BACKGROUND: Alcohol Dependence syndrome (ADS) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that has deleterious consequences not only on the patient with ADS but also hampers social, financial, and legal matters of his family hence could be considered as a disorder of the family. Spouses of patients with ADS, a key member of such dysfunctional family system, are most vulnerable to have significant psychiatric disorders like adjustment disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and psychosocial problems. Hence we have undertaken this study in order to understand and address such issues which is largely neglected in psychiatric research. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the severity of alcohol dependence & its adverse effect on families, the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric morbidity and marital quality in spouses of men with ADS and to explore the association between them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 spouses of males with ADS according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM IV-TR) Criteria were screened for psychiatric morbidity using General Health Questionnaire and the presence of specific psychiatric disorders using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV AXIS-I & AXIS-II (SCID-I & SCID-II). Severity of alcohol dependence in males and its adverse consequences was assessed using Short Alcohol Dependence Data and Drinkers Inventory of Consequences, respectively. Marital quality was assessed using the marital quality scale. Data obtained was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: High prevalence of Psychiatric morbidity (63.33%) among spouses of alcohol dependent men, with majority having Axis I diagnosis of Major Depression (35%), Anxiety and Adjustment Disorder. None of them had personality disorders on SCID II. Psychiatric morbidity, poor marital quality in spouses and high alcohol dependence in their husbands and its adverse consequences were found to be significantly correlated with each other and their association was robust particularly Impulse Control, Interpersonal and Social Responsibility were most affected. CONCLUSION: Spouses of alcohol dependent men have high Psychiatric morbidity and low Marital Quality. Addressing these issues will be beneficial as spouses are known to play an important role in the treatment of ADS.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is relatively common, chronic inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin disease that affects 1.4% to 2.0% of the population. Presence of itching, chronic recurrent course of disease and incomplete cure may contribute to great deal of psychiatric comorbidity in these patients. the most persuasive indications of a link between stress and psoriasis comes from patients themselves, with studies illustrating that the majority of patients believe that stress or psychological distress is a factor in the manifestations of their condition. Depression and anxiety are the most common disorders that are associated with psoriasis, but the proportion of patient also having other psychiatric co-morbid diseases which include social phobia, generalize anxiety disorder, panic disorder, psychotic disorder, etc. Moreover, symptoms of psoriasis, especially pruritus, are related to depression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate different psychiatric illnesses their prevalence and severity in psoriasis patients. METHODOLOGY: This was crosssectional observational study comprised of 70 consecutive patients of psoriasis attending the outpatient department of Dermatology. All the patients were subjected to detailed examinations including the elicitation of dermatological and psychiatric profile after getting written consent for study. Data was collected using self-developed, pre tested, semi structured Pro format by interview method. RESULTS: The profile of psychiatric diagnoses obtained in the present study depressive disorder 31.4% {18.57% depression, 12.85% Depression with anxiety symptoms}, anxiety disorder 25.7% (7.14% GAD, 8.17% panic disorder, 5.71% social phobia, 4.28 specific phobia). Severity of major depressive disorder was determined with HAM-D score 53.8% had mild depression, 30.7% moderate depression and 15.5% severe depression. Similarly when HAM-A scale was used to determined severity of generalized anxiety disorder in psoriasis patients then 40% had mild anxiety 40% had moderate anxiety and 20% had severe anxiety. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis is associated with high level of psychiatric co-morbidity. Depression and anxiety disorders were most frequent disorders present co-morbidly in patients of psoriasis. There was no co-relation between severity of psoriasis and psychiatric illness.

BACKGROUND: Non-compliance or non-adherence to treatment is the degree to which a patient does not carry out the clinical recommendation of a treating physician or in other words it is failure of the patient to follow the prescribed treatment regimen. Mental illnesses are treatable and need medication and other therapies i.e. counseling, psychotherapy etc. for the better outcome. Poor compliance to psychiatric medication regimens is a major obstacle to the effective care of persons who have chronic mental illness. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to identify the level of compliance and factors associated with non-compliance to treatment regimen in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: This was a hospital based cross sectional study carried out in psychiatric ward and OPD. A total of 52 patients were included as study samples. Data was collected using self-developed, pre tested, semi structured Pro format by interview method. RESULTS: Majority (69%) of the patients showed poor compliance. 27% of patients had Medium compliance and only 4% showed high compliance rate. Possible contributory factors responsible for noncompliance include cost of medicine, chronic nature of illness perceived, transportation problem, medication related factors like side effects of drug and lack of effectiveness, (relatives' insight toward illness), lack of knowledge, misconception about psychiatric disorders and patient's insight towards illness. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that there are many factors which (Contribute) to non-compliance among patients with psychotic illness. (The findings of the study highlighted the various factors such as drug related, social support, and treatment access related factors are influencing the drug compliance among the schizophrenic patients).

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