Juvenile offenders turning into criminals....A view

https://www.facebook.com/omprakash.ihbas#!/photo.php?fbid=10201552278025484&set=t.1801896320&type=3&theater

A new face of Mediveal India's Feudalism

https://www.facebook.com/omprakash.ihbas#!/photo.php?fbid=4748894379253&set=t.1801896320&type=3&theater

Dhat’s life: A beginner’s guide to semen loss syndrome

 

According to a short paper by Dr. Om Prakash in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, dhat syndrome comprises various psychological, somatic and sexual symptoms attributed by the patient to the passing of whitish fluid, believed to be semen in ...urine (i.e., psychological distress and anxiety related to semen-loss). Prakash says that the word ‘dhat’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘dhatu’ (which has multiple meanings including ‘metal’, ‘elixir’ and ‘constituent part of the body’). He also noted that:

“This notion of seminal loss frightens the individual into developing a sense of doom if a single drop of semen is lost, thereby producing a series of somatic symptoms…fear of semen loss and resulting problems [in India] is so strong that cures are advertised by vaids and hakims everywhere – on walls, on television, in newspapers and on roadside hoardings”.

http://drmarkgriffiths.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/dhats-life-a-beginners-guide-to-semen-loss-syndrome/

The term ‘Dhat syndrome’ was first described by Dr. N.N. Wig in a 1960 issue of the (Indian) Journal of Clinical and Social Psychiatry, and then by Dr. J.S. Neki in the British Journal of Psychiatry (1973). A 1975 paper by Dr. H.K. Malhotra and Dr. N.N. Wig in the Archives of Sexual Behavior called dhat “the exotic neurosis of the Orient”.

According to a short paper by Dr. Om Prakash in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, dhat syndrome comprises various psychological, somatic and sexual symptoms attributed by the patient to the passing of whitish fluid, believed to be semen in urine (i.e., psychological distress and anxiety related to semen-loss). Prakash says that the word ‘dhat’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘dhatu’ (which has multiple meanings including ‘metal’, ‘elixir’ and ‘constituent part of the body’). He also noted that:
“This notion of seminal loss frightens the individual into developing a sense of doom if a single drop of semen is lost, thereby producing a series of somatic symptoms…fear of semen loss and resulting problems [in India] is so strong that cures are advertised by vaids and hakims everywhere – on walls, on television, in newspapers and on roadside hoardings”.

The anxiety surrounding the semen loss can also relate to the releasing of semen via nocturnal emissions (i.e., ‘wet dreams’) and masturbation. The symptoms include fatigue, listlessness, appetite loss, lack of physical strength, poor concentration, forgetfulness, guilt, and (in some cases) sexual dysfunction. Given the syndrome relates to psychological anxiety surrounding semen loss, the disorder is (necessarily) found among men, but interestingly, the dhat syndrome has also been applied to women who experience similar symptoms relating to white vaginal discharge). According to an online article on CBSs, it claims that:

“The anxiety related to semen loss can be traced back thousands of years to Ayurvedic texts, where the loss of a single drop of semen, the most precious body fluid, could destabilize the entire body”

The duration of the symptoms can be relatively short-lived (e.g., 3-12 months) but some papers report people suffering for up to 20 years. Prakash lists the most common co-morbid disorders and sexual dysfunctions associated with dhat. This included depressive neurosis (40%-42%), anxiety neurosis (21%-38%), somatoform and hypochondriasis (32%-40%), erectile dysfunction (22%-62%), and premature ejaculation (22%-44%). Prakash also reports that the majority (i.e., two-thirds) of dhat sufferers recover (66%), with the remainder either improved (22%) or unchanged (12%).

Anger and its management...........

 

गुस्सा भी इमोशन का एक प्रकार है, जानें इसके क्या नुकसान?

 

मनोचिकित्सक डॉ. ओमप्रकाश कहते हैं, तुरंत गुस्से का अधिक स्तर आमतौर पर उन लोगों में ज्यादा देखने को मिलता है, जो सामान्य स्थिति में खुश नहीं रहते, जिन्हें खुश रहने की आदत नहीं होती, जिनमें खुश रहने की प्रवृत्ति नहीं होती। ऐसे लोग गुस्सा होने... के लिए बस बहाने की तलाश में रहते हैं। जरा-सी बात कोई उन्हें मिली नहीं कि दहक उठते हैं। दरअसल जो लोग ज्यादा समय तक तनाव में रहते हैं या जिन लोगों की जिंदगी में खुश रहने के अवसर कम होते हैं, ऐसे लोगों की मस्तिष्क की कोशकिाएं गुस्से के लिए अनुकूल स्थिति में ढली होती हैं। ये जरा-सी बात पर इतनी जल्दी और इतने बड़े स्तर पर सक्रिय हो जाती हैं कि सामान्य व्यक्ति अंदाजा ही नहीं लगा पाता कि आखिर सामने वाले को इस तरह गुस्सा क्यों आ रहा है? जब गुस्से का नशा दिलोदिमाग पर हावी हो जाता है तो आदमी वहशी दरिंदा हो जाता है। उस पल वह चाहकर भी ऐसा कुछ नहीं सोच पाता, जिसमें तर्क हो, जो सकारात्मक बात हो। वह उस समय परिणाम की कतई परवाह नहीं करता। गुस्से की किसी भी हद को पार कर जाना चाहता है।

http://hindi.newsyaps.com/ager-is-a-kind-of-emotion-know-what-the-loss-of-it/16355

Wall street wrote about sex myths in India

Sean Mclain from Wallstreet Journal wrote:

Dhat sufferers “believe that that if they lose semen apart from through intercourse, then it is a loss of masculinity,” said Om Prakash, a psychiatrist who treats patients with the disorder.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/11/25/the-problems-indias-sex-guru-faces/
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB30001424052702304465604579219472957573500


Clearly Indians know a thing or two about sex. After all, there are 1.2 billion of them. But what they don’t know can cause failed marriages and mental illness, said Dr. Watsa...

Some of the couples he counsels tell him they avoid sex because they fear it is unhygienic or will cause internal injuries, attitudes he attributes to a widespread lack of sex education in India.

Traditional sources of information sometimes do more harm than good, he said, pointing to the 10th-century Khajuraho temple, which is decorated with sculptures of couples entwined in exotic – and acrobatic – poses.

The temple, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, is a popular destination for Indian honeymooners.

Few schools in India teach sex education. And misinformation about sex abounds.

Indeed, misconceptions about sex are so deep rooted that there are psychiatric disorders unique to India, including one termed Dhat syndrome.

Traditional Ayurvedic beliefs hold that sperm is produced from blood, and people fear that emitting sperm will weaken them and make them ill – echoing Gen. Jack Ripper’s obsession with “precious bodily fluids” in Dr. Strangelove.

Dhat sufferers “believe that that if they lose semen apart from through intercourse, then it is a loss of masculinity,” said Om Prakash, a psychiatrist who treats patients with the disorder.

 

Belief system in India about saints...............a view

A view on belief system over BABAS/Saints in India...A newstory published in Nayee Dunia by Sandeep Gupta, reporter
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=679021025465726&set=a.186685764699257.41662.100000735056469&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=679021025465726&set=a.186685764699257.41662.100000735056469&type=1&theater

Problems for elderly......medical care is there...must read for elderly

http://health.india.com/diseases-conditions/10-conditions-that-ail-the-elderly/

Alzheimer’s: This is a condition that is characterised by the loss of memory. ‘Alzheimer’s is a kind of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. It is found in close to 80% of those suffering from dementia and is therefore the most common type.’ Commonly seen in the elderly, this condition is largely misdiagnosed since loss of memory is commonly thought to be due to old age. ‘The patient suffers damage in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Memory loss and confusion become worse, and the person begins to have problems recognising family and friends.’
 
Parkinson’s: ‘Parkinson’s disease is an illness, which affects the brain, in which certain nerve cells – which play an important role in motor functions of the body – are lost or die. The loss of nerve cells takes place slowly, and gradually spreads to several areas of the brain, as a result, new symptoms gradually develop over time and the initial symptoms become more difficult to control.’ This condition is commonly seen in the elderly due to the fact that as we age, our body tends to degrade as well. Classified by the presence of tremors, the hallmark of this disease is the presence of tremors even while the patient is still. ‘Patients with Parkinson’s disease may also have difficulty maintaining balance, walking and tend to fall even when they are slightly off-balance, however, this usually occurs much later in the disease. Other common symptoms include a change in the quality of voice, stooped posture and change in handwriting.

