The care of mentally ill people at home is being encouraged nowadays. As a result, the family members feel an increased burden of care and find it difficult to cope with the care of a schizophrenic patient at home. We interviewed the relatives of 62 schizophrenics systematically regarding the behaviour of the patients that was perceived to be distressful. This was done using the Scale for Assessment of Family Distress. It was noted that behaviours related to activity and self-care were perceived to be most distressful, and not aggressive or psychotic behaviour. Distress was more often reported by younger relatives and those with more education. The findings have implications in planning appropriate family intervention methods.

Alexithymic characteristics were examined in a sample of 30 patients fulfilling the DSM-III criteria for psychogenic pain disorder using an interviewer-rated scale (Beth Israel Hospital Psychosomatic Questionnaire), a self-rated scale (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and a projective technique (Thematic Apperception Test). The findings were compared with a control group of healthy subjects matched on sociodemographic variables. Pain patients were found to be more alexithymic in contrast to the control group as evidenced by the interviewer-rated and self-rated scales. The correlations among the three measures were in the expected direction.

Background:In India, there is a paucity of trained professionals to execute psychosocial interventions. Families are thus assigned the role of primary caretakers of individuals with chronic mental illness.Aim:To assess the perceived benefits and difficulties of group meetings among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorders, and to evaluate the utilization pattern of general hospital psychiatric unit (GHPU) services by caregivers who regularly attend such group meetings.Methods:Persons with schizophrenia and those with bipolar mood disorders with associated psychosocial problems and on maintenance medication were identified at the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit of the Department of Psychiatry, Father Muller Medical College. Significant caregivers of the identified patients were informed about the group meeting. Group meetings were conducted for about 45 minutes once a month for caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorders. Data regarding the psychosocial aspects of caregivers were collected before entry to the meeting and after 17 months of their participation. Participants who attended the meetings irregularly were excluded from the study.Results:The group meetings led to effective monitoring of the functioning of individuals, a reduction in the subjective family burden and family distress, a better support system with adequate coping skills and good compliance with treatment programmes.Conclusion:Conducting regular group meetings for a homogeneous population at a GHPU is feasible and beneficial.

Data were collected among 159 consecutive new patients in a walk-in clinic. Patients were given an appointment for a subsequent visit after the initial clinical diagnostic interview, and 61% completed their referral. A long waiting list and a diagnosis of depressive neurosis were significantly associated with drop-out. Possible forms of follow-up are suggested.

The reliability and usefulness of the Scale for Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication was evaluated in a group of psychotic in-patients. A very high inter-rater reliability (0.75–1.0) and an optimum rate-rerate reliability (0.50–1.0) were found on the individual items of the scale as well as the global rating. Since the scale has a good scope in different clinical and research settings, it was necessary to evaluate its reliability at a place other than where it originated. This study confirms its usefulness in the field of both clinical practice and research.