Shubh Mohan Singh

The P300 event-related potential and its possible role as an endophenotype for studying substance use disorders: a review

The concept of endophenotypes has gained popularity in recent years. This is because of the potential that endophenotypes provide of measuring objective trait markers that are simpler to access and assess than complex behavioral disease phenotypes themselves. The simplicity, ease of measurement and the putative links to the etiology of the disease in the study of an endophenotype has the potential promise of unraveling the genetic basis of the disease in question. Of the various proposed endophenotypes, the P300 component of the event‐related potential has been used in studies on alcoholism, schizophrenia and externalizing disorders. The current state of knowledge regarding the concept of endophenotypes, P300 and the validity of P300 as an endophenotype with special reference to substance use disorders is discussed in this review. The implications of the above are discussed.

Substance-induced psychotic disorders: 13-Year data from a de-addiction centre and their clinical implications

The relationship between substance use and psychotic disorder has been complex. Alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, hallucinogens, and phencyclidine have been implicated as a causative factor for psychotic disorders. It is important to differentiate substance induced psychotic disorders (SIPDs) from primary psychotic disorders as management of the two conditions is different. There is paucity of research in the area of SIPD particularly from Asia. The present study was a retrospective study and it determines retrospectively the incidence rate and clinical characteristics of the SIPDs over a period of 13 years. The incidence of SIPDs was found to be 1.4% and all the subjects were males. In the present study, only alcohol and cannabis were implicated as causative agents for SIPDs. The most common type of psychosis was schizophrenia like psychosis, being more common in the cannabis group. The other forms of psychosis included delusional type, hallucinatory type and affective psychosis. 20% of the subjects had a change in diagnosis to either schizophrenia or affective psychosis on follow-up. The present study showed that the presentation of SIPDs is similar to the primary psychotic disorder and this has management implication.

Prevalence and correlates of epileptic seizure in substance‐abusing subjects

Life‐time prevalence of epileptic seizures was assessed in 626 consecutive patients treated for substance abuse. Seizures were reported in 8.63% (9.2% in alcohol abusers, 12.5% in opioid abusers). A total of 64.8% of the seizures were associated with substance use. These occurred during withdrawal in the alcohol cohort and during intoxication with dextropropoxyphene and withdrawal from heroin or poppy husk in the opioid cohort. Results indicate that seizures may be more common in older patients with longer duration of dependence among those abusing alcohol.

Auditory P300 Event-Related Potentials and Neurocognitive Functions in Opioid Dependent Men and Their Brothers

Event-related-potentials (especially P300) and cognitive functioning as potential endophenotypes have not been studied in opioid dependence. We compared auditory P300 and cognitive functions in opioid-dependent men, their brothers and normal controls in an exploratory study with a view to find shared genetic factors in the development of opioid dependence. Twenty abstinent opioid-dependent males, their brothers and twenty matched controls were administered Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), digit span test, trail making test-B, and auditory event-related potentials (P300) from an oddball task were recorded. The opioid dependent group performed the worst, the brothers group was intermediate, and the control group performed the best on tests of WCST, digit span and trail making test-B. The opioid dependent group had the smallest amplitudes and longest latencies of P300, and was followed by the brothers group who had an intermediate position and the control group who had the largest amplitudes and the shortest latencies. P300 and executive neurocognitive functions can be considered endophenotypes for the genetic study of vulnerability to opioid dependence. These are reflective of executive dysfunction and disrupted behavioral inhibition and the intermediate position of brothers suggests a common genetic substrate as a component of the etiology.

Tramadol dependence: A case series from India

Tramadol is an atypical, centrally acting, synthetic analgesic, acting through opioid and non-opioid systems. We present a series of seven cases, all men, who sought treatment at our centre for tramadol-dependence. The majority were using other opioids at some point in their lives. Their tramadol use had begun with a prescription of tramadol for opioid detoxification, for headache and body pains, and as an alternative to injectable opioids. The doses of tramadol used varied from 50 to 1500 mg per day. All subjects reported an experience of euphoria with tramadol use. Four patients were put on naltrexone, but had poor compliance. This case series underscores the need for caution, while using tramadol in substance-dependent patients.

Long-term outcome of in-patients with substance use disorders: A study from North India.

