ABSTRACT FOR PROFESSOR K C DUBEY POSTER SESSION I AWARD

A cross-sectional study of correlates of real-world functioning (psychopathology, cognitive dysfunction, and resilience) in patients with Schizophrenia Anil Kumar M Nagaraj, Anjali Prakash1, P. N. Abhiram Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, 1Department of Psychiatry, St John’s Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Aims and Objectives: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms that impair real-world functioning. We aimed to assess the association of psychopathology, cognitive dysfunction, and resilience with real-world functioning in schizophrenia. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional observational study, conducted among 144 clinically stable individuals with schizophrenia. Participants were assessed with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale- Expanded Version 4.0 (BPRS-24) and Negative Symptom Assessment-16 (NSA-16) for psychopathology. Cognitive function was assessed using Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination – III and Trail making Test- Parts A and B. Resilience was measured using Brief Resilience Scale, and real-world functioning with Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Spearman’s correlation and multiple linear regression were used to examine associations and predictors of functional outcomes. Results: Real-world functioning was negatively correlated with overall symptom severity (ρ = –0.655, p < 0.001) and all NSA-16 subdomains, especially affect (ρ = –0.628) and social (ρ = –0.611). Cognitive domains, particularly fluency (ρ = 0.439, p < 0.001), were positively associated with functioning. Interestingly, resilience did not significantly correlate with PSP scores. Regression analysis identified BPRS total score, affect subdomain, and fluency as significant predictors, accounting for 63.9% of the variance in PSP scores. Discussion: Consistent with existing literature, negative and cognitive symptoms are the primary determinants of real-world functioning. While earlier literature suggested protective effects of resilience, our findings did not show a significant correlation between resilience and real-world functioning, reiterating its complex and context-dependent nature. But nicotine dependence was associated with higher resilience, supporting the self-medication hypothesis. General psychopathology was negatively correlated with PSP scores, consistent with prior reports. Conclusion: Residual positive symptoms, affect subdomain of negative symptoms, and fluency emerged as significant predictors of functional outcomes. While resilience did not directly predict functioning, its potential mediating role warrants thorough exploration through longitudinal studies. Key words: Cognitive deficits, negative symptoms, real-world functioning, resilience, schizophrenia Dose-response association of selected antidepressants (sertraline, mirtazapine and venlafaxine) in depression Archana Chauhan AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, India Background: Depression affects 3.8% of the global population, projected to be the second-leading cause of global disease burden by 2030. Antidepressants have variable efficacy in treating depression. This study aims to evaluate the dose-response association of selected drugs over 8 weeks in Indian population. Methods: This observational study included 100 drug-naïve patients diagnosed with depression (ICD-10). Patients were started on sertraline or mirtazapine or venlafaxine based on clinical judgment. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) was used to assess depression severity and response over 8 weeks. Doses were adjusted based on clinical response. Results: At baseline, 73% of patients had moderate depression, and 27% had severe depression. The dose was up-titrated to mean dose of 122.9mg Sertraline, 23.6mg Mirtazapine and 119.4mg Venlafaxine resulting in reduction in HAM-D scores (61%) by sertraline, followed by mirtazapine (58%) and venlafaxine (43%). No significant association between sociodemographic variables and treatment response was found. Discussion: Indian study of 100 drug-naïve patients with depression evaluated responses to sertraline, mirtazapine and venlafaxine over 8 weeks. Sertraline and mirtazapine showed 60% symptom reduction, with doses up to 150 mg and 45 mg, respectively, producing significant outcomes. Venlafaxine yielded 43% reduction up to 120 mg. Early response was with mirtazapine, but by 8 weeks, sertraline and mirtazapine demonstrated comparable efficacy, outperforming venlafaxine. This highlights the importance of dose titration and longer treatment duration, with limitations including small sample size and lack of control for confounding factors. Conclusion: Sertraline, mirtazapine, and venlafaxine showed significant improvements in HAM-D scores over 8 weeks, with a positive dose-response association of sertraline, mirtazapine and venlafaxine up to 150 mg, 45 mg and 187.5 mg, respectively. Prevalence and incidence of OCD in patients receiving clozapine Arshia Sood, Sandeep Grover Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India Background: Schizophrenia is frequently associated with obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), with prevalence rates reported between 10–64% and 7.8–29.8%, respectively. Clozapine, an effective agent for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, has been linked to both the emergence and exacerbation of OCS/OCD. Despite its clinical relevance, Indian data on the prevalence, course, and phenomenology of OCS/OCD in clozapine-treated patients remain scarce. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, course, and phenomenology of OCS/OCD in patients with severe mental illness receiving clozapine. