Differences in levels of disability and quality of life between genders in schizophrenia remission.

BACKGROUND: QOL (Quality of life) and Disability have been considered inevitable components of schizophrenia from the Biopsychosocial point of view. Studies from over the world have reported significantly lower levels of QOL and higher levels of disability in schizophrenia; but there are equivocal results revealing differences in levels of disability and QOL between genders in schizophrenia. AIM: To find out the difference in the levels of QOL and disability in both the genders in schizophrenia remission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is cross-sectional study. Sixty patients who gave consent for their participation in the study and satisfying the criterion of remission of schizophrenia, in the age group of 18-60 years, were selected. A purposive sampling technique was used. There were 34 males and 26 females in the study sample. WHO-QOL-BREF ( World Health Organization, Quality of life BREF) and WHO-DAS (World Health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule) were administered. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of QOL and disability between the genders. Higher scores of WHO-QOL-BREF were seen in the male group, and higher scores of WHO-DAS were seen in the female group. CONCLUSION: Male group had better QOL, and the female group had higher disability.

Perceived social support and life satisfaction in persons with somatization disorder.

BACKGROUND: Life satisfaction and perceived social support been shown to improve the well-being of a person and also affect the outcome of treatment in somatization disorder. The phenomenon of somatization was explored in relation to the perceived social support and life satisfaction. AIM: This study aimed at investigating perceived social support and life satisfaction in people with somatization disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on persons having somatization disorder attending the outpatient unit of LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam. Satisfaction with life scale and multidimensional scale of perceived social support were used to assess life satisfaction and perceived social support respectively. RESULTS: Women reported more somatic symptoms than men. Family perceived social support was high in the patient in comparison to significant others' perceived social support and friends' perceived social support. Perceived social support showed that a significant positive correlation was found with life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Poor social support and low life satisfaction might be a stress response with regard to increased distress severity and psychosocial stressors rather than a cultural response to express psychological problems in somatic terms.

Comorbid psychiatric disorders in substance dependence patients: A control study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the comorbidity of mental disorders among a random sample of substance dependence patients from a psychiatric inpatients department and the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensive data was collected from inpatients with substance abuse/dependence and comorbidity of mental disorders at the Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) and from normal controls from the general population during the period January 2007 to May 2007. RESULTS: The results show that the most prevalent comorbid disorders in substance dependence patients and substance abusers were depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of substance dependence patients suffered from comorbid mental disorders. Comorbidity needs to be taken into account when analyzing the relationship between substance dependence and depression and in planning treatment strategies for comorbid conditions.

Parent-child relationship in children of alcoholic and non-alcoholic parents.

AIM: Overall aim of the study was to see parent-child relationship in children of alcoholic and non-alcoholic parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 30 alcoholic and 30 non-alcoholic parents and their children taken from Kanke Block of Ranchi district. The sample was selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Socio-demographic data sheet and Parent Child Relationship Scale (Rao, 1978) were administered to the children. RESULTS: In a child's perception of father in various domains of parent-child relationship, significant difference at P < 0.01 was found in the domain of symbolic punishment, rejecting, objective punishment, demanding, indifferent, symbolic reward in loving and neglecting, and in child's perception of the mother. Significant difference at P < 0.01 was found in the domain of symbolic punishment, rejecting, object punishment, indifferent and in neglecting. CONCLUSION: The result showed that the children of alcoholic parents tended to have more symbolic punishment, rejecting, objective punishment, demanding, indifferent, symbolic reward loving and in neglecting than children of non alcoholic parents.

Students' perception about mental illness.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries like India, there are evidences that stigma associated with mental illness is increasing. As in parts of the developing world, with advancement of urbanization and rapid industrialization, people tend to react in a very peculiar and biased way when they confront a mentally ill person. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study aimed to find out students' opinion about mental illness. A total of 100 students (50 male and 50 female) from Ranchi University were purposively recruited for the study, and the 51-item Opinion about Mental Illness (OMI) Scale was administered. RESULTS: Majority of the students were from Hindu families, of whom 42 (84%) were males and 38 (68%) were females. With regard to OMI scale, the item, viz., 'The law should allow a woman to divorce her husband as soon as he has been confined in mental hospital with a severe mental illness', both male (46%) and female (56%) students were neutral (significant at 0.014, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Overall no significant level of difference emerged between male and female students with regard to opinion about mental illness.

