EFFECT OF FLUOXETINE AND BROMOCRIPTINE ON CRAVING OCCURRING DURING WITHDRAWAL FROM ALCOHOL

Craving is an integral element in the understanding of alcohol dependence. Recent human and animal research implicates the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in the mediation of excessive alcohol consumption. In this study, a cue-based approach was used to qualify and quantify craving occurring during acute withdrawal from alcohol. Fifty alcoholics were given either placebo, bromocriptine or fluoxetine in a randomised double-blind fashion and craving was sequentially measured over the next 15 days. Both fluoxetine and bromocriptine significantly attenuated total craving scores without similarly affecting withdrawal symptoms. The results suggest the importance of neurotransmitters in mediating craving. The significance of these data in the light of various behavioural and neurochemical models have been discussed

LIFE EVENTS AND SOMATOFORM DISORDERS

Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLES) was administered to 69 physically ill, 23 patients with somatoform disorders and 45 patients with psychiatric disorders other than somatoform disorders who sought medical help in primary health care settings. The 137 patients were cluster analysed in orderto obtain the patterns of distribution of 39 life events. Five clusters emerged. All the patients in cluster Vhad somatoform disorders and life events had a significant occurrence and discrimination

EVALUATION OF SHORT TERM TRAINING IN MENTAL HEALTH FOR MULTIPURPOSE WORKERS

Training of multipurpose workers in mental health is an essential component in the implementation of the National Mental Health Program. This study examines the efficacy of a six day training program and the changes in knowledge, management skills and attitudes of multipurpose workers with regard to mental disorders

ORIENTATION COURSE IN PSYCHIARTY FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONERS*

A large proportion of clients of General practitioners suffer from psychiatric morbidity and they are either not identified at all or are only inadequately managed because their training in psychiatry at the undergraduate level is insufficient

THE PERCEPTION AND EXPERIENCE OF HEALTH PERSONNEL ABOUT THE INTEGRATION OF MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES

The National Mental Health Program of India focuses on the integration of mental health in general health services. Using a structured questionnaire, 100 health personnel (40 Medical Officers and 60 Health Assistants) in the District Mental Health Program were interviewed regarding their perception and knowledge about the integration of mental health in general health services. Most personnel were found to be satisfied with their new role in carrying out mental health services and only a few felt that it was an extra burden. Suggestions were made by them about the free supply of drugs, short and long term training and active supervision and support by the higher authorities

MENTAL HEALTH DELIVERY THROUGH RURAL PRIMARY CARE—DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A TRAINING PROGRAMME

There is a growing consensus of opinion (WHO 1975) that in developing countries, doctors and para-medical staff of the existing health care cadres should, after a short course of problem oriented training, deliver basic mental health care. This paper describes the development and evaluation of such a training programme

A PROFILE OF THE FOLLOW UP OF THE RURAL MENTALLY ILL*

108 Psychotic and 268 epileptic patients were followed up for 3½ years as a part of an ongoing rural mental health care programme. Some of the observed situations, possible limitations and reasons for the evolved follow up pattern in this endeavour of non-institutional, family centred and community oriented treatment programme, are reported. The strategies to improve the follow up rate among the rural patients are discussed

MANAGEMENT OF PRIORITY MENTAL DISORDERS IN THE COMMUNITY1

As a part of designing a suitable model for mental health care delivery in rural India, a study of detection and management of priority mental disorders was carried out in 120 villages around rural mental health centre, Sakalwara in Bangalore District. During three and a half year period, the team attempted to manage 51 schizophrenics, 30 acute psychotics, 27 M. D. P. and 268 epileptics in the community with minimum number of drugs. The experiences and outcome of this attempt is presented and discussed here

EXTENSION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE THROUGH PSYCHIATRIC CAMPS : A NEW APPROACH

Psychiatric camps in the manner they are usually conducted serve no useful purpose in the long run, except to identify cases and to increase people's awareness about mental illnesses. The main drawback is poor follow up of the cases detected