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the treatment records of 500 patients prescribed clozapine at a multispecialty tertiary care hospital in North India. Socio-demographic details, clinical variables, presence of OCS/OCD before and after clozapine initiation, and the course of these symptoms were extracted and analysed. Results: Among 500 patients, 18.2% (n=91) had OCS/OCD prior to clozapine initiation, while 7.0% (n=29/409) developed de novo OCS/OCD during treatment. Overall, one-fourth (24%) of patients receiving clozapine experienced OCS/OCD. The most frequent obsessions were contamination and obsessive doubts, while compulsions mainly involved cleaning and checking rituals, both in pre-existing and de novo cases. The mean clozapine dose at onset was 288.8 mg/day, with a mean latency of 52.5 months. In de novo cases, 27.5% remitted spontaneously, 24.1% improved after dose reduction, and 48.4% responded to adjunctive SSRIs. In patients with pre-existing OCS/OCD, symptoms resolved in 57.1%, worsened in 25.3%, and decreased in 10.9% following clozapine initiation. Conclusion: Approximately one in four clozapine-treated patients presented with OCS/OCD, with most cases predating therapy. Clozapine may also induce de novo OCS/OCD, albeit infrequently, with phenomenology similar to primary OCD. Management strategies include dose adjustment or augmentation with SSRIs. The findings emphasize the importance of systematic monitoring and individualized treatment planning in this vulnerable group. Abuse of older people and its associated factors among older people staying in community-based old-age homes: A multicentric study Aseem Mehra, Tanvi Kiran Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India Background: Abuse of older people is a significant and emerging problem. Only a limited number of studies have evaluated abuse of older people among older people staying in community-based old age homes. Aim: To evaluate abuse of older people among older people staying in old-age homes: a multi-centric study. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted across three different states in India. 254 older people were assessed on the Vulnerability Abuse Screen Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale-30, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, EuroQOL-5D, Consensus criteria for metabolic syndrome, and DSM-5 Criteria for substance use disorder. Results: The mean age of the participants was 74.8 years (SD = 8.3), with a mean number of years of education of 10 years. 18.1% had a presence of abuse, and the most commonly reported abuse was dependence, followed by dejection, vulnerability, and coercion. Abuse was significantly reported more frequently by females, those with voluntary admission in old-age homes, the presence of past psychiatric disorder, and the current presence of depression and anxiety disorder. Abuse among older people was significantly more in those with a higher severity of depressive symptoms, higher severity of anxiety symptoms and poor quality of life. The overall score on GDS-30 explained 21.1% of the variance of abuse of older people, overall score on GAD-7, overall score on ED VAS, gender, and history of mental illness. Conclusion: Abuse of older people is significantly higher among older people staying in old-age homes. Older people can be empowered and protected against abuse of older people with awareness programs, providing remedial measures and increasing the accessibility of existing protective factors. Key words: Abuse of older people, old-age homes, psychiatric disorders, quality of life Shift from physical to digital communication and its effect on family dynamics and well-being in children with specific learning disability: A case-control study Ayushi Dubey, Alka Subramanyam, Prajakta Patkar, Rashmi Singh Department of Psychiatry, BYL Nair Hospital and Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly transformed family communication due to increased reliance on digital media amid lockdowns and remote schooling. There is paucity of data focusing on the relationship between digital technology and family dynamics. This study examined the impact of this shift from physical to digital communication on family dynamics and well-being, comparing children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disability (SLD) to a matched control group without SLD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional case-control design was used, including 61 children with SLD diagnosed as per DSM-5 criteria with 61 age- and gender-matched controls recruited from healthcare staff families. Selection criteria ensured exclusion of severe psychiatric or neurological disorders. Data collection involved a case record form detailing socio-demographics and digital device use, a semi-structured questionnaire exploring the extent and nature of internet use, and two validated scales: the Family Assessment Device (FAD) assessing seven dimensions of family functioning, and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQOL) measuring parental satisfaction with family well-being. Results: Statistical analyses showed that families of children with SLD experienced significantly greater dysfunction in problem-solving, communication, and role allocation compared to controls. Emotional expression, family support, and task distribution also differed significantly, indicating that digital communication shifts may exacerbate challenges in these families. The FQOL scores revealed lower satisfaction in stress management, childcare support, social connections, and healthcare access for families with children having SLD. Conclusion: This study highlights digital technology’s double-edged impact: while it enabled connection during pandemic constraints, excessive use correlated with reduced face-to-face interaction, emotional disengagement, and conflict, especially in vulnerable groups. The findings underscored the importance of balanced technology use and parental supervision to support healthy family dynamics. This research contributes critical understanding of digital communication’s effects on families of children with SLD, offering insights to guide interventions during ongoing digital transitions in society. Impact of binge-watching OTT platforms on academic procrastination among MBBS students: A cross-sectional study Ashish Yadav, Deepti M. Bhatt, Vishal Damani, Parnavi Singh Gujarat Institute of Mental Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Background: Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming platforms have dramatically transformed media consumption patterns, particularly among undergraduate medical characterized by multiple or has emerged as a potential to academic Aim: This study aimed to examine the correlation between binge-watching on OTT platforms and academic procrastination among undergraduate