Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine最新文献

Background: We aimed to study the prevalence of behavioral problems among school-going children, the factors affecting them, and to establish normative scores for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) parent form.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among schoolchildren aged 6-11 years from two primary schools in South India. Parents of children included in the study were asked to fill out the Kannada/English version of the SDQ Parent Form.

Results: The SDQ parent report forms were filled by parents of 671 children, of which 49.8% (n = 334) were boys with a M: F ratio of 1:1.01. There was an equal distribution across different age groups. The comparison of scores between boys and girls showed no statistically significant difference in all scales except for the hyperactivity subscale, where the boys had a higher score with a median (IQR) of 4 (2,5) compared to the girls' score of 3 (1,4) (p = .001). Regarding age, although the total difficulties score, conduct problems score, hyperactivity score, and internalizing score were higher in the 9-11-year-old group than in the 6-8-year-old group, the p value was not significant. Children of fathers with higher educational status scored better in the peer problems and prosocial scores. The newer cut-off scores have been generated and are divided into four bands, similar to the 4-band categorization on the SDQ scoring site.

Conclusions: Boys had higher scores on the hyperactivity subscale than girls. Normative data for Indian children aged 6-11 years have been generated and are similar to UK data.

Background: Alcohol dependence is prevalent, with significant morbidity and mortality linked to alcohol-induced delirium. A new but less studied strategy integrating personalized feedback intervention (PFI) with fear appeal has shown promise in modifying behavior.

Novelty: There is limited evidence to suggest that using patients' own videotaped recordings in a delirious state can reduce relapse and enhance abstinence. Our study evaluates the combined effect of both PFI and fear appeal on reducing alcohol use and prolonging abstinence.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of PFI with fear appeal on alcohol consumption patterns in terms of duration of abstinence and amount of alcohol consumption in patients with delirium.

Methods: This open-label randomized controlled trial will recruit 48 patients (purposive sampling) aged >18 years, any gender diagnosed with alcohol-induced delirium at AIIMS Bibinagar. Participants will be assessed for withdrawal severity and delirium using standardized tools. They will be randomly allocated (opaque sealed envelopes) to two groups: (a) PFI with fear appeal (Group 1) and (b) Treatment as usual (TAU, Group 2). Group 1 will receive TAU, along with PFI, and fear appeal, using a video recording of their own delirium symptoms. Intervention will focus on the harmful consequences of alcohol use, aiming to reduce consumption and increase abstinence duration. Group 2 will receive standard pharmacological treatment, along with motivational enhancement therapy (MET) or relapse prevention therapy (RPT).

Expected outcome: Outcomes will be measured through Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) for alcohol consumption and duration of abstinence, with follow-ups at 1 and 3 months.

Background: Depression is emerging as a significant global public health concern. Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), a well-known probiotic, is recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has demonstrated efficacy in treating inflammatory bowel diseases and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Methods: Reserpine, an obsolete antihypertensive medicine known to cause neurotoxicity, was used to induce depression-like symptoms in adult zebrafish. Our experimental approach encompassed various stages, including behavior assessment, histological examination, antioxidant assays, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: Reserpine exposure resulted in significant behavioral deficits, increased oxidative stress, neuronal damage, and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the zebrafish brain. EcN treatment significantly improved locomotor and exploratory behaviors and restored social preference compared with the reserpine group (p < .05). EcN markedly increased antioxidant enzyme activities (Catalase and Superoxide dismutase) while reducing lactate dehydrogenase, nitric oxide, and lipid peroxidation levels (p < .05). Furthermore, EcN significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and necrosis factor-κB levels in the brain relative to reserpine-treated fish (p < .001). These effects were comparable, though slightly less pronounced, than those observed with Venlafaxine.

Conclusions: EcN significantly attenuated reserpine-induced depression-like behavior, oxidative stress, neuronal damage, and neuroinflammation in adult zebrafish, as evidenced by statistically significant improvements in behavioral, biochemical, and inflammatory endpoints. These findings support EcN as a promising psychobiotic with antidepressant-like properties, warranting further mechanistic and translational investigations.

Schema Therapy (ST) is an integrative therapeutic approach for addressing personality disorders such as Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD). This approach emphasizes the identification and healing of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) and the use of schema modes that contribute to the development of PDs. Schema modes are moment-to-moment reflections of emotional and behavioral states triggered by the activation of different EMS. They comprise thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Coping modes, a subset of schema modes, are unconscious strategies employed to manage distress that obstructs access to an individual's vulnerabilities. This article illustrates the therapeutic process of ST in working through the dysfunctional coping modes of Ms. A, a 22-year-old female diagnosed with AvPD and Depression. It highlights the significant challenges encountered in therapy with respect to the client's detached and avoidant protector modes. Therapeutic interventions, such as limited reparenting and empathic confrontation, played a crucial role in addressing dysfunctional coping modes and facilitating access to clients' vulnerable child modes. This study further underscores the importance of considering therapeutic relationships when engaging with clients' coping strategies. Finally, the implications of addressing coping modes in the treatment of clients with AvPD are discussed. As a single-case study, its findings have limited generalizability due to the presence of other confounding factors, including the role of concurrent medication in the outcome.

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD), particularly injection drug use (IDU), is on the rise and is associated with complications such as blood-borne infections, overdosing, and seizures, among others. Understanding factors distinguishing non-injecting opioid users (NIOU) and IDUs is essential for the development of effective prevention and management strategies. This study aimed to compare sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors between IDUs and NIOUs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in North India, including 100 opioid-dependent males (50 NIOUs and 50 IDUs). Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables were assessed using structured interviews and validated instruments, including the Maudsley Addiction Profile, the severity of dependence scale (SDS), the high-risk behavior scale (HRBS), the sensation seeking scale (SSS), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), and the WHO-ASSIST.

Results: IDUs had significantly higher histories of alcohol use, duration of cannabis use, and family history of substance use, and significantly higher scores on HRBS, BIS, and the SSS (p < .05). WHO-ASSIST and SDS scores were comparable between the groups. IDUs had a substantially higher number of days of heroin use in the last month and days of conflicts with relatives (p < .05). Mean duration of the transition period from NIOU to IDU was 4 ± 3.3 years.

Conclusions: Family history of drug use, higher sensation seeking, impulsivity, and risk-taking behavior were found to be important factors related to IDU. Interventions targeting these factors are essential for preventing the transition from NIOU to IDU.