Pushpal Desarkar

Subcortical functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder: an exploratory EEG coherence study.

Background. Given the paucity of quantitative EEG studies using coherence measures to understand the electrophysiological functional integrity of sub-cortical structures in obsessive-compulsive disorder, the current study was carried out. Methods. We obtained EEG coherence values for 20 adult OCD patients (10 males; 10 females) and 19 appropriately matched healthy controls across delta (0.5–3.5 Hz), theta (4–7.5 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), beta1 (12.5–20 Hz) and beta2 (20.5–30 Hz) bands. As coherence between distant brain regions reflects physiological activities at sub-cortical neural networks, we chose EEG channels at four distant brain regions – anterior interhemispheric, posterior interhemispheric, fronto-temporal and fronto-occipital. Results. In comparison to controls we found significant increase of theta band EEG coherence in the fronto-occipital region in OCD patients (P = 0.045) which did not correlate significantly with either medication status or disease severity. Conclusion. This EEG coherence study that suggests hyperactivity at subcortical circuitry in OCD patients is in agreement with existing neuro-imaging findings. Furthermore, this finding provides external validity for sub-cortical dysfunction hypothesis of OCD.

Duloxetine for childhood depression with pain and dissociative symptoms

Over two thirds of people suffering from depression complain of pain with or without reporting psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms are more prevalent among the women, the elderly, the poor, and in children population. Successful treatment of depression in children complicated by pain symptoms constitutes a great clinical challenge. Duloxetine has already emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for adult depressed patients with painful physical symptoms. However, no data exist in literature which suggests use of duloxetine in childhood and adolescent population for the same clinical indication. We report a case documenting successful use of duloxetine in a depressed girl child who also had severe pain and dissociative symptoms.

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.

Prevalence of conduct disorder in schoolchildren of Kanke

Background: Prevalence estimates of conduct disorder, one of the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric conditions in children, vary widely from 0.2% to 8.7%. Aim: To find out the prevalence of conduct disorder and its DSM-IV subtypes and comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 4 schools of Kanke block among students of classes V to X. Methods: A total of 240 students, selected by stratified random sampling, were subjected to the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children: Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) screening interview. Nineteen students who qualified were subjected to conduct disorder and ADHD supplement of K-SADS-PL with additional information from parents. Results: Conduct disorder was found in 4.58%; the ratio of boys to girls being 4.5:1. Childhood onset was found in 73% and adolescent onset in 27%. Mild conduct disorder was found in 36%, moderate in 64% and severe conduct disorder in none. Comorbid ADHD was found in 36%, hyperactive-impulsive being predominant. Significant difference was found in temperament between students with and without conduct disorder with difficult temperament predominating in the former and easy in the latter (p=0.004). Lying, bullying and cruelty to animals were most frequent symptoms. Conclusion: The prevalence of conduct disorder was 4.58%, more common in boys, the majority had childhood onset, and one-third had comorbid ADHD.