Arthritis: People usually develop osteoarthritis after the age of 40. It is a condition that is caused due to the wear and tear of cartilage. Although there are other reasons for this condition, like an over-active autoimmune system that causes rheumatoid arthritis, the one caused due to old age (osteoarthritis) is most commonly seen in the elderly. As a person grows, the cartilage that is present between two bones, slowly starts to degrade. Soon it reaches a point where it becomes extremely thin and allows the bones to rub against each other. This causes pain, inflammation and difficulty in moving the joint.

Diabetes: Approximately 6.13 million people suffer from diabetes in India. Although the numbers on the record are high, the untreated and undiagnosed numbers could be much more. In the elderly, the most common type of diabetes seen is type 2 diabetes. It is believed that this condition is due to the decline in their body’s ability to use insulin. ‘The reason controlling diabetes is so important is because it directly translates to reducing the risk of developing problems like heart attacks, stroke, loss of blood circulation in the limbs, kidney disorders and eye disorders.’

Disk prolapse: This is a condition where the cartilage present between the vertebrae shift out of position, leading to the compression of the spinal column and the nerves extending out into the rest of the body. The most common symptoms of this condition are a tingling feeling in the hands or legs, lower back pain, numbness in the arms or legs etc. This is again a fairly common condition in the elderly because the cartilage tend to degrade making them thinner and therefore more vulnerable to slipping out of place.

Urinary incontinence: This is a condition where the person cannot hold or control the flow of his/her urine. The most common symptom is that when the person laughs or sneezes a small amount of urine leaks out. Eventually leading to them wetting themselves. Urinary incontinence is a condition that is caused due to the weakening of the sphincter muscles (muscles that control the flow of urine). One of the most common methods of resolving this condition is to use adult diapers that can soak the excess urine. Other methods include the use of exercises like the Kegel exercise to strengthen the muscle.

Stroke: This is a condition where there is a block in one of the arteries leading to brain. This causes the brain to suffer from lack of blood and oxygen causing that region to stop functioning. Elderly people are more likely to suffer from this condition since they might have other co-morbid conditions that lead to the formation of blood clots within the blood vessels. The common symptoms of this condition are sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing on one side, sudden, severe difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Cancer: According to a study, the prevalent types of cancers seen in the elderly are prostrate, colon, breast, lung and stomach cancer. According to the paper, people above the age of 65 are more prone to these types of cancer. Although the exact reason as to why it occurs is unknown, many believe that it is due to the gradual degradation of the cells, mutations in the cells and the gradual drop in one’s immune system make elderly people more prone to the disease.

Tremors: This is a condition where the person’s hands or legs shake or shiver uncontrollably while they are performing functions like writing, lifting objects, etc. Tremors are seen in most elderly and the condition is called essential tremors. It is caused due to the slow degradation of the nerves and passage of impulses between the brain and the limb that is at work. Tremors may also be a symptom of other conditions like movement disorders, Parkinson’s, etc. ‘Tremors can be because of deficiencies in vitamins, stress or be essential tremors. Tremors are accompanied with imbalance, and are commonly due to mild strokes in the part of the brain controlling balance. Here, physical aids and gait training helps. Treating the primary cause of the stroke is of course mandatory.’

Dementia: This is a condition where the person loses cognitive ability and starts to act unlike himself/herself. It is a progressive condition and is one of the hallmark symptoms of conditions like Alzheimer’s. Some of the common symptoms of this condition are memory loss, problems performing everyday functions, problems with language, disorientation to time and place and poor or decreased abilities of judgement. This condition afflicts the elderly due to the breakdown of their brain and its normally functioning pathways.
 

“Healthy lifestyle keeps dementia at bay” - The Hindu

“Healthy lifestyle keeps dementia at bay” - The Hindu

The group of risk factors one can influence are those causing heart disease — Hypertension, Obesity (hyper) Lipidaemia and Diabetes (HOLD). Add smoking to this, and what you have is a potential cocktail of risks for not only heart attacks, but also dementia.

 

“The right exercise - something that makes you sweat, and increases your heart rate. We have to do that at least 150 minutes a week. It might sound like a lot, but it is not too bad if we can incorporate it into our lifestyle,” Walking to the store, taking the stairs instead of elevators and maybe brisk walking before having a meal can help.

 

Studies have shown that taking up weight or resistance training is good for improving memory function. “You don’t even have to do much. Just 20 minutes three times a week, and it can be done even when you are watching the television…you could lift cans or water bottles in each hand,” she says.

Wanted: more care for dementia - The Hindu

Wanted: more care for dementia - The Hindu

There is loss of inhibition, irritability, topographic disorientation, forgetting the identity of relatives, irrelevant talk and some patients even turn violent at times,” he said. He stressed the need to improve awareness of dementia among the public.

More than the incidence though, what doctors are worried about is the massive shortage of caregivers. The World Alzheimer’s Report 2013 said the epidemic of Alzheimer’s was creating a shortage of caregivers and that families lacked support to cope with the disease. It calls for additional support to lessen the burden on the individual and said that dementia needed to be a public health priority.

“Often, the spouse takes care of the patient and usually they tend to get burned out by the constant, everyday cycle of caring. What we need are residential or day-care centres,”

Avoid dementia by keeping brain 'active'

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-05/health/40391142_1_brain-health-brain-tissue-simon-ridley


Staying mentally active by reading books or writing letters helps protect the brain in old age, says a new American study.
The study, published in Neurology, says performing mental challenges leads to slower cognitive decline. It adds weight to the idea that dementia onset can be delayed by lifestyle factors, BBC reported.

In the study by the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, 294 people over the age of 55 were given tests that measured memory and thinking, every year for about six years until their deaths.
They also answered a questionnaire about whether they read books, wrote letters and took part in other activities linked to mental stimulation during childhood, adolescence, middle age, and in later life.
After death, their brains were examined for evidence of the physical signs of dementia, such as brain lesions and plaques.
The study found that after factoring out the impact of those signs, those who had a record of keeping the brain busy had a rate of cognitive decline estimated at 15 percent slower than those who did not.
Robert Wilson, of the Rush University Medical Center, who led the study, said the research suggested exercising the brain across a lifetime was important for brain health in old age.
"The brain that we have in old age depends in part on what we habitually ask it to do in life. What you do during your lifetime has a great impact on the likelihood these age-related diseases are going to be expressed," Wilson told BBC.
Commenting on the study, Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said there was increasing evidence that mental activity may help protect against cognitive decline. But the underlying reasons for this remained unclear.
"By examining donated brain tissue, this study has shed more light on this complex question, and the results lend weight to the theory that mental activity may provide a level of 'cognitive reserve', helping the brain resist some of the damage from diseases such as Alzheimer's," he told BBC.

India fights old myths on mental disorders

http://www.gulf-times.com/culture/238/details/359032/india-fights-old-myths-on-mental-disorders

In rural areas of India, many villagers still believe mental illness is caused by evil spirits angry that the sick person had killed a cow during a past life. So-called therapy, conducted by witch doctors or family members, can include chaining up the mentally ill, chanting spells, poking them with pins, or beating them “to force the spirits out”.

“There’s little awareness that it’s a real illness,” said Dr Indira Sharma, Varanasi-based president of the Indian Psychiatric Society. “Most people think it’s all a figment of your imagination. There’s still a very deep stigma.”

With a population of 1.2bn people, India has 4,000 psychiatrists, compared with 50,000 in the US, about 4,500 in California alone.But in recent years, the Indian government has increased budgets for psychiatric education and mental health awareness, seeking to curb a sharply rising suicide rate as millions move into cities where they lack the social support they had in rural villages.

