Rajesh Raman

A study on professional stress, depression and alcohol use among Indian IT professionals.

Background: Stress has touched almost all professions posing threat to mental and physical health. India being the Information Technology (IT) hub with lakhs involved as IT Professionals, there is a need to assess prevalence of professional stress, depression and problem alcohol use and understand their association. Objectives: (1) To screen for the prevalence of professional stress, risk for depression and harmful alcohol use among software engineers. (2) To study the association between professional stress, risk for depression and harmful alcohol use. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional online study conducted using screeing questionnaires like professional life stress scale, centre for epidemiological studies depression scale and alcohol use disorders identification test. This study was conducted specifically on professionals working in an IT firm with the designation of a software engineer. Results: A total of 129 subjects participated in the study. 51.2% of the study sample was found to be professionally stressed at the time of the interview. 43.4% of the study population were found to be at risk for developing depression. 68.2% of those who were professionally stressed were at risk for developing depression compared with only 17.5% of those who were not professionally stressed. Odds ratio revealed that subjects who were professionally stressed had 10 times higher risk for developing depression compared to those who were not professionally stressed. Subjects who were professionally stressed had 5.9 times higher prevalence of harmful alcohol use compared to those who were not professionally stressed. Subjects who were at risk for developing depression had 4.1 times higher prevalence of harmful alcohol use compared with those who were not at risk for developing depression. Conclusion: Such higher rates of professional stress, risk for developing depression and harmful alcohol use among software engineers could hinder the progress of IT development and also significantly increase the incidence of psychiatric disorders.

Mysore study: A study of suicide notes

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. Recent data suggest South India as one of the regions with highest suicide rates in the world. In 2013, 134,799 people committed suicide in India according to the statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau. Suicide note is one of the most important sources to understand suicide, which may be beneficial in suicide prevention. Studies on suicidal notes from this part of the world are sparse. Objective: The aim was to study the themes in suicide notes that might be useful in prevention strategies. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study of all suicide notes of those individuals who committed suicide between 2010 and 2013 available with Police Department, Mysore district was obtained and analyzed. Results: A total of 22 suicide note were available. A majority of suicide note was in age group of 16–40 years (86%) and most were men (59%). All suicide notes were handwritten, the majority (70%) in regional language Kannada. Length of notes varied from just few words to few pages. Contents of suicide notes included apology/shame/guilt (80%), love for those left behind (55%) and instruction regarding practical affairs (23%). Most have blamed none for the act (50%). 23% mentioned that they are committing suicide to prove their innocence. 32% mentioned a last wish. Conclusion: The majority of suicidal note contained “guilt” which is a strong indicator of possible depression in deceased. Creating awareness about suicide among public and ensuring access to professionals trained in suicide prevention is need of the hour in this part of the world.

Obsessive compulsive disorder with bipolar mood disorder: A rare comorbidity in India

Obsessive compulsive features occurring in mania have been well documented. Though there have been some studies on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbid with mania in the western countries, there are very few case reports and studies in India. Our aim is to report one such case here, who presented with OC features which are not typical of the symptom cluster of the OCD commonly seen with mania in earlier reports. Also, the comorbidities in OCD should be recognized as this can have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Various Imaging Manifestations of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Summary Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), also called the acute hypertensive encephalopathy and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), is a neurotoxic syndrome of cerebral vasoregulation classically characterized by bilaterally symmetrical parieto-occipital edema. However, the imaging findings are variable and may occur in other locations such as the frontal lobes, thalami, basal ganglia and brainstem. Most commonly, PRES presents with hyperintense signals on T2 and FLAIR sequences. Restricted diffusion and hemorrhage are rare. This study presents the typical and atypical manifestations of PRES on 3T MR images. Material/Methods It is a retrospective study analyzing a radiology report database and MR images of 92 patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of PRES. The brain MRI images of these patients were evaluated. The regions involved and the signal intensity of the affected areas on T1, T2, FLAIR and DW sequences were recorded. The location of the abnormal signal intensity as well as the presence or absence of atypical features such as diffusion restriction and hemorrhage were also recorded. Results The most commonly affected region was the parieto-occipital lobes (100%), however, other atypical regions involved were the frontal lobes (30.4%), temporal lobes (8.69%), basal ganglia (22%), cerebellum(17.39%), brainstem(9%) and thalamus(4%). Some of the cases showed restricted diffusion (43%) and hemorrhage (9%). Conclusions The involvement of the parieto-occipital, frontal and temporal lobes is common in PRES. Occasionally, there may be an involvement of the basal ganglia, cerebellum and brainstem, with or without hemorrhage and restricted diffusion. Radiologists should be aware of the typical and atypical imaging manifestations of PRES in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

An adverse drug interaction of haloperidol with levodopa

Drug interactions are known to play a significant role in the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) both in the community and in hospitals. Both the newer atypical antipsychotics and their more traditional counterparts are subject to drug — drug interactions amongst themselves, with other psychotropics, and with the agents used in the treatment of various physical ailments. The most common interactions encountered in clinical practice are pharmacodynamic in nature. It is well established that antipsychotic drugs reduce the efficacy of levodopa in parkinsons disease by blockade of dopamine receptors in the corpus striatum. The case reported here illustrates a common pharmacodynamic drug interaction of haloperidol with levodopa in a 60-year-old female patient.

Prolonged, longstanding, ultra-high-dose abuse of sildenafil.

We report a 40-year-old male who self-administered sildenafil for 10 years, in progressively increasing doses from 100 mg per occasion in the 1st year to 1300 mg per occasion in the 9th–10th years of (ab)use. The frequency of abuse was 2–3/week. The only adverse effect of concern that was reported was transient (up to about 12 h), self-limited blurring of vision in the last 2 years, especially in the last 2 months at the highest dose. The patient was otherwise normal. This report is unique because it describes what may be the highest dose of sildenafil reported in literature, abused across a protracted period of time. We discuss issues related to dose and safety of and tolerance to the drug.

