scholarly journals PATHWAYS TO CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS COMING TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN ISLAMABAD

Author(s):  
Mahpara Mazhar ◽  
Faisal Rashid Khan ◽  
Maryam Ali
Author(s):  
Bilal Ur Rehman ◽  
Javid Ahmad ◽  
Rauf Ur Rashid Kaul ◽  
Mohammad Kaleem ul Haque

Background: Pregnancy is a major psychological, as well as physiological event; women may find themselves unable to cope with additional demands of pregnancy. Mental illness during pregnancy-whether anxiety, depression or more severe psychiatric disorders-can have a significant negative impact on a mother and her baby. Poor psychological health has been associated with low birth weight, premature birth, perinatal and infant death, postnatal depression, as well as long term behavioural and psychological impacts on the child. Depressive disorders are a common source of disability among women. Mental health problems during pregnancy and postpartum periods are one of the alarming health issue among women. Community-based epidemiological data on antenatal depression from developing countries is scarce. This study was conducted to assess the mental health status of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of tertiary care hospital, SKIMS, Srinagar (J and K).Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over a period of six months from 1stSeptember 2016 to 28th February 2017 among randomly selected pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of tertiary care hospital, SKIMS, Srinagar. A total of 200 pregnant women formed the study subjects. Data was collected by interviewing the pregnant women using pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using Statistical Programme for the social science (SPSS) version 19.0.Results: Amongst the study population, prevalence of depressive disorder was 26%. The depression was significantly increasing with advancing pregnancy and advancing age. Socio-economic status and depression was associated statistically significant (p=0.024). Women with bad relationship with in laws had significantly more depression compared to those who had good relationship with in laws (P=0.0037). The association between parity and depressive disorder was statistically insignificant(P=0,7144).Conclusions: When we care for mother we care for two live and live without psychological consideration is completely materialistic. A depressive symptom occurs commonly during 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy, drawing attention to a need to screen for depression during antenatal care. Maternal health policies, a priority in developing countries, must integrate maternal depression as a disorder of public health importance. Intervention should target women in the early antenatal period.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 130-130
Author(s):  
Migita M. D’cruz ◽  
Thomas G. Issac ◽  
Gargi Mondal ◽  
Naga VSS Gorthi ◽  
Shiva Shankar Reddy Mukku ◽  
...  

Introduction: Older adults are at disproportionate risk of serious disease and mortality due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Further, the global response to the lockdown has rendered older adults particularly vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation due to the physical distancing and shelter in place mandate. We hypothesized that both these factors would lead to an increase in geriatric mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.Material and Methods: We undertook a clinical audit of all geriatric patients (above 60 years of age) attending the psychiatry emergency services at a tertiary care hospital. This audit was conducted over a period of 52 days dating from the cessation of non-essential services at the hospital as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown).We used descriptive statistics to summarize the number, age, sex, presenting complaint and diagnoses of our patients. We further compared the average number of geriatric patients attending the psychiatry emergency services in the hospital during the lockdown to that of geriatric patients attending the same in the year before the lockdown.Results: A total of 112 geriatric patients attended the psychiatry emergency services during the lockdown period. Of these, 62 were male and 50 female. The average number of geriatric patients attending the emergency services daily during this period (μ1 2.15) was significantly higher (z 5.36, p ≤ 0.01) than the average number of patients attending the emergency services in the year preceding the lockdown (μ2 1.34).The most common presenting complaint was agitation in the preceding weeks. The most common diagnoses were late onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders followed by affective disorders and major neurocognitive disorders.Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic and the global response to the same constitute life events for older adults. They may contribute to biological, psychological and social risk factors for mental health problems in older adults during this period. The increase in geriatric patients attending our emergency services, despite an increase in restrictions on mobility which act as barriers in the pathway to care, is worrying. Under stimulation in older adults during this period may contribute to an increase in agitation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Patabendige ◽  
S. R. Athulathmudali ◽  
S. K. Chandrasinghe

