Trends of Change in Empathy Among Indian Medical Students: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background: The development of an empathic approach is essential for doctor-patient relationships. Medical training is a challenging time that may affect empathy. This study aimed to assess the change in empathy in students during medical education. Methods: One hundred and fifty MBBS students were recruited at admission and assessed for empathy, interpersonal reactivity, and general health. They were followed for two years and assessed at three intervals. Results: A significant decline was seen in empathy for both male and female students. The decline was correlated with psychological stress. Gender, family structure, having siblings, and increasing General Health Questionnaire score predicted change in empathy. Conclusion: Empathy declines with advancing training, varying with constitutional and situational factors. The medical curriculum should include skills like empathic communication as well.

A Cross-sectional Assessment of Depression, Anxiety, and Cognition in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women.

Introduction: Menopausal transition involves failure of ovarian function followed by cessation of menstruation. This has been said to lead to psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. Estrogen also has beneficial effects on cognition and thus fluctuation in the same can lead to cognitive decline. Given the number of women undergoing menopause, timely screening of the comorbidities is of importance. Aims and Objectives: Our study aimed at assessment of anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women presenting in the medicine and gynecology units of a tertiary care hospital. The objectives were to screen the peri- and postmenopausal women presenting with medical and gynecological complaints for the presence of depression and anxiety and assess their cognitive function. To find association of their symptoms with psychosocial and menopausal factors with the psychiatric parameters. Settings and Design: Our study was conducted among the perimenopausal and postmenopausal women visiting gynecology and medicine units in a tertiary care hospital. One hundred and five women in the age group of 45-55 were assessed using a specialized pro forma, Beck's Anxiety Inventory, Beck's Depression Inventory, and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20.0). Results: 21.9% of females had moderate levels of anxiety, 24.76% had clinical depression, and 13.33% had mild cognitive impairment. The presence of psychosocial stressors had a significant impact on the anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. There was no significant association found between psychiatric parameters and peri- and postmenopausal stage as well between natural or surgical menopause.

Very Late-onset Schizophrenia Like Psychosis: Case Series and Future Directions.

The quest to unravel the mysteries of schizophrenia has led to immense research in this area over the years. Previously schizophrenia was considered to strictly be an early onset disorder. However, the heralding of baby boomers, with a subsequent surge in the elderly population, has led to growing curiosity in the geriatric age group with schizophrenia. The nosology of late-onset and very late-onset schizophrenia like psychosis (VLOSLP) has remained contentious. The international late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) group has proposed that schizophrenia with an onset between ages 40 and 60 be termed LOS and above 60 years termed VLOSLP. We present two case reports of VLOSLP and its relevance to the present day context.