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Introduction: Suicide has become an important public health concern with a high number of deaths and increasing number of attempted suicides every year. There are multiple factors that underlie a suicide attempt. Although mental illness... more
Introduction: Suicide has become an important public health concern with a high number of deaths and increasing number of attempted suicides every year. There are multiple factors that underlie a suicide attempt. Although mental illness and severe stress have long been known to be associated with suicide, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of those attempting suicide can also provide indications of suicidal intent. The present study aimed to explore the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients in Kolkata, India who attempted suicide. Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 100) with failed suicide attempt who were referred to the psychiatry department of 2 multispecialty hospitals in Kolkata were included in the study. Their socio-demographic details and clinical characteristics were recorded. Suicidal intent and depressive symptoms were assessed and psychosocial risk factors were identified following detailed clinical interview. Results: Suicide attempt was more frequent among younger female patients. Reaction to stress was the most common risk factor. The majority of attempts were impulsive in nature rather than planned. Conclusion: Young adults under stress are more vulnerable. Early identification of such individuals and psychosocial support to prevent suicidal ideation is vital.
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Telepsychology is a new perspective of professional help for mental health. Increased use of technology became a preferred medium to provide mental health services and made it easier to reach the larger population. In the underserved... more
Telepsychology is a new perspective of professional help for mental health. Increased use of technology became a preferred medium to provide mental health services and made it easier to reach the larger population. In the underserved regions, the services of mental health have been reached to manage and prevent mental disorders. It requires proficiency, competency, and encouragement to improve skills and services. The purpose of the article is to explore and identify the scope and to link the concept with application and challenges in different mental health conditions.
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Background: Empathy, Emotional- awareness and Emotional self –regulation are important domains of emotional intelligence (EI). These are significant factors to handle any relationship. Empathy helps adolescents to comprehend the feelings... more
Background: Empathy, Emotional- awareness and Emotional self –regulation are important domains of emotional intelligence (EI). These are significant factors to handle any relationship. Empathy helps adolescents to comprehend the feelings of others and to communicate appropriately. Emotional awareness helps to understand what others are communicating to them and reason behind it. Emotional self-regulation improves the performance at work, enrich personal relationship and also enhance betterment of mood. In the long run, these three aspects increase compassion and feelings for others. Special features of working in adolescence need to be taken into account in considering its consequences for development during this phase of life. Work by young people tends to be more discretionary that interferes with the proper growth and development of them in all aspects like mentally, physically, socially and intellectually. Objective: The aim of this study is to find out whether is there any dif...
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Research Interests: Psychology and Cognition
ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that subtle losses in memory may be symptomatic of a transition to early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Identification of person within this high risk group is becoming a priority. The objective of this... more
ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that subtle losses in memory may be symptomatic of a transition to early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Identification of person within this high risk group is becoming a priority. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the deficits in the memory performance of patients reporting memory impairment, without any other significant cognitive impairment. The study further examined the utility of PGI- Memory scale to identify the memory impairment in this group. Method: Consecutive patients coming to MCOMS OPD in the age range between 55- 70, of both sexes, with complaints of problem in memory were screened on Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Patients having borderline impairment were further assessed on Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), and those found not suggestive of dementia were assessed for their memory profile using the PGI- Memory scale. The patients were compared with control group. Results: The high risk group scored below cut- off point in all the measures of PGI- Memory scale, except the subtests of attention and concentration, mental balance, and immediate recall. Significant group difference was found in remote memory, delayed recall, verbal retention for dissimilar pairs, visual retention and in recognition. Conclusion: Results suggest that multiple memory domains are affected in this high risk group for AD. Though they didn’t qualify to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but memory profile indicates high risk for the disorder.
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Abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. Children with ADHD have problems with attention span and tend to be very easily distracted. They specifically have... more
Abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. Children with ADHD have problems with attention span and tend to be very easily distracted. They specifically have difficulty in paying, and maintaining attention over prolonged periods of time, along with difficulty in focusing and screening the stimulus presented in their surrounding environment. Consequently, their behavior is inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive. Effective intervention may improve their attention span over time, which lead them to be more productive in school and at home. Aim & objective: The present study aims to find out the efficacy of a 12- week attention training program for children with ADHD, aged 6- 10 years, to improve attention span of these children. Methodology: Total 5 children, 3 males, 2 females were selected for the study following purposive sampling technique, from Clinics in Kolkata. Before training program, parents comp...
