Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 593-595
K. C. Patel (Arts and Commerce College Idar, Idar, Sabarkantha, Gujrat )

The relationship of mental health in employee and un-employee has been one of the most important research area in social sciences. In present investigation, as such has focus on critical issues of mental health and depression among highly educated employee and un-employee in context of sex, habitat and marital status. In present research study and compare various component of mental health like Positive Self-evaluation, Perception of Reality, Integration of Personality, Autonomy, Group Oriented Attitude, Environmental Mastery of highly educated employee and un-employee in relation to employment of subjects. For the present research work random sampling technique was used for the selection of the subjects. The sample was consisted of 150. The age range from 25 to 45 years. And Mental health Inventory and depression scale was administered in an individual setting after giving adequate instructions and establishing report in this research. After result analysis of this research data says that Employed subjects have shown good mental health by getting mental health component, i.e., positive self-evaluation, perception of reality, integration of personality, autonomy, group oriented attitude and environmental mastery.

Pages: 599-600
L. N. Bunker and Subhash Meena (Department of Psychology, J. N. V. University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan)

The presents study was conducted to assess the level of neurosis in normal individuals versus Tuberculosis (TB) patients and effect of gender on it. For this purpose an incidental sample of 80 subjects, 25 to 60 years of age: 20 normal males; 20 normal females; 20 Tuberculosis male patients and 20 tuberculosis female patients was taken and the Medico-Psychological Questionnaire (MPQ) by Bharath Raj was administered. The data have been analyzed by applying the student't' test to determine the significance of mean difference between groups of normal individuals and T.B. patients. On the basis of the finding of this study it may be concluded that on the whole of general neuroticism there is no large differences in normal and T.B. individuals but on some specific factors of neurosis there were significant difference was found.

Pages: 613-616
Parinka and Umed Singh (Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra)

Epilepsy is a condition frequently accompanied by psychiatric and psychosocial problems and a reduced quality of life. The present study was mainly aimed at understanding the comorbid psychiatric and psychosocial problems that significantly influence the daily life of persons with epilepsy. For this, 100 patients of epilepsy aged 18 to 40 years were selected from hospitals and clinics of neurologist/psychiatrists to participate in the study along with 100 normal controls. Data were collected by administering Personality Assessment Inventory by Morey, 1999. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (Mean, SD, SK, and KU) to ascertain the normalcy of data, t-ratios to compare the two groups in terms of their mean scores of ten clinical scales and two interpersonal scales; and Discriminant Function Analysis to examine the joint contribution of all the twelve variables in differentiation of two groups. Results revealed that patients with epilepsy scored significantly high on ten clinical scales i.e Somatic Complains, Anxiety, Anxiety-Related Disorders, Depression, Mania, Paranoia, Schizophrenia, Borderline Features, Anti social Features, and Drug problem and two interpersonal scales i.e Dominance and warmth. In Discriminant Analysis, Depression, Anxiety-related Disorders, Borderline Features, Warmth, Somatic Complaint, Anxiety and Dominance emerged most potent discriminators classifying the two groups correctly by 100%. Overall findings revealed the patients with epilepsy tend to develop the neurotic and psychotic spectrum disorders along with the interpersonal behavioural problems and these psychopathological and social variables should be taken into account in diagnosis and treatment strategy for epilepsy.

Pages: 622-631
Richa Mohan (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Delhi University, Delhi)

The study explores the psychosocial care-givers knowledge and skills on medical and psychosocial issues in Hemophilia pre-and post participation in the training program conducted in four different North Indian States. The objectives of the study is 1) To approach a cross-section of psychosocial workers and ascertain their views on the psychosocial support in Hemophilia; 2) To critically examine the views/perceptions of the psychosocial workers pre and post training workshop .3) To analyze the responses of the psychosocial workers about medical and psychosocial implications of hemophilia. 4) To identify issues, emerging from empirical evidence, which could be utilized for preparing the guidelines for the psychosocial workers. The findings showed that overall the psychosocial care-givers awareness improved post training on different subsets on the psychosocial awareness questionnaire. This indicates that regular education and updating of knowledge of the care-givers is important. A close perusal of findings suggests that age and experience were closely related to the awareness on the psychosocial issues in Hemophilia. It was found that the young respondents' awareness significantly improved post training whereas there were moderate changes in the responses of the older participants. On the whole, the change in awareness level witnessed after training illustrates that by providing adequate education and information, good results can be achieved, that will benefit PWH and their families, as well as those responsible for giving care to patients suffering from hemophilia.