Background. Mental illness related to pregnancy can have long-lasting consequences. Healthcare providers are often the most frequent medical contact with the potential for early detection of these. Objectives were to study the awareness regarding mental health problems during pregnancy and the postpartum period among healthcare providers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out with healthcare providers including the nursing staff, midwifery staff, and medical officers working at obstetric wards in three tertiary care hospitals in Sri Lanka. A self-administered questionnaire assessed staff experience with mothers having mental problems, knowledge on mental health problems related to pregnancy, and knowledge about risk factors, common symptoms, and possible consequences on a five-point Likert scale from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” Results. A total of 300 staff were approached and invited to participate. Only 152 responded to the questionnaire (response rate of 50.1%). Mean (SD) age was 35.8 (9.7) years and mean (SD) years of experience was 10.1 (9.1) years. Age more than 35 years of healthcare providers is associated with statistically significant (p=0.02) average knowledge scores on the consequences of maternal mental health problems. The symptom of “excessively worrying about baby’s health” had the lowest score across all three categories with an average of 34.2%. Only 42.8% have ever heard of EPDS. Overall awareness and knowledge about risk factors, symptoms, and consequences regarding pregnancy-related maternal mental health problems are generally good among the healthcare providers studied. However, some of the few aspects are not satisfactory. Health education of pregnant women, promoting regular in-service training sessions, improvement of infrastructure, and involvement of family members from the antenatal period were discussed by the majority. Conclusion. Despite good overall awareness and knowledge, application into practice with the utilization of validated assessments is poor. This may probably explain why Sri Lanka has a high prevalence of postpartum depression suggesting urgent attention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (241) ◽  
pp. 881-885
Author(s):  
Pratikshya Chalise Chalise ◽  
Avilasha Singh ◽  
Era Rawal ◽  
Pravash Budhathoki ◽  
Satyasuna Sharma ◽  
...  

Introduction: Fear and anxiety is a natural response during crisis. From constant worry of getting infected, death of loved ones, transitioning of lifestyle to loss of social connection; there can be several psychological triggers. The effect on mental health on the general population could be greater than those affected by the infection itself during the pandemic. Among medical students, who already have several other psychological afflictions, these triggers might be detrimental. Hence, this study aims to find out the prevalence of composite anxiety-depression among medical undergraduates in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical undergraduates in a tertiary care hospital from 20th December 2020 to 5th January 2021. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee. The sample size was calculated and convenient sampling was done. The data were entered in International Business Machines Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Out of 315 participants on the Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety and Depression Scale, severe composite anxiety-depression was seen in 10 (3.17%) at 95% Confidence Interval (1.23-5.1) participants, moderate in 35 (11.11%) at 95% Confidence Interval (7.63-14.58) and mild in 98 (31.11%) at 95% Confidence Interval (25.99-36.22). And 172 (54.6%) at 95% Confidence Interval (49.1-60) were normal. Conclusions: The rapid rise of apprehension among people amidst infectious outbreaks can ensue and medical students are no exception. So, at this time of crisis, there is a need to protect their mental health and it should be emphasized and endorsed.


Author(s):  
Sarada Prasanna Swain ◽  
Manoj Kumar Dash ◽  
Jigyansha Ipsita Pattnaik ◽  
Neelamadhab Rath

Background: The security personnel of our country including Army Personnel, C.I.S.F., Police and other security personnel bear a large amount of physical and psychological stress to maintain law and order situations at different corners of the country at different situations. To assess the Psychiatric Morbidity in C.I.S.F., the course of referrals of Para-military persons to a tertiary care hospital and to evaluate the Mental Health burden in the Para-military set up by virtue of their occupation. Methods: The study sample included all the consecutive patients referred by CISF Headquarters Hospital to the Mental Health Institute (MHI), S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, from April 2015 to March 2016. The clinical information is collected from the patient and accompanying personnel from CISF or family members who accompanied the patient. The diagnosis is based on ICD-10 and the final opinion is given by the consultants of Psychiatry after final evaluation of all the reports. Results: Psychiatric assessment for job fitness (48%) was the dominant cause for referral of PMF staff to MHI. Substance abuse (alcohol) related disorders were the next common cause of referral (20%).Conclusions: Mental health burden in Para-military bases are substantial which should be taken care of in urgency basis. There is urgent need of posting of Psychiatrists with Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatric Social Worker or a team of the Mental Health Professionals should visit the paramilitary set ups regularly to look into improper diagnosis and review cases. 


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