Subjective burden on spouses of schizophrenia patients.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information from India on subjective burden on spouses of schizophrenia patients. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare patterns of subjective burden on spouses of schizophrenia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted at the OPD level, and follow-up was done at the Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Sciences (RINPAS) during the period May 2008 to November 2008. Tools utilized were sociodemographic data sheet, Family Burden Interview Schedule developed by Pai and R. L. Kapur (1981). The sample comprised of 50 samples of spouses (25 male and 25 female spouses of schizophrenia patients). METHODS: The present study was conducted at the OPD level, and follow-up was done at the Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Sciences (RINPAS) during the period May 2008 to November 2008. Tools utilized were sociodemographic data sheet, Family Burden Interview Schedule developed by Pai and R. L. Kapur (1981). The sample comprised of 50 samples of spouses (25 male and 25 female spouses of schizophrenia patients). RESULTS: The findings suggest that both the groups, viz., male and female spouses of schizophrenia patients, showed moderate level of subjective burden, i.e., 13 (52%) and 15 (60%) male and female spouses, respectively, which was statistically found to be insignificant. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was found between male and female spouses of schizophrenia patients with regard to the level of subjective burden.

Possible psychosocial strategies for controlling violence against women.

Women, the fair sex, are considered to be the weaker sex and one of the most powerless and marginalized sections of our society. Violence against women and girls continues to be a global epidemic. It is present in every country, cutting across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity and age. A growing body of research studies indicates that 20% to 50% (varying from country to country) of women have experienced domestic violence. A multilayered strategy that addresses the structural causes of violence against women is needed. Strategies and interventions attempting to address violence against women should be guided by 5 underlying principles: Prevention, protection, early intervention, rebuilding the lives of victims/survivors and accountability. When planning interventions, there are a variety of stakeholders who should be borne in mind. Key areas for intervention include encouraging women empowerment; advocacy and awareness raising; education for building a culture of nonviolence; encouraging active participation of women in political system; resource development; direct service provision to victims, survivors and perpetrators; networking and community mobilization; direct intervention to help victims/survivors rebuild their lives; legal reform; monitoring interventions and measures; early identification of 'at risk' families, communities, groups and individuals; and data collection and analysis.

An experience of community mental health program in rural areas of Jharkhand.

BACKGROUND: In the present era, mental disability is a major public health problem in the society. Many of the mental disabilities are correctable if detected early. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and pattern of mental disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study. Patients of all age groups in the age range of 0-60 years were randomly selected from 10 blocks of 2 districts, viz., Ranchi and Hazaribagh. Thirty villages from each block were taken for the study. The study was conducted by making house-to-house visits, interviewing and examining all the individuals in the families selected using pre-tested questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: It was done by the proportions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mental disability was found higher among males (67.9%) than among females (32.1%). The prevalence rate was higher among the productive groups and among individuals with low socioeconomic status. There is scope of community-based rehabilitation of the mentally disabled.

Caregiver'S burden : a comparison between obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.

The present study compared burden of care between the key relatives of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia. For this study, consecutive key relatives of patients with either OCD (n=30) or schizophrenia (n=41) were evaluated with 40-item burden assessment schedule (BAS). In comparison with schizophrenia group, caregivers in OCD group had significantly high mean scores for the domains, spouse-related factor and caregiver's strategy of BAS. The degree of burden, evidenced by mean scores, was comparable between groups for other domains of BAS. Spouses and unemployed caregivers in OCD group had significantly elevated mean total burden scores. The present findings suggest that caregiver's burden imposed by OCD is either excess or nearly comparable to that of schizophrenia.

Psychosocial dysfunction and family burden in schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder.

This study aimed to assess and compare the extent and pattern of psychosocial dysfunction and family burden in schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and to identify interrelationships between the two variables in these two disorders. First-degree relatives/spouses of 35 schizophrenic and 30 OCD patients were interviewed using the Dysfunction Analysis Questionnaire (DAQ) and the Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS). Global score and scores in vocational, personal, familial and cognitive areas on the DAQ, and global score, subjective score, and scores on items such as financial burden, disruption of family-routine, disruption of family leisure and disruption of family interactions on the FBIS were significantly higher in the schizophrenic group. Dysfunction in social area was comparable in two groups. OCD group showed a significant positive correlation between dysfunction and all areas of family burden except physical and mental health. Schizophrenic group showed a significant positive correlation between dysfunction and disruption of family interaction. The implications of these findings are discussed.