Clozapine-related tachycardia: A conundrum to identify and treat.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the rates and persistence of clozapine-induced tachycardia and heart-rate differences in patients treated with ß-blockers in the largest sample of patients with a psychotic disorder to date. METHOD: An audit of medical files for 101 patients who attended a clozapine community clinic and analysis of monthly measurements of resting heart rates. RESULTS: 51% met the clinical criteria for tachycardia. Heart rates were stable over time. ß-blockers were associated with small but significant reductions in heart rates. CONCLUSION: The cardiovascular risks of clozapine are often overlooked. ß-blockers are useful in lowering heart rates but they may be insufficient to reduce cardiac risk.

CBTp for people with treatment refractory schizophrenia on clozapine: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp), an effective treatment for people with schizophrenia, may have a role in clozapine refractory schizophrenia. AIMS: A systematic-review and meta-analysis on the impact of CBTp on psychotic symptoms in people on clozapine. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Cochrane for randomised control trials of CBTp as augmentation in people with treatment-refractory schizophrenia on clozapine and conducted pair-wise meta-analyses. RESULTS: Four studies met inclusion criteria. On pairwise meta-analyses, the primary outcome of total psychotic symptoms was not significantly altered by CBTp at either therapy endpoint or six to twelve months follow-up. Secondary outcomes showed that CBT improved positive symptoms at both therapy endpoint (SMD -0.33, 95%CI -0.50 to -0.16, p = 0.002, I2 = 0%) and six to twelve months follow-up (SMD -0.20, 95%CI -0.38 to -0.02, p = 0.03, I2 = 0%) though did not alter negative psychotic symptoms at either timepoint. CONCLUSIONS: CBTp may lead to small benefits for positive symptoms refractory to clozapine. Given the low risks associated with CBTp, and the limited alternative options for clozapine refractory schizophrenia, this approach should be considered in this population.

Analysis of sexual assault survivours in a tertiary care hospital in delhi: a retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Rape and abuse of women are common occurrences, which, many a times go unspoken due to social stigma or fear of retribution. Rape is a crime not against a single human being but against the entire humanity. For granting justice to the rape survivor it becomes necessary that such matters are properly presented before the Courts of Law. Healthcare workers play an important role in this regard because they are the first person who examine the rape victims. They prepare a documented record of medical condition of rape victim and do relevant sample collection. AIM: The objective of this study is to analyse demographic and event characteristics of rape victims who presented to the Emergency Department in tertiary care, Delhi after sexual assault. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was retrospectively collected from the medico legal register of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between June 2010 to December 2013. RESULT: We noted a marked increase in the number of cases. Mean age of victims was 17 and most belonged to the lower socio-economic strata of the society. Use of sedatives and physical trauma was not common. Victims often knew the perpetrator of the event. Most (58%) of them reported within one day of the incident. Major degrees of perineal tears were seen in young victims. CONCLUSION: By understanding the demography of the sexual assault victims, we need to train our doctors for proper evidence collection not just in a government set up but also in private clinics, to help rape victims get justice and proper medical treatment.