Like public, Psychiatrists also feel proud of CRC

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-01/bangalore/40306345_1_mental-health-nimhans-kannada
Mental healthcare is not only about delving into the conscious and the subconscious. In a country like India, it is also about addressing the psychiatric health of society. Dr CR Chandrashekar, who had made Nimhans his second home for 44 years, has been at the forefront in providing expert intervention for addressing social manifestations of mental health in Karnataka. He retired on Sunday, eve of Doctor's Day.In keeping with his interventions, the senior doctor has penned 150 books in Kannada and 20 in English on mental health. Ruing the sad state of mental healthcare in Karnataka, he said: "We have just 200 psychiatrists for a population of over 6 crore. In Western countries, every school has a psychologist."

Chandrashekar's reading habits drove him to psychiatry. "I found it interesting to study changing human behaviour in the Kannada novels of Triveni and books of Dr R Shivaram, known by the pseudonym Rashi." The doctor has treated up to 50 patients a day from across the state. He has received letters from patients on a daily basis describing various mental problems. "So far, I have replied to more than 40,000 letters. In many instances, I have asked people to visit Nimhans or go to the nearest district government hospital which have trained psychiatrists," he says.

Night shift takes a heavy toll on health

http://www.drugtodayonline.com/mix/186-night-shift-takes-a-heavy-toll-on-health.html

With growing multi-national companies, call centers and BPO the demand for employees for working at ‘graveyard shifts’ has increased. Working at night can dramatically affect the health of an individual making them more prone to heart diseases, depression and other stressful unhealthy conditions.

Night shifts are often associated with sleepless nights leading to altered lifestyle disturbing the ‘circadian clock/rhythm’ which decides the sleeping patterns in humans. Sangita working a member of ground staff in Air India, says, “I have been taking night shifts for last two years. It has affected my diet, sleep and health. I feel weak and lazy, developed dark circles and acne on my face. I even took a medical break to revive my system.”
Dr Om Prakash, psychiatrist at IHBAS, says “Sleeping less leads to stressful life. Sleep is vital to maintain proper circadian rhythm. Sleep deprivation raises the risk of cardiovascular problems, fatigueness and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).” The brain needs sleep at night and work during the day. In the evening when the light vanishes brain signals the secretion of a hormone ‘melatonin’ into the body fluids. Melatonin concentration determines sleeping pattern. Increased melatonin at night increases drowsiness making us fall asleep. The whole process reverses during the day as with the rising sun eyes senses the light and the melatonin level falls with increased level of another chemical serotonin that keeps us awake during the day. This constitutes circadian rhythm.
Other body functions including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and gastrointestinal activity also keep fluctuating 24 hours according to the circadian clock.
Night shifts disturb the rhythm of circadian clock resulting into Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD). SWSD resulting from disturbed sleep pattern is associated with insomnia and excessive sleepiness.
The most common symptoms include headaches, mood swings, short temper, bad hair/skin/nails, energy deficiency, diminished appetite, low immune response and weak memory. Increased accidents, reduced performance, work related errors and aggressiveness.Night workers not only experience physical disabilities but also face social problems. “Sleep is one issue that gives birth to other issues includes marital and social problems. As the world wakes they go to sleep, this makes it difficult for them to see friends, family and children posing strain on relationships. Their schedule isolates them from social life and they fail to fulfill their family’s expectations,” said Dr Prakash.
More than 50 per cent private companies run 24 hours a day to achieve high profile in the market. Employees have to take night shifts. Doctors, nurses, truck drivers, police and other private sector workers are often subjected to such lifestyle.
Anil is working with IBM, Gurgaon. He says, “I am new to this and as such don’t have any health complications. Yes, the diet has been affected as lunch is shuffled with breakfast, lot of junk food at work and dinner has no fix time. I sleep at morning hours and face frequent sleep disturbances”
A recent study conducted on over two million people suggests that night shift workers are at a 24 per cent higher risk of heart attacks and coronary events. The study was published in British Medical Journal. Moreover, individuals doing night shifts develop unhealthy behaviour such as improper diet, sleeping less and finding it hard to exercise.

Depression, the leading cause of suicides

Depression is a treatable condition and people can feel good again....Psychotherapy is a therapeutic interaction between a trained professional and the patient to solve problems which are psychological in nature...said Dr Om Prakash, Geriat...ric Psychiatrist & Associate Professor, IHBAS Delhi. http://www.drugtodayonline.com/review/329-depression,-the-leading-cause-of-suicides.html News story published in Drug Today Medical Times

 

 

recent news of Bollywood star Jiah Khan’s suicidal death has shocked the nation and left everyone with the Question as to what provoked the25-year old to take this extreme step.

Suicide not only results into the loss of a person but the people around are left wondering if they could have done something to prevent that person from taking the extreme step. Many millions of hours are spent by near and dear ones trying to cope with the loss of those who died by suicide. Short periods of overwhelming hopelessness or frustration mar the chances to live a normal life leading the person to end his/her life.

Suicide is among the top three causes of death among youth worldwide. According to a WHO report almost one million people die from suicide every year and 20 times more people attempt suicide. A global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds and one attempt every 3 seconds has been recorded on an average. India alone accounts for more than one lakh suicidal deaths every year. In the last three decades (1975 to 2005) the suicide rate increased by 43 per cent. It may be noted that 71 per cent of suicides in India are by persons below the age of 44 years. This imposes a huge social, emotional and economic burden on the country.

Over 90 per cent of people who die by suicide had suffered from some form of mental illness at the time of their death and the most common mental illness is depression. Depression is triggered by several negative life experiences. Thus, there are usually several causes, and not just one, for suicide. Death of a loved one, failure of a relationship, loss of property, loss of hope, being victimized as in case of rape, childhood emotional and physical neglect, a feeling of not being accepted by family, friends or society, physical or sexual abuse, feeling ‘trapped in a situation’ or ‘taken advantage of’ are among the negative experiences of life that may lead to major depression disorder. Losing a parent early in life probably increases the risk to some extent.

Getting depression is involuntary, no one wishes to have it, just like one don’t ask for diabetes or cancer. A person who has it does not look at life like a typical person who feels good. Their mental illness prevents them from being able to look forward to life. They lose their ability to look forward to a good future. They don’t realize they are suffering from a treatable condition and feel hopeless and helpless. They don’t wish to end life, but it’s the only way they feel they can kill their pain.

Ending life with suicide is not an overnight decision. The person remains mentally sick for a long period and may need medication or help of friends and family to overcome the tough time. Individuals who are depressed and exhibit symptoms as extreme hopelessness, lack of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable, panic attacks, heightened anxiety, previous suicide attempts and irritability are at a higher risk of suicide.

Depression is a treatable condition and people can feel good again. Psychotherapy has emerged as the quickest and most effective way to treat depression. It is a therapeutic interaction between a trained professional and the patient to solve problems which are psychological in nature. Dr Om Prakash, Geriatric Psychiatrist & Associate Professor, IHBAS Delhi, said “Psychotherapy – also called talk therapy or counseling – is a constructive way to deal with problems and issues that are psychological in nature. This is done by regular counseling and distortion in thinking and attitudes are corrected by resolving the conflicts and providing a supportive hand. It is recommended to a person with mental health concern that is causing the individual a great deal of pain for longer than a few days.”

Moreover, depression leading to suicidal thoughts is a temporary state of mind. If timely emotional support is offered to the person who is experiencing deep unhappiness and distress, the risk of them committing suicide can be prevented. Regular exercise, healthy eating and maintaining friendships can help individuals to cope better with stressful situations.
http://www.drugtodayonline.com/review/329-depression,-the-leading-cause-of-suicides.html

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/130619/indian-doctor-creates-suicide-proof-ceiling-fan

Indian doctor creates 'suicide-proof' ceiling fan

The ceiling fan won't support the weight of a person and is intended to cut down on the suicide rate in India.

Suicide rates in India are high and appear to be climbing, with about 190,000 suicides estimated in 2010, according to the BBC, or around 15 suicides per 100,000 people.
However, the country does not have one of the highest registered suicide rates in the world, according to WHO statistics: Greenland, South Korea, and Lithuania are the top three, though many suicides go unreported or are reported as other causes of death.

