Sangeeta Bhatia

Psychological functioning in patients with Parkinson's disease

Forty patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) were studied to explore the relationship between aspects of psychological functioning (depression, problems in motoric, cognitive and psychological areas) and physical illness (stage and duration of illness, functional disability, global cognitive status). Depression, motoric, psychological and cognitive problems were found to be significantly greater in patients suffering from severe as compared to moderate disease. Functional disability correlated more strongly with variables assessing psychological functioning. It was concluded that problems of patients with PD were not restricted to the motoric domain but are multi-dimensional in nature, and other factors should be taken into account in the clinical management of the illness. These findings have implications for development of interventions for patients with PD.

Studies on organomercury(II) complexes of isoniazid

A number of organomercury(II) complexes involving isoniazid (I), of the type RHgCl(L)(II) [R = phenyl(C6H5), o-hydroxyphenyl (o-HOC6H4), p-hydroxyphenyl (p-HOC6H4), p-acetoxyphenyl (p-AcOC6H4), 2-furyl (2-C4H3O); L = isoniazid] have been synthesized and characterized. Conductance measurements indicate that the complexes are nonelectrolytes. From IR and UV studies, it is concluded that isoniazid acts as a bidentate ligand, coordinating through hydrazinic nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen. 1H and 13C NMR support the stoichiometry of the complexes. From fluoroscence studies a number of photochemical parameters have been elucidated. For the C6H5HgCl(L), p-HOC6H4HgCl(L), and p-AcOC6H4HgCl(L) complexes, thermogravimetric studies have been carried out and relevant kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal degradation have been enumerated. In addition, the fragmentation pattern of the complexes has been analyzed on the basis of mass spectra. The C6H5HgCl(L) and p-HOC6H4HgCl(L) complexes have been screened for tuberculosis activity.

Organomercury(II) dithiocarbazates: synthesis, characterisation and biological studies

Abstract Organomercury(II) dithiocarbazate complexes of the type RHgL (I) and RHgL′ (II) [R = phenyl (C6H5), o-hydroxyphenyl (o-HOC6H4), p-hydroxyphenyl (p-HOC6H4), p-acetoxyphenyl (p-ACOC6h4), 2-furyl (2-C4H3O); L = phenyldithiocarbazate, L′ = 2,4-dinitrophenyldithiocarbazate] have been synthesised and characterised. Conductance measurements indicate that the compounds are non-electrolytes. From IR and UV spectral studies it is concluded that the dithiocarbazate moiety is bidentate. Fluorescence studies have been carried out for o-, p-HOC6H4HgL and o-, p-HOC6H4HgL′ complexes and relevant photochemical parameters have been elucidated. For C6H5HgL, p-HOC6H4HgL, p-AcOC6H4HgL and p-HOC6H4HgL′ complexes, thermal studies (TG and DTA) have been carried out and kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal degradation have been enumerated. In addition, the fragmentation patterns of the complexes have been analysed on the basis of mass spectra. The complexes show positive fungicidal and bactericidal activities.

Depression in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract This study investigated the severity of depression in patients with Parkinsons Disease (PD) and explored relationships between depression and duration, stage, cognitive status and impairment in daily functioning. Also, depression in PD patients was studied with respect to age at onset of disease, stage and gender. Forty patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) who did not have dementia (MMSE cut-off > 23) were evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale. Subjects showed a high frequency of depression with 52.5 % severely depressed and 37.5% mild to moderately depressed. Severely depressed patients were significantly more impaired in their functioning of daily activities as compared to the mildly depressed group. Depression in these patients did not correlate significantly with duration of illness. However, stage of disease, global cognitive functioning and functional capacity were significantly related with depression. Patients with severe stage of PD had significantly higher means on depression than those having moderate disease. No gender differences were found for any of the study variables. These results have implications for development of interventions for persons with PD and their families.

Organomercury(II) complexes of kojic acid

Abstract Kojic acid or 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyran-4-one (I) is an antibiotic substance produced by Aspergilli. It is known to inhibit thegrowth of E. coli and S. aureus.1,2 Since the antibiotic activity of a drug is altered in the presence of metal ions, it was thought worthwhile to synthesise and characterise a few organomercury (11) complexes of kojic acid of the type RHgL(II) [R = C6 H5. o-, p-HOC6H4, p-AcOC6H4, 2-C4H3O (2-furyl); HL = kojic acid] and to study their activity against E. coti and P. pyocyuneu bacterial strains. This is a sequel to our investigation of metal ion-biomolecule interaction.3–6

History and Theory of Community Psychology in India: An International Perspective

The term community psychology is very new to India. To describe the field, it is helpful to examine the historical developments that preceded the existence of community psychology. A history of psychology in India shows a movement from intrapsychic emphasis to experimental, and more recently to a contextual approach in understanding behavior. The mental health movement is shown to be independent of and a parallel discipline of psychology, as psychology in India has largely remained an academic discipline with its research conducted within the four walls of the laboratory. The efforts by a few psychologists to have an independent subfield of community psychology have shown fruition only in the past decade but have remained largely overshadowed by work done in community development by departments of social work in universities. This chapter highlights the aims of psychologists in India to use a culturally relevant methodology that identifies the needs and resources of a community. The context is important in defining the goals of a people, who should be encouraged to participate in planning and implementation of programs. The authors envisage an ideal ‘organization’ where the national policymakers while formulating interventions for optimizing mental health share the conceptualization of a community’s needs jointly with psychologists.

Thermal studies of organomercury(II) complexes of kojic acid and maltol

Organomercury(II) derivatives of kojic acid and maltol of the type RHgL1(I) and RHgL2(II) (R=phenyl(C6H5), p-hydroxyphenyl (p-HOC6H4), p-acetoxyphenyl (p-AcOC6H4); HL1=kojic acid, HL2=maltol) have been synthesised. IR spectral studies indicate that both the ligands act as bidentate groups, bonding to the mercury(II) ion through phenolic and carbonyl oxygens. From thermogravimetric curves, the order, activation energy and apparent activation entropy of the thermal decomposition reaction have been elucidated. The variation of the activation energy has been correlated with the nature of the substituents on the phenyl ring. The heat of reaction has been determined from differential scanning calorimetric studies. The fragmentation pattern has been analysed on the basis of mass spectra.

Thermal studies on organomercury(II) complexes of isoniazid

Abstract Organomercury(II) derivatives of isoniazid of the type, RHgCl(L) [R = C6H5, p-HOC6H4, p-AcOC6H4; L = isoniazid] have been synthesised. Spectral studies (IR and UV) indicate that the isoniazid moiety is bidentate. From thermogravimetric curves, the order, activation energy and apparent activation entropy of the thermal decomposition reaction have been elucidated. The heat of reaction has been calculated from differential thermal analysis curves.

Thermal studies on organomercury(II) complexes of kojic acid and maltol

Abstract Thermal studies on organomercury(II) derivatives of Kojic acid and maltol of the type RHgL1 and RHgL2 [R = phenyl (C6H5), p-hydroxyphenyl (p-HOC6H4), p-acetoxyphenyl (p-AcOC6H4); HL1 = Kojic acid, HL2 = maltol] have been carried out. From thermogravimetric (TG) curves, the order, activation energy and apparent activation entropy of the thermal decomposition reaction have been elucidated. The variation of activation energy has been correlated with the nature of the substituent on the phenyl ring. The heat of reaction has been determined from differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies.