Background: Alcohol is a potent substance that causes both acute and chronic changes in almost all neurochemical systems, with the result that heavy drinking can produce serious psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and psychoses. It also affects sexual health adversely and causes sexual dysfunction. Methods: This study aimed to find the prevalence and pattern of sexual dysfunction in male patients with alcohol dependence. This cross-sectional study included 100 patients attending psychiatry out patient department (OPD) at a tertiary care center in west India. Informed written consent was taken for collecting socio-demographic and clinical data in a uniform and standard manner. Sexual dysfunction was assessed using a sexual dysfunction checklist, constructed by Arackal and Benegal at the national institute of mental health and neuroscience, Bangalore containing 12 items from the diagnostic criteria for research and ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioral disorders. The Leeds dependence questionnaire was used to assess the severity of alcohol dependence. Findings: Sexual dysfunction was present in 62% of the patients. Among the patients, 36% had difficulty achieving an erection, 34% had difficulty maintaining an erection, 37% reported premature ejaculation, 7% had delayed ejaculation, 14% reported anorgasmia, 1% had ejaculation with a flaccid penis, 2% had pain during intercourse, 6% were dissatisfied with the frequency of intercourse, 4% were dissatisfied with their sexual partner, and 7% were dissatisfied with their performance. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction is significantly and positively associated with duration, amount of alcohol consumed per day, and severity of alcohol dependence.

Background: Caregivers of children with thalassemia major experience higher caregiver burden and psychiatric morbidity. Aims: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to assess the caregiver burden and psychiatric morbidity among caregivers of children with thalassemia major and (2) correlation between caregiver burden and psychiatric morbidity. Settings and Design: This was an observational, cross-sectional study carried out at the tertiary care hospital setup among 245 caregivers of children with thalassemia major. Subjects and Methods: Sociodemographic details of children and their caregivers and clinical variables of children were obtained. The Caregiver Burden Scale and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 were applied. Psychiatric diagnosis was made after clinical interview as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test, t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson coefficient correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results: 33.06% were having severe burden, 30.61% moderate-to-severe burden, 27.34% mild-to-moderate burden, and 8.97% were having little or no burden. 13.46% of caregivers had psychiatric illness, out of which 8.57% had major depressive disorder, 4.08% generalized anxiety disorder, and 0.8% alcohol use disorder. “Weakly positive correlation” (P = 0.0284) was found between GHQ score and burden score. Conclusions: Higher caregiver burden and presence of psychiatric morbidity among caregivers of thalassemia children suggest that caregivers should be screened at regular intervals for early detection and management of psychiatric morbidity. Social and professional networks for psychosocial support and self-help groups should be planned for caregiver burden.

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