Mental health literacy survey of psychiatrically and generally trained nurses employed in a Singapore psychiatric hospital

Mental health literacy studies consider the capacity of respondents to recognize certain psychiatric disorders, judge the comparative utility of a range of interventions, and make estimates about outcome and prognostic issues. We report such a study involving a sample of nursing staff employed at a large psychiatric institution in Singapore, and who were provided with separate brief vignettes of mania, schizophrenia and depression. Subjects were highly accurate in 'diagnosing' schizophrenia, less accurate for depression and even less accurate in diagnosing mania. Depression was alternately diagnosed as stress, mania was most commonly misdiagnosed as schizophrenia, and for both psychotic conditions, a percentage returned non-psychotic diagnoses. In terms of treatment options, staff distinctly favoured a 'medical model' and viewed traditional and alternative healing options as distinctly harmful. Analyses contrasted psychiatrically trained and generally trained nurses, but identified few significant differences. Such information has the potential to shape the education and training of mental health professional staff, as well as provide important insights about how nurses may diagnose, view and favour alternative treatments and strategies to assist those with common psychiatric disorders.     

Effect of Maternal Cardiac Disease on Perinatal Outcome

Perinatal outcome of 223 pregnancies complicated by maternal cardiac disease, over a 5-year period has been studied. Mean birth-weights of these babies were compared to the Institute's reference neonatal weight curves at different periods of gestation and found lower than the reference. The mean difference of 150 g was statistically significant. The incidence of prematurity, small for gestational age and perinatal mortality was analyzed according to the risk factors i.e. type, duration and severity of symptoms. The perinatal outcome was directly proportional to the severity of symptoms, irrespective of the type and duration of heart disease.     

Multimodal Approach for the Management of Hunan Hand Syndrome: A Case Report

Hunan hand syndrome, a form of painful contact dermatitis, is a rare case finding. It is usually seen in people with continuous and prolonged exposure to chili peppers. The main ingredient in chili peppers is capsaicin that leads to the clinical condition, Hunan hand syndrome. This is paradoxical to the use of capsaicin as local application for relief of pain in various clinical situations, such as diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. We report a case of Hunan hand syndrome, managed successfully by using a multimodal approach comprised of a continuous stellate ganglion block, gabapentin, local ice water, and fluocinonide application.     

Histoid leprosy: the impact of the entity on the postglobal leprosy elimination era

A fresh focus on histoid leprosy is the primary objective of this article, especially in the context of the postglobal leprosy elimination era. The emergence of the entity following dapsone monotherapy is well recognized, in addition to de novo cases. Irregular and inadequate therapies, coupled with resistance to dapsone and/or mutant organisms, are responsible. It was considered to be worthwhile to take stock of the condition through its history, nomenclature, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis. The bacteriologic and histopathologic features and immunologic profile are also described.