A study of 153 patients treated in UK hospitals during the acute phase of the pandemic has found a range of neurological and psychiatric complications that may be linked to COVID-19. A study of 153 patients treated in UK hospitals during the acute phase of the pandemic has found a range of neurological and psychiatric … Continue reading Study provides a snapshot of neurological, psychiatric complications in COVID-19 patients
Mental health
In letter in BMJ, doctors urge government to allow patients in Kashmir to access health care
The prevailing situation in Jammu & Kashmir is preventing people from accessing health care, say 18 doctors in a letter published in BMJ. The letter urges the government to “ease restrictions on communication and travel at the earliest... to allow patients to access health care without hindrance”. In a letter published on August 16 in … Continue reading In letter in BMJ, doctors urge government to allow patients in Kashmir to access health care
TIFR researchers discover a novel function of serotonin
In a surprising discovery, TIFR researchers have found a novel function for serotonin — generation of new mitochondria in neurons, increased cellular respiration and ATP production. The team found that serotonin reduces reactive oxygen species, thus providing neuroprotection against cellular stress. In a surprising discovery, researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai … Continue reading TIFR researchers discover a novel function of serotonin
Bengaluru team identifies novel mutations that influence bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
Bengaluru-based researchers have identified 42 rare mutations that influence clinical outcomes in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis. These mutations are in the genes which are implicated in very severe mental disorders. The researchers are planning to incorporate the genes with mutations into brain cells to understand how the variants affect the working of the cells. … Continue reading Bengaluru team identifies novel mutations that influence bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
IISc team identifies a biomarker for early-stage Alzheimer’s
IISc researchers have ascertained that decrease in F-actin protein level results in early behavioural changes that would eventually lead to Alzheimer’s disease. F-actin thus behaves as an early biomarker of Alzheimer’s. Restoring the F-actin to normal levels resulted in Alzheimer mice behaving like healthy mice. IISc researchers have ascertained that decrease in F-actin protein level results in … Continue reading IISc team identifies a biomarker for early-stage Alzheimer’s
Farmer suicides in India may be linked to climate change
The increase in temperature during the cropping season reduces crop yields, thus resulting in increased suicides. Climate change has led to over 59,000 farmer suicides over the last 30 years in India. Even a 1 degree C increase in temperature above 20 degrees C in a single day during the crop growing season in India … Continue reading Farmer suicides in India may be linked to climate change
Improving access to mental health services in remote areas
While about 10% of the population in India suffers from common mental disorders, only about 15-25% of this receives mental health care. But a small-scale study carried out on approximately 5,000 people living in 30 tribal villages in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh was able to improve the practice of seeking out mental health … Continue reading Improving access to mental health services in remote areas
Counselling for depression: A journey within
Psychotherapy could not be more unlike the many psychometric tests that are administered to evaluate a person’s aptitudes and skills. The process pertains to the acquisition of the competencies required for a realistic self-appraisal of one’s emotional state of being. It is intended to help a person take charge of himself through enhanced self-awareness. The … Continue reading Counselling for depression: A journey within
Depression: The fault lies in classification
The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million people across the world are living with depression. “But that does not mean that all the 300 million people would need medical intervention,” says Vikram Patel from Harvard Medical School and the Delhi-based Public Health Foundation of India. The reason: the current binary classification of … Continue reading Depression: The fault lies in classification
People seeking mental healthcare increased six-fold
The proportion of people with depression who sought care increased six-fold from 4.3 to 27.2 per cent in 30 villages in the Amravati district of Vidarbha. The proportion of people who accessed mental healthcare was the same across sex (53 per cent males and 47 per cent females), education, income and religion. As a result, … Continue reading People seeking mental healthcare increased six-fold
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