Table of Contents: •Introduction: CBT and the culture / Farooq Naeem, Maged Swelam, David Kingdon •Cognitive behaviour therapy in China: developments and future prospects / Chee-wing Wong, Roger M.K. Ng •Cognitive therapy for psychosis in... more
Table of Contents: •Introduction: CBT and the culture / Farooq Naeem, Maged Swelam, David Kingdon •Cognitive behaviour therapy in China: developments and future prospects / Chee-wing Wong, Roger M.K. Ng •Cognitive therapy for psychosis in Beijing / David Kingdon and Ziyan Xu •Cognitive behaviour therapy for children and adolescents in Bangladesh / Farah Deeba and Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman •Malaysian and Bruneian perspective / N. Kumaraswamy •Cognitive behavioural therapy in India: adaptations, beliefs and challenges / Nimisha Kumar and Parul Gupta •CBT: the Nepalese experience / Susmita Halder and Akash Kumar Mahato •Cognitive behavior therapy in the Middle East 1 / A AlHadi, H. Algahtani and MO Salem •Cognitive behavior therapy in the Middle East 2 / Rashed Al-Sahel and Jasem Al-Khawajah •Where cultures collaborate: CBT in Turkey / Emel Stroup, Bilge Elibol •Cognitive behavioural therapy in Brazil / Isabel Cristina Weiss De Souza ... [et al.] •CBT in South Africa / David Edwards ......
Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that “demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize” (Lazarus)1. It could be debatable whether stress is inevitable, but most... more
Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that “demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize” (Lazarus)1. It could be debatable whether stress is inevitable, but most professionals report stress at work place and in general. A common perception prevails regarding high stress level amongst professionals in particular industries like the information technology, professionals with fieldwork (medical representatives, insurance agents) that is also backed by study findings. However, stress among health care professionals is less explored. The present study aims to explore and assess psychological well being and stress levels among health care professionals. 50 health professionals, including doctors, paramedical and nursing staffs from different multi-specialty hospitals in Kolkata were assessed on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) and the Professional Life Stress scale, and Medico Psychological Questionnaire. Majo...
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Mental health denotes a symptom free mind and fair level of emotional well being. Be it home or workplace; mental health of an individual is subjected to environmental stressors that may reduce one’s state of well being. The workplace in... more
Mental health denotes a symptom free mind and fair level of emotional well being. Be it home or workplace; mental health of an individual is subjected to environmental stressors that may reduce one’s state of well being. The workplace in particular can be a very tiring environment for anyone. The stress of long working hours, ever increasing targets, managing coworkers and subordinates can take a toll on a persons mind and prove very toxic to one's mental and physical health in long run. It is difficult for persons with full blown mental illness to continue at work; but it generally takes a gradual course, before an individual shows full blown symptoms of a particular illness. Thus it becomes necessary to constantly check mental health and stress level of workers. The article discusses mental health, particularly in work place occupational stress and the related issues.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v2i1.5915 International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, Vol. 2 ...
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... D. Research support: National Institutes of Health Moira A. Rynn, MD Research support: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, National Institute of Mental Health ... And we thank DebraFox and her staff at Fox Learning Systems, who made... more
... D. Research support: National Institutes of Health Moira A. Rynn, MD Research support: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, National Institute of Mental Health ... And we thank DebraFox and her staff at Fox Learning Systems, who made the production of the high-quality DVD ...
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Previously thought as a childhood disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is reported to be spreading at an increasing rate and affecting 4% to 5% of the adult population. It is characterized by persistent problems of... more
Previously thought as a childhood disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is reported to be spreading at an increasing rate and affecting 4% to 5% of the adult population. It is characterized by persistent problems of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. We present the case of an adult ADHD patient intervened with neurocognitive psychotherapy.
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Background: There is a paucity of studies reporting prevalence of personality disorders in subjects with alcohol dependence in India. This pilot study was undertaken to delineate the prevalence of personality disorders in subjects with... more
Background: There is a paucity of studies reporting prevalence of personality disorders in subjects with alcohol dependence in India. This pilot study was undertaken to delineate the prevalence of personality disorders in subjects with alcohol dependence in ...