गुप्त रोग की समस्याएं कितनी गुप्त- Are sexual problems should be wrapped under cover?

http://dialogueindia.in/magazine/gupt%20rog%20story

Important news story by Surinder Prabhat Khurdia

गुप्त रोग की समस्याएं कितनी गुप्त हैं। इस ओर आज दिन तक किसी का ध्यान नहीं गया और ना ही सरकारी और गैर-सरकारी स्तर पर सर्वे कराया गया। ऐसे मैसर्स एण्ड थेरेपी सेन्टर, आयुर्वेदिक दवाखाना, फार्मेसी, क्लीनिक इत्यादि संभवतया अच्छा इलाज करतें हों। परन्तु लगता नहीं है कि वो इलाज करते होंगे। ज्यादातर तो इलाज के नाम पर छलावा ही होते हैं। वो इलाज के नाम पर मन की भ्रातियों को हवा देते होंगे जिससे सेक्स संबंधित समस्याएं कम होने के बजाय और बढ़ ही जाती होगी।
आज हर तरह की बीमारियों का इलाज सरकारी अस्पतालों में संभव है। यहां तक कि यौन संक्रमित रोगों तक का इलाज संभव है। यही नहीं, दवाएं तक फ्री दी जाती है। फिर सवाल उठता है कि लोग सरकारी अस्पतालों में मुफ्त में इलाज कराने के बजाय ऐसे लोग पैसा और समय क्यों बरबाद करते हैं?
मानव व्यवहार एवं संबंधित विज्ञान संस्थान में एसोसिएट प्रो. ओमप्रकाश कहते हैं कि सेक्सुअल और अन्य मनोविकार की समस्याओं को इलाज एवं काउन्संिलग के माध्यम से सुलझाया जा सकता हैं । परन्तु अज्ञानतावश थेरेपी सेन्टर, आयुर्वेदिक दवाखाना, फार्मेसी, क्लीनिक इत्यादि में जाना पसन्द करते हैं, क्योंकि उनकी सोच भी वैसी ही है। सेक्स समस्याओं को गुप्त रोग मानने की मानसिकता कायम है। यह यौन शिक्षा का अभाव है। जब यौन हिंसा या हिंसात्मक अपराध पर पूरे देश में बहस चल सकती हैं तब यौन शिक्षा पर बात करना कौन-सा जुर्म हैं? इस पर बिल भी लंबित है। प्रतिवर्ष गुप्त रोग के नाम पर शिकार होने वालों का आकड़ा काफी बड़ा है।
सामुदायिक चिकित्सा विज्ञान मौलाना आजाद मेडिकल कॉलेज के प्रोफेसर जुगलकिशोर जो अखिल भारतीय आयुर्वेदिक संस्थान से सेवानिवृत और सेक्स एण्ड मैरिज क्लीनिक के संस्थापक डॉक्टर प्रेम बालि के साथ सेक्सुअल मेडिसीन विषय पर कार्य कर चुके हैं, का कहना है कि हमारे देश में यौन समस्याओं के नाम पर जो उपाय बताए जाते हैं, वे वैज्ञानिक नहीं हैं।

Depression – understanding it is half the battle won

http://health.india.com/diseases-conditions/depression-understanding-it-is-half-the-battle-won/

One out of 20 people in the world suffer from depression but sadly many of them are forced to live in denial about the disease.

So how is depression different from sadness?
Sadness is part of the life without which happiness would have no meaning. To feel sad during major life crises like the death of a loved one, losing a job or the ending of a relationship is normal. Depression on the other hand is a condition where there is prolonged sadness and an individual’s mood isn’t tied to life events. While healthy individuals have moods related to life events, people suffering from depression suffer from disproportionate amount of sadness and guilt. It is a serious medical condition in which the symptoms make it difficult for the person to function in society, often leads to poor physical health and severe emotional pain.

How common is depression?
One out of every 20 people you know probably suffers from depression. The numbers are hard to pin down for a mental illness like depression because the symptoms are seen as a continuation of everyday-life behaviour. However, considering that 1.8 lakh Indians commit suicide every year and there are 20 times more attempts, which means at least 36 lakh people in India are surely suffering from major depressive disorder.

But a cure is not hard to find…
Mental illness is a big problem in our culture, in fact any culture. People don’t like to acknowledge that they aren’t a fully functioning member of society (whatever that means) and there’s a tendency to hush up mental illnesses. It’s almost considered taboo to visit a counsellor or psychiatrist to seek help. Perhaps it has something to do with the way mental illnesses show distinct changes in our personality, cognition and behaviour – the very things that define our being; unlike a physical illness where a certain organ or part of the body is affected.

A smoker’s fight with addiction - Hindustan Times

A smoker’s fight with addiction - Hindustan Times

An informative article by Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times

Adolescents also vulnerable too stress.....parents to be cautious

http://www.livehindustan.com/news/location/rajwarkhabre/article1-story-39-0-336943.html&locatiopnvalue=1
http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2013;volume=35;issue=1;spage=39;epage=46;aulast=Mathew

कम उम्र में बढ़ रहा है तनाव का दायरा

News story by Nishi Bhat, Hindustan daily

बचपन तनाव के घेरे में है। कभी अच्छे नंबर लाने की चिंता तो कभी परिस्थितियों से सामंजस्य न बना पाने की। बच्चों में तनाव के बढ़ते प्रतिशत को लेकर एक अध्ययन किया गया। जिसमें 6 से 16 साल तक के बच्चों को शामिल किया गया। पाया गया कि तनाव से न उबर पाने की स्थिति में बच्चों मौत को गले लगाने का प्रयास किया।

मनोचिकित्सक डॉ. ओमप्रकाश बच्चों में तनाव की स्थिति को माता पिता भी नहीं पहचान पाते। इंडियन साइके ट्री एसोसिएशन द्वारा किए गए अध्यन में 6 से 16 साल की उम्र के 48 प्रतिशत बच्चों को तनाव का शिकार पाया गया। जिसमें 20 प्रतिशत ने 15 साल की उम्र से पहले आत्महत्या की कोशशि की। तनाव के विभिन्न कारणों में परिस्थितियों से सामंजस्य न बना पाने को सबसे अहम कारण माना गया। देखा गया कि बच्चों परिस्थिति के अनुसार अपनी समस्या को जल्दी से माता पिता के साथ भी नहीं बांट पाते।

इंटरनेट और दोस्तों के बीच तनाव का हल खोजने की कोशशि उन्हें आत्महत्या के प्रयास का रास्ता दिखाती है। 1000 बच्चों की काउंसलिंग में 48 प्रतिशत बच्चों ने इस बात का स्वीकार किया गया कि वह घर में किसी से भी अपनी बात नहीं कर पाते हैं। तनाव का दूसरा अहम कारण डिप्रेसवि डिस्ऑर्डर को पाया गया, 16 प्रतिशत बच्चों इसका शिकार है। इसे पहले स्तर के तनाव की दूसरी अवस्था कहा जा सकता है, जबकि बच्चा खुद को दूसरों से अलग रखने लगता है।

जबकि 6 प्रतिशत बच्चों तनाव की उस स्थिति में देखे गए जबकि वह इससे उबरने के लिए इंक रिमूवर और अन्य चीजों का नशे के तौर पर इस्तेमाल करते पाए गए। अध्ययन के अनुसार 52 प्रतिशत बच्चों तनाव से मुक्ति पाने के लिए घर में रखे पेस्टिसाइड या रसायन को पीने की कोशशि करते हैं, जबकि 20 प्रतिशत ने घर में रखी पुरानी दवाएं खाने की कोशशि की। 12 प्रतिशत ने हाथ की नस काटी, जबकि अन्य में छत से कूद या फिर फांसी लगाकर जान देने की कोशशि की गई।

डॉ. ओम प्रकाश कहते हें कि दरअसल बच्चों के तनाव को खुद माता पिता भी नहीं पहचान पाते। ताकि न मुरझाए बचपन की मुस्कान-बच्चों के साथ अधिक और गुणवत्ता परक समय बिताएं -उसकी समस्याएं जानने के लिए दोस्त बनने की कोशशि करें -कशिारोवस्था में विशेष रूप से बच्चों के मन की बातें जानने की कोशशि करें -बच्चा यदि किसी हीन भावना का शिकार तो नहीं, इसके लिए उसकी आदतों पर ध्यान दें -12 से 16 साल में विपरीत सेक्स के प्रति बढ़ने वाले आकर्षण पर भी रहे सचेत और खुल कर बांटे अनुभव -बोर्ड परीक्षा या अन्य प्रतियोगी परीक्षा में यदि नहीं आए अंक बेहतर तो अन्य विकल्पों पर चर्चा करें।

Employees of night-shift, take care of your sleep

http://drugtodayonline.com/mix/186-night-shift-takes-a-heavy-toll-on-health.html



Night shift takes a heavy toll on health

News story by DISHA TOMAR

With growing multi-national companies, call centers and BPO the demand for employees for working at ‘graveyard shifts’ has increased. Working at night can dramatically affect the health of an individual making them more prone to heart diseases, depression and other stressful unhealthy conditions.

