Role of faith healers in the treatment of severe mental illness in India

Background: The cultural diversity has influenced the beliefs of people regarding health and illness. An aim of the study was to assess the role of faith healers in the treatment of severe mental illness. Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study with convenience sampling technique was used, on 123 caregivers of patients with severe mental illnesses using standardized tools like MINI, BPRS, and YMRS. Results: 41.5% participants firstly contacted faith healer while 86% visited faith healer anytime during the course of illness. 47.2% took treatment from faith healer for <6 months, 21.1% took 6-12 months and 17.9% more than 13 months. 22.8% circulated between faith healer to faith healer, 18.7% from psychiatrist to faith healer and 27.6% from medical professional to faith healer. Conclusions: There is an immense need to create awareness regarding mental illness and treatment options available.

Alteration of serum copper in Kala-azar patients during SAG therapy.

We conducted an analytic case-control study in Kala-azar patients during Sodium Antimony Gluconate (SAG) therapy to assess the changes in serum copper. A total of 89 subjects were included in the study. Diagnosed patients of Kala-azar with parasitological evidence of Leishmania Donovani (LD) bodies in bone marrow, were selected as cases (n=54). They were selected from Medicine and Paediatric wards of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh and nearby Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh district. Physically healthy volunteers of similar age, sex and body mass index (BMI) as cases, were included in control group (n=35). The study period was from July 2003 to June 2004. SAG was given intramuscularly (20 mg/kg/day) to Kala-azar patients for 30 days. Blood samples were collected from controls, Kala-azar cases before therapy and same cases during 15-20 days of SAG therapy. Serum copper was higher in cases before therapy than those of controls (p<0.001). However, serum copper reduced significantly (p<0.001) during SAG therapy. So biochemical monitoring may be considered in the management of the disease.

Serum copper in rural women taking combined oral contraceptive.

This prospective case-control study included 78 women between 15 to 45 years of age from rural area to see changes in serum copper level as a consequence of oral contraceptive use. Among the subjects, 34 women were included as controls because of not taking any form of hormonal contraceptives neither during the time of selection nor during one-year period prior to the study. Women in the control group were motivated to consume oral pill (Sukhi) for 3 consecutive cycles. At the 3(rd) month, 25 such women became available and henceforth included as cases on longitudinal basis. Another 44 women were randomly selected as cases on the basis of using combined oral contraceptives (Sukhi) for a duration of 4 months onwards. Considering different duration of oral contraceptive (OC) use, subjects were grouped as follows: Group I (n=34)--> controls, Group II (n=25)--> 3 months, Group III (n=17)--> 4 months - 2 years and Group IV (n=27)--> >2 years. Finally, 103 samples of blood (34 from controls and 69 from oral contraceptives users) were collected for estimation of Serum Copper (mgm/dl) by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry using UNICAM-AA Spectrometer. Mean+/-SD of Serum Copper significantly increased in all 3 contraceptive groups in comparison to controls (p<0.001). Further study including larger population from rural area was recommended to see correlation among serum copper and other trace elements with side effects of hormonal contraceptives. This preliminary study tried to explore the possibility of establishing biochemical monitoring of serum trace elements in OC users.

Alteration in iron status in pre eclampsia.

The aim of the study is to compare and contrast serum iron status in pre eclamptic women with normal pregnant women which may help in the establishment of diagnosis of pre eclampsia before appearance of its clinical manifestation. A total of 82 women in the last half of pregnancy, between 17 to 40 years of age, who attended the model family planning clinic, out patient and in patient departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology unit of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh were selected for this purpose before any treatment was given in present pregnancy. Out of them 32 pregnant women were taken as control because they did not show any evidence of complication during the time of selection and 50 pregnant women were randomly selected as cases on the basic of having pre eclampsia. Mean value of serum iron was significantly increased in the pre eclamptic women in comparison to controls whereas mean values of both total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) were significantly decreased in pre eclamptic women in contrast to controls. The results allude to the possible contribution of released iron free radicals from ischaemic placenta in pre eclampsia to its etiology. So, routine investigation of serum iron status of pregnant women as part of antenatal checkup may help in the establishment of diagnosis of pre eclampsia before appearance of its clinical manifestation.

Serum zinc status of rural women taking combined OC.

This prospective case-control study was undertaken on 78 women between 15 to 45 years of age from rural area to see alteration of serum zinc due to oral contraceptive (OC) use. Of the subjects, 34 women was taken as controls having no history of taking any form of hormonal contraceptives neither during the time of selection nor during one-year period prior to the study. All of the women in the control group were advised to start consuming oral pill (Sukhi) for 3 consecutive cycles and at the 3(rd) month, 25 women were taken as cases on longitudinal basis. Another 44 women were randomly selected as cases on the basis of using combined oral contraceptives (Sukhi) for 4 months onwards. Subjects were classified as follows on the basis of duration of oral contraceptive use: Group I (n=34) -- controls, Group II (n=25) -- 3 months, Group III (n=17) -- 4 months -- 2 years and Group IV (n=27) -- >2 years. Finally, 103 samples of blood (34 from controls and 69 from oral contraceptives users) were collected for estimation of Serum Zinc (microg/dl) by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry using UNICAM - AA Spectrometer. MeanSD of Serum Zinc significantly reduced in all 3 contraceptive groups in comparison to controls (p<0.001). It was recommended to carry out further study including larger population from rural area to elucidate alteration in serum zinc and other trace elements to correlate with side effects caused by hormonal contraceptive so that attempt could be made to mitigate those.

Serum lipid profile in hypertensive and normotensive type II diabetes mellitus patients--a comparative study.

A comparative prospective study was done in 10 patients suffering from hypertension with type II diabetes mellitus and 10 patients suffering from type II diabetes without hypertension. The serum Lipid profile was studied on 10 healthy normotensive nondiabetic subject, on 10 patients suffering from hypertension with type II diabetes mellitus and on 10 patients suffering from type II diabetes mellitus without hypertension. In present study a significantly higher level of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-Cholesterol concentration were observed in hypertensive type II diabetes mellitus and normotensive type II diabetes mellitus subjects in comparison to control group and serum HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in both the groups in comparison to healthy control. There was significantly increased level of serum total cholesterol (P < 0.001) and LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001) in hypertensive type II diabetes mellitus in comparison to normotensive type II diabetes mellitus. Though serum triglyceride level was increased in hypertensive type II diabetes mellitus in comparison to normotensive type II diabetes mellitus, but it was not statistically significant. Serum HDL-cholesterol level was more in normotensive type II diabetes mellitus in comparison to hypertensive type II diabetes mellitus group but it was not statistically significant.

Dietary fibre and coronary heart disease.

Intake of dietary fibres lowers plasma lipids. Fibres particularly soluble ones lower serum total cholesterol (TC) and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) without significant alteration in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triacylglyccrol (TG). Consequently, the incidence of atherosclerotic heart diseases is lower in those who take high dietary fibre. Persons taking diet rich in saturated fat and poor in dietary fibre is more prone to develop coronary artery diseases. Dietary fibres also lower TC: HDL-C and LDL-C: HDL-C ratios. Higher TC: HDL-C and LDL-C: HDL-C ratios are in favour of development and progression of atherosclerotic vascular diseases, a pioneer cause of myocardial infarction (MI).