Background:Sexual dysfunctions (SDs) are common and lead to psychological distress and impair quality of life (QOL). However, little attention has been paid to explore SD in severe mental illnesses (SMIs). Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of SD and its impact on the QOL in persons suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression and compare it with healthy controls.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 79 clinically stable patients and 50 healthy controls underwent evaluation for SD on the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, and their QOL was measured using the WHO QOL-BREF scale. Chi-square test was used for the categorical variables, whereas comparison of continuous variables was done by t-test with post hoc corrections.Results:Compared to healthy controls, patients with depression had significantly higher rates of SD in the domain of obtaining penile erection (P = 0.019), ability to reach orgasm (P = 0.03), and satisfaction from orgasm (P = 0.01). Patients with schizophrenia had higher rates of problems in achieving arousal (P < 0.01), penile erection (P = 0.03), and satisfaction from orgasm (P = 0.03), whereas those with bipolar disorder only differed significantly on the domain of ability to reach orgasm (P = 0.03). However, patients fared better than the controls on various domains of QOL (except social domain).Conclusion:A significant number of patients with SMI suffer from SD. Hence, it should be made a routine practice to evaluate and address the problem of SDs in patients with SMI.

Background: Suicide being a global health issue, the attitudes and beliefs of the healthcare professionals towards these attempters have significant effect on the outcome of the treatment. Objectives: Aim of the study was to assess the attitude of nursing students towards patients with suicide attempt. Materials and Methods: The study had a cross sectional design of 284 nursing students who were randomly recruited from the two institutions. Suicide opinion Questionnaire was administered. Results: Most were young single females, from rural locality, who were pursuing either BSc Nursing or GNM courses. Very few had previous exposure to suicide prevention training programmes. More than half of the students showed favourable attitude towards patients with suicidal attempt. Majority of students showed favourable attitudes for more than half of the attitudinal statements giving importance to the mental illness, disturbed family life, and depression and risk factors for suicide attempt. Unfavourable and uncertain attitude was noticed for a few of the statements. Conclusions: The nursing students showed favourable attitude towards patients with suicide attempts. More educational and training programs are therefore needed in these students for improving the uncertain and unfavourable responses to a few of these attitudes for better management of these patients.

Background: Managing patients with suicide attempts effectively requires overcoming barriers to their care. The attitudes and beliefs of the healthcare professionals have significant effect on the outcome of the treatment and implementation of the preventive strategies. Objectives: Aim of the study was to assess the attitude of nursing students toward suicide prevention. Materials and Methods: The study had a cross sectional design of 284 nursing students who were randomly recruited from the two institutions. Attitude toward suicide prevention scale was administered.  Results: Most were young single females, from rural locality, who were pursuing either BSc Nursing or GNM courses. Very few had previous exposure to suicide prevention training programmes. Nearly half of the students showed favourable attitude towards patients with suicidal attempt, considering it as their responsibility and their efforts as rewarding. Nearly half students also showed empathy towards these patients not considering the attempts as just attention seeking ones. Nearly one third were uncertain whether the patients reveal their plans of attempt and whether the suicide prevention measures were draining of the resources. Half of the subjects showed pessimism towards modifying the risk factors of unemployment and poverty. Conclusions: Only half of the nursing students showed favourable attitude working with patients with suicide attempts. More educational and training programs on suicide prevention are therefore needed in these students for better prevention and management of these patients.