BPSS AWARD ABSTRACTS

A study of expressed emotions and family accommodation in adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder Rahul Saini, Amit Arya, Vivek Agarwal Department of Psychiatry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric condition that often begins in adolescence. It significantly impairs functioning and is strongly influenced by family dynamics. Expressed Emotion (EE) and Family Accommodation (FA) are two key factors in the progression and treatment response of OCD. High EE (criticism, hostility, emotional overinvolvement) and FA (participation in compulsions) are linked to worse outcomes but have been understudied in Indian adolescent populations. Objectives: This study primarily aims to assess Expressed Emotions and Family accommodation in Adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The Secondary objective is to analyze the association between Expressed Emotions, Family Accommodation and sociodemographic variables and clinical variables. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study involving 82 adolescents (aged 10–17 years) diagnosed with OCD as per DSM-5 conducted at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry OPD and Adult Psychiatry OPD, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow. Tools used included CY-BOCS for symptom severity, DY-BOCS for symptom dimensions, FEICS for Expressed Emotions (EE), FAIS- C for Family Accommodation (FA), and CGAF for overall functioning. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25, employing t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, and Pearson correlation as appropriate. Results: The study found that most participants were male, rural, and aged 14–17 years, with moderate OCD severity (mean CY-BOCS = 26.90). Harm-related obsessions were most common. Older, urban, and higher socioeconomic groups reported more criticism, while younger and rural participants had higher accommodation. Longer illness duration was linked to more criticism and less accommodation. Both EE and FA were associated with greater OCD severity and poorer functioning. Conclusion: EE and FA are prominent in adolescents with OCD and vary based on sociodemographic and clinical factors. High EE and FA contribute to symptom severity and impaired functioning. These findings underscore the importance of including family-based interventions in treatment, particularly in culturally collectivist settings like India, to improve long-term outcomes. Key words: Adolescents, CY-BOCS, expressed emotion, FAIS-C, family accommodation, family dynamics, FEICS, obsessive-compulsive disorder Prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems, abuse, perceived stress and self-esteem among orphan and non-orphan adolescents: A comparative study Chhayank Harshit Acharya, Jitendra Jeenger, Anjali Sharna, Tanmay Patel Department of Psychiatry, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India E-mail: [email protected] Background: Orphan adolescents constitute a susceptible population, frequently exposed to adverse experiences that may predispose them to psychological distress, interpersonal and social difficulties. Aim: To assess and compare the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems, abuse, perceived stress and self-esteem among orphan and non-orphan adolescents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 325 adolescents, including 161 orphans residing in child care institutions and 164 non-orphans attending government schools, aged 12-17 years. Emotional and behavioural difficulties, abuse and maltreatment, perceived stress and self-esteem of the participants were measured using the Hindi standardised versions of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool - Children’s Institutional Version (ICAST-CI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. Results: Orphans had significantly higher (p