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A Sumathipala

Publications and source records attributed to A Sumathipala.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Management of dead bodies as a component of psychosocial interventions after the tsunami: a view from Sri Lanka.

Even if predicted, disasters may not be completely averted due to reasons beyond human control. There is always likely to be a degree of loss, human as well as material. Therefore, the correct strategy is to limit the damage and minimize the harm. Such damage control exercises should be mindful about the psychological costs of the disaster. Identification of dead bodies and the missing, as well as providing a dignified burial, is a crucial part of the overall management of a disaster. It will alleviate the long-term psychological as well as legal consequences. Hence, a comprehensive forensic service including modern genetic capabilities is a must for disaster response. Development of a comprehensive and efficient psychosocial intervention at community level after a disaster should recognise the importance of dead body management as an integral part of it. The guiding principles of psychosocial interventions are: to be multi-sectoral and multi-level; to include immediate, mid-term and long-term interventions; to be socially and culturally sensitive; to recognize the functionality of existing social and healthcare systems; to adopt a public mental health approach; and to be informed by evidence-based planning and implementation proven to be locally effective.

Cadaver↗
PubMed2004

Culture-bound syndromes: the story of dhat syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Culture-bound syndrome is a term used to describe the uniqueness of some syndromes in specific cultures. Dhat (semen-loss anxiety) has been considered to be an exotic 'neurosis of the Orient'. AIMS: To ascertain the presence of similar symptoms and syndromes in different cultures and historical settings. METHOD: Electronic and manual literature searches were used to gather information on the existence and description of semen-loss anxiety in different cultures and settings. RESULTS: Most of the empirical studies on dhat syndrome have emerged from Asia, whereas its concepts have been described historically in other cultures, including Britain, the USA and Australia. The different sources indicate the universality of symptoms and global prevalence of this condition, despite its image as a 'neurosis of the Orient'. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that dhat (semen-loss anxiety) is not as culture-bound as previously thought. We propose that the concept of culture-bound syndromes should be modified in line with DSM-IV recommendations.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed2001

International representation in psychiatric literature: survey of six leading journals.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing recognition of the global burden of psychiatric disease, there are questions about the strength of the evidence base from non-Western societies. AIMS: To compare the contribution of Euro-American countries and the rest of the world (RoW) to psychiatric literature. METHOD: Survey of the country of origin of papers submitted to and published in six leading psychiatric journals over a 3-year period (1996-1998). RESULTS: Only 6% of the literature is published from regions of the world that account for over 90% of global population. The three journals published in Europe had a significantly higher proportion of international articles when compared to the three American journals. Less than 1% of all published articles described mental health interventions in the ROW: Acceptance rates were significantly lower for papers submitted from the ROW: CONCLUSIONS: There is a gross under-representation of research from the ROW: This has implications for the development of a truly international psychiatry.

Bibliometrics↗
PubMed2001

Feasibility of using different approaches for recruiting younger twins to establish a population based twin register in Sri Lanka.

Identifying twins for a population-based register can be achieved through birth records or community surveys. We studied the feasibility and effectiveness of different methods of identifying and recruiting twins to establish a population based register. To trace twins a population survey was carried out using an interviewer administered questionnaire. We also inspected the birth registration certificates at a divisional secretariat reported from a specified hospital between the years of 1985-1997 and compared it to the birth register of this same hospital. To recruit twins a random sample of 75 twin pairs (150 twins) identified at the Divisional Secretariat were contacted through the post and 25 twin pairs (50 twins) were personally visited. The prevalence of twins was 6.5 twins per 1000 people in the area surveyed. The twinning rate at the hospital was 18.92 twins per 1000 births. A discrepancy of 38 multiples births between the hospital labour room records and those registered at the DS was noted. The response from the postal invitation for recruitment was 59% and the response from the personal invitation was 68%. (Difference 9.4% 95% CI; 7.06-11.73). Community survey and systematic inspection of birth records either at the hospital or the birth registration office was an effective method to trace twins. Once traced, personal contact was more effective than the postal invitation for recruitment of younger twins. A cost-effective approach would be to use a postal coverage followed by personal contact for non-responders. The alternative method, community coverage, would have financial implications.