medical Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among undergraduate MBBS across medical in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from to Data were using validated including the Scale and Statistical analysis was using Results: Among reported in binge-watching A significant positive correlation was between binge-watching and academic procrastination = p < had significantly higher mean scores compared to p < and showed significantly higher binge-watching = binge-watching severity was most with the primary for consumption Conclusion: This study a positive correlation between binge-watching and academic procrastination among undergraduate medical The findings the and of studies for awareness and strategies to the negative impact of excessive OTT on academic Key words: medical OTT functioning and quality among with remitted disorder Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical and India Aims: dysfunction an in patients with disorder We aimed to assess and functioning between with remitted disorder and healthy controls. aimed to quality between groups. Methods: and using a cross-sectional recruited with in and healthy functioning and quality were assessed using the and the Quality Scale of functioning with clinical and functioning were examined using Spearman’s correlation and multiple linear regression Results: We recruited cases and controls The mean of for cases was and for controls was years. The scores were not significantly different between quality scores were significantly different between regression showed that was negatively associated with age but not associated with or dose of dose of regression showed that was not associated with variables and Conclusion: In to literature, in functioning between with in and control studies and to examine associations of Key words: disorder, functioning, dysfunction determinants of access to interventions among in Singh Institute of and India Background: mental challenges by and to in This study aimed to determinants access to among have with Methods: a cross-sectional involved with and 10 and group validated these findings using a questionnaire with 150 Results: The two had similar mean and most were was greater among and a higher to families Social media was higher in the group included healthcare lack of and factors clinical and awareness as effective for access and Mental were and associated with and of Discussion: for interventions care is participants reported greater and current lack of mental support and is to and outcomes. The and clinical of Sandeep Grover Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical and Chandigarh, India Background: is a complex that may across a of psychiatric and medical characterized by of with limited data from India. Aim: To study the and clinical of patients with Methods: This was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Patients with two or more of the psychiatric were details, clinical treatment and were extracted and Results: A total of patients with were The mean age was years with a patients were from and to were more with schizophrenia the most frequent The mean age of onset of illness was and of the was years. Patients had a mean of on Symptom consistent across in of had medical In the most with positive and were the most frequently prescribed Conclusion: is commonly associated with schizophrenia and disorders. While most patients to and the psychiatric Prevalence and correlates of in use disorder in a tertiary care A cross-sectional study Department of Psychiatry, India Institute of Medical 1Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental and Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Background: frequently with substance use and may and While with use has been data among individuals with use disorder remain This study aimed to the prevalence of and its clinical and correlates among with Methods: This cross-sectional study included years with from and at a tertiary care in India. The clinical variables and substance use including use and were measures included the Screen and regression were used to prevalence and evaluate correlates in the Results: was in of the total with those without individuals were more and had higher rates of and use disorders. also had longer use and past history of in prevalence were not significant In use disorder associated with longer showed a association Conclusion: is among with the for care include and for use and associated to overall clinical in a community-based in India 1Department of Psychiatry, India Institute of Medical India Institute of Medical India Aims and Objectives: treatment is to use disorder a While global studies show with most from and with limited data from and This study aimed to treatment between and in a community-based in and to predictors of Methodology: This study used clinical records of individuals between and at a community-based in an in India. Participants of dependence syndrome, at one between were followed for one from treatment initiation. included one of of or was as of at one dose in the seven of were assessed using and with including sociodemographic variables, dose and and at Results: Among participants was significantly higher with analysis showed associations with use, current higher and lower and In the treatment and higher dose and Conclusion: In a real-world Indian was associated with significantly higher treatment was associated with use, and higher dose of Assessment of correlates of in patients with depressive disorder at tertiary care hospital in North India 1Department of Psychiatry, India Background: In a analysis from the reported that one in patients with in North India of illness. these the study aimed to clinical and correlates of comparing patients with and depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited patients with DSM-5 diagnosed from a tertiary care Patients with psychiatric or severe medical were included and clinical Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Assessment Statistical were between and groups. Results: the total criteria for and for was significantly more frequent among patients with depressive disorder compared to depression patients had a longer total of higher number of and longer While overall scores did not significantly, and reported in and The most of symptom were and patients