The boxers fracture: a simple and effective method of external splintage

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The social and psychological correlates of leprosy

Leprosy, one of the most chronic tropical diseases, acts as a unique psychosocial stressor for the social stigma associated with it. The present study assessed the nature of such stigma and its possible effect on the patient's mental health. Leprosy patients perceive that (a) their illness evokes public fear and hate, (b) it is degrading and humiliating and they should be segregated from family and society and (c) it is incurable and a consequence of sin. Psychiatric morbidity is commoner among the in-patients (64%) than among the out-patients (25%).

Validity of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-36/GHQ-12) in the psychiatric O.P.D. of a general hospital--a pilot study

Two shorter versions of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) viz. GHQ-36 physical illness items removed (GHQ-36-P) and GHQ-12 were validated in the psychiatric OPD of a teaching hospital in Calcutta among known patients and controls. It was found that a higher cut-off point than that originally recommended yielded satisfactory validation indices for both the versions.

The extent and nature of depressive phenomena in primary health care. A study in Calcutta, India

The extent and factor structure of depressive phenomena were investigated in three primary health care clinics in the city of Calcutta. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire and the Screening for Depression Questionnaire were used as the first-stage instruments, and the Clinical Interview Schedule and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression as the second-stage instruments. The implications of the findings are discussed.

An analysis of the nature of depressive phenomena in primary health care utilising multivariate statistical techniques

The nature of depressive phenomena in primary health care was explored with data obtained from three primary health care clinics situated in the periphery of the city of Calcutta in India. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) and the Screening for Depression Questionnaire (SDQ-9) were used as the first stage and the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Hamilton) as the second stage instruments respectively. Health workers with limited training administered the first stage instruments to consecutive adult clinic attenders. Principal components analysis followed by multiple linear regression analysis and discriminant function analysis were applied to the data. It was concluded that depressive phenomena in primary health care settings were largely undifferentiated in nature.

Psychiatric morbidity in primary health care. A two-stage screening procedure in developing countries: choice of instruments and cost-effectiveness

The use in two developing countries of a two-stage psychiatric screening procedure with an emphasis on minor morbidity is described. This was the first use of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire and Clinical Interview Schedule in conjunction. Health auxiliaries with limited training administered the first-stage screening instrument. In comparison with other psychiatric screening techniques used in developing countries, the procedure described may prove to be more cost-effective in primary care and community surveys, and more appropriate for assessing the wide range of minor psychiatric morbidity commonly encountered in such settings.

A study of psychiatric morbidity in married males with sexual dysfunction

Thirty married males with sexual dysfunction were first examined by the venereologist in the STD clinic. Then they were assessed with General Health Questionnaire-36 items (Physical illness items removed) (GHQ-36P) and Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HRS-D). Results were compared with properly matched controls. 53 % of the patients belonged to age group of 25-34 years. Erectile importence was the most common type' of sexual dysfunction. 80% of the patients scored high(≥ 5) in GHQ-36P. Depression of moderate to severe degree were present in more than 75% of the high scorers.

Psychiatric phenomena in primary health care their extent and nature

The extent of psychiatric phenomena was assessed in three primary health care clinics in Calcutta, and the nature of the phenomena was explored with the aid of multivariate statistical techniques. The Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) was used as the first stage and the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) as the second stage instruments respectively. The implications of the findings are discussed and an exploratory model for psychiatric phenomena in extramural settings is proposed.

Psychiatric morbidity in an urbanized tribal (santal) community - a field survey

Psychiatric morbidity was studied in an urbanized tribal (Santal) community comprising 205 families in the district of Nadia, West Bengal by the method of door to door survey of each family by a team of psychiatrists. Total morbidity was 519 1000. Depression was the commonest type of illness. Neurotic illness, epilepsy and mental retaliation had a very low rate of prevalence. Married individuals were more attached than the unmarried ones. Males had a slightly higher rate of mental morbidity. The population showed a general tendency of greater vulnerability to mental illness with advancing age. Results are discussed in the perspective of relevant studies.

Psychiatric research instruments in the transcultural setting: experiences in India and Brazil

Some of the issues concerned with the application of standardized psychiatric research instruments in settings other than the one in which they are developed are discussed in the light of the authors' experiences in India and Brazil. The authors contend that in spite of the divergent manifestations of mental disorders across cultures, there is an inner core of human suffering which can be reliably detected by suitably modified instruments developed in the West. It is contended that the research worker should be as familiar with the cultural setting where the instrument is to be applied as the language in which the instrument has been developed.

Psychiatric morbidity in an urban slum-dwelling community

The present study concerns the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in a slum area in Calcutta and its relation to certain demographic and social variables. The survey was carried out by a team of psychiatrists by a door-to-door enquiry. Significant relationship of mental morbidity were found with age, sex, caste, socioeconomic status and family size.