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Age Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI) has been used as an ... The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which memory is affected in AAMI using COGTEST. ... AAMI sequenced fewer numbers than the control group, however this... more
Age Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI) has been used as an ... The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which memory is affected in AAMI using COGTEST. ... AAMI sequenced fewer numbers than the control group, however this did not ... Impairment in verbal and visual memory but not in working memory domains in AAMI compared to control subjects was seen. The COGTEST library of tests can be used to identify cognitive deficits in AAMI. ... 1. Crook TH, Bartus RT, Ferris SH, et al: Age-associated memory impairment: proposed diagnostic ...
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Eastern J. Psychiatry. Vol. 12, 2009 41 free download: www. indianpsychiatryez. org ::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::... more
Eastern J. Psychiatry. Vol. 12, 2009 41 free download: www. indianpsychiatryez. org ::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ... ... Eastern J. Psychiatry. Vol. 12, 2009 42 free download: www. indianpsychiatryez. org ...
Suicide survivor is a family member(s) or friend(s) who experiences the death of a loved one by suicide. Some existing literature shows the possible complications in them while some suggest on the management plans to address the reactions... more
Suicide survivor is a family member(s) or friend(s) who experiences the death of a loved one by suicide. Some existing literature shows the possible complications in them while some suggest on the management plans to address the reactions experienced by them. However, it is important to note here that added to the loss and grief, in suicide, there is an associated stigma that may dispose the person to fear, anger, self-blame, guilt, confusion, abandonment and may keep them away from the treatment procedures and reduce the process of ventilation and thwart the restoration of functioning. There may also be risk of suicide in the suicide survivors. The quantitative and qualitative difference in the experience of the emotional and cognitive experiences among suicide survivors require a specific plan for the intervention and more substantial research into this field.
Cognitive training entails the repeated exercise of a specific cognitive process over a period of time to improve performance on the trained task as well as on tasks not specifically trained. Studies have shown that cognitive training can... more
Cognitive training entails the repeated exercise of a specific cognitive process over a period of time to improve performance on the trained task as well as on tasks not specifically trained. Studies have shown that cognitive training can remediate deficits in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as they commonly present with inattention and working memory deficits. In this case study, index client N.S. 11 years, male presented with core inattention problems however not meeting the ADHD diagnostic criteria and that would not be manifested in academic functioning and in school and home behaviour. However, standardized neuropsychological assessment like Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and Test of Everyday Attention-Children (TEA-Ch) showed the deficits. The client was trained with a flexible combination of cognitive tasks tailored to target the deficit areas. The cognitive tasks addressed the areas of working memory and attention that included selective attention, sustained attention, focused attention, response inhibition and switching. Over multiple sessions the client showed improvement in the neuropsychological test (TEA-Ch), thereby showing efficacy of the flexible approach of cognitive training combining different cognitive tasks as per the need with subclinical attention problems. 122
Original Article Objectives: The concept of Pandemic Fatigue was specified by the World Health Organization in 2020 after the COVID pandemic swept nations worldwide. Pandemic Fatigue can be conceptualized as an expected and involuntary... more
Original Article Objectives: The concept of Pandemic Fatigue was specified by the World Health Organization in 2020 after the COVID pandemic swept nations worldwide. Pandemic Fatigue can be conceptualized as an expected and involuntary response to the prolonged public health crisis with unprecedented impact on daily living of every person including those who were not affected directly. Mental health and motivation of the general population has been adversely impacted by the prolonged duration of the pandemic situation. Many studies have suggested that the feeling of uncertainty due to pandemic or lockdown caused a fatigue and it may have slowed down the cognitive functioning in individuals. Methods: The present study aimed to explore the possible association between Pandemic Fatigue and cognitive functioning of adults. Hundred adults of both sexes in the age group of 18-40 years were selected from different cities of India and assessed on the Pandemic Fatigue Scale and the Perceived Change in Cognitive Functioning Questionnaire. Results: Findings suggest presence of Pandemic Fatigue predominantly in the sample. It was significantly related with perceived changes in attention and concentration. Individuals with history of COVID infection reported significant change in their attention and concentration and flexibility. Conclusions: The adverse impact of pandemic on physical and mental health is evident There is a need to explore the persistence of the findings in longitudinal perspective as well as changes in cognitive and mental health of COVID infected individuals.
