Introduction-Demographic, clinical and familial factors may plausibly influence the manifestation of hallucinations. It is unclear if the pattern of the effects is similar in different environmental/cultural settings.

Background-Suicide is one of the most common causes of death among persons with schizophrenia. Differing risk factors have been identified in published studies. The differences may have arisen because a uniform set of variables was not analyzed. Alternatively, the nature and effect of risk factors may vary in different settings. To test these possibilities, we investigated the same set of variables in two independent cross-national samples ascertained using identical protocols.Methods-Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM IV criteria) were recruited in India (n=460) and the USA (n=424).Results-Consistent with earlier publications, a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, history of depression, pattern of symptoms and educational status were significantly associated with suicide attempts in the US sample. None of these variables were significantly associated in the Indian sample.Conclusions-The impact of known risk factors for suicide attempts among patients with schizophrenia differs across ethnic groups.

Background:The Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) was developed to assess the severity of autism among Indian cases.Aims:The present study evaluated the ISAA in relation to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Developmental Disability- Children Global Assessment Scale (DD-CGAS).Materials and Methods:Indian children with ICD 10 diagnoses of Autistic disorder (AD, n = 50), Intellectual Disability (ID, n = 50), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, n = 26), other psychiatric disorders (PD-N=25) and control children without psychiatric disorders (n = 65) were evaluated using the ISAA, DD-CGAS and the CARS (total n = 216).Statistical Analyses:In addition to descriptive statistics and correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess whether the ISAA scores were significantly different across diagnostic groups.Results:Total ISAA scores were significantly higher among children diagnosed with autistic disorder compared to four other diagnostic groups. Total ISAA scores were significantly correlated with CARS scores and DD-CGAS scores. Groups sub-divided on the basis of recommended ISAA cutoff points of severity showed significant differences in CARS scores.Conclusion:The ISAA can thus be used to assess severity of AD among Indian children.

Herpes Simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1) causes cold sores, keratitis and rarely, fatal encephalitis. The infection is life long, with sensory ganglia serving as reservoirs of latent infection. Recently, exposure to HSV-1 has also been repeatedly associated with reduced cognitive function among healthy individuals without prior encephalitis. Though HSV-1 does not elevate risk for schizophrenia (SZ) per se, exposure is likewise associated with impaired cognitive functions among SZ patients. The range of cognitive changes observed in HSV-1 exposed persons has not been investigated systematically, nor is it known whether interaction between HSV-1 exposure and SZ related factors contributes to the impairment among SZ patients. Persons with or without schizophrenia/schizophreniform disorder (N = 298 total, DSM IV criteria) were assessed for HSV-1 exposure using serum HSV-1 antibody titers. The Penn Computerized Neurocognitive battery was used to assess eight cognitive domains with respect to accuracy and speed. There were no significant case-control differences in HSV-1 exposure. The SZ/schizophreniform disorder cases were significantly impaired in all cognitive domains compared with the controls. HSV-1 exposure was also associated with reduced cognitive function in the entire sample, but the magnitude of the effects and their patterns differed from the SZ related changes. Further, statistically significant interactions between HSV-1 exposure and SZ case status were not detected. HSV-1 exposure does not elevate risk for SZ, but it is associated with reduced function in specific cognitive domains regardless of SZ diagnostic status. An ‘epidiagnostic’ model for the association is proposed to explain the results.

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Background Several pen and paper measures of human circadian preference are available in English, but none are available in Hindi, hampering research in circadian behavior among Hindi speaking populations in India and elsewhere. The present study describes a Hindi version of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), a self reported questionnaire widely used to assess morningness/eveningness (M/E). M/E has been used a proxy for circadian phase in lieu of cumbersome and expensive laboratory studies. Method The thirteen item English version of the CSM was translated into Hindi and independently back translated into English. Inconsistencies between the original and back translated versions were then resolved. Both versions were next administered to bilingual persons at Delhi, India (N = 130). After intra-class correlations between the Hindi and the English versions were examined, the Hindi version was administered to community based participants representing different age groups (N = 310). Results There was satisfactory intra-class correlation (ICC) between the total scores for the Hindi and the English versions of the CSM (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.873), with variation for individual items scores. Total CSM scores in the second sample suggested a significant association with age, consistent with published reports with the English CSM, i.e., morningness tendencies were more likely to be reported by older adults. Significant associations with gender or educational status were not observed. Conclusions The Hindi CSM is a brief questionnaire that provides behavioral measures of diurnal preference. It is freely available for research in Hindi speaking populations.

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that similar differences in psychopathology are present across cultures among men and women with schizophrenia (SZ).MethodsSex based differences were tested systematically in two independent samples from the Northeastern USA and North India using the same procedures. The clinical variables were obtained from five interview instruments.ResultsAmong the US participants, the number of significant differences exceeded chance predictions (15/240 variables significant at p<0.02, 6.25%; expected number of significant differences: 5). Similarly, a greater than expected number of variables differed significantly between men and women among the Indian subjects (13/230 differences at p<0.02, 5.65%; expected: 5). One of these variables significantly differed in both samples (lifetime abuse of cannabis). When multivariate analyses were conducted in the combined US and Indian samples sex based differences remained for only four variables: course of the illness, history of inappropriate emotions, marital status and number of children.ConclusionSex based differences in SZ/schizoaffective disorder are present in the USA and India at greater than chance probabilities. The majority of the variables differ across the samples. The biological underpinnings of these variables need further investigation.

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common problem encountered in gynaecology clinics. Assessment of endometrial pathology is recommended to rule out malignancy and premalignant conditions. Endometrial sampling can be done by Pipelle biopsy in outpatient units as well as by conventional dilatation and curettage in an operation theatre setup. Our study aims to find out the efficacy of office endometrial biopsy in terms of its sample adequacy, diagnostic accuracy and patient acceptability.Methods: 120 women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding were included. A detailed history along with clinical examination findings are entered in the proforma. Ultrasound scan was done for all of them to identify pelvic pathology and endometrial thickness. Endometrial sampling was then done with Pipelle without anaesthesia. Histopathology reports are collected and sample adequacy and pattern were analysed. Patients are subsequently followed up for a period up to one year. Those who underwent hysterectomy are analysed for the endometrial pathology in hysterectomy specimen which is used as gold standard and compared with Pipelle endometrial sampling histopathology.Results: Sample adequacy for Pipelle biopsy was found to be 96%. Diagnostic accuracy for atypical hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma is 92.5% and 94% respectively. In hysterectomy specimens, carcinoma endometrium coexisted with atypical hyperplasia in 40% of cases with atypical hyperplasia in pipelle biopsy report.Conclusions: Thus, Pipelle endometrial biopsy is a cost-effective method for endometrial sampling except for focal lesions.