Introduction: Burns is one of the foremost causes of worldwide morbidity. Changes in appearance and functional impairment causes stigmatisation, impacting socio-occupational engagement and causing discomfort. Aims and Objectives: The study examined prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in post-burn patients, their perceived social support and self-esteem. It further assessed quality of life amongst post-burn patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary care centre where 100 patients were interviewed using purposive sampling technique over six months. Patients were administered a semi-structured questionnaire along with Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and WHO Quality Of Life – BREF (WHOQOL- BREF) scales. Contingency tables and Spearman's correlation helped to examine associations and correlations. Fischer's exact test, Mann Whitney test and ANOVA test were also used for statistical analysis. Results and Discussion: There is high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among patients with burns. The most common disorder was major depressive episode. Low self-esteem was found in one-third of patients with burns. Patients having low self-esteem had eleven times higher prevalence of suicidality. Patients with burns had high perceived social support. Quality of life in patients with burns depends on self-esteem, perceived social support and presence of psychiatric illnesses. Conclusion: This study illustrates the need for thorough evaluation and screening in patients with burns for psychopathology and self-esteem issues by primary physicians. Behaviour therapy, supportive psychotherapy, counselling and adequate socio-occupational rehabilitation of the patient should be done. Spreading awareness and organising support groups for patients with burns at the primary health centre level can be effective.

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Acne vulgaris is characterized by chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous units. It has been strongly associated with social impairment among adolescents. The study aims to assess the level of perceived stress, self-esteem, body image disturbance and suicidal ideation in patients of acne vulgaris; uncover any underlying association or correlation between these and the severity of acne vulgaris and further examine the association and co-relation of body image disturbance with perceived stress and self-esteem.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Cross-sectional observational study of 72 patients with acne vulgaris was undertaken by purposive sampling technique. After taking informed consent, subjects were assessed on perceived stress scale-10, Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, appearance anxiety inventory and Columbia-suicide severity rating scale. Spearman's correlation coefficient helped to examine the correlations.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> 31.94% patients had severe acne, 72.22% of patients had high body image disturbance. More than half the patients of acne had high level of perceived stress. Almost three quarters of the patients had low self-esteem. 5.55% patients had suicidal ideation. No significant association was seen between severity of acne with perceived stress, self-esteem, body image disturbance and suicidal ideation. Body image disturbance was significantly associated with perceived stress and self-esteem. A positive correlation between body image disturbance and perceived stress and a negative correlation between body image disturbance and self-esteem was obtained.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> All patients, irrespective of the objective severity of acne, can experience high perceived stress and low self-esteem along with body image disturbances. This warrants consultant liaison between dermatologists and psychiatrists in routine practice for psychosocial intervention.</p>

Background: Alcohol is the commonest psychoactive substance used by Indians. Stress and self-esteem issues may cause alcohol use as a coping mechanism. The purpose of this study was to analyze the severity of alcohol dependence, gauge levels of perceived stress and self-esteem and study coping skills in patients. It further examined the relations between sociodemographic variables of patients, their perceived stress, self esteem and coping skills as well as duration and severity of alcohol dependence.Methods: Cross-sectional study of 200 patients with alcohol use disorder recruited by complete enumeration technique was undertaken. They were administered a semi-structured questionnaire along with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Coping Inventory for Stressful situations (CISS-21) and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ). Associations and correlations were examined.Results: Almost half the patients had severe alcohol dependence. Less than one-fourth of the patients had low self esteem. There was a significant negative correlation between self esteem and severity of alcohol dependence as well as duration of alcohol use. Nearly half the patients had high perceived stress. There was a significant positive correlation between severity of alcohol dependence and perceived stress. Majority patients used task oriented coping skills. Patients of alcohol dependence having low self-esteem used predominantly avoidant-oriented coping skills.Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of thorough evaluation and screening in patients having alcohol dependence for self-esteem issues and perceived stress levels. Teaching effective coping skills, supportive psychotherapy and counselling can be effective. Multimodal treatment protocols will effectively lighten the stress caused by alcohol dependence.

Background: Patients of thalassemia major require frequent hospitalization. Caregivers are more affected than the patient themselves as they better appreciate the magnitude of illness and treatment, resulting in increased risks for psychiatric illness. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in the caregivers of patients with thalassemia major. The study also examined the quality of life of the caregivers, their coping strategies, and its association with sociodemographic variables. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with 100 caregivers, recruited by convenience sampling technique, attending the thalassemia daycare center, was carried out over 12 months in a tertiary care hospital. They were administered a semistructured proforma along with General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ 12), WHO-Quality of Life-BREF (WHO-QOL-BREF), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations 21 scale. The GHQ 12 was used for screening and those scoring three or more underwent a clinical psychiatric interview. Those who were diagnosed with psychopathology were ascribed diagnosis as per ICD-10. Descriptive analysis was done. Associations were studied using Fischer's exact test. Comparison of quality of life with blood transfusion variables was done using Mann–Whitney U test. Results: The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity amongst the caregivers was found to be 35% with depressive episode (22%) being the most common. Psychiatric morbidity was found to have a significant association with both, the frequency ( P = 0.037) and total number of blood transfusions ( P = 0.012). Coping was found to have a strong association with psychiatric morbidity ( P = 0.001) and employment ( P = 0.009). Conclusions: Caregivers of children with thalassemia major face psychological burden like depression or anxiety, for which treatment is not sought. Improved psychological health of the caregivers will ensure better care of the child and guarantee better adherence to the treatment.

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