Introduction: Sialorrhoea, or excessive salivation, is common in psychiatric patients. This can be distressing because of its physical and psychosocial complications. Sialorrhoea due to psychotropic drugs has been reported repeatedly in the literature. Clozapine is the antipsychotic most commonly associated with sialorrhoea. Objective: The objective of this review was to examine and discuss the existing literature on all psychotropic drugs associated with sialorrhoea, except clozapine. Methods: Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for the literature on psychotropic-induced sialorrhoea. The search terms used were sialorrhoea, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizer, and benzodiazepines. Case reports on patients suffering from psychotropic-induced sialorrhoea except clozapine are reviewed in this study. Results: The pathophysiology behind psychotropic-induced sialorrhoea, the population susceptible to sialorrhoea, and the exact duration from the start of sialorrhoea the drug course to the onset of sialorrhoea are unknown. Also, sialorrhoea is not associated with drug toxicity and is observed even in patients receiving normal doses of psychotropic medications. Treatment involves dose reduction, discontinuation of drugs responsible for the adverse effect, or adding anticholinergic drugs. Conclusion: Sialorrhoea due to clozapine has been reported in the literature. Many other antipsychotics, antidepressants such as sertraline, and other psychotropic drugs such as lithium have also been reported to cause sialorrhoea. No increase in the risk of sialorrhoea was seen in any of the age groups, and no association was found with treatment duration. In cases of lithium-induced sialorrhoea, no relationship was observed between serum levels of lithium and sialorrhoea.
Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is associated with morbidity and mortality. Assessment of factors affecting AWS will help in early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment, hence improving the prognosis. Aim: The present study was conceived and planned to assess the socioeconomic, biochemical, and clinical predictors of alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens with alcohol dependence patients in the Indian population. Study Design: Longitudinal study. Methodology: The study includes 100 patients admitted for alcohol withdrawal. Participants were assessed for detailed history, physical and mental state examination, CAGE scale (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener), AUDIT scale (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), PAWSS scale (Prediction of Alcohol withdrawal severity Score), MINIPLUS (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview) scale and CIWA scale (Clinical Institute withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol) scoring along-with biochemical and hematological investigations. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Results: Mean age of the patients observed was 33.91 years (19-70 years). A significant association between increase of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and total bilirubin levels (P= 0.208); highly significant association between low platelet counts, low potassium levels, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the development of delirium tremens and severity of alcohol withdrawal was observed (P<0.05). CAGE (P<0.014), AUDIT (P<0.001), and CIWA scores has significant association (P<0.001) with development of delirium and PAWSS showed good prediction (P<0.007) with patients having severe alcohol withdrawal. Conclusion: Our study recommends that socioeconomic and biochemical factors and predictors can be considered for early diagnosis of severity of alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens.
Pellagra is a disorder occurring due to niacin deciency in body. Chronic intake and alcohol and being excessively dependant on corn in diet leads to pellagra. Here we present a rare case of a 39 year old male having the dermatological manifestations of pellagra presenting with Delirium Tremens and was taking our corn as the principal item in diet.
Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has shown to have efficacy and safety in treating psychiatric disorders. Studies have shown psychiatrists harboring negative attitudes about its use. The aim of the study was to assess the attitudes of psychiatrists toward practice and use of ECT and stigma associated with it. Methodology: A self-designed questionnaire was mailed electronically. Participants were asked to rate their attitudes and experience of using ECT in practice, concerns faced during prescribing ECTs, and possible solutions for destigmatization of ECTs. Results: We received 483 valid responses. Majority had positive attitudes toward the current use of ECT. Practicing in a metropolitan city, working in multiple clinics, having a family history of psychiatric illness, and having a member of the family treated with ECTs were associated with significantly more positive attitude and less concern about ECT. Poor socio-occupational strata, poor financial status, poor educational status, diagnosis of psychosis, and history of suicidal illness were associated with better acceptance of ECT by patients and caregivers. Improving undergraduate education in psychiatry and ECT and organizing interactions between patients advised ECT and patients improved with ECT were felt as effective solutions to counter ECT-related stigma by most number of psychiatrists. Conclusions: Psychiatrists in India have positive attitudes toward ECT yet have major concerns about caregiver reactions and patient dropouts while prescribing ECT. Practice location and prior exposure to psychiatric illness and ECT affect attitudes toward ECT. Psychiatrists suggested multiple strategies to reduce stigma associated with ECTs, changing the name of ECT to a nonstigmatizing was one of them.
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