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Biomedical subjects

B Saravanan

Publications and source records attributed to B Saravanan.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Perspectives of patients and relatives about electroconvulsive therapy: a qualitative study from Vellore, India.

BACKGROUND: There has been little systematic study from developing countries on the perspectives of patients and their relatives about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This study attempted to ascertain the views of patients and their relatives on the possible benefits and adverse effects of ECT. METHOD: Qualitative methodology using semistructured interviews, with the Short Explanatory Model Interview as the basis, was used to interview 52 patients who received ECT and their relatives before and after a course of the treatment. The most eloquent 10 among them were chosen for further in-depth interviews. Professional perception of efficacy and cognitive adverse effects were obtained from the patients' medical records. RESULTS: More than half of the recipients were not aware of the details of ECT even at the end of the course but were not unhappy about receiving ECT. Most relatives believed in the disease model, considered the illness serious, felt that enough information about the treatment was provided, knew about its benefits and memory problems, and felt that they were offered an alternative choice of treatment, but also admitted to perceiving coercion. All relatives had signed the consent for treatment, and most were not unhappy with ECT. There were significant differences in perception between patients and relatives and between the perceptions of patients admitted to the hospital involuntarily and of those who agreed for admission. The difference between the clinicians' and the relatives' perceptions of benefits and cognitive adverse effects was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study highlight the complex issues and contradictions in the process of providing information and obtaining consent for ECT.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Explanatory models of common mental disorders among traditional healers and their patients in rural south India.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate concepts, categories, causes of common mental disorders (CMD) and their treatment as understood by traditional healers practicing in rural South India. METHODS: Key informant interviews, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with traditional and faith healers were conducted to identify concepts, causes, presentations and treatments for CMD. Patients attending clinics conducted by these healers were interviewed using the Tamil versions of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) and the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) in order to identify CMD and understand their explanatory models of illness respectively. RESULTS: Different terms, concepts and treatments were used by traditional and faith healers. A total of 72 patients were interviewed using the CIS-R and the SEMI. Thirty (42.3%) satisfied the International Classification of Diseases-10 Primary Care Version criteria for CMD. Mixed anxiety depression was the most common diagnosis (40%). CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of local patient perspectives of common mental disorders will allow modern medicine to provide culturally sensitive and locally acceptable health care.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effect of a structured educational intervention on explanatory models of relatives of patients with schizophrenia: randomised controlled trial.

We examined the effect of a structured educational programme on explanatory models of illness among the relatives of people with schizophrenia, in a randomised controlled trial. Participants were assessed at baseline (n=100) and after 2 weeks (n=75) using a vignette from the Short Explanatory Model Interview. There was a reduction in non-biomedical causal explanatory models at follow-up among those who had completed the structured educational programme compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in non-biomedical treatment explanatory models between the two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Raman spectral analysis of phenoxyacetic acid and some chloro substituted phenoxyacetic acids.

Raman spectra of phenoxyacetic acid and chlorine substituted phenoxyacetic acids viz., o-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,6-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid have been analysed with the aid of abinitio theoretical calculations. The effect of chlorine substituents on the Raman spectra of phenoxyacetic acid have also been analysed by considering some important vibrational modes.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed2005

Insight in people with psychosis: the influence of culture.

The assessment of insight is a part of the routine clinical examination for people with mental illness. Such assessment, by psychiatrists, is based on the current definitions of insight, which rely on western notions of health and illness. This paper discusses the recent findings of explanatory models of people with a variety of physical diseases in Vellore, India. It also summaries the results of studies on insight in schizophrenia, which examined explanatory models of illness among patients, relatives, and the general population, in Vellore. The findings argue for the fact that the assessment of insight should be against the local cultural standards rather than universal yardsticks.

Culture↗
PubMed2004

Maternal depression and low maternal intelligence as risk factors for malnutrition in children: a community based case-control study from South India.

AIMS: To determine whether current and postpartum maternal depression and low maternal intelligence are risk factors for malnutrition in children. METHODS: In rural South India 72 children with malnutrition were identified from a central register; 72 controls were matched for age, gender, and residence. RESULTS: Major depression in the postpartum period (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 24.0), current major depression (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 9.5), and low maternal intelligence (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 11.1) were associated with malnutrition in the child. Low birth weight (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.8) was also significantly associated with infant malnutrition. Conditional logistic regression adjusting for all other determinants yielded the following results: major depression during the postpartum period (OR 7.8; 95% CI 1.6 to 38.51), current major depression (OR 3.1; 95% CI 0.9 to 9.7), low maternal intelligence (OR 4.6; 95% CI 1.5 to 14.1), and low birth weight (OR 2.7; 95% CI 2.5 to 6.8). The interactions between current maternal depression and low birth weight and between postpartum depression and low maternal intelligence were statistically significant. The level of maternal intelligence was associated with nutritional status. The severity of malnutrition was also significantly associated with major depression during the postpartum period and low maternal intelligence. CONCLUSION: There is evidence for an association between postpartum maternal depression, low maternal intelligence, and low birth weight with malnutrition in children aged 6-12 months.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Psychological wellbeing among carers of people with spinal cord injury: a preliminary investigation from South India.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study that assessed people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their carers who attended the 3-day health care program. OBJECTIVES: The study examined the nature and prevalence of the factors associated with psychological morbidity among carers of people with SCI. SETTING: A community reintegrated population of persons with SCI and their carers attended the 3-day program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Christian Medical College Hospitals, Vellore, South India. METHODS: Thirty-eight people with SCI and their carers participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Thirty (78.9%) carers of people with SCI were psychologically distressed. While carers were distressed, they were not significantly depressed. Educational level of carers and suicidal behavior of people with SCI were significantly associated with psychological distress. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that health care workers should have a high index of suspicion of psychological morbidity, in carers of people with SCI. Identification of risk factors may lead to useful target interventions.

Adaptation, Psychological↗