Psychiatry and Society

Impaired spelling and arithmetic in Standard 3 boy with Learning Disorder Learning Disorder (LD) is characterised by impaired acquisition of academic skills. This impairment in scholastic skills is not due to intellectual disability, physical disorders, emotional disturbances, or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage. There is a gap between ability and application. The child may know what is asked, is able to explain it verbally, but is unable to put it down in writing. Learning Disorder could affect any of the three scholastic Rs – R eading, w R iting or a R ithmetic. Types of Learning Disability Dyslexia – is the commonest learning disability (80%). It is marked by impairment of the ability to recognize and understand written words. Dyscalculia  – problems with doing math, understanding time, using money. Dysgraphia – problems with handwriting, spelling. Dyspraxia – problems with hand-eye coordination and balance, difficulties with fine motor skill...

Festivals as a source of stress? Festivals are meant to be a time of happiness, enjoyment and family togetherness. However for some it can be time of great stress   and can adversely affect mental health. The extended festival season starts around Independence Day (15th Aug) and extends right up to New Year including Ganesh Chathurti, Dusshera, and Diwali. Vacations have a positive effect on well-being. However, these effects fade soon after resumption of work (de Bloom 2009). These four months of celebration are associated with psychological distress and mental health problems for many individuals and their families. Festival distress (Harion 2009) Expectations take their toll on the family . Festivals are a prime time for couples to come in for counselling with relationship problems, problems with in-laws, siblings and their children. 'Don't we get to celebrate at least once in our own home?". They end up celebrating each in their own parental homes at Pune a...

Microscopic picture of the brain showing amyloid plaques and  neurofibrillary tangles first seen by Alois Alzheimer in 1907 The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease became headline news when the defence counsel of a prominent citizen of  Pune stated they were awaiting results of his brain MRI to finalise the diagnosis of dementia. Recently a patient's medication was stopped when his neuro-physician declared there were 'no plaques on MRI so it is not a case of Alzheimers'. The caregivers returned to me when his behaviour problems recurred. Dementia including that of the Alzheimer's type is a clinical diagnosis (Grand 2011). Dementia is characterised by a triad of Progressive deterioration of mental processes ( cognitive abilities ) Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia ( BPSD ) Difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities ( activities of daily living or ADL).   Alzheimer's Disease is commonest dementia after 65 years of age Alzheime...

Parental supervision protects boisterous children from injury: More time unsupervised corresponds to more injury  “To my parents we were just two girls in the bedroom” . What exactly was going on? Without adequate supervision the parents of this teenager never found out; the memories returned to haunt her in adulthood. Studies comparing children with and without parental supervision show that lax parental supervision is associated with injury in toddlers and preschoolers; conduct problems in school going children; and road accidents, addictions, gambling and sexual risk taking in teenagers. Parental supervision has three dimensions (Gitanjali 2004) Attention - watching or listening  Proximity - within or beyond reach  Continuity - constant, intermittent, or not at all  Two factors determine the degree to which a child would be left unsupervised (Morrongiello 2008) Parent’s conscientiousness  - the more conscientious the parent more the sup...

Depressed mood or sadness lasting two weeks or more requires treatment. We all feel depressed, sad, or ‘blue’ occasionally. Moods and feelings change in response to events in our external environment. Usually depressive feelings or sadness last for a day or two; longer in case of loss or bereavement. However, if these feelings of sadness and hopelessness persist for more than 2 weeks and interfere with daily life, it indicates a clinical depression. Depression is the fourth highest contributor to the global burden of disease.  Clinical depression is a treatable illness. Many people never seek treatment due to lack of awareness, lack of access to mental health care, ignorance, or shame. Signs and Symptoms The hallmark of Clinical Depression is a pervasive depressed mood . This depressed mood is not responsive to positive events. There is associated slowness of thinking and movement; and there are thoughts related to guilt, self-blame, hopelessness and suicide . These f...