No abstract

No abstract

Background: Empathy plays a role not only in pathophysiology but also in planning management strategies for alcohol dependence; however, few studies have looked into it. No data are available regarding the variation of empathy with abstinence and motivation. Assessment based on cognitive and affective dimensions of empathy is needed. Aim: This study aimed to assess cognitive and affective empathy in men with alcohol dependence and compared it with normal controls. Association of empathy with disease-specific variables, motivation, and abstinence was also done. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in the outpatient department of a tertiary care center. Sixty men with alcohol dependence and 60 healthy controls were recruited and assessed using the Basic Empathy Scale for cognitive and affective empathy. The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale was used to assess motivation. Other variables were assessed using a semi-structured pro forma. Comparative analysis was done using unpaired t -test and one-way ANOVA. Correlation was done using Pearson's correlation test. Results: Cases with alcohol dependence showed lower levels of cognitive, affective, and total empathy as compared to controls. Affective and total empathy were higher in abstinent men. Empathy varied across various stages of motivation, with a significant difference seen between precontemplation and action stages. Empathy correlated negatively with number of relapses and positively with family history of addiction. Conclusions: Empathy (both cognitive and affective) is significantly reduced in alcohol dependence. Higher empathy correlates with lesser relapses. Abstinence and progression in motivation cycle is associated with remission in empathic deficits.

Background: Alcohol use disorder is a common and challenging problem in India. In various studies the prevalence of co-morbid psychopathologies ranges from 15-70% including depression & anxiety disorders. Coping mechanisms of individual play vital role in case of developing alcohol dependence and various psychopathologies. A complex interaction of psychopathologies, coping skills, and alcohol use can influence the outcome of alcohol dependence. This study was undertaken with the aim of studying coping mechanism along with anxiety, depressive symptoms and their correlation in patients of alcohol dependence.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in a tertiary government hospital. Institutional ethics committee approval obtained. 152 patients with the diagnosis of alcohol dependence (DSM IV TR) were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria, out of which 60 patients were enrolled after taking written informed consent. Following scales were used for the study, mechanisms of coping scale (MOCS), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS).Results: 32 patients had HAM-A score >17 suggestive of anxiety, similarly 40 patients had MADRS score >7 indicating depression. Problem focussed coping mechanism such as problem solving is associated with better outcome in terms of lesser anxiety and later age of first drink as well as developing dependence. Passivity, which is an emotion focussed coping mechanism, is associated with earlier first drink and higher depression score in patient suggesting poor outcome.Conclusions: Coping skills training should be incorporated in abstinence focused programs. Co-morbid psychopathologies like anxiety and depression are common in alcohol dependence individuals and thus, screening for these symptoms is essential for early interventions and better outcomes.

Background: Stigma is a major hurdle in overcoming the HIV epidemic and affects almost all people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In India, though majority of PLWHA are men, gender gap is narrowing with rates of infection increasing in women, most commonly due to transmission from their partners. Gender inequality in social and economic context leads women to vulnerability. The purpose of this study was to assess gender differences in the perceived stigma and hope in PLWHA, and to study the correlation of perceived stigma with hope and age in this population.Methods: The sample was 68 HIV patients attending HAART clinic of a tertiary government hospital. Patients were assessed using Barbara Berger stigma scale and Herth hope index, and their scores were subjected to inferential statistical methods such as t-tests and correlation analysis.Results: Although there are no gender differences in perceived stigma, there is an inverse relationship of many components of perceived stigma with hope in women. It was also found that women members of PLWHA group feel significantly less hopeful than men. Age was noted to have an inverse relationship with perceived stigma in men.Conclusions: Greater attention is warranted to this growing proportion of HIV positive women in health policies and to alleviate their suffering which is multiplied as being socially disadvantaged due to their gender. This study highlights the need of special attention to women with HIV in health settings. Further research is needed to understand the relation of social support and depression with perceived social support.