximately 40% of the patients. Many studies show that in addition to the psychosocial stress, neurobiological factors such as site of infarct and brain atrophy may also be related to Post Stroke Depression (PSD). There are conflicting results in this area of research and paucity of such data in Indian literature. Thus the aim of this study is to weigh the importance of lesion location in PSD. Materials and Methods: Sixty two subjects with their first ever stroke were interviewed using a semi-structured proforma and PSD diagnosed using MINI Plus interview. Scales of Beck Depression Inventory and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale were used to assess severity of depression. Mini mental state examination was used to assess cognitive impairment and Barthel Index to measure Activities of Daily Living. Neuro-imaging provided information on site and side of lesion. Collected data was analysed using SPSS version 15.0. Results: PSD was diagnosed in 28 subjects, amongst who 19 had left sided lesions. Left sided cortical infarcts and sub cortical infarcts showed statistically significant association with PSD. Conclusion: Results are in keeping with previous landmark studies. Differences in emotional reactions depending on hemisphere and site of the infarct as shown in this study suggest organic biological basis for post stroke depression. Understanding the etiological basis would allow clinicians to monitor patients at risk of developing PSD, enabling early detection and treatment thus improving their quality of life and rehabilitation.

The validity and reliability of the Sense of Coherence scale among Indian university students.

Background: The importance of salutogenesis, with the focus of what creates health rather than what causes diseases, has been highlighted for a long time. This has been operationalized by Aaron Antonovsky as the Sense of Coherence (SOC-13) scale. The aim of this study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the SOC-13 in India. Methods: The present study was carried out among second-year degree students at three randomly chosen institutions at Mangalore University. Investigators assessed the appropriateness, relevance, comprehensiveness and understandability of the scale. Further, the scale was assessed by five subject experts. The SOC-13 was then pretested by administering it to peers, individuals and a few of the study subjects. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha and split-half reliability. Test-retest reliability was assessed by administering the instrument to the same study participants after two weeks. Confirmatory factor analysis employing varimax rotation was employed. Results: The SOC-13 revealed a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.76. Split-half reliability and Guttman split-half reliability were found to be 0.71 and 0.70, respectively. Test-retest reliability was found to be 0.71 (p < 0.01). Factor analysis revealed a three-factor solution explaining 40.53% of the variation in SOC. Conclusions: SOC-13 was found to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring SOC in an Indian context. The present study contributes to health promotion in an Indian context, and could be useful even in other developing countries and for further research in India.

Glaucoma: Adverse event on use of topiramate in alcohol de-addiction.

To report oral topiramate-induced glaucoma and to asses its severity and preventability. A 40-year-old manpresented with watering, redness, pain, and diminution of vision of both eyes, one week after initiation of oral topiramate 100 mg/day for alcohol de-addiction. On examination, both eyes showed conjunctival chemosis, corneal edema, shallow anterior chamber, and intraocular pressure 48 and 46 mm Hg. The symptoms and clinical findings resolved completely upon discontinuation of topiramate and administration of antiglaucoma drugs. Topiramate-induced angle-closure glaucoma and other ocular side effects are reversible if the diagnosis is made early and the drug is discontinued in time. Hence, clinician awareness is an important aspect of preventability of this adverse event.

Depression, anxiety, stress and stigma in informal caregivers of People Living with HIV (PLHIV)

ABSTRACT Informal caregivers are unpaid individuals who help friends or family members who cannot fully care for themselves. However fulfilling the act of helping debilitated individuals, exposure to another person’s traumatic experiences often results in psychological distress. Caregiver’s stigma towards HIV worsens this. Hence, this study aims to assess the effect of stigma on the mental health of caregivers so that their needs for support can be determined. A cross sectional hospital based study was carried out in Mangalore, India on 150 informal caregivers of PLHIV. The HIV Stigma Scale was used to assess stigma and DASS-21 was used to assess depression, anxiety and stress. Of the 150 caregivers, 20% marked one or more items on the stigma scale. Frequency of depression, anxiety and stress was 46%, 27% and 8% respectively. Most caregivers who had stigma and anxiety were of those patients diagnosed for a shorter duration of time (≤5 years) n = 20, p = 0.05 and n = 26, p = 0.03 respectively. Spouses of PLHIV (n = 31, p = 0.005), sero-positive caregivers (n = 25, p = 0.03) and those living with patients (n = 39, p = 0.01) suffered most from anxiety. Stress was significantly associated with depression (83%, p = 0.007) and anxiety (66.6%, p = 0.001) in caregivers. In conclusion, more of depression and anxiety was observed among the participants than stress. Stigma was seen in 20% of the participants. Stigma was not significantly associated with depression anxiety and stress.

Disparities in oral health behaviour among young adults in Mangalore, India: A psychosocial perspective

INTRODUCTION Oral health inequalities imply unequal distribution of health and disease across socioeconomic gradients. Oral health related behaviour and its psychosocial antecedents can have a major impact on oral disease pathways in communities. AIM To ascertain disparities in oral health behaviour and its psychosocial antecedents among young adults in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS Present study was carried out among 341 degree students at three randomly chosen institutions belonging to government, aided and private colleges in Mangalore. Oral health behaviour was assessed by a structured, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Information about oral hygiene habits, tobacco use, sugar consumption, dental attendance patterns were collected. Respondents self-reported gingivitis, perceived general and oral health, perceived need for care and locus of control were assessed. Information about demographic details was collected. Correlation analysis employed Pearsons correlation coefficient and binary logistic regression analysis was employed with snacking as dependent variable. RESULTS Twice daily brushing was significantly associated with gender (r=0.142, p=0.009), type of college (r=-0.164, p=0.003) and fathers occupation (r=0.107, p=0.049), while tobacco use was significantly associated with gender (r=0.284, p=0.000), religion (r=-0.234, p=0.000), type of college (r=0.312, p=0.000), fathers education (r=0.130, p=0.017) and occupation (r=0.120, p=0.027). Self-perceived oral health was significantly associated with snacking (r=0.173, p=0.001) and tobacco use (r=-0.261, p=0.000), while locus of control was associated with snacking (r=0.140, p=0.009). Regression analysis revealed that fathers education (OR=0.399, p=0.014), self-perceived need for care (OR=0.354, p=0.009), and locus of control (OR=0.166, p=0.003) emerged as significant predictors of snacking behaviour. CONCLUSION Psychosocial antecedents were significantly associated with oral health behaviour among the respondents. Policy and decision makers should consider causes of causes while tackling oral health problems. Present study may contribute towards addressing oral health inequalities in developing nations, where oral health issues are compounded by a definite paucity of resources.

Randomized comparative study for evaluation of onset of action and response of two therapeutic agents in ALZHEIMER'S disease

(p1⁄40.058) between the GDS score and the time to conversion to dementia. Only one subject had 9 on the GDS. There was also a significant separation in time to conversion between the aMCI-MD and naMCI subtypes (F1⁄44.462, p1⁄40.04).Conclusions:Early signs of behavioral changemay provide insight into the risk of disease progression from MCI to dementia, as well as aid in better characterization of MCI subtypes. Further work is necessary to establish whether the presence of sub-clinical depression or other NPS symptoms affect the rate of progression to dementia. Continuing work focuses on imaging correlates of behavioral changes in MCI and its subtypes.