reported across Conclusion: in is not but also associated with clinical particularly in depression. our earlier emphasize the importance of assessing in depressive to treatment including and Key words: depressive disorder, disorder, questionnaire in patients with obsessive A study Institute of Psychiatry, India Background: disorder is a chronic disorder. a of individuals with OCD to with treatment using a at has been as an agent in OCD. a is Aim: To the efficacy of adjunctive in OCD a Methods: A total of OCD patients were to treatment with mg or for weeks, with treatment as The Scale Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Depression Rating Scale Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and were measured at baseline, and weeks of the Results: The were comparable between the groups. There was a significant effect on score and scores between the groups. The is correlated with the in over No effects were and the of effects was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: improved symptoms by the as by a greater reduction in total score, with a significant reduction in and scores. The the of weeks. Key words: obsessive disorder, Scale and determinants of and treatment in mental Department of Psychiatry, Institute of and India and To the and determinants and treatment among with mental disorders. Methodology: The study was conducted in Mental at a in India. It was a study based on DSM-5 were conducted were and years during diagnosed with mental as per and were treatment for at three were to or were with severe mental and psychiatric admission were participants were recruited using Key were also analysis of data was using Results: A total of including and were of the included and and mental to be between and in clinical for of and of of symptoms to of The as understanding of the and factors showed role of and in the problem. Discussion: study findings and as to mental understanding of mental illness as of was identified as the most of poor and treatment Conclusion: and with mental and treatment the of and social in A cross-sectional study from North India Sandeep Grover Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India Background: There is limited data on the impact of social cognitive on of and by patients with Schizophrenia in the to and social to an increased of social cognitive not social functioning but also individuals on a Aim: To evaluate the association between and social in patients with in clinical Methodology: patients of of illness in clinical were assessed on the of Mental Scale the Scale and the Social in Indian Results: age of the study sample was years. There was significant correlation between and social those with and without were patients with in the of more in the and of = of was significantly associated with = Conclusion: The findings of the study that of the in the social affect the of among patients with social can in reduction of of and the social Key words: schizophrenia, social A study to the efficacy of and in patients with treatment OCD Institute of Medical Maharashtra, India Background: has emerged as a for OCD and of effective is of The is to a balanced and has have efficacy of but to a of Aim: To the efficacy of the and in patients with To assess the response and rates in these Methods: was patients diagnosed with OCD as per with score were 10 patients were in for over weeks. and and Discussion: score at – and at were scores were compared was to be significant between and and and rates were assessed by group patients significant response and < Conclusion: The study of all are but in patients with and are more effective for of of patients with A study from India Sandeep Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India Background: of patients with a of challenges and remain in the Indian Aim: To the of of patients with focusing on understanding of family and Methodology: This cross-sectional study recruited of patients with in clinical through from a tertiary care in North India. criteria to have with and care for the for at one semi-structured were and analysis was using both and was and on ensured Results: had a mean age of years (SD = and most were analysis and of symptoms to stress or from and life with multiple burden COVID-19 and to Family stress depressive symptoms in and illness to and reported while illness course and Conclusion: of patients with in India and social by limited illness awareness and treatment and providing interventions are for well-being and outcomes. Key words: of and between and schizophrenia Institute of and India Background: and are of phenomenology between schizophrenia and This study compared the of these symptoms across the two using validated Methods: A cross-sectional design was with = and schizophrenia = recruited from a tertiary psychiatric The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Symptom Rating were Data were using and Results: was significantly higher in = = compared to schizophrenia = = = p < also demonstrated greater = schizophrenia showed more = = p = more frequently in schizophrenia = = p = and cases showed higher prevalence compared to < in were associated with greater and = = in schizophrenia = = = p = Conclusion: more and while schizophrenia greater and Symptom may and guide The A of depression and in Indian Kumar Department of Psychiatry, Institute of and India Introduction: depression, characterized by symptoms as and specific has been in is a paucity of literature its prevalence and treatment in particularly the use of Aim: To assess the clinical and treatment depression among Indian with a specific on the use and of Methods: was conducted using and Indian with more 10 years of clinical The two the number of depression cases diagnosed and the use of in treatment. A total of from across India Results: The revealed that of had diagnosed a case of depression, had diagnosed one and had diagnosed two cases. Only had diagnosed more two cases. of participants had prescribed these with for depression. Discussion: The a significant of depression and limited use of among Indian due to or sociodemographic and potential in or findings the for a systematic study to assess the prevalence of depression and for to and treatment. Conclusion: depression in with rates of and limited use of This study the for research and to the in and treatment