Psychiatry and Society

The 'truth' might set us free Permission for narcoanalysis on a spy was refused by the Pune courts a few days ago. The investigating authorities have perceived this as a setback in arriving at the ‘truth’. Method In a clinical settting narocoanalysis and narcotherapy are conducted in a treatment room. The patient lies quietly with an iv line in place. While the psychiatrist recapitulates the patients history in a low monotone a nursing assistant injects thiopentone sodium to terse instructions of “push 50” or “25 slow”. Thiopentone sodium is no rare drug. It is used everyday to induce general anaesthesia. At lower doses in willing patients it produces a state of relaxation. You have to be careful the patient does not doze off or start slurring in speech. At the start of the narcoanalysis attention has to be paid to the patient's posture and eye movement. Horizontal eye movements indicate a state of sufficient relaxation to proceed with the deeper probing interview....

Stressed youths relaxing Academic stress is a significant aspect of youth. Youth is the developmental phase between puberty and working adulthood. It is a period of continuing student-hood. This is a distinctive feature of youth - it exists only for those who undergo post-secondary education. This is for the privileged few who do not join the workforce full-time after schooling. Youth is a valuable time for serious experimentation. The young person is not fettered by long-term commitments. In contrast to adolescence, youth is a period of independence - the peer group is no longer a dominant influence. There is greater freedom to develop as an individual. The young person evolves a personal perspective on life and develops a sense of direction before tackling the duties of adulthood. However this stage of life is by no means stress-free. By definition youth is associated with academics. Academic demands are perceived as significant stressors by youths (Rao 2000, Goff 2011). The...

Effective study skills are essential learning habits for students. Some students have a knack of learning much in a short time. Others study for hours without much progress. An important differentiating factor is the method of study. Effective study habits can be learned (Barry L. Richardson and Murray Saffran 1985, D F Alexander 1985). The good student must not rely on “study drugs” as these are associated with addiction, panic reactions, confusion, and medical complications including heart attack and stroke (Steve Sussman and colleagues, 2006). Habit No 1: Apply book learning to daily life Those who learn rapidly apply their imagination freely to their studies. They see that every subject of study deals with something vital in the affairs of the world, and probably of personal relevance. Allow the knowledge you are acquiring to become an active part of your daily life, with some bearing on normal activities. Thinking about studies in this way will help build greater interest and...

Parents worry that social networks like Facebook could have harmful psychological effects on their children. They seek consultation for social network related behaviour of their teenagers when academic grades fall due to excessive time spent on Facebook, when the teenager is subjected to cyberstalking, or when they themselves are disturbed by the online self-profile of their child. What do we know about some of these social networking behaviours that bring parents and their children to the Clinic? Friends, self-presentation and self-esteem Posting a profile assists the teenager in gaining self-awareness. Becoming self-aware by viewing one's own Facebook profile enhances self-esteem (Gonzales and Hanock, 2010). A larger number of Facebook friends and  an exaggerated positive self-presentation does enhance the teenager’s well-being. However this is not necessarily associated with a sense of belonging to a supportive group. A more honest self-presentation does increase ha...