Prevalence and correlates of substance use disorders in patients with schizophrenia

AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the prevalence of substance use disorders in patients with schizophrenia and the socio-demographic and clinical correlates. METHODS: Consecutive patients with schizophrenia attending the outpatient clinic were recruited. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale was used to rate symptom severity. Substance use patterns were assessed using Drug Abuse Screening Test, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and Fagerstrom’s Test for Nicotine Dependence. Socio-demographic and clinical details were recorded. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for continuous variables and frequency distributions for categorical variables; student’s t and chi square tests were used to assess the significance of association for continuous and categorical variables respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of substance use was 29.1%; nicotine use was most common, followed by alcohol. Risk factors for substance use were male gender, being employed and a family history of substance use. Alcohol use was associated with a higher dose of antipsychotic medication. Reasons for the use of the substance included the feeling of relaxation it produced, a reduction in stress and anxiety and increase in alertness. None of the participants reported that the substance helped to reduce symptoms or combat adverse effects of medication. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Substance abuse is a common co morbid condition in patients with schizophrenia. 2. Socioeconomic factors and clinical symptoms influence patterns of substance use in patients with schizophrenia. 3. Most patients who used substances said they used the substance in order to feel relaxed, reduce anxiety and feel more energetic

Impact of Organizational Culture on Organisational Performance: A Study on the Employees in Educational Institutions

Background: The purpose of the paper is to assess organisational culture\u27s role on the performance of employees in the educational sector. Objectives: The paper seeks to address: what type of organisational culture is contributing to organisational performance, how organisational learning can be enhanced, how team orientation can be encouraged, and technical assistance and innovation can be promoted in developing economies. Methods/approaches: The data was collected from 350 respondents from different educational institutes’ employees of the Garage zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed hypothesis. Results: The results showed that organisational dimensions such as organisational learning, team orientation and strategic direction and intent are supported, and it is proved that these dimensions can significantly influence the overall performance of the organisation in the study area, whereas the remaining two dimensions: creating change, and goals and objectives are not supported by their organisations. Conclusions: The study concludes that the culture of creating change can enable organisations to achieve their goals and objectives. Organisations must focus on improving the capability of human resources. Especially, it is compulsory for the employees of the educational institutions as they must adopt technological assistance and other types of knowledge of value to encourage innovative practices in the teaching-learning process

FOOD SECURITY AS A PUBLIC POLICY CONCERN IN INDIA AMIDST THE 2030 AGENDA: A HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY

The paper provides a historical perspective to understand food security at the global level and in the Indian context. It explores how food security in India evolved into a significant public policy concern through the implementation of the National Food Security Act (2013) and other key policy measures. When examining India’s policy focus on food security, a shift has occurred from primarily concentrating on the overall national availability of grains to a more nuanced emphasis on household and individual-level nutrition security. This shift is thoroughly examined in the study. As for methodology, it is primarily descriptive in nature and involves secondary data analysis. The paper follows a systematic literature review to gain insights into food security as a key policy concern, examining it through the lens of the Agenda 2030 achievement. The paper also seeks to comprehend the breadth of literature and research related to global food security, with a specific focus on India. The study firmly argues that the success of the 2030 Agenda hinges on its implementation and the reach of the final beneficiary. Ensuring the availability, accessibility, affordability, and optimal nutritional utilization of resources is critical to achieving this success. This outcome is inherently linked to India’s capacity to garner support for both the established goals and the appropriate methods of execution

CONSUMPTION OF FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDES IN TELANGANA: SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS’ CHALLENGES

The industrialization of agriculture has favoured the use of plenty of agrochemicals including fertilizers, pesticides, micronutrients. Consumption of pesticides has become an integral part of modern agriculture and is an effective and economical way to enhance the yield quality and quantity. Approximately, 2 million metric tons (MT) of pesticides are utilized annually worldwide. India stands 12th in pesticide use globally and 3rd in Asia after China. India shares only 1% of the global pesticide use. After the green revolution, there is increased use of chemical pesticides which resulted in contaminating the environment and the long-term implications on the society. Indiscriminate and excessive application of pesticides not only have damaged the environment but also have entered the food chain thereby affecting health and development. However, the role of pesticides in augmenting agricultural output has been well perceived and these have been considered as essential inputs in agricultural production. The present paper aimed to study the consumption pattern of pesticides and fertilizers among the small and marginal farmers. This study also aimed to know the farmers’ knowledge about the safe handling and application of pesticides and their practices on pesticide usage. While doing so, it highlights some issues like change in the cropping pattern among small and marginal farmers and also emphasizes on soil degradation and environmental issues

Psychiatric presentations and factors associated with suspected organicity in elderly attending a tertiary care facility in South India

Objectives: The objectives were to determine the proportion of elderly among the new psychiatry outpatient attendees, identify their sociodemographic profile and clinical presentations, and determine risk factors associated with suspected organic conditions in patients presenting with acute onset and chronic presentations. Methodology: This retrospective cross-sectional study focused on the elderly presenting with psychiatric symptoms to a psychiatric setting. The onset of symptoms at presentation was divided into acute and chronic conditions. Clinical symptom clusters and the risk factors associated with organic conditions were identified. The Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to find an association between factors and outcome (organic/functional). Results: Elderly seeking consultation constituted < 10% of total new case registration. Acute onset was seen in one-third and chronic presentation constituted nearly two-thirds of the group. The common clinical presentations with acute onset were acute psychosis, altered sensorium, and psychosis due to an organic etiology. The most common clinical presentation with chronic course was chronic psychosis. Nearly 40% had suspected organicity. Increasing age, structural abnormality in brain imaging, and the presence of stressors were risk factors for the onset of psychiatric presentation in the elderly (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Early detection of the clinical syndrome, identification of organic conditions, and appropriate and prompt referral to the general physician should be the rule for the care of the elderly presenting to a psychiatric facility