Sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients receiving disability certificates for psychiatric disorders: An Indian Psychiatric Society Multicentric study.

Aim: To study the sociodemographic and clinical profile of subjects receiving disability certificates (DCs) issued for psychiatric disorders across multiple centres in India. Materials and Methods: Eleven centres, including ten government and one non-governmental organization spread across the country, participated in the study. Data on the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of patients who were issued DC in the calendar year 2019 were collected on a proforma designed for the study. Results: Overall, 2018 patients were issued DC for various psychiatric disorders across 11 centres in 2019. The number of certificates issued across different centres varied from 34 to 622. In terms of diagnostic profile, intellectual disability accounted for most of the certificates issued. In terms of psychiatric diagnosis, schizophrenia was the most common psychiatric diagnosis, followed by bipolar disorder, for which a DC was issued. When the diagnosis was considered, centre wise, intellectual disability (6 centres), mental illness (MI; 4 centres), and autism and specific learning disability (1 centre) accounted for the most DCs issued. Schizophrenia (9 centres), bipolar affective disorder (1 centre), and dementia (1 centre) were the most common MI for which DC was issued. Across centres, more than two-thirds of DC were issued to males. Conclusion: There is a wide variation in the number and clinical profile of DC issued across centres.

Observations from a peculiar case of volatile substance dependence-A case report.

Volatile substance dependence is a relatively rare form of substance use disorders. It is predominantly noted in the adolescent age group. Higher prevalence is also seen in individuals from the lower socio-economic strata. These agents induce a rapid mood change by altering the levels of central neurotransmitters. Here we present a unique case of volatile substance dependence in a middle aged female with iron deficiency anemia. We managed this with the SSRIs and parenteral iron preparations which led to recovery. This emphasizes the fact that any treatment regimen must address all the factors, co-morbidities and patient characteristics for complete recovery.

Family Burden in Caregivers of Elderly with Cognitive Impairment residing in Rural and Tribal Population of a District in Western India - A Baseline Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess cognitive impairment (CI) in adults older than 59 years, residing in rural and tribal population and to assess family burden of those who had significant CI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults residing in the rural population of a block in a district located in Western India in 2015. A total of 240 households from 12 villages of the block were selected by multistage and random sampling method. Mini-mental state examination and Zarit Burden Interview tools were used to assess CI and burden. Data were entered in MS Excel 2007 and analyzed with descriptive statistics and Chi-squared test. RESULTS: A total of 212 adults aged over 59 years were studied. The overall prevalence of CI was 42.92%. There was a statistically significant difference seen in CI among females as compared to males. Interview of primary care taker showed that 32 (35.16%) caregivers had little or no burden, 53 (58.24%) had mild-to-moderate burden, and 6 (6.59%) had moderate-to-severe burden, while none had a severe burden. CONCLUSIONS: Enabling caregivers to provide at home care for longer periods before hospitalization would decrease the burden of CI.

Munchausen syndrome masquerading as bleeding disorder in a group of pediatric patients.

This short communication is about Munchausen's syndrome in a group of pediatric patients and co morbid Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. A 7-year-old girl presented with spontaneous bleeding from forehead, eyes and scalp. The girl was investigated thoroughly by pediatricians at a tertiary care hospital in western India for all possible bleeding disorders, but there was no conclusive diagnosis. After two days, cases with similar complaints were reported among children residing in the same locality and with similar socioeconomic background. All of them were investigated in detail for possible causes of bleeding but nothing came out. There was a media reporting of the cases as a mysterious bleeding disorder. At this point of time, an expert opinion from the psychiatrist was demanded. Covert video surveillance and series of interviews revealed Munchausen's syndrome and possible Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. An in-depth literature review with special reference to Munchausen's syndrome was carried out to come to a final conclusive diagnosis.