Phenomenology of hallucinations: a factor analytic approach

The present study was carried out with the aim of obtaining a factor analytic solution of parameters of hallucinations in schizophrenia. Seventy-five chronic hallucinating schizophrenic patients were assessed on the Phenomenology of Hallucinations Scale and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. A factor analytic solution was obtained by principal component analysis using varimax rotation. Two factors, 'reality of hallucinatory perception' and 'immersion in hallucination', were obtained. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature.     

Prevalence of depression and its effect on disability in patients with age-related macular degeneration

Aims:

To estimate depression in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and study the relationships among depression, visual acuity, and disability.

Materials and Methods:

It was a cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling (n = 53) of patients with AMD aged 50 years and above attending the retina clinic of a tertiary care hospital in North India. Depression, general disability and vision-specific disability were assessed in subjects meeting selection criteria. Assessments were done using the fourth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM- IV) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis -I Disorders, Clinical Version (SCID-CV), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-II (WHODAS-II) and Daily Living Tasks dependent on Vision scale (DLTV). Non-parametric correlation analyses and regression analyses were performed.

Results:

Out of 53 participants, 26.4% (n = 14) met DSM-IV criteria for the diagnosis of depressive disorder. Depressed patients had significantly greater levels of general and vision-specific disability than non- depressed patients. General disability was predicted better by depression and vision-specific disability than by visual acuity.

Conclusion:

Depression is a major concern in patients with AMD and contributes more to disability than visual impairment.     

Positive aspects of caregiving in schizophrenia: A review

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness which is associated with significant consequences for both the patients and their relatives. Due to chronicity of the illness, the relatives of patients of schizophrenia have to bear the main brunt of the illness. Studies across the world have evaluated various aspects of caregiving and caregivers such as burden, coping, quality of life, social support, expressed emotions, and psychological morbidity. In general the research has looked at caregiving as a negative phenomenon, however, now it is increasingly recognised that caregiving is not only associated with negative consequences only, also experience subjective gains and satisfaction. This review focus on the conceptual issues, instruments available to assess the positive aspects of caregiving and the various correlates of positive aspects of caregiving reported in relation to schizophrenia. The positive aspect of caregiving has been variously measured as positive caregiving experience, caregiving satisfaction, caregiving gains and finding meaning through caregiving scale and positive aspects of caregiving experience. Studies suggests that caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders experience caregiving gains(in the form of becoming more sensitive to persons with disabilities, clarity about their priorities in life and a greater sense of inner strength), experience good aspects of relationship with the patient, do have personal positive experiences. Some of the studies suggest that those who experience greater negative caregiving experience also do experience positive caregiving experience.     

Malunited lateral condyle fracture of humerus with elbow dislocation: a diagnostic dilemma

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Fracture of lateral condyle with dislocation of the elbow joint is rare in pediatric age. Diagnosis and management of these injuries...