BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness associated with major disability in several spheres of a person's functioning. Duration of untreated illness is one of the important reasons for severe disability. Aim-The study was undertaken to evaluate the association between Duration of Untreated Illness (DUI) in patients with Schizophrenia and Sociodemographic variables and correlation between DUI and Disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was undertaken at Government Hospital for Mental Care/ Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. The convenience sampling of 162 patients attending OPD who were diagnosed with Schizophrenia as per ICD-10, age ranging between 18 and 65 years, currently under remission and on regular treatment for the past one year were included in the study. Statistical Analysis-Sociodemographic profile frequencies were calculated. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare data (Unequal Sample Size and Non-Normal Distribution) between groups and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test was used to find the nature of association between DUI and Disability scores. RESULTS Duration of Untreated Illness is not showing significant association with Sociodemographic variables, gender, marital status, domicile, education or employment. long DUI not showing significant association with disability (p-value is 0.617) and correlation between DUI and disability scores do not reveal any significant relation (r-value= 0.006, p-value 0.938). CONCLUSION There is a huge need to bring a greater number of patients who belong to the group-female, unmarried, low literacy, unemployed and rural, under the umbrella of treatment early. It is conceivable that the reported better outcome for schizophrenia in India is unlikely to be a cause of shorter DUI. KEY WORDS Schizophrenia, Duration of Untreated Illness, Disability. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kranthi RV, Shanthi C. Evaluation of psychiatric disability among patients with schizophrenia in relation to duration of untreated illness-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUNDThe marital adjustment is a process in which an individual or a couple modifies, adopts or changes their behaviour pattern and interaction to gain the maximum satisfaction in their relationship. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness associated with major disability in several spears of a person's functioning. Most of the previous studies shows that schizophrenia associated with adverse outcome on marriage. This study conducted to evaluate how disability due to schizophrenia related to marriage in these patients.

BACKGROUND Suicides are more common among suicide attempters. Most of the suicide attempts were done by patients with mental disorders. The gender is the most powerful predictor of suicide attempts in the form of type of mental disorder, method of attempt and lethality of attempt. Aim-The study was undertaken to evaluate the gender related differences in attempted suicide. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in Psychiatry Department, Mamatha General Hospital, Khammam. Sample consisting of 100 subjects with attempted suicide were assessed on socio-demographic and suicide attempt data and MINI Plus. The diagnosis was confirmed by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Data was tabulated and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 13 (SPSS-13). RESULTS Out of 100 suicide attempters, 35 were males and 65 were females. Most of the females with psychiatric disorder attempted suicide (62.5%) compared to males (37.5%). Female suicide attempters were more with Depression (29% in female, 24.24% in male) and Schizophrenia (18.18% in female, 12.12% in male). Male suicide attempters were more with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (18.18% in male, 3.63% in female). 62% of total subjects impulsively attempted suicide compared to planned only (38%). In these, majority were males 77.14% followed by females (53.84%). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Out of total, 9% were intoxicated and all of them i.e. 25.7% were males. Lowest among females (0%) and most of the females were with clear consciousness and the males were intoxicated during the time of Attempt (100%). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Psychiatric disorder was found in 88% of suicide attempters. Most of the females with psychiatric disorder attempted suicide compared to males. Depressive disorders, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders are more in female attempters and alcohol dependence syndrome in male attempters. Impulsive attempts, intoxicated with alcohol during the attempt and used lethal methods were significantly more common in males. Household chemicals are used mostly by females. The number of first and repeated attempts difference is minute with gender.