BACKGROUND Suicide is one of the leading cause of death, both in developing and developed countries. Nowadays suicidal behaviour has been recognised as an increasing public health problem. The aim of this study is to study the impulsivity and suicidal intent in suicide attempters. The objectives of this study are-1. To assess the impulsivity in suicide attempters. 2. To evaluate the suicide intent among the attempters. 3. To identify the relationship between impulsivity and intent among suicide attempters. Setting-Study was done in Department of Psychiatry, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital attached to KAPV Government Medical College, Trichy. Design-This is a cross-sectional observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred suicide attempters above the age of 18, attending Department of Psychiatry were included in the study. Kuppuswamy's revised socioeconomic status scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-II) and Beck's suicide intent scale were administered for study population. Statistical Analysis-Data were analysed using appropriate statistical methods such as ANOVA, Chi-Square test and Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS Among one hundred study population, almost equal percentage of male and female were present and majority were less than age of 45 years. In this study, statistically significant association between persons with family history of mental illness and suicidal intent and impulsivity were made out. Family history of suicide attempt did not show significant association neither to suicidal intent nor to impulsivity. Religious status had significant association with suicidal impulsivity. CONCLUSION Even though there is a difference among suicide attempters, there is significant difference among various impulsivity factors between gender. Socio-demographic factors except religion revealed no correlation for impulsivity and suicidal intent.

BACKGROUND People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) face challenges including lack of social support and mental health issues like psychological well-being and quality of life. Coping with HIV may be facilitated by their social support network. Perceived social support might act as a buffer to stress-related crises and may aid in psychological well-being. The aim of this study is to study perceived social support and psychological well-being among people living with HIV and AIDS. MATERIALS AND METHODS60 PLWHA irrespective of WHO-clinical staging, ART status and duration of illness were subjected for the study. Socio-demographic data, Kuppuswamy's revised socioeconomic status scale, Multidimensional scale of perceived social support and Psychological general well-being index (PGWBI) were administered to study population. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical methods to measure percentage, mean and correlation. Setting-Study was done in the Department of Psychiatry in association with ART Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital attached to KAPV Government Medical College, Trichy. Study Design-This is a cross-sectional -observational study. RESULTSIn total, 60 study subjects Males and Females participated in equal number. Study reveals no significant relationship between sociodemographic profile and perceived social support. Psychological well-being had significant relationship with occupation and treatment status of an individual. Study infers there was statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being of an individual. CONCLUSIONWith participants from different stages and duration of illness, the perceived social support of individuals had been significantly associated with psychological well-being. These findings signify the need for the health care providers to address mental, social support needs and optimise HIV related health outcome.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness and requires care for almost entire lifespan. Significant burden and stress are being experienced by the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Family members use various coping strategies in order to deal with the burden of caregiving. Assessing and reducing the caregivers' burden is important for the wellbeing of both caregivers and patients. AIMTo assess coping strategies, levels of burden, and stressors experienced by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and to identify the relationship between stressors, coping strategies, and burden among them. MATERIALS AND METHODSConvenience sampling method was used and the sample comprised of 30 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale, Coping Check List, Burden Assessment Schedule were administered to study population. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTSAmong 30 study subjects, males and females participated in equal number with equal rural and urban participation. In relation to coping skills, males scored higher in problem solving and emotion focused coping strategies compared to females. The whole study group scored less in social support subscale of coping. 23.3% (n=7) of caregivers scored higher in total BAS score (>80) with wife as caregiver scored the highest. In relation to stressors, 23.3% (n=7) scored >150 life change units. CONCLUSIONWith mean duration of caregiving of 9.14±8.341 years, the extent of burden in relatives of schizophrenic patients as caregiver was statistically significant among spouses, different age groups, and between rural and urban population. Among caregivers, mothers as subgroup (n=7) experienced lowest burden. Males, parents, and husbands as caregivers expressed higher coping skills. There was no statistically significant correlation found between stressful life events, coping strategy, and level of burden in this study.

HIV infection and psychiatric disorders have a complex relationship. Being HIV infected could result in psychiatric disorders as a psychological consequence of the infection (or) because of the effect of HIV virus on the brain. AIM: To evaluate the personality profile and associated psychiatric co morbidity of people living with HIV/AIDS and to analyze the correlation between the two in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS & METHODS: PLWHA on ART irrespective of WHO-clinical staging, CD4 count, and duration of medication were subjected for study .The socio-demographic data, Kuppusamy's revised socio economic status scale and Eysenck personality questionnaire. Revised were administered to study population. ICD 10 clinical and diagnostic criteria were used to diagnose current and past psychiatric disorders. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS: In total 50 study subjects, 12(24%) were diagnosed to have psychiatric morbidity. Further, 26% among males (5 out of 19 males) and 24% among females (7 out of 29 females) were found to have psychiatric morbidity. Mood disorders were the common diagnosis in our study group which comprises about 58% (7 out of 12). Other diagnoses noted in the study were substance dependence (Alcohol, nicotine 16.6%), non-organic insomnia (16.6%) and delusional disorder (8.3%).In personality profile assessment, 72% of study population exhibited psychotic traits, 42% showed high neurotic traits and 18% scored high in High Extravert traits. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of psychiatric disorder (24%) is similar to other reported studies. Even though females demonstrated higher mood disorder there is no gender difference in psychiatric morbidity. Staging of HIV illness showed significance in psychiatric morbidity. No significant personality profile was found. Most of them expressed mixed personality traits.