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Shekhar Seshadri , Kishore Kumar , Sundar Moily , V. Gangadhar

Abstract

Recognizing the psychosocial nature of the large number of patients presenting to Primary Health Care facilities with multiple somatic complaints is important for appropriate management. This paper discusses the identification of such patients using the standardized case identification tool of WHO/SEARO.573 patients who attended the Sakalawara clinic and satisfied the intake criteria were administered the identification tool. 68 patients were thus identified as presenting with somatic complaints in the absence of any organic cause giving a prevalence of 11.8 per cent. There was a female preponderance and the patients by and large presented with 3 or more complaints. The relevant issues have been discussed.

Keywords

Primary Health Care, Multiple Somatic Complaints, Mental Health

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Partha Choudhury , Shoba Srinath , Satish Girimaji , Shekhar Seshadri

Abstract

Thirty-seven cases of childhood and adolescent-onset cases of manic-depressive psychosis (MDP) were studied retrospectively to elucidate the initial mode of presentation, the subsequent changes in polarity of episodes and the pattern of contact with the hospital. About 20% of all MDP cases had onset of mania between the age of 6 and 12 years. The cases that presented with depression initially, tended to change polarity more frequently than those presenting initially with mania. Manic episodes required inpatient treatment more commonly than depressive ones.

Keywords

Mania, Depression, Onset, Childhood, Adolescence

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