Birth Certificates↗
PubMed2000

Randomized controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy for repeated consultations for medically unexplained complaints: a feasibility study in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Research on the management and the outcome of treatment of medically unexplained symptoms is very limited. Development of simple but effective techniques for treatment and demonstration of their effectiveness when applied in primary health care are needed. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was carried out with follow-up assessments at 3 months after baseline assessments using the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), Bradford Somatic Inventory (BSI) and patient satisfaction on a visual analogue scale. The study was carried out in a general out-patient clinic in Sri Lanka. The intervention group received six, 30 min sessions based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy over a period of 3 months. The control group received standard clinical care. RESULTS: Eighty patients out of the 110 patients referred, were eligible. Sixty-eight were randomly allocated equally to the control and treatment groups. All 34 in the treatment group accepted the treatment offer and 22 completed between three and six sessions. At 3 months, 24 in the treatment and 21 in the control group completed follow-up assessments. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed significant differences in mean scores of outcome measures (adjusted for baseline scores) between control and intervention groups respectively--complaints 6.1 and 3.8 (P = 0.001), GHQ 10.4 and 6.3 (P = 0.04), BSI score 15.6 and 132 (P < 0-01), visits 7.9 and 3.1 (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy is feasible and acceptable to patients with medically unexplained symptoms from a general out-patients clinic in Sri Lanka. It had a significant effective in reducing symptoms, visits and distress, and in increasing patient satisfaction.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Establishing a twin register in Sri Lanka.

Nearly all twin registers are based in developed countries and there is no twin register in the developing world. Our objectives were to initiate the process of establishing a nationwide twin register in Sri Lanka by starting a volunteer register first and working towards a population-based register. Regular newspaper advertisements, feature articles, radio talks, and television programmes were used to publicise a competition for twins, their parents/relatives and friends requesting them to participate by sending in details of twins. The competition ran from 28 March 1997 for a period of 3 months. It offered prizes for three winners selected by drawing lots. Advertisements highlighted the objective of the competition as establishing a twin register for future research and emphasised that informed consent would be obtained for individual research projects. Those who registered comprise 4602 twin pairs (same sex: male--1564, female--1885; different sex--1153), 80 sets of triplets (same sex: male--17, female--31; different sex--42) and two sets of quadruplets (different sex). The oldest twins, triplets, quadruplets are 85, 46, and 5 years old, respectively; 88.0% of twins are less than 30 years old. Although others have previously used media publicity to enrol twins in twin registers, we believe this to be the first time that twins have been enrolled through competition. We have more young twins, and our gender and zygosity proportions after applying Weinburg's rule do not match the proportions expected from a volunteer twin sample. Establishing a twin register for research purposes has proved possible in a developing country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary validation of a zygosity determination questionnaire for twins in Sri Lanka.

We report the process of adaptation into Sinhala of a questionnaire given to mothers of twins to determine zygosity. Adaptation and validation was carried out in three stages. Firstly, we used a nominal group to translate the English version and to assess the extent of agreement (consensus measurement) on the appropriateness of the translation and resolve disagreement (consensus development). Secondly we used a qualitative interview with 25 mothers of twins. The three main stems of the translated questionnaire were used as a semi-structured interview, and the responses noted verbatim. These were categorised and analysed, and the translated full questionnaire was then presented as closed questions with fixed choice responses. The categorised responses generated during the qualitative interview were compared with the responses to the fixed choices in the full questionnaire. The third stage was the appraisal of the questionnaire by 17 bilingual parents of twins. The source and translated version of the questionnaire were given to them at least 3 days apart. The responses were rated and the total scores were computed to determine the zygosity. This step was carried out to measure the validity and reliability of the Sinhala version. A perfect correlation between the original and adapted version was obtained, with a kappa of 1. The results suggest that the Sinhala version of the questionnaire is conceptually equivalent to the original questionnaire. Comparison of the zygosity determination by using this adapted questionnaire with results from analysis of genetic markers on Sri Lankan twins is needed for final validation of the translated questionnaire.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