Books by Dhanasekara Pandian
The PSW Newsletter, 2021
Published by Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Papers by Dhanasekara Pandian
Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Oct 1, 2020
ABSTRACT Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious, disabling illness. Family members are ... more ABSTRACT Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious, disabling illness. Family members are frequently involved by attempting to stop rituals or by performing rituals for their relative. Factors associated with family accommodation of OCD have been largely overlooked in the literature. This study aims to identify the frequency and clinical predictors of OCD family accommodation behaviors. Participants include those with a first admission to the McLean/Massachusetts General Hospital OCD Institute (N = 110). The Family Accommodation Scale was completed independently by family members. Univariate relationships between factors and family accommodation were assessed via graphs, parametric and non-parametric testing. Multiple regression analyses modeled relationships between family accommodation and predictor variables. Family accommodation was reported in 96.9% of cases, and predominantly occurred at least daily (59.1% of cases). Most common behaviors included providing reassurance and waiting for ritual completion. Two of 13 potential predictors were significantly correlated with family accommodation both in univariate regression analysis and in the final regression model (F = 10.15; p < 0.0001; R-square = 0.17; adjusted R-Square = 0.15). These include OCD severity (p = 0.0007) and the cleaning/contamination symptom dimension (p = 0.03). Family accommodation is ubiquitous in OCD. Psychoeducation regarding potential deleterious effects of accommodation must not be overlooked in management of this illness.
Archives of mental health, 2020
Context: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is known to cause significant burden to patients and... more Context: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is known to cause significant burden to patients and their caregivers. Variables like stress, anxiety, depression, associated psychiatric co-morbidly, functionality, quality of life, family accommodation, stigma, and social support has been studied extensively, but the caregiver functionality has been overlooked. There is limited data on resilience and psycho social functioning in caregivers of OCD. Aims: The current study examines the level of socio occupational functioning and resilience in caregivers of persons with obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD). Settings and design: In our study 200 DSM5 OCD adult patients evaluated using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) and their healthy primary caregivers were recruited in OCD clinic NIMHANS. Material and Methods: Caregivers were evaluated using the socio-demographic MINI, Resilience and Socio-Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), in a cross-sectional interview. Statistics: Means and Standard Deviations (SD) were calculated for continuous variables; frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, for descriptive analyses. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the normality of data. Based on the distribution of the data, Pearson Correlation tests were used. Results: Patients had a mean YBOCS score of 25.8 (±5.4), 118/200(59%) had contamination/washing as the principle symptom. Caregivers of the OCD adult patients had varied levels of (17.22±9.09) resilience and moderate to severe impairment in (55.67±16.53) socio occupational functioning. Conclusions: Study result shows that higher the resilience better the socio occupational functioning in caregivers. Promoting a resilient coping style in caregivers would increase their socio occupational functioning.
Kerala journal of psychiatry, 2015
Industrial Psychiatry Journal
Background Depression among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) is highly pre... more Background Depression among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) is highly prevalent and it is associated with increased morbidity, poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and poor psychosocial outcomes. To address this, integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) counsellors provide psychosocial support to PLHIV. Materials and Methods This descriptive study aims to assess the awareness and knowledge of ICTC counsellors about depression and its management. A total of 338 (n = 452) ICTC counsellors participated in the study. A demographic data sheet and a semi-structured questionnaire were used to collect data. Results More than half of the participants reported that biochemical imbalances cause depression. 71.60% and 79.59% of participants reported that depression was common among PLHIV and required immediate attention. 92.60% of counsellors reported that a combination of counselling and medication would be effective to treat depression. 86.98% and 81.95% ...
