Psychiatric morbidity in vitiligo: prevalence and correlates in India.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo, a common pigmentary disorder, is recognized to be associated with a high psychiatric morbidity, yet compared to other dermatological disorders like leprosy, psoriasis, etc., it has not been subjected to detailed evaluation of its psychological consequences. The data from the developing countries on this aspect in particular is meager. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen cases with vitiligo were evaluated along with 55 healthy controls comparable for sociodemographic profile and matched on attitude to appearance scale. Clinical details, impact of illness, associated dysfunction and psychological morbidity were additionally assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with vitiligo were found to have psychiatric morbidity, a clinic prevalence rate of 25% (95% confidence interval 20.3-29.3%). The majority of the cases had a diagnosis of adjustment disorder. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly correlated with dysfunction arising out of illness. CONCLUSIONS: Vitiligo is associated with high psychiatric morbidity. There is a need to develop cross-cultural database on psychosocial aspects and psychiatric morbidity associated with vitiligo.

Psychiatry morbidity in vitiligo: prevalence and correlates in India

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo, a common pigmentary disorder, is recognized to be associated with a high psychiatric morbidity, yet compared to other dermatological disorders like leprosy, psoriasis, etc., it has not been subjected to detailed evaluation of its psychological consequences. The data from the developing countries on this aspect in particular is meager. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen cases with vitiligo were evaluated along with 55 healthy controls comparable for sociodemographic profile and matched on attitude to appearance scale. Clinical details, impact of illness, associated dysfunction and psychological morbidity were additionally assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with vitiligo were found to have psychiatric morbidity, a clinic prevalence rate of 25 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 20.3-29.3per cent). The majority of the cases had a diagnosis of adjustment disorder. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly correlated with dysfunction arising out of illness. CONCLUSIONS: Vitiligo is associated with high psychiatric morbidity. There is a need to develop cross-cultural database on psychosocial aspects and psychiatric morbidity associated with vitiligo.

Further observations on MDT blister-calendar packs in vertical leprosy eradication programmes--a multicentre study (phase II)

To improve operational efficiency as well as to improve patient compliance in leprosy programmes, DANIDA introduced blister-calendar packs (BCP) to deliver MDT in 4 MDT districts in India in 1987. An objective study (Phase II) involving 343 patients in a trial group (BCP group) and 253 patients in a control group (loose drug group) showed no significant difference in compliance rates for self-administered dose between the 2 groups. Hence, while assessing the use of BCPs in leprosy programmes, other operational benefits like safe storage, easy transportation, easy drug accounting and safe preservation at home are to be considered. These aspects were followed up from Phase I of the study.

Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (Cockayne-touraine Type).

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa of Cockayne-Touraine type in a 37-year ole male.

Observations on the morphology of mycobacterium leprae by ordinary optics, phase microscopy, and electron microscopy

Mycobacterium leprae has been studied with the aid of the ordinary and phase microscopes, and the electron microscope. It has been found that treatment of M. leprae with distilled water or chloroform prior to examination produces artefacts. Fixation of material is the vapor of 2 per cent osmic acid solution gives the best results for the electron microscope study of the bacillus. The following forms representing the morphological variants of this mycobacterium have been established with certainty from this study: (a) a short, oval type of cells with one or two polar condensations; (b) elongate types with double polar condensations; (c) very long types with alternate light and dark zones; and (d) homogeneously dark, elongate types. The possible significance and relationships of these variants have been discussed.