Night shifts are often associated with sleepless nights leading to altered lifestyle disturbing the ‘circadian clock/rhythm’ which decides the sleeping patterns in humans. Sangita working a member of ground staff in Air India, says, “I have been taking night shifts for last two years. It has affected my diet, sleep and health. I feel weak and lazy, developed dark circles and acne on my face. I even took a medical break to revive my system.”
Dr Om Prakash, psychiatrist at IHBAS, says “Sleeping less leads to stressful life. Sleep is vital to maintain proper circadian rhythm. Sleep deprivation raises the risk of cardiovascular problems, fatigueness and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).”
The brain needs sleep at night and work during the day. In the evening when the light vanishes brain signals the secretion of a hormone ‘melatonin’ into the body fluids. Melatonin concentration determines sleeping pattern. Increased melatonin at night increases drowsiness making us fall asleep. The whole process reverses during the day as with the rising sun eyes senses the light and the melatonin level falls with increased level of another chemical serotonin that keeps us awake during the day. This constitutes circadian rhythm. Other body functions including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and gastrointestinal activity also keep fluctuating 24 hours according to the circadian clock.

Night shifts disturb the rhythm of circadian clock resulting into Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD). SWSD resulting from disturbed sleep pattern is associated with insomnia and excessive sleepiness.
The most common symptoms include headaches, mood swings, short temper, bad hair/skin/nails, energy deficiency, diminished appetite, low immune response and weak memory. Increased accidents, reduced performance, work related errors and aggressiveness.
Night workers not only experience physical disabilities but also face social problems.
“Sleep is one issue that gives birth to other issues includes marital and social problems. As the world wakes they go to sleep, this makes it difficult for them to see friends, family and children posing strain on relationships. Their schedule isolates them from social life and they fail to fulfill their family’s expectations,” said Dr Prakash.
More than 50 per cent private companies run 24 hours a day to achieve high profile in the market. Employees have to take night shifts. Doctors, nurses, truck drivers, police and other private sector workers are often subjected to such lifestyle.
Anil is working with IBM, Gurgaon. He says, “I am new to this and as such don’t have any health complications. Yes, the diet has been affected as lunch is shuffled with breakfast, lot of junk food at work and dinner has no fix time. I sleep at morning hours and face frequent sleep disturbances”
A recent study conducted on over two million people suggests that night shift workers are at a 24 per cent higher risk of heart attacks and coronary events. The study was published in British Medical Journal. Moreover, individuals doing night shifts develop unhealthy behaviour such as improper diet, sleeping less and finding it hard to exercise.

Why worry about board exam results.....many options available in future....

http://www.livehindustan.com/news/edu/news/article1-story-269-269-336798.html

 

An important story by Nishi Bhat, Hindustan Daily for parents and their children on coping examination results

 

 

इंस्टीटय़ूट ऑफ ह्यूमन बिहेव्यिर एंड एलायड साइंस के मनोचिकित्सक डॉं. ओम प्रकाश ने बताया कि निश्चित रूप से टॉपर्स के पास बेहतर स्कूल में प्रवेश के अधिक मौके होते हैं लेकिन इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि कम अंक आने वाले छात्रों में प्रतिभा की कमी होती... है। करियर काउंसलिंग के लिए आने वाले ऐसे बच्चों की सफलता का प्रतिशत अधिक देखा गया है, जिन्होंने सेकेंडरी या सीनियर सेंकेंडरी में अधिक बेहतर प्रदर्शन नहीं किया था।

बोर्ड परीक्षा में कम अंक आने पर हताश या निराश न हों। जरूरी नहीं हर छात्र की प्रतिभा का आकलन बेहतर अंकों से ही किया जाएगा। मनोचिकित्सकों का कहना है कि बेहतर प्रयास के बाद भी यदि परिणाम अच्छा नहीं आया है तो छात्रों को मायूस होने की जरूरत नहीं है। इसे जीवन का पहली और आखिरी परीक्षा नहीं समझना चाहिए।

 

 

क्या करें अभिभावकबच्चों की गतिविधि पर निगरानी रखें
बेहतर अंक लाने वाले अन्य बच्चों से तुलना न करें
बच्चा जिस विषय में बेहतर है, उसकी तारीफ करें
करियर के अन्य बेहतर विकल्प पर चर्चा करें
इसमें बच्चे की रूचि को भी शामिल करें
बच्चे को अकेले या फिर एकांत में बिल्कुल न रहने दें

Modern lifestyle causing dementia to strike at early age

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modern-lifestyle-causing-dementia-to-strike-at-early-age/1/270827.html


Modern lifestyle is causing dementia and other brain diseases to strike at a younger age, with widespread use of computers, mobile phones and chemicals to blame, a new study has found. The latest research has found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to the fact that we are living longer. The rise is because a higher proportion of old people are being affected by such conditions - and what is really alarming, it is starting earlier and affecting people under 55 years, according to the research published in journal Public Health.

Of the 10 biggest Western countries the US had the worst increase in all neurological deaths - men up 66 per cent and women 92 per cent between 1979-2010. The UK was 4th highest - men up 32 per cent and women 48 per cent. "These statistics are about real people and families, and we need to recognise that there is an 'epidemic' that clearly is influenced by environmental and societal changes," said Professor Colin Pritchard of Bournemouth University.

Good news for Indian researchers.....Cochrane Library accessible for next three years for India

http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Indians-to-have-access-to-online-Cochrane-Library-for-3-more-years/2013/05/04/article1573869.ece

The much-needed national subscription for country-wide access to the online Cochrane Library has just been renewed for a further three years. In a statement, director of the South Asian Cochrane Network and Centre (SACNC) Dr Pratap Tharyan said this would provide millions of people in India continued free access to the best available evidence on the effects of healthcare interventions.

The Cochrane Library is a collection of six databases that contain various types of high-quality evidence to inform healthcare decision-making, and a seventh database that provides information about groups in The Cochrane Collaboration. The Cochrane Reviews in the CDSR are prepared by authors who register titles with one of the 53 Cochrane Review Groups.

Numerous Cochrane Reviews of importance to public health in India required dissemination; and the free national access to The Cochrane Library ensures that ICMR’s investment in providing access to reliable evidence is utilized by the public bodies and their members, in order to improve health outcomes for the people of India.

Rise in obesity poses 'dementia time bomb'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22479049

Ever-growing waistlines could result in a big increase in the number of people who develop dementia in the future, researchers have warned.

Previous studies have shown that being overweight in middle age increases the odds of developing the mental disorder. Data presented at the European Congress on Obesity suggests stemming the rise in obesity will cut dementia.The Alzheimer's Society charity said regular exercise and a healthy weight were important for reducing risk.

Piling on too many pounds is known to be bad for the body, but there is growing evidence that it is also bad for the mind.

Internet addiction in children leads to anxiety and depression.....parents to be cautious

http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5545;year=2013;volume=55;issue=2;spage=140;epage=143;aulast=Goel

Goel D, Subramanyam A, Kamath R. A study on the prevalence of internet addiction and its association with psychopathology in Indian adolescents. Indian J Psychiatry 2013;55:140-3

 

Background: There has been an explosive growth of internet use not only in India but also worldwide in the last decade. There is a growing concern about whether this is excessive and, if so, whether it amounts to an addiction.
Aim: To study the prevalence of internet addiction and associated existing psychopathology in adolescent age group.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study sample comprising of 987 students of various faculties across the city of Mumbai was conducted after obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval and permission from the concerned colleges. Students were assessed with a specially constructed semi-structured proforma and The Internet Addiction Test (IAT; Young, 1998) which was self-administered by the students after giving them brief instructions. Dukes Health Profile was used to study physical and psychosocial quality of life of students. Subjects were classified into moderate users, possible addicts, and addicts for comparison.
Results: Of the 987 adolescents who took part in the study, 681 (68.9%) were female and 306 (31.1%) were males. The mean age of adolescents was 16.82 years. Of the total, about 74.5% were moderate (average) users. Using Young's original criteria, 0.7% were found to be addicts. Those with excessive use internet had high scores on anxiety, depression, and anxiety depression.
Conclusions: In the emerging era of internet use, we must learn to differentiate excessive internet use from addiction and be vigilant about psychopathology.