Indian Journal of Mental Health(IJMH), 2017
Background: Understanding the needs of clients seeking treatment for addiction related disorders ... more Background: Understanding the needs of clients seeking treatment for addiction related disorders plays a vital role in treatment outcomes. Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) is known to impact individuals along with their family members. However, there is a paucity of literature in the Indian context on the treatment needs of persons with ADS. The present study aimed to explore the treatment related felt needs of persons who presented with complicated Alcohol Withdrawal in Delirium Tremens (CAWDT). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 males who presented with CAWDT at the Centre for Addiction Medicine (CAM), National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), a tertiary health care centre in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using the General Inductive approach. Results: The mean age of the sample was 36.28 years and their total duration of dependence on alcohol was 12.96 years. From the qualitative data analysis, five 5 broad categories of needs emerged, which were: (i) managing craving and relapse, (ii) personal needs, (iii) informational needs, (iv) cognitive needs and (v) miscellaneous needs such as health related needs, financial help and counselling needs. Conclusion: Patients with CAWDT are a very vulnerable group where repeated withdrawal from alcohol can lead to severe complications including death, making it imperative to address their concerns comprehensively. Assessing and addressing these needs in treatment will help in better treatment outcomes as well as help in developing and personally tailoring psycho-social interventions for better and holistic management.
Introduction: Alcohol withdrawal Delirium Tremens is a serious medical emergency. If not addresse... more Introduction: Alcohol withdrawal Delirium Tremens is a serious medical emergency. If not addressed, it could lead to serious complications including death. Given its manifestations and frequent accompaniment by seizures, interventions have been pharmacological in nature. Relapse prevention studies addressing this population are very sparse. In the current study, we report the results of a pilot study on Intensive Case Management for relapse prevention in persons with Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium. Methodology: A total of 10 patients were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. 5 patients received Intensive Case Management as an adjunct to routine treatment while the other 5 cases received treatment as usual (TAU). The patients were assessed at baseline, at 1 month post intervention and at 3 months post-intervention respectively. Outcome measures such as addiction severity, motivation, self efficacy and quality of life were assessed at different time points. Results: The ICM group showed better outcomes than the TAU group. 4 patients in the ICM group were abstinent while compared to 1 in the TAU group at the end of the 3 rd month follow up. All the patients in the ICM group were engaged in the treatment and showed better follow rates as compared to the TAU group where at the end of the study period 3 patients were lost to follow up. The ICM group showed better outcomes on readiness to change, self efficacy and quality of life at the end of 3 months. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that patients who received Intensive Case Management were engaged in treatment with higher retention rates and better outcomes. The results of the pilot study suggest that ICM is feasible to deliver after pharmacological treatment and may have some beneficial outcomes. Further systematic studies are warranted to test this intervention with larger groups and for long-term effects.
Objective: The aim of the study was to see if spiritual beliefs resulted in longer durations of a... more Objective: The aim of the study was to see if spiritual beliefs resulted in longer durations of abstinence among persons with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome. Methodology: 30 respondents each from a hospital based centre and Alcoholics Anonymous AA support group meetings from Bangalore who were abstinent from alcohol since over 6 months formed the study sample. Spiritual beliefs were assessed using the Beliefs and Values Scale. Results: The abstinence period was reported to be higher in the AA group than the clinical group as well as the AA group showed higher spiritual beliefs than the clinical group. Conclusion: Further research in India should explore the use of spirituality in the area of mental health.
International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences, 2015
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a debilitating psychiatric illness affecting many people around ... more Obsessive compulsive disorder is a debilitating psychiatric illness affecting many people around the world. The current case report highlighted is of a client who was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and received treatment at a tertiary hospital centre. His socio occupational functioning was impaired and he had to quit his job due to the severity of his symptoms. Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive scale (YBOCS) was administered at baseline which revealed a score 33 indicating severity of symptoms in the form of obsessions and compulsions. As part of his treatment along with pharmacological management, the therapist made a detailed assessment and a series of 20 controlled sessions of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) was provided which was a part of the psychosocial interventions. The YBOCS was administered during the course of his treatment to mark his progress and at the end of his treatment there was a remarkable decrease in the severity of the symptoms both at...