Background: Research into substance use disorders (SUD) has been unable to unequivocally demonstrate effectiveness of treatment modalities. Aims: The aim of the study was to study the long-term outcome after in-patient treatment in a cohort of patients admitted for SUD in a deaddiction unit of a hospital in North India. Materials and Methods: The case notes of all in-patients with a primary diagnosis of alcohol and/or opioid dependence syndrome (F10.24 and F11.24) in the calendar year 2006 were examined. All patients without any physical or mental comorbidity other than comorbid SUD were included in the study. They were contacted telephonically or their case notes examined in September, 2007. Status regarding abstinence or relapse was determined and data was analyzed. Independent samples t-test and chi-square test were used for determining significance of difference between continuous and categorical variables respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied to find the survival times of different groups with the duration to relapse as variable of interest. Log rank test was applied to find the significance of differences in various groups. Coxs Regression analysis was applied to find the hazard ratio. Results and Conclusions: Data for 59.22% of patients included in the study were available for analysis. Mean survival time was 36.35 weeks (28.74-43.95, 95% CI) for patients across different groups, 36.71 weeks (26.24-47.18, 95% CI) for the alcohol group, 34.00 weeks (8.37-59.36, 95% CI) for natural opioids group, 37.53 weeks (26.33-48.73, 95% CI) for semi/synthetic opioids group and 17.00 weeks (3.39-30.60, 95% CI) for the mixed group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that those who were following-up at time of evaluation had significantly longer durations to relapse. Deaddiction services should stress on keeping patients on follow-up as a means to better outcomes.

Profile of presentation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in North India, 2003-2007

Background: Clinico-epidemiological profile of the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in India is varied and depends on multitude of factors including geographic location. We analyzed the characteristics of HIV-infected patients attending our Immunodeficiency Clinic to determine any changes in their profile over five years. Settings and Design: A retrospective observational study. Materials and Methods: The study sample included all patients with HIV infection from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2007. Diagnosis of HIV was made according to National AIDS Control Organization guidelines. Results: Of 3 067 HIV-infected patients, 1 887 (61.5%) were male and 1 180 (38.5%) were female patients. Mean age of patients was 35.1 ± 9.0 years. Majority (91.8%) of patients were in the age group of 15 to 49 years. Progressively increasing proportion of female patients was noted from year 2004 onward. Median CD4 count at presentation in year 2003 was 197/μl (Interquartile range [IQR] = 82.5-373) while in year 2007 it was 186.5/μl (IQR = 86.3-336.8). Mean CD4 count of male patients was 203.7 ± 169.4/μl, significantly lower as compared with female patients, which was 284.8 ± 223.3/μl (P value ≤0.05). Every year, substantial proportions of patients presenting to clinic had CD4 count<200/μl indicating advanced disease. Predominant route of transmission was heterosexual in 2 507 (81.7%) patients. Tuberculosis and oropharyngeal candidiasis were the most common opportunistic infections (OIs). Cryptococcal meningitis was the most common central nervous infection. Our patients had comparatively lower median CD4 counts at the time of presentation with various OIs. Conclusions: Patients had advanced stage of HIV infection at the time of presentation throughout five years. Females presented earlier during the course of HIV infection. There is need for early screening and increasing awareness in healthcare providers to make a diagnosis of HIV much sooner.

Quetiapine: Relatively Safe in Overdose?

Compared to other antipsychotics quetiapine has been reported to be relatively safer in overdose. We report a case with paranoid schizophrenia who attempted suicide with 1400 mg of quetiapine and manifested drowsiness, supraventricular tachycardia (167/minute) and minimal ST depression in leads V1 to V6 on ECG; all other physiological parameters were normal. Gastric lavage, lorazepam 2mg i/v to control agitation, and 14-hour observation in emergency ended in she being sent home. Subsequently she was successfully managed with ECTs, and quetiapine 600mg and risperidone 6mg daily. This report tends to support the literature suggesting quetiapine as a relatively-safer-in-overdose antipsychotic, and preferable in medication-overdose-suicidal-risk cases.

Screening for depressive disorders in outpatients with mild to moderate psoriasis: a study from North India.

BACKGROUND Psoriasis and depressive disorders commonly occur together. Depressive disorders have an impact on the quality of life and the outcome of psoriasis. AIMS The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of using a modification of the Hindi translation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as a verbal, clinician administered, short screening questionnaire for detecting depressive disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and four out-patients with psoriasis were recruited in the study. In the first stage of the study, socio-demographic data, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, and Dermatological Quality of Life (DLQI) score were recorded. The modified questionnaire was administered by the dermatologist. In the second stage, psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. RESULTS The prevalence of depressive disorders was 39.4%. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed that the questionnaire had a good discriminant ability in detecting depressive disorders (area under curve: 0.81, SE = 0.04, 95% confidence interval = 0.72-0.89). LIMITATIONS The sample size is small and more studies are needed with the screening questions in different languages to validate the findings of the study. CONCLUSION The questionnaire can be a useful screening instrument for detecting depressive disorders in patients with psoriasis.

A patient with Tramadol dependence and predictable provoked epileptic seizures

Tramadol is an atypical, centrally acting synthetic analgesic with propensity for provoked seizures as well as abuse potential. The index case of Tramadol dependence discussed in this case report developed multiple epileptic seizures with high doses of Tramadol, used as a sexual enhancer by him, and later he learned to prevent the seizures by self-medicating with Alprazolam. The authors further emphasize on the regulation of Tramadol prescription.