Study design: Cross sectional survey. Objective: To examine the nature and prevalence of common mental disorders among informal carers of people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and the association with their leisure satisfaction. Setting: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of informal carers of people SCI at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Fifty-three informal carers of people with SCI were interviewed using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule to assess psychiatric morbidity, and using the Leisure Satisfaction Scale to measure leisure and contentment. Data on carers with psychiatric morbidity were compared to those without common mental disorders using univariate and multivariate statistics. Results: Study reported a high morbidity (53%), with most consistent diagnoses of depression and anxiety. Carers who were spouses, women, currently married and those with lower education had greater psychiatric morbidity and lesser leisure satisfaction, even after adjusting for age and education using logistic/linear regression. Age, occupation, residence, socioeconomic status, type and duration of SCI were not associated with either morbidity or leisure satisfaction. Conclusion: Many carers of people with SCI suffer from psychiatric morbidity and also have low scores on leisure satisfaction.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia is a well-known feature and can adversely affect the patient participation in treatment and rehabilitation. Studies have shown its relationship to the severity of negative symptoms and level of insight also. Not many Indian studies are available on this in first-episode schizophrenia, and hence, this study was undertaken. Materials and Methods: Eight-five cases of first-episode schizophrenia fulfilling inclusion criteria were included in the study after ethical clearance, informed consent, and stabilization of acute symptoms. All were assessed using psychosocial pro forma, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III Scale, positive and negative syndrome scale, and schedule for the assessment of insight. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20:0. Results: Cognitive dysfunction was seen in 40% of patients. Maximum dysfunction was in the memory domain followed by fluency domain and language domain was relatively well preserved. A significant negative correlation was observed between cognitive function and negative symptoms, but a significant positive correlation was seen with insight. Conclusion: Cognitive dysfunction is present in a significant proportion of schizophrenia in the first episode itself. Early assessment will facilitate appropriate interventions directed at insight and cognitive rehabilitation.