International Journal of Indian Psychology, 2016
This paper aim to emphasize on the increase in the number of substance abuse among women along wi... more This paper aim to emphasize on the increase in the number of substance abuse among women along with a highlight on the need to understand gender differences in substance use disorders and necessitate having gender specific treatment which address the specific needs of women with substance use problems. With this aim, this article has put an effort to give more insight into gender differences in substance use disorders by elaborating on bio-psycho-social differences. This article also help the mental health professionals to acknowledge the need to have a specific intervention programme which address the issues, needs, strengths and challenges of women with substance use disorder. A brief review of literature pertaining to this specific area shows the necessity to develop a need based psychosocial intervention exclusively addressing women specific bio-psycho-social issues of substance dependence is of critical in the context of increasing women’s alcohol and other substance dependenc...
Indian Journal of Mental Health(IJMH), 2016
Background: The study was aimed at finding out the prevalence of depressive symptoms among young ... more Background: The study was aimed at finding out the prevalence of depressive symptoms among young adults in Karnataka. Methodology: The study was a college based cross sectional survey. Socio demographic data sheet and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was administered 1500 college students aged between 18-30 years of age. The study carried out in the medical, dental, paramedical, engineering and other degree college students among colleges in Mangalore, Karnataka. Results: majority of the respondents were females, day scholars, Hindus and came from nuclear families. 34.4% felt minimal depression, 38.0% felt mild depression, 13. 2% had moderate depression, 4.5% had moderate to severe depression and 1.7% had severe depression. Conclusions: The common mental disorder of depression is common among young adults. Awareness creation for parents and teachers can help them to identify, support and refer adults with depression to appropriate professionals. Teachers delivered, peer-delivered and professional delivered School based mental health programme and crisis management help line are few ways to deal with depression among the young adults.
International Journal of Indian Psychology
Spirituality as propagated through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has resulted in the attainment of so... more Spirituality as propagated through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has resulted in the attainment of sobriety for many persons with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome. The aim of the study was to see the association between Spiritual Beliefs and Quality of Life. We conducted a study using a cross sectional design where two groups (AA and hospital based program) from Bangalore consisting of 60 respondents were recruited for the study and standardized tools were used. The findings suggest that the AA group had a longer duration of abstinence and a positive association was observed between spiritual beliefs and quality of life. Support groups like the AA, are to be integrated as part of the holistic treatment for persons with addiction related disorders.
Asian Journal of Psychiatry
International Journal of Engineering Research and
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Background: Recognizing the need for good quality, scientific and reliable information for streng... more Background: Recognizing the need for good quality, scientific and reliable information for strengthening mental health policies and programmes, the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) of India was implemented by National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, in the year 2015–2016. Aim: To estimate the prevalence, socio-demographic correlates and treatment gap of mental morbidity in a representative population of India. Methods: NMHS was conducted across 12 Indian states where trained field investigators completed 34,802 interviews using tablet-assisted personal interviews. Eligible study subjects (18+ years) in households were selected by a multi-stage, stratified, random cluster sampling technique. Mental morbidity was assessed using MINI 6. Three-tier data monitoring system was adopted for quality assurance. Weighted and specific prevalence estimates were derived (current and lifetime) for different mental disorders. Mental morbidity was defined as th...
International Journal of Culture and Mental Health
Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences
Children of persons with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) are susceptible to develop various psy... more Children of persons with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) are susceptible to develop various psychosocial problems and carry them into their later life. They are at-risk group to develop alcohol and other drug use-related complications in their life. Studies have reported that despite adversities in their life, a few children grew into competent adults. These children are observed to have resilience, which in other hand signifi cantly infl uence the overall development of any given person. Current paper shed light on theories, vulnerability, resilience, and available intervention packages related to children of parents with ADS.
Asian Social Work and Policy Review
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Books by Dhanasekara Pandian
Papers by Dhanasekara Pandian