Keywords: Dukes health profile, internet addict, internet addiction test

Human rights of mentally ill not protected....Indian study

http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5545;year=2013;volume=55;issue=2;spage=117;epage=124;aulast=Poreddi

In a nutshell, the findings of the present study highlights that more of the caregivers than psychiatric patients perceived that the human rights of people with mental illness were not protected and influencing their reintegration into the community. The findings of the present study also suggest that it is high time to strengthen the legal frame work to protect the rights of people with mental illness. However, legal sanction may not provide adequate protection; hence mental health professionals, NGOs, professional organizations, and other stakeholders should unify their efforts in educating and changing community attitudes towards mental illness and advocating for human rights of people with mental illness.

Poreddi V, R, Reddemma K, Math SB. People with mental illness and human rights: A developing countries perspective. Indian J Psychiatry 2013;55:117-24

Background: Human rights violations among the people with mental illness were not an uncommon occurrence. The present study was aimed to compare persons with psychiatric illness and their caregivers' perceptions regarding the human rights status of people with mental illness in the community.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive design was carried out among randomly selected asymptomatic psychiatric patients and their caregivers (N=200) at a tertiary care center. Data was collected through face-to-face interview, using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Our findings revealed that the caregivers than psychiatric patients perceived negatively to the statements i.e., 'Receiving equal information and encouragement about career opportunities' (χ²=10.779, P<0.029), 'Opposing discriminatory actions, slurs' (χ²=9.472, P<0.050) 'Resolving the conflicts with people with mental illness through nonviolent ways' (χ²=27.091, P<0.000), 'Responding to the complaints of harassment or discrimination against the people with mental illness' (χ²=18.697, P<0.001), 'Encouraged to continue their education' (χ²=13.029, P<0.023) 'Exploitation by the community members' (χ²=18.653, P<0.001) and working under fair conditions (χ²=13.470, P<0.009).
Conclusion: The study suggests that there is an urgent need to take necessary steps to protect, promote, and fulfill human rights of people with mental illness through providing care, educating the community, and strengthening the legislations.

Are you suffering from depression....please check?

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/5/13/124-Symptoms-of-Depression.html

Depression essentially is a mood disorder but according to the contributing factors and causes the character of depression varies to a great extent and there can be various types of depression pertaining to different psychological states, mental conditions and their physical interactions. Symptoms of depression directly correlate with these factors.

Every person tend to feel downbeat in mood or sad or terribly lonely and hopeless some point of time in their life and though such mental makeup can easily be designated as symptoms of depression, if they are not frequent or persistent they are rather just shifts in mood rather than clinical signs of depression. Only when symptoms normally associated with depression tend to become persistent and chronic they are considered as symptoms of depression from clinical point of view. Let us have a closer look at some of the most common signs and symptoms of depression.

1. Behavioral symptoms
A person suffering from chronic or persistently recurring from of depression primarily gets exposed in his or her behavioral attributes with others. Some of the common behavioral symptoms of depression include lack of interest social communication, showing desperation and frantic anger and breaking down in mood from small communication problems, feeling suspicious about others malign objectives without much of a cause, loosing trust in others, locking oneself from communication for days, becoming cynical, argumentative or blaming with surrounding environment, a shaken and unconfident communication and many more
2. Signs on psychic function
Losing some natural psychic or mental abilities constitute another major area that can indicate number of common symptoms of depression like lack of concentration, loosing ability in thinking logically, not being able to remember details of an anything, feeling perplexed in facing anything, loosing decision making and analytical power, mental fatigue and corresponding dullness, persistently feeling sad, full of anxiety, most of the time feeling sort of empty and without any interest and thought, always feeling restless to engage in some sort of thing and soon losing interest in that activity, in acute cases recurring thoughts of suicide, etc.
3. Symptoms of depression on the physical level
Depression or clinical states of depressive mental order result ultimately showing up in number of symptoms of depression on the physical or organic level as well. Some of the common symptoms of depression that observed in chronic sufferers from this malfunction include extreme fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, chronic indigestion even with taking minimum food quantity or in contrary excessive eating and resulting obesity, anxiety and chronic unusual heart palpitation, decreased energy in physical activities, excessive sleep or just contrarily insomnia or sleep disorder, persistent muscles and joint pain, chronic headache, cramps, loss of interest in pleasurable activities like sex, etc.

Indian filmakers present mental illness in right perspective......hope censor board is listening

http://health.india.com/news/hidden-pictures-a-documentary-that-battles-schizophrenia-stigma/

For many years, Dr Delaney Ruston battled the stigma of having a father who suffered from the disease but that was a long time ago. Now she travels the world, showcasing her documentary Hidden Pictures to break down the myths and stigma attached to the disease.

What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a condition that affects the patient by young adulthood and continues till old age, in almost all cases. It is a mental disorder that is characterized by breakdown of thoughts and poor social responsiveness. People with schizophrenia are likely to have additional conditions, including major depression and anxiety disorders. Almost 50% of the patients have a substance abuse problem. They experience social problems, such as long-term unemployment, poverty and homelessness. The most common symptoms that patients have are auditory hallucinations, paranoid behaviour, delusions, and disorder in speech and thinking. As this condition progresses it leads to social degradation or isolation. A diagnosis is usually based on observed behaviour and patients reports. As commonly thought schizophrenia does not imply a split personality, or a multiple personality disorder, rather, the term schizophrenia means a ‘splitting of mental functions’, so named because of what the patient presents.
On-screen example
Schizophrenia has often been portrayed onscreen, the most famous Bollywood example being Salman Khan-starrer Tere Naam but the movie did make it seem like all schizophrenics need an asylum which is not the case. The most famous Hollywood example was a film called The Beautiful Mind which documented the life of economics Nobel laureate mathematician John Nash played by Russell Crowe.

Depression after stroke possible..........antidepressants work

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/04/28/30-One-third-of-patients-suffer-depression-after-stroke.html

A study by Loyola University Medical Center physicians have found that about one-third of patients suffer depression following a stroke, and depression in turn increases the risk of stroke.
Antidepressant medications known as SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro), are effective when given to stroke patients as a preventive measure, the physicians said.

Mental disorders are common after stroke. They include anxiety, irritability and agitation, uncontrollable crying, apathy, delusions and hallucinations. But the most common disorder is depression, either major or minor.Some patients recover over time, while others move in and out of depression. For some patients, depression doesn't develop until up to two years after the stroke.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is linked to worse functional outcomes and increased risks of suicide and mortality.Women are more likely to suffer PSD. Other risk factors include living alone and away from family members, higher levels of education, changes in lifestyle or marital status and degree of functional impairment. Depression, in turn, is a risk factor for stroke and stroke recurrence, even after controlling for other risk factors.

Given the severe effects of PSD, doctors should take an aggressive approach. Timing of medication may be crucial, with early treatment perhaps advantageous. In addition to helping relieve depression, antidepressants also have been shown to improve cognitive and functional recovery. Recent evidence also shows that SSRIs are helpful in motor recovery (improved movement and coordination).




 

'My son is poor in calculation. He cannot write spelling properly' Please contact psychiatrist

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-26/health/38842371_1_dyslexia-child-learning-disability

What is dyslexia?

According to experts, dyslexia goes undetected as parents presume their child is either slow at learning or is not putting enough effort into studies. But in reality, dyslexia is a neuro development disorder that can be corrected with the right help and guidance.

