Journal September 2008

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 1 – 2 Editorial

Psychiatric Patients in Medical Emergency – Priti Arun

Introduction: The American Psychiatric Association defines a psychiatric emergency as “a situation that includes an acute disturbance in thought, behavior, mood, or social relationship, which requires immediate intervention as defined by the patient, family, or social unit.” These presentations include such symptoms as anxiety, depression, aggression, personality changes, delusions, and hallucinations; all of these can be caused or aggravated by medical disorders. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 3 – 5 Guest Editorial

Need of the Hour : Psychosocial Interventions – Sandeep Grover, Paramanand Kulhara

Introduction: Prior to independence, the mental health services in India were limited to lunatic asylums or mental hospitals which mainly aimed at keeping the mentally ill subjects in detention and custody with scant regard for the care and treatment of these people as patients. Over the last six decades after independence, we have been able to humanize the treatment process in psychiatry from closed wards to treatment of psychiatrically ill subjects in open wards and general hospital psychiatry units. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 6 -16 Review Articles

Benzodiazepines: Therapeutic vs Abuse Potential – Ajit Avasthi, Rahul Gupta, Sandeep Grover

Introduction: Abstract : Ever since their introduction in 1961, benzodiazepines quickly displaced most of the barbiturates and became one of the most frequently prescribed classes of drugs. Their wide variety of physiological effects, high therapeutic ratio and favourable side effect profile makes them useful in the treatment of a number of medical and psychiatric disorders. Recently, new indications of their use have appeared (ego OCD), which further enhances their therapeutic potential. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 17-26
Management of Specific Phobias Krishna Kanwal, Gaurav Rajender, Naveen Grover

Introduction: Abstract : Specific phobias are considered among the most common mental disorders. Besides structured and semistructured interviews various self report measures and behavioral approach tests form an important part of comprehensive assessment. Exposure based therapies (EBT) outperform most nonexposure treatments and are considered the treatment of choice. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 27-29 Original Article

Psychiatric Morbidity in patients attending medical OPD at Govt. Medical College Jammu – Jagdish Thappa, Harneet Kaur, Sushant Thappa, Rakesh Banal, Abhishek Chowhan

Introduction: Abstract : Psychiatric illnesses are a persistent association with Medical conditions. A comprehensive review of the literature reveals that this association of psychiatric and medical conditions is prevalent all over the world. The subjects were 500 medical outpatients of Govt. Medical College Jammu. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 30- 36
Mania with and without Psychotic Features- A Nosological Dilemma? – R K Solanki , Paramjeet Singh, Deepti Munshi

Introduction: Abstract :This study aimed to determine and compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients of bipolar affective disorder mania with psychotic features versus without psychotic features; to assess whether they belong to the same continuum or are distinct diagnostic entities. METHOD: The study sample consisted of 60 patients, 40 with psychotic features and 20 without psychotic features classified as per ICD – 10 classification. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 37-41 Case Conference

Cotard Syndrome – Parmanand Kulhara, Rajarshi Neogi, Anindya Banerjee, Sandeep Grover

Introduction: Abstract :Cotard’s Syndrome, is a rare neuropsychiatric condition in which the sufferer holds a delusional belief that he or she is dead, does not exist, is putrefying or has lost his/her blood or internal organs. Read More

JMHHB 2008 13(2) : 42 -43 Case Report

Hyponatremia in an elderly patient on Sertraline – Moushumi Purkayastha, Ashok Bhiman

Introduction: Abstract : SSRIs are commonly prescribed in psychiatric settings. However incidences of hyponatremia associated with them are sometimes reported. This case illustrates the problem in an elderly patient. Read More