Patients with suicidal burns and accidental burns: a comparative study of socio-demographic profile in India.

This is a prospective study of 50 consecutive admissions to the burns unit. The socio-demographic data was collected using special proforma and interviewing the patients and relatives. All patients were administered the presumptive stressful life event scale (PSLES). Depending on the presence or absence of suicidal intent, patients were divided into two groups. The two groups were then compared with regards to their socio-demographic profile using the unrelated t-test and the Fisher's exact test. The two groups did not differ significantly with regards to age, sex, education, marital status, occupation or monthly per capita income. The patients who had suicidal intent came from joint family, had more stressful life events and suffered larger burns injuries compared with those who experienced accidental burn injuries. The majority of the patients were below the age of 35, unemployed and females outnumbered males in both the groups.

Centbutindole vs trifluoperazine: a double-blind controlled clinical study in acute schizophrenia.

Twenty-nine acute schizophrenic patients were treated under double-blind conditions for six weeks with either centbutindole in a dose range of 3 mg/day to 4.5 mg/day or trifluoperazine in the dose range of 15 mg/day to 22.5 mg/day. Both drugs produced a significant improvement in initial psychopathology. No significant differences were demonstrated between the two treatment conditions.

Effects of intravenous metoclopramide in 81 patients with tardive dyskinesia.

We compared acute effects of single intravenous administrations of metoclopramide (40 mg) and placebo in a double-blind crossover study involving 81 patients with tardive dyskinesia. Metoclopramide produced significantly greater reduction in mean total Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale score as well as in ratings for six of the seven body areas, when compared with placebo. On adjusting each patient's metoclopramide response for his or her placebo response, we found that 35 of the 81 patients had 50% or greater placebo-corrected improvement. There were no apparent clinical differences between metoclopramide responders and nonresponders. Administration of 60 mg of metoclopramide to 15 patients produced greater improvement in tardive dyskinesia as compared with 40 mg; the incidence of acute dystonia, however, jumped from 10% with 40 mg to 33% with 60 mg.

Tardive dyskinesia in India: a prevalence study.

We screened the entire inpatient population (N = 1963) of a state hospital near Bombay, India, for tardive dyskinesia (TD) using specific diagnostic criteria. Prevalence of TD was found to be 9.6%, which was much lower than that reported from the Western countries. Percent prevalence of TD was greatest in the age group 41 to 50, after which it seemed to decline. TD patients had received neuroleptic treatment for significantly longer periods and in significantly greater amounts than non-TD patients. The principal reason for the relatively low prevalence of TD in India is probably the practice of using neuroleptics in comparatively small doses (mean daily dose is about 200 mg of chlorpromazine equivalents). A possible contribution of racial-genetic factors cannot be excluded.

Cross-cultural study of a biochemical abnormality in paranoid schizophrenia.

We studied 24-hour urinary excretion of phenylethylamine (PEA) and creatinine in 50 schizophrenic (39 paranoid and 11 nonparanoid) and 19 nonpsychiatric patients from Bombay, India. Methods for diagnosis, clinical assessment, and 24-hour urine collection were identical to those used in an earlier study done in a Washington, D.C. hospital. Clinical evaluations were done in Bombay, while urinary PEA and creatinine estimations were performed at NIMH, Washington, without knowledge of the subjects' identify. Paranoid schizophrenic patients had significantly greater 24-hour urinary excretion of PEA than both nonparanoid schizophrenic patients and nonpsychiatric controls. The mean amount of PEA per g creatinine in urine was also highest of paranoid schizophrenic patients. Our findings provide cross-cultural support to the possibility of abnormal PEA metabolism in at least some patients with paranoid schizophrenia.

Penfluridol in chronic schizophrenia.

Twenty-eight male chronic schizophrenic patients completed a 6 month treatment with a single weekly dose of 20 to 120 mg penfluridol, a new long- acting oral neuroleptic. Twenty-four patients showed significant improvement at the end of the trial period. Significant reduction in scores could be demonstrated in 21 out of 26 symptom variables. Central side-effects, reported by 19 patients, were mild and transient except in one patient who was withdrawn from the trial. Laboratory investigations and vital signs remained within normal limits.

Clobazam versus diazepam--a double-blind study in anxiety neurosis.

Clobazam, a new antianxiety compound, was compared in a double-blind study with diazepam in 40 neurotic outpatients. Twenty-three patients completed the trial under clobazam conditions while 17 patients completed the trial under diazepam conditions. The trial was conducted for a period of four weeks of active drug administration followed by a one-week period of placebo administration. Clobazam was administered in three divided doses of 30 to 40 mg/day, while diazepam was administered in three divided doses of 15 to 20 mg/day, following a fixed dosage schedule. No significant differences were noted between the two treatment conditions during the drug trial period. The patients on clobazam maintained greater improvement during the placebo trial period for the variables "somatic anxiety" and "nights of sleep disturbance." Simultaneous motor coordination tests (hand steadiness test) showed greater improvement on clobazam throughout the trial period in patients with an initial error score greater than 50 points. This difference was significant during the second week of the trial.

Maximizing citizen participation in family planning programme.

PIP: The article begins with a brief history of family planning in India and points out that from 1951 to 1963, the program was clinic centered. This approach could reach only a small fraction of the population. The 1962-63 Report recommended extension education with the objectives of group acceptance of the small family norm, knowledge about family planning, and easy availability of contraceptives and adequate service facilities. The Family Planning Program is being implemented at 3 levels, governmental, voluntary agencies, and local self-government bodies. Creating an awareness of the urgency of the program, disseminating knowledge and information about methods, and motivating and educating local leaders and lay workers or volunteers for accepting some responsibility in the implementation of the program are all phases of citizen participation if the program. The author provides a list of agencies and organizations from which voluntary services may be drawn, and also enumerates the personal qualities desired in volunteers. There are recommendations as to the training of volunteers, and the specific tasks which they may be assigned.^ieng