Prakash B Behere

Religion and mental health

In this chapter, the relation between religion and mental health and vice versa has been described. From primitive times different religions have different beliefs and systems of worshipping. Every religion with their belief system has implications on mental health and illness. We described how Hindu system of beliefs and rituals may have an effect in causation of various mental illnesses. It is also described how religion can help an individual to sustain ones life in various domains. The relationship between different religion and symptomatology is described. The impact and outcome of religion on mental health have been highlighted.

Indian Psychiatric Society multicentric study on assessment of health-care needs of patients with severe mental illnesses.

Aim: To assess the health-care needs of the patients with severe mental disorders. Materials and Methods: Patients with the diagnosis of a severe mental disorder (schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, recurrent depressive disorder, major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder) were assessed using Camberwell Assessment of Need-Research version (CAN-R) Scale and indigenously designed Supplementary Needs Assessment Scale (SNAS). Results: The study included 1494 patients recruited from 15 centers. The most common diagnostic group was that of affective disorders (55.3%), followed by psychotic disorders (37.6%). The mean number of total needs as perceived by the patients was 7.6 on the CAN-R. About two-third of the needs as assessed on CAN-R were met, and one-third were unmet. On CAN-R, main domains of needs as reported by patients were those of money, welfare benefits, transport, information about the illness and treatment, relief of psychological distress, company, household skills and intimate relationships. On SNAS, the mean number of total needs as perceived by the patients was 7.6 of which 4.1 were met needs. The most common domains of needs as assessed on SNAS were those of financial help, medical reimbursement, psychoeducation, free treatment, certification of mental illness, flexible work/job timings, addressing the caregiver stress and legal aid. Conclusion: About two-third of the needs, of the patients with severe mental disorders are met as assessed using CAN-R. However, higher percentages of unmet needs are identified on SNAS. In view of the commonly reported needs, a change in the orientation of services offered to people with mental disorders is very much called for. At the government level, desired policies must be formulated to support the patients with mental disorders.

Ayurvedic Concepts Related to Psychotherapy

The perfect balance of mind, body and soul is considered as complete health in Ayurveda. Ayurveda has its own identity as most ancient and traditional System of Medicine in India. Even Ayurveda emphasizes its treatment modalities into three parts viz. Satwawajay Chikitsa, Yuktivyapashray and Daivyapashray Chikitsa. Sattvavajaya therapy mentioned in Charakasamhita and it used as new concept of psychotherapy in Ayurveda. The effectiveness of “traditional mental health promoting practices” was identified as health regimens (swasthvrtt), correct behavior (sadvrtt), and yoga. Sattvavajaya as psychotherapy, is the mental restraint, or a “mind control” as referred by Caraka, is achieved through “spiritual knowledge, philosophy, fortitude, remembrance and concentration. Ayurvedic psychotherapy would play a dual role: First, as a revival of authentic medical culture, the exercise of a practice with an assumed primordial dimension, and second as a discovery of authentic subjectivity, the revelation of a self with an assumed interior depth. When we integrate the contemporary art of psychotherapy with the ancient science of Ayurveda, it becomes a powerful combination that is called Psycho Veda. The integration of Psycho and Veda is motivated by the complete integration of the immense but fairly contemporary view of the mind, emotions and psyche and how this performs in our lives. Integrating Psychotherapy and Vedic principles teaches us how to rediscover critical knowledge and awareness of the natural forces and rhythms that compliment and strengthen our human experience, through the understanding of the psyche and what our inner experiences are and also involving practical daily activities with thorough attention to our total environment to bring about radical changes in our mental outlook and in physical health.

Phenomenology and beliefs of patients with Dhat syndrome: A nationwide multicentric study

Aim: To assess the phenomenology and associated beliefs in patients with Dhat syndrome. Methods: A total of 780 male patients aged more than 16 years were recruited from 15 centers spread across the country and were assessed on Dhat Syndrome Questionnaire. Results: The most commonly reported reasons for passage of Dhat were excessive masturbation (55.1%), sexual dreams (47.3%), excessive sexual desire (42.8%) and consumption of high energy foods (36.7%). The most common situation in which participants experienced passage of Dhat were as ‘night falls’ (60.1%) and ‘while passing stools’ (59.5%). The most common consequence due to passage of Dhat was weakness in sexual ability (75.6%). In terms of psychological and somatic symptoms, the common symptoms included bodily weakness (78.2%); feeling tired or having low energy (75.9%); feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (67.9%); and little interest or pleasure in doing things (63.7%). In terms of treatment expectations, about half of the patients (49.1%) expected that energizing medications like vitamins/tonics/tablets were required and more than one-third (38.2%) expected that there was a need for taking energizing injections. Conclusion: Present study shows that Dhat syndrome is a distinct clinical entity seen all over India, with its characteristic features.

Comorbidity in patients with Dhat syndrome: a nationwide multicentric study.

