Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

V. S. Selvam ¹

Affiliations
1 Narayana Medical Colletge and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

This study was aimed at finding out the efficacy of Hallucination Focused Integrative Treatment (HIT) on patients suffering from Residual schizophrenia who still experience hallucinations. A number of schizophrenic patients experience hallucinations and some of them do not respond to conventional anti-psychotic medication. Recently there has been growing interest in the application of Cognitive Behavioral intervention for the management of psychotic symptoms with a view to enhancing coping skills and to normalize psychotic experiences. Ongoing research suggests that persons suffering from drug resistant chronic hallucination respond to HIT. The present study sample consisted of 30 subjects suffering from Residual Schizophrenia between 20 to 50 years of age. They were diagnosed as Residual Schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria. Initially the symptoms were rated with various rating scales. Thereafter, they underwent HIT. The HIT package consisted of Psycho-education, Distraction Techniques, Focusing Techniques and Cognitive Behavioral Techniques. Each patient had 18 sessions spread over a period of 2 months. After the therapy the effect of HIT was assessed by the same rating scales. The findings showed improvements in Positive symptoms, Negative symptoms and General Psychopathology. There was reduction in intensity of hallucinations besides improvement in their Social, Occupational and Psychological Spheres.

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V. S. Selvam ¹, Tejas Melkote ², Dedeepya Rao ²

Affiliations
1 Narayana Medical College & Hospital, Nellore, Andra Pradesh, IN
2 Narayana Medical College & Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Bio-feedback is a safe and effective non-pharmacological technique of reducing anxiety in a significant proportion of patients. Dental phobia is an abnormal fear/ dread of visiting the dentist for preventive care/therapy as well as any unwarranted anxiety over the dental procedure. Dental phobia is often caused by bad or in some cases, by a horrific dental experience. So, far, there is no study reported in the literature on the use of biofeedback to reduce anxiety for dental patients. A study was therefore designed to assess the efficacy of biofeedback in reducing anxiety in such patients at the Narayana Medical College Hospital, Nellore, AP, India. In this study of children aged 9-12yrs who were taken up for dental restorative procedure, 13 subjects were found to have significant anxiety prior to the procedure as measured by Facial Rating Scale and Self Assessment Questionnaire. They were trained to relax through biofeedback using the parameters GSR & BVP. Subsequently the dental procedure was carried out and level of anxiety was assessed again after the treatment. It was found that dental phobia was reduced significantly by the biofeedback resulting in better co-operation from the child for the dental procedure.

Keywords

Biofeedback, Dental Phobia.

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