What causes dyslexia?
It may manifest at any time depending on various factors such as academic exposure, environmental stimulation, potential of the child etc. It is known to run in the family and genetic basis has been suspected as the causes of dyslexia. No clear cause is identified but any minor "insult" or harm to the growing brain during pregnancy, birth or even later, may lead to learning problems later on.
What are the types of learning disability?
Learning Disability consists of three distinct types, Dysgraphia (difficulty in writing), Dyscalculia (difficulty in arithmetic) and Dyslexia (difficulty in reading).
How does Dyslexia present itself?
The condition of children with dyslexia is varied. Children may have various combinations of academic and behavioural problems that make each child with dyslexia unique. Since it is a hidden handicap, it may go undetected. A child who is otherwise bright and is able to perform well in other spheres of life does badly in school. The child shows very salient but definitive social adjustment problems if not helped earlier. Most of the children exhibit academic problems by the fourth and fifth standard or even earlier.
What are the signs of Dyslexia?
The child shows reading problems whereby he may hate reading aloud or may not read at all or reads with finger tracing. Usually, his oral performance is much better than the written work. The child may show a lot of spelling errors and slow and inadequate written output. Most of the children just dislike writing. There may be significant problems in mathematics including understanding basic concepts, learning of tables and sequencing.
If my child does not study, what do I do?
An eye checkup and audiogram is required to check the vision and hearing of the child. A detailed evaluation of the child including the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) along with educational assessment helps to understand the child better. In the city of Mumbai, this kind of help is available for evaluation of learning problems in various guidance and counselling centres.

Depression in Indians.....it really exists? Indian research update

http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5545;year=2010;volume=52;issue=7;spage=178;epage=188;aulast=Grover

An overview of Indian research in depression

Depression as a disorder has always been a focus of attention of researchers in India. Over the last 50-60 years, large number of studies has been published from India addressing various aspects of this commonly prevalent disorder. The various aspects studied included epidemiology, demographic and psychosocial risk factor, neurobiology, symptomatology, comorbidity, assessment and diagnosis, impact of depression, treatment related issues and prevention of depression in addition to the efficacy and tolerability of various antidepressants. Here, we review data on various aspects of depression, originating from India.

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder reported in most of the community based studies. It is also reported as one of the most common psychiatric disorder in outpatient clinic population and in subjects seen in various medical and surgical setting. It is also reported to be the most common psychiatric disorder in elderly subjects across various settings. Studies from India have also shown that life events during the period preceding the onset of depression play a major role in depression. Studies on women have also shown the importance of identifying risk factors like interpersonal conflicts, marital disharmony and sexual coercion.

There is need for further study of factors like cost, attitude towards treatment, adherence, compliance and neurobiological correlates. There is also a need to study the course of depressive disorders in India so as to determine the need and duration of continuation treatment. Studies should also evaluate the cost-effective models of treatment which can be easily used in the primary care setting to effectively treat depression.


 

Interesting story on patient with schizophrenia...............

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/what-makes-bunty-chor-steal--doctors-say-it-is-paranoid-schizophrenia/1104113/0 Three medical boards at IHBAS examined serial thief and came to same conclusion. He is known as the slippery one, the thief who strikes at will, and the one who often fakes mental illness to get away. His exploits even inspired the Hindi movie Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye. But not many know that Devinder Singh alias Bunty Chor was diagnosed — not once, but thrice — with paranoid schizophrenia at the government-run Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) last year.

According to documents accessed by Newsline, the three teams came to the same conclusion: "The board is of the opinion that the patient is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and requires continued treatment for the same." One of the common types of schizophrenia, patients of this subtype have traits of paranoia with delusions about themselves and people around them.

Bunty's claims of being a "perfectionist thief" and his obsession for stealing, "could be attributed to the diagnosis of schizophrenia".

While antidepressants played a role, yoga enhanced their effect

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Asanas-that-chase-away-the-blues/articleshow/19536458.cms

While medicines played a role, yoga enhanced their effect, says Dr B N Gangadhar, programme director at Nimhans' Advanced Center for Yoga. "The effect of yoga on mental health is not anecdotal anymore. There is evidence that yogasanas impact electrical and chemical transmissions in the brain," he says.
The hippocampus is vulnerable to stress and atrophy is seen in patients of schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression. "Yoga acts as an antidepressant ," he says.
"We recommend against using it for obsessive compulsive disorder, early onset of schizophrenia, severe depression and severe anxiety. It can complicate their symptoms. It is best suited for mild to moderate depression, anxiety and schizophrenia under medical supervision ," says Desai.

The analysis concluded that yoga therapy reduced psychotic symptoms and depression, improved cognition and quality of life, and produced neurobiological changes such as increased oxytocin levels, a powerful hormone associated with love and communication.

Dementia needs early identification and management....................

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130408/lifestyle-health-and-well-being/article/dementia-doom

Management of Dementia Patients

• Treatment of co-morbid conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
• Minimise sensory deprivation by treating cataracts, providing suitable spectacles, removing ear-wax and making sure hearing aids are available.
• Maintain good dental and oral hygiene.
• Provide adequate nutrition, avoid constipation.
• Prevent and treat urinary infections.
• Provide aids for walking.
• Take precautions to prevent falls and fractures.
• Regularise sleeping hours and ensuring adequate, peaceful sleep at night.
• Periodically review patients’ medicines.

Ways to tackle Dementia in elderly.....media writing good for care

Mental health: Ways to tackle Dementia in elderly

There is no one way to 'prevent' dementia, but one can certainly aim at eliminating the risk factors. Help guide elaborates on 6 pillars of a healthy brain-body
1.Regular exercise
2.Healthy diet
3.Mental stimulation
4.Quality sleep
5.Stress management
6.An active social life

Develop a routine
A routine is important as it also acts as an aid for orienting the elderly.
Do-away with Distractions
Eliminate all distractions from the environment; it is important to make their living place elderly-proof.

Bear a Positive demeanour
When communicating with the elderly, be careful of your tone and body language. Attempt to make them feel comfortable and loved.

Clear Communication
Say exactly what you mean! A person with dementia will most have compromised capacities of abstract thinking and hence maybe unable to decipher even the most common metaphors.

Make the environment Dementia-friendly
Get a digital clock instead of an analogue one, a calender where the date can be marked, put up a family chart with pictures, etc. These simple changes go a long way in aiding the memory.

Games are great
Try engaging the elderly in board games, card-games, even computer games if they're comfortable. Even the age-old 'Xs and Os' is a great way to stimulate the brain and jogs quite a few cognitive capacities.

Tips to relief from tension.................a good news from Amar Ujala

http://www.amarujala.com/news/lifestyle/health-fitness/stress-management/easy-tips-for-instant-relief-from-tension/

अगर आप भी अक्सर छोटी-छोटी बातों पर तनाव लेते रहते हैं तो ये उपाय आपके तनाव को पल में छूमंतर करने में आपकी बहुत मदद करेंगे।

10 मिनट की फ्रेश वॉक
तनाव से आराम और तुरंत तरोताजा होने के लिए 10 मिनट की सैर से बेहतर क्या होगा। पार्क या गार्डेन में हरी घास पर टहलने से आपका तनाव दूर होगा और आप फ्रेश महसूस करेंगे।

रिलेक्स‌िंग एक्सरसाइज
सीधे खड़े हो जाएं। अब झुकें और हथेलियों को जांघ पर रखें। ठुड्डी जमीन के समानामतर हो यानी चेहरा सामने रखें। लंबी सांस लें और छोड़ें। कुछ देर इस अवस्था में रहने के बाद सामान्य अवस्था में आ जाएं। आप हल्का महसूस करेंगे।

गुब्बारा फुलाएं
तनाव की अवस्था में गुब्बारा फुलाना सुनने में भले ही अटपटा लगे लेकिन तनाव दूर करने के लिए यह कारगर वर्कआउट है। इससे फेफड़ों में ऑक्सीजन पहुंचता है और रक्त संचार ठीक हो जाता है।

करें मसाज
पीठ के बल लेट जाएं और कमर के मध्य में टेनिस बॉल रख लें। पीठ के सहारे इसे ऊपर और नीचे रोल करें। इसके अलावा हेड मसाज में तनाव से राहत दिलाने में कारगर है। मसाज से रक्त संचार तेज हो जाता है और थकान दूर होती है।