INTRODUCTION There are limited numbers of studies on Dhat syndrome. Major limitations of the existing literature are heterogeneous assessment methods used to describe the comorbidity and small sample size from isolated centers. AIM To assess comorbidity with a common methodology in patients with Dhat syndrome from multiple centers across India. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, this multicentric study involved assessment of 780 male patients, aged more than 16 years, across 15 study centers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ICD-10 criteria (for evaluation of psychiatric morbidity and sexual dysfunction) RESULTS About one-third (32.8%) of the cases had no comorbidity. One-fifth (20.5%) of the patients had comorbid depressive disorders and another one-fifth (20.5%) had comorbid neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders. Half (51.3%) of the study sample had comorbid sexual dysfunction. When various combinations of comorbidities were evaluated, it was seen that more than one-fourth (28.7%) of the patients had only comorbid sexual dysfunction and one-sixth (15.9%) had only comorbid depressive/anxiety disorders. A little more than one-fifth (22.6%) had comorbidity of both sexual dysfunction and depressive/anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION Comorbid sexual dysfunction is seen in half of the cases of Dhat syndrome, and it is more common than comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders.

Indian Psychiatric Society multicentric study on assessment of health-care needs of patients with severe mental illnesses as perceived by their family caregivers and health-care providers

Aim: To study the health-care needs of the patients with severe mental disorders as perceived by their family caregivers and the treating psychiatrists. Materials and Methods: Caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders and their treating psychiatrists were assessed using Camberwell Assessment of Need-Research Version (CAN-R) scale and indigenously designed Supplementary Assessment of Needs Scale (SNAS). Results: The study included 1494 patients recruited from 15 centers. The mean needs as per the CAN-R, perceived by the caregivers were 7.8 and treating psychiatrists were 8.1. About one-third of needs were unmet. On SNAS, both caregivers and treating psychiatrists reported a mean of 7.9 needs, of which more than half were unmet as per the caregivers. As per the treating psychiatrists, 45.5% of the needs as assessed on SNAS were unmet. There was a high level of correlation between needs perceived by the patients, caregivers and the treating psychiatrists. On CAN-R, main domains of needs as reported by the caregivers were those of money, relief of psychological distress, information about the illness and treatment, welfare benefits, transport, company and food. As per the treating psychiatrists, the most common total needs identified were those of relief of psychological distress, welfare benefits, information about the illness and treatment, money, transport, company self-care and physical health. The most common domains of needs as assessed on SNAS as per the caregivers were those of free treatment, medical reimbursement, psychoeducation, financial help, social support, insurance, more time from the clinicians and travel concession. The treating psychiatrists identified dealing with caregivers stress as the most common need. Conclusions: According to the family caregivers and treating psychiatrists, about one-third of the needs of the patients as assessed using CAN-R and about half of the needs as assessed using SNAS are unmet.

Cannabis: Does it have a medicinal value?

Use of cannabis can have a variety of psychological effects. It generally causes a sense of heightened mood or “high.” This can lead to decreased anxiety and increased social interaction. It can also lead to perceptual changes where sensory stimuli are exaggerated to heightened, such as colors and sound. It also leads to slower to reaction times, impaired coordination, and short-term memory. Chronic use can also to “a motivational syndrome” characterized by lack of energy and motivation. Long-term use can also lead to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.

Suicide Studies in India

Suicides are the leading cause of mortality across the globe. India is the second highest contributor to the total number of suicides in the global pool. Suicide, in addition to loss of life, also leads to socioeconomic changes in family, causing distress and psychological problems in survivors. In this chapter, we will discuss the magnitude of the problem, survivor aspects, and preventive measures. We will be focusing on farmers’ suicides as a special group.

Gender differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Findings from a multicentric study from India

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is phenotypically heterogeneous. Gender is an important factor mediating this heterogeneity. We examined gender differences in a large sample (n = 945) of OCD patients under a multi-centric study in India. Cross-sectional assessments were done on consecutive adult (>18 years) treatment-seeking patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD. Subjects were assessed on Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Research Version for comorbid psychiatric illnesses, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for OCD phenomenology and symptom severity, Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale for insight, Becks Depression Inventory for severity of depressive symptoms, and the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire. On multivariate backward Wald logistic regression analysis, males (59.7%) had more years of education, had a higher rate of checking compulsions and comorbid substance use disorders. Women were more likely to be married, more commonly reported precipitating factors, had a higher rate of hoarding compulsions and comorbid agoraphobia. Findings from this large study validate gender as an important mediator of phenotypic heterogeneity in OCD. The mechanistic basis for these differences might involve complex interactions between biological, cultural and environmental factors.

Stigma experienced by caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders: A nationwide multicentric study

Background: Stigma is very common among caregivers of patients with severe mental disorder; however, there is lack of national level data from India. Aim: To assess affiliate stigma and its correlates among caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders. Method: For this, caregivers of patients with schizophrenia (N = 707), bipolar disorder (N = 344) and recurrent depressive disorder (N = 352) were assessed on Stigma scale for Caregivers of People with Mental Illness and General Health Questionnaire. Results: Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia reported significantly higher stigma than patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Caregiver of patients with bipolar disorder reported significantly greater stigma than the caregivers of patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Higher caregiver stigma in all the diagnostic groups was associated with higher psychological morbidity in caregivers. Higher stigma in caregivers of schizophrenia was seen when the patient had younger age of onset and longer duration of treatment. In the bipolar disorder group, higher stigma in caregivers was seen when patient had higher residual manic symptoms. Conclusion: This study suggests that caregivers of patients with schizophrenia experience higher stigma than the caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Higher stigma is associated with higher psychological morbidity in the caregivers. Therefore, the clinicians managing patients with severe mental disorders must focus on stigma and psychological distress among the caregivers and plan intervention strategies to reduce stigma.