A cross-sectional study of opinion about mental illness among undergraduate medical students with and without exposure to the psychiatry clinical rotation/postings during their undergraduate training.

Background: A positive attitude toward mental illness is a prerequisite for the provision of holistic care. Thus, a study was undertaken to know the opinion about mental illness among medical students with and without exposure to the psychiatry clinical rotation/postings during their undergraduate training. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Karnataka. The sample comprised medical undergraduate students with and without exposure to psychiatry clinical postings, respectively. Self-administered socio-demographic and opinion about mental illness (OMI) questionnaires were used to collect the data. Result: Medical undergraduates from 1st and 2nd years who were unexposed to psychiatry and students from 3rd and 4th years who had exposure to psychiatry constituted about 52.17% (n = 252) and 47.83% (n = 231) of the overall sample size. A positive opinion toward mental illness was seen across various subsections of OMI questionnaire, especially in students who had attended psychiatry clinical posting. Conclusion: Opinions can change based on one's experiences. A positive opinion toward mental illness was seen across medical undergraduate students who had completed psychiatry clinical postings in our study. The study provides valuable insights across various domains or areas wherein a teacher can focus and adjust the teaching methodologies accordingly. In the long run, it might have a positive influence on medical students to understand mental disorders, diagnose them, and manage patients with mental illness.

A Rare Case of Complicated Opioid Withdrawal in Delirium Without Convulsions.

Opioids are one of the commonly abused substances in India. Opioid withdrawal symptoms classically include severe muscle cramps, bone aches, autonomic symptoms, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and temperature dysregulation. However, reports of cases with delirium during withdrawal are few. A 25-year-old male with severe opioid withdrawal symptoms developed delirium. Investigations were normal. There were no comorbidities, no significant past history and family history. Patient treated for opioid dependence with tapering doses of lorazepam and clonidine. He was discharged with naltrexone. Patient lapsed 3 months later with similar presentation. Complications such as convulsions and delirium are recognized in alcohol withdrawal. However, these are rare as a feature of opioid withdrawal. This case illustrates the need for psychiatrists and physicians to be aware of the possibilities of delirium with opioid withdrawal and monitoring for the same is important because of its complications.