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Objectives: The concept of Pandemic Fatigue was specified by the World Health Organization in 2020 after the COVID pandemic swept nations worldwide. Pandemic Fatigue can be conceptualized as an expected and involuntary response to the... more
Objectives: The concept of Pandemic Fatigue was specified by the World Health Organization in 2020 after the COVID pandemic swept
nations worldwide. Pandemic Fatigue can be conceptualized as an expected and involuntary response to the prolonged public health crisis
with unprecedented impact on daily living of every person including those who were not affected directly. Mental health and motivation of the
general population has been adversely impacted by the prolonged duration of the pandemic situation. Many studies have suggested that the
feeling of uncertainty due to pandemic or lockdown caused a fatigue and it may have slowed down the cognitive functioning in individuals.
Methods: The present study aimed to explore the possible association between Pandemic Fatigue and cognitive functioning of adults. Hundred
adults of both sexes in the age group of 18–40 years were selected from different cities of India and assessed on the Pandemic Fatigue Scale
and the Perceived Change in Cognitive Functioning Questionnaire. Results: Findings suggest presence of Pandemic Fatigue predominantly
in the sample. It was significantly related with perceived changes in attention and concentration. Individuals with history of COVID infection
reported significant change in their attention and concentration and flexibility. Conclusions: The adverse impact of pandemic on physical and
mental health is evident There is a need to explore the persistence of the findings in longitudinal perspective as well as changes in cognitive
and mental health of COVID infected individuals.
Keywords: Adults, cognitive functioning, COVID, pandemic fatigue
nations worldwide. Pandemic Fatigue can be conceptualized as an expected and involuntary response to the prolonged public health crisis
with unprecedented impact on daily living of every person including those who were not affected directly. Mental health and motivation of the
general population has been adversely impacted by the prolonged duration of the pandemic situation. Many studies have suggested that the
feeling of uncertainty due to pandemic or lockdown caused a fatigue and it may have slowed down the cognitive functioning in individuals.
Methods: The present study aimed to explore the possible association between Pandemic Fatigue and cognitive functioning of adults. Hundred
adults of both sexes in the age group of 18–40 years were selected from different cities of India and assessed on the Pandemic Fatigue Scale
and the Perceived Change in Cognitive Functioning Questionnaire. Results: Findings suggest presence of Pandemic Fatigue predominantly
in the sample. It was significantly related with perceived changes in attention and concentration. Individuals with history of COVID infection
reported significant change in their attention and concentration and flexibility. Conclusions: The adverse impact of pandemic on physical and
mental health is evident There is a need to explore the persistence of the findings in longitudinal perspective as well as changes in cognitive
and mental health of COVID infected individuals.
Keywords: Adults, cognitive functioning, COVID, pandemic fatigue
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has been proved to be effective for numerous patients and conditions and thus has been widely used ever since its establishment. However, it has been seen that using CBT or techniques of CBT in certain... more
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has been proved to be effective for numerous patients and conditions and thus has been widely used ever since its establishment. However, it has been seen that using CBT or techniques of CBT in certain conditions is difficult and causes interruption in the flow of treatment. Likewise, management of elderly patients, treatment resistant patients or chronic schizophrenia are such conditions where a therapist might face an obstruction. The present study highlights application of techniques of CBT, its adaptability and effectiveness in terms of the outcomes of treatment. It describes the use of process of CBT for client aged 66 years, treatment resistant, and was presented with paranoid schizophrenia with a long duration of 42 years. The study uses various techniques to CBT as per requirement of the patient such as Socratic Questioning, Thought Challenging, and Challenging Absolutes, and the therapy was continued for 9 weeks. The outcomes of the therapy...
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Schizophrenia is considered to be the paradigmatic illness of psychiatry. The illness is characterized by marked disturbances and abnormalities in the domains of thought, perception, speech, emotion and behavior. The expression of the... more
Schizophrenia is considered to be the paradigmatic illness of psychiatry. The illness is characterized by marked disturbances and abnormalities in the domains of thought, perception, speech, emotion and behavior. The expression of the symptoms varies across patients and over time, but the cumulative effect of the illness is always severe and usually long lasting. Schizophrenia often takes a chronic course and patients exhibit difficulty re-attaining their optimum level even after resolution of clinical symptoms. Disability though is associated with many illnesses, with arguably the disability associated with chronic mental illness and schizophrenia in particular is more difficult to cope up with due to the associated stigma and care burden. The chapter focuses on different aspects of disability in schizophrenia with specific emphasis on neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning and their correlation in schizophrenia, with support from research by the author and relevant literature.