Marital Problems among Partners of Patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Partners of patients with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) have problems with their marital life. Identification of these problems is important to develop strategies to solve them for improving quality of life. AIMS: To identify marital distress and problem areas in their marital life among the partners of patients with BPAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from 125 participants, 59 males and 66 females, who were partners of patients with BPAD. The study was done in outpatient clinics of Community Mental Health Clinics of District Mental Health Program. Tools used for data collection included a semi-structured interview schedule to collect socio-personal data of partners of patients with BPAD and clinical data of the patient, Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI), and Problem Areas Questionnaire (PAQ). Purposive sampling technique was used. RESULTS: Majority of the participants (male - 55.9%, female -54.5%) expressed marital distress on CSI. Handling family finances and career/job decisions were the most problematic areas for male participants, whereas household tasks, handling finances, and career/job decisions were the most problematic areas for female participants. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of spouses of BPAD patients have marital distress in important areas of life, with a potential for long-term consequences in their lives.

Anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf extacts of Gendarussa vulgaris Nees.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of the leaf exacts of Gendarussa vulgaris (G. vulgaris) Nees. METHODS: G. vulgaris Nees of the family Apocynaceae is a medium sized tree grown in semishade or no shade and is common in the Ernad and Nilambur taluks of Kerala.Various parts of this plant have been used in the treatment of ulcers, sores, inflammation, dyspepsia, healing of wounds, etc. The present study aimed at the evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves by both in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro method was estimated by human red blood cell membrane stabilisation (HRBC) method and in vivo method was estimated on the carrageenan induced paw oedima. RESULTS: Both the methods showed significant anti-inflammatory property of the different extracts tested. CONCLUSIONS: The alcoholic extract at a concentration of 300 mg/mL showed potent activity on comparing with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.