Evaluation of Transdermal Patches of Valproic Acid

Conventional System of Medication that requires multi dose therapy are having many problems. The controlled drug delivery is a newer approach is to deliver drug into systemic circulation. As Valproic Acid is a drug to control the manic disorder so it is necessary to maintain the concentration of drug in systemic circulation continuously. So a new approach known as transdermal drug delivery system is adopted to avoid the various drawbacks of oral and other conventional dosage form.

Perception of Burden and Stigma by Caretaker of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: a Comparative Study

Background burden of care can be conceptualized into two distinct components (objective and subjective). Objective burden of care is meant to indicate its effects on the household such as taking care of daily tasks, whereas subjective burden indicates the extent to which the caregivers perceived the burden of care. Aim of the present study was to assess level of burden and stigma on caretaker of schizophrenia and bipolar patients. Method researcher took N=80 samples from the population of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Researcher used ‘t’ test, ‘f’ test, correlation test, degree of freedom test to analyzed the data. Results researcher found that caretaker perceived higher stigma and burden, there will be no significant difference in education level. Twenty two (50.0 %) caretaker of schizophrenia perceived moderate to severe burden comparatively 9 (25.0 %) BMD (bipolar manic disorder) perceived moderate to severe burden. Researcher concluded that caretaker of schizophrenia and bipolar both perceived burden and stigma.

Age transitions in the course of bipolar I disorder

BackgroundThis analysis aimed to show whether symptoms of either pole change in their persistence as individuals move through two decades, whether such changes differ by age grouping, and whether age of onset plays an independent role in symptom persistence.MethodParticipants in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Collaborative Depression Study (CDS) who completed at least 20 years of follow-up and who met study criteria for bipolar I or schizo-affective manic disorder, before intake or during follow-up, were divided by age at intake into youngest (18–29 years, n=56), middle (30–44 years, n=68) and oldest (>44 years, n=24) groups.ResultsThe persistence of depressive symptoms increased significantly in the two younger groups. Earlier ages of onset were associated with higher depressive morbidity throughout the 20 years of follow-up but did not predict changes in symptom persistence. The proportions of weeks spent in episodes of either pole correlated across follow-up periods in all age groupings, although correlations were stronger for depressive symptoms and for shorter intervals.ConclusionsRegardless of age at onset, the passage of decades in bipolar illness seems to bring an increase in the predominance of depressive symptoms in individuals in their third, fourth and fifth decades and an earlier age of onset portends a persistently greater depressive symptom burden. The degree to which either depression or manic/hypomanic symptoms persist has significant stability over lengthy periods and seems to reflect traits that manifest early in an individual's illness.