Suttur study: An epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders in south Indian rural population

Background: Based on review of literature World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burden of Disease Study has estimated that psychiatric disorders are among the most burdensome, around the globe and has suggested general population surveys for future research. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and study their association with various socioeconomic variables. Materials and Methods: This was an exploratory study where a door-to-door survey of the entire population residing in a South Indian village was done (n = 3033). Mini international neuropsychiatric interview kid (MINI) or MINI plus were administered to all the subjects according to the age group. Results: It was found that 24.40% of the subjects were suffering from one or more diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Prevalence of depressive disorders was found to be 14.82% and of anxiety disorders was 4%. Alcohol dependence syndrome was diagnosed in 3.95% of the population. Prevalence of dementia in subjects above 60 years was found to be 10%. Conclusion: Our study is among the very few epidemiological studies with respect to methodological design which does not use screening questionnaires and evaluates each subject with detailed administration of MINI. It concluded that one among four were suffering from a psychiatric disorder. Improving the training of undergraduate medical and nursing students is likely to play a significant role in addressing the increasing psychiatric morbidities.

The prospective, 24-week assessment of cost-efficacy of and compliance to antidepressant medications in a rural setting (PACECAR) study

Background: Anxiety and depression are common mental health disorders that are responsible for considerable societal burden. There are no data on cost-efficacy and medication compliance related to the treatment of these disorders in rural India. Materials and Methods: All consenting adults (n = 455) diagnosed with generalized anxiety or (unipolar) depressive disorders in Suttur village, Karnataka, were treated with open-label fluoxetine (20–60 mg/day), sertraline (50–150 mg/day), escitalopram (10–20 mg/day), desvenlafaxine (50–150 mg/day), duloxetine (30–90 mg/day), amitriptyline (75–150 mg/day), or clomipramine (75–150 mg/day) in a structured, monotherapy dosing plan. The study was nonrandomized and otherwise naturalistic. Patients were followed up every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Study discontinuation was defined as medication noncompliance for 3 or more days or withdrawal due to treatment nonresponse. Results: There was substantial discontinuation (34.5%) in the first 4 weeks; 55.4% had discontinued by 12 weeks. Subsequently, only 11.2% discontinued treatment. Only 33.4% of the subjects tolerated the treatment, responded to it, and remained compliant for 24 weeks. Such successful completion was highest for escitalopram and desvenlafaxine (46%–47%) and lowest for clomipramine and amitriptyline (10%–14%). Adverse events were the most common reason for noncompliance with clomipramine and amitriptyline (45%–46%); the experience of sufficient improvement was the most common reason for noncompliance with the remaining drugs (28%–49%). Whereas the average cost of efficacious treatment for a continuous period of 24 weeks was lowest for fluoxetine, an examination of the cost-efficacy tradeoff suggested maximum advantage for escitalopram, sertraline, and desvenlafaxine. The cost-efficacy profile for amitriptyline and clomipramine was poor. Conclusions: Reasons for noncompliance vary by drug class and need to be considered when prescribing antidepressant drugs. Escitalopram, sertraline, and desvenlafaxine perhaps have the most favorable 24-week cost-efficacy profile; tricyclics are poorly tolerated. Rural subjects need to be educated that treatment must be continued even after improvement is established.

Female sexual dysfunction: A comparative study in drug naive 1st episode of depression in a general hospital of South Asia

Background: Womens sexual dysfunction is found to be highly prevalent in western and Indian literature. Limited studies are available on drug naive depression in western literature and in Indian population. Aim: To determine the prevalence rate and symptom profile of female sexual dysfunctions in patients with untreated depression. Design: A cross-sectional study in the psychiatry out-patient department of general hospital in South India. Materials and Methods: Following written informed consent female sexual functioning index (FSFI) and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) – female version and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD - 17 item) on 30 cases and 30 controls was administered. Sociodemographic data, pattern and type of sexual dysfunctions were enquired. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, contingency co-efficient analysis and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The mean score of HAMD 17 item in study group was 19.13. The study showed that female sexual dysfunction was 70.3% in study group compared to 43.3% in control FSFI scores above 16 in HAMD had dysfunction of 76% with FSFI in study group. With ASEX-F sexual dysfunction was 73.3% in study compared to 20% in control. Scores above 16 in HAMD had 80% of sexual dysfunction with ASEX-F in study group. Conclusion: The study found that ASEX-F co-related better with HAMD 17 item. Following the onset of depression, the incidence of sexual dysfunction started at an early age in women.

Effect of gamma ray and high-energy oxygen ion radiation on electrical and optical properties of MCT epitaxial layers

Hg1-xCdxTe epitaxial layers grown from Te-rich solution have been exposed to Gamma ray radiation up to 650 Grey using Co60 and high energy oxygen radiation at 100Mev. The electrical resistivity, carrier density and Hall mobility values at 77K and IR transmission at 300K have been measured in n,p and compensated epilayers both before and after irradiation. These properties are very much affected by these radiations. In the uncompensated p-type epitaxial layers both types of radiation produced an increase in extrinsic carrier density and a corresponding decrease in Hall mobility. It is observed that both types of radiation have significant effect on the compensated layers and the degree of compensation is greatly reduced by the oxygen irradiation. The 100 Mev oxygen irradiation produced an apparent shift in the bandgap towards shorter wavelength and the absorption below the energy gap is reduced as shown by FTIR measurements, whereas Gamma ray radiation up to the dose 650 Grey did not have any effect on optical properties. These results show the ability of oxygen radiation to passivate the activity of residual impurities or defects.