स्टीम लें
तनाव से राहत के लिए स्टीम एक आसान और कारगर उपाय है। सादे पानी से या किसी अरोमा ऑयल को डालकर स्टाम लेने से आप तरोताजा महसूस करेंगे।

Autism in children......still unknown in society

Autism in children and myths

What is Autism? Autism is a neurodevelopment condition which mainly affects areas of social interaction and communication. These children also may have some motor movements like hand flapping, rocking which are repeated over and over again. The manner in these children behave is quite different and represent a spectrum of symptoms from mild ones which are considered as shy to the real aggressive ones.
The younger children with autism are referred to me with complains of speech delay or hyperactivity while older children lag behind in studies at an early stage because of inability to follow classroom instructions.
Autism facts
The parents notice the soft subtle signs of autism like poor eye contact of the child while talking, most of the children were late to start talking and have inadequate speech. Usually stay in a world of their own, these children are happy alone and find it difficult to play and interact with other children. Inability to focus and hyperactivity with unpredictable aggression also is noted in the children.
Doctors, school teachers and parents have become increasing aware of this condition in the last decade. The awareness has been greatly increased by media with main stream movies like 'My name is Khan 'and 'Barfi' depicting main characters with autism spectrum disorder. Many Hollywood movies like Dear John, Mercury Rising and Rain Man showed autistic characters and popular serials like the Big Bang theory have depicted the main character as suffering from Asperger's syndrome.

It's not good for future of Psychiatry......

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/202/3/228.full

Junior doctors’ views about psychiatry as a possible career range from high levels of enthusiasm to antipathy, and are more polarised than views about other specialties. Shortening of working hours and improvements to working practices in other hospital-based specialties in the UK may have reduced the relative attractiveness of psychiatry to women doctors. The extent to which views of newly qualified doctors about psychiatry can be modified by medical school education, and by greater exposure to psychiatry during student and early postgraduate years, needs investigation.

Preparing yourself for Alzheimer's

http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_preparing-yourself-for-alzheimer-s_1808084

An important article for dementia caregivers to read

'When he lost everything he had ever learnt, every behaviour the world had taught him, my father's good heart still shone through. Of course, he sometimes got angry and scared and confused, but he continued to love us, and he was always kind. That's what he was his whole life, and that's what he was at the end. And that's what I need to learn. I need a heart true enough to survive being stripped of all else by dementia.

I don't want to get Alzheimer's. Nobody does. And I'm doing all I can to prevent it. But, like many misfortunes, dementia cannot be prevented. All one can do is reduce the odds, and mine are still worse than most. If it comes for me, though, I'll be ready.'



 

Sorry, depression is still undiagnosed and undertreated in India...

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/wealthy-and-depressed-or-poor-and-happy

Misleading article appeared in speaking tree- Times of India

Wealthy and depressed...........???????????.

I grew up in India and when I was growing up I never once met a person suffering from depression. In fact in India depression was and still is probably unheard of. I met a lot of poor people who were sad;met a lot of homeless people who were unhappy but none depressed.
 

Is there urgent need for adopting preventive measures of alcohol use in tribals.....

Reasons for Substance Use: A Comparative Study of Alcohol Use in Tribals and Non-tribals

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573575/

A significantly high number of tribals cited reasons associated with social enhancement and coping with distressing emotions rather than individual enhancement, as a reason for consuming alcohol. Addiction was severe in those consuming alcohol to cope with distressing emotions. Belief in the free-will model was noted to be stronger across the cultures, without any correlation with the reason for intake. This cross-sectional study design, which was based on patients, cannot be easily generalized to the community.

Societal acceptance and pressure as well as high emotional problems appears to be the major etiology leading to higher prevalce of substance depedence in tribals. Primary prevention should be planned to fit the needs of the ethnics.

Are we ready to handle the cases of brain disability? Any answers

Headed for a neuro nightmare
India has very limited numbers of neurological and mental health facilities (1 bed per 40,000) and a dearth of mental health professionals (fewer than 3 psychiatrists /neurologists per million). So provision of neurologic and mental health care is very limited. Care-givers and attendants are also not trained to deal with such patients.

Currently, it is estimated that about 37 lakh people suffer from dementia in India, and about 3-5 lakh are being added every year. Women, because of their higher life expectancy, feature in this statistic more than men. There are about 7.6 crore Indians over the age of 60 at present, that is, 7 per cent of the country's population. This number is going to shoot up to 30 crore (17 per cent of the population ) by 2051 as modern medicine increases life expectancy. .......the number of patients will triple with 16 lakh dementia patients added every year.

The annual incidence of stroke in India is about 145 per 100,000 people with about 15 lakh new cases reported in 2010. The rate has increased 10-fold since 1969-70 . Das estimates that in 30-40 per cent cases, long -term disability occurs. So, about 4.5 to 6 lakh people will be added to those with neurological disabilities every year due to stroke.

Brain injuries caused by road traffic accidents are increasing at break neck speed. In 2011, the National Crime Records Bureau reported 136,834 deaths due to road traffic accidents, up by a staggering 70 per cent since just a decade ago. 15-17 lakh people with long-term brain disability from traffic accidents are added every year in India.

Putting all this together, we get a chilling statistic of 35 lakh people with brain disability added to the population every year — about 11,000 per day.

Indian parenting---somewhat different

A news story appeared in Hindustan daily on Indian parenting

http://m.newshunt.com/Live+Hindustan/LifeStyle/19268543/994

इहबास (इंस्टीटय़ूट ऑफ ह्यूमन बिहेवियर एंड एलाइड साइसंसेज), नई दिल्ली में मनोविज्ञान के एसो. प्रोफेसर ओम प्रकाश के मुताबिक, भारतीय परवरिश दुनिया के किसी दूसरे देशों से बिल्कुल अलग है। उनकी कुछ खास बातें हैं, जो कहीं और नहीं दिखतीं। लेकिन कुछ खामियां भी हैं, जो यहां की परवरिश पर सवालिया निशान लगा देती हैं। उम्र के साथ-साथ बच्चों के लिए अपने व्यवहार में बदलाव करें। हमारी परवरिश में इसका चलन नहीं है। अपने बच्चों के साथ जैसा हम पांच साल की उम्र में व्यवहार करते हैं, वैसा ही दस वर्ष की उम्र में और उसके उम्रदराज होने पर भी काफी हद तक हमारा रवैया वैसा ही होता है।

भारतीय परिवेश में 11 वर्ष के बाद लड़की में और 13 वर्ष के बाद लड़के में परिपक्वता आ जाती है, इसलिए इस उम्र के बाद उन्हें आत्मनिर्भर बनना सीखना चाहिए। भारतीय परवरिश में बच्चों की हमेशा माता-पिता पर निर्भरता बनी रहती है। बात चाहे छोटे-बड़े फैसले की हो या किसी कोर्स की, भारतीय बच्चे अपने माता-पिता पर पूरी तरह से निर्भर रहते हैं। निर्भरता माता-पिता और बच्चों के बीच की बॉन्डिंग को मजबूत तो करती है, मगर एक सीमा के बाद यह बच्चे को दबाने लगती है। माता-पिता या बड़ों द्वारा फैसले थोपने की प्रथा भी गलत है। सवाल करियर का हो या शादी का, हमेशा घर के बड़े अपनी मर्जी से ही फैसला करना चाहते हैं। कुछ सीमा तक यह बच्चों को सुरक्षा का एहसास दिलाती है, पर एक सीमा के बाद उनमें मनोविकार पैदा होने लगते हैं। वे बहुत ज्यादा दबाव महसूस करने लगते हैं, उनमें चिड़चिड़ापन, तनाव आने लगता है। वे प्राकृतिक रूप से अपनी पूरी काबिलियत नहीं दे पाते। इसलिए बच्चों को थोड़ा स्पेस देना जरूरी है ताकि बच्चे खुद को समझ सकें और अपनी कमजोरियों व ताकतों को पहचान सकें। बच्चों में तीन साल की उम्र से ही नैतिक मूल्य विकसित करना जरूरी है। किसी किताब या ग्रंथ की सहायता से ऐसा करना संभव नहीं है। इसके लिए माता-पिता को खुद एक रोल मॉडल की तरह काम करना होगा।