Pages: 637-642
K. Jayashankar Reddy (CMR CMMS, Bangalore, Karnataka)

To investigate the improvement in quality of life (QOL) of alcohol-dependent patients during a 2-week inpatient withdrawal programme, and to identify the socio-demographic, clinical and alcohol-related factors associated with baseline QOL on admission and with improvement of QOL during residential treatment.This prospective, observational study included 414 alcohol-dependent patients, hospitalised for a period of 2 weeks. QOL was measured on admission and at discharge using the English version of the Medical Outcome Study SF-36. The mean scores for each dimension and for the Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were calculated. The mean scores per dimension and the mean Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were significantly lower on admission than at discharge; the lowest scores being observed for social functioning and role limitations due to emotional problems. At discharge, the mean scores per dimension were similar to those observed in the English general population. Female gender, age >45 years, living alone, working as a labourer or employee, somatic comorbidity, and the existence of at least five criteria for alcohol dependence according to the DSM-IV classification were associated with a low Physical Component Summary score on admission; psychiatric comorbidity, the presence of at least five DSM-IV dependence criteria, smoking and suicidality were associated with a low Mental Component Summary score on admission. The increase in Physical and Mental Component Summary scores during hospitalization was more marked when the initial scores were low. Apart from the initial score, the greatest improvement in Physical Component Summary score was seen in patients with a high alcohol intake and in those without a somatic comorbidity; the increase in Mental Component Summary score was greatest in patients without psychotic symptoms and in those who abused or were dependent on illegal drugs. QOL improvement after a residential treatment was related to low QOL scores at admission. Improvement in physical component of QOL was related to baseline alcohol intake and good somatic status. Improvement in mental component of QOL was related to other drugs abuse/dependence.

Pages: 648-652
S. Subramanian and I.Dewaram Francis Raj (Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)

People are conditioned to suppress their hurt child within oneself in order to avoid the pain and by repeating such things continuously, the free child may also be suppressed and subsequently people do not feel the joy either. The intervention on Healing the Inner Child (HIC) in oneself targets the experience of the joy and happiness by realizing the limitless potential of Healing the Inner Child is becoming popular among the therapist. The present study was aimed at exploring the extent to which the efficacy of the Intervention on Healing the Inner Child (HIC) by incorporating the four steps techniques developed by Bradshaw (1992). A repeated testing (pre-post) design was used to collect data on two psychological aspects Emotional Intelligence and Adjustments levels from 68 college students who had attended a three week training intervention programme on Healing the Inner Child (HIC) at two interval periods before and after the training period. The results revealed that the Intervention did have a positive effect and enhance the various dimensions of Emotional Intelligence and Adjustment levels.

Pages: 659-663
Gurminder Sokhey and Ravijot Kaur (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

The present investigation aimed to study Body image concern in relation to Peer and Media influence in adolescents. The sample comprised 160 adolescents (Females=80, Males=80) in the age range of 15-19 years. They were randomly selected from various private schools and colleges of Patiala city and belonged to middle class families. The subjects were administered Revised Body Shape Questionnaire (Mazzeo, 1999), Peer Influence Scale (Mukai,1996) and Socio-cultural Attitude Towards Appearance Questionnaire (originally developed by Heinberg et al., 1995) to assess body image concern, peer influence and media influence respectively. Correlational Analysis of the data showed that body image concern was positively related with peer and media influence. Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis revealed significant contribution of peer influence & media influence in explaining the variance in body image concern.

Pages: 667-670
Geeta Balodi (M.K.P (P.G) College, Dehradun, Uttranchal)
Divya Raina (Pacific University, Rajasthan)

Prejudices related to the birth of girl child have long existed in the Indian society. Since ages voices have been raised against the issue, trying to curb the ill practices of killing the girl child soon after birth or in the womb of the mother itself yet nothing good has come out of it. Killing of the girl child has found its easy course in the womb- female foeticide. Despite the fact that we have entered the 21st century yet censes still show the declining ratio of the girl child. Women have progressed in every sector, be it managing home or society, yet the birth of a girl is never celebrated. The women still have to fight for respect at each step, has to struggle for its survival. The present study aims to study the anxiety levels of married youth in order to understand the thinking behind the committing of the heinous crime of female foeticide. The study makes some questions ring into our mind again and again seeking for a solution. Why does the sound of the first baby has to be that of a boy, why not a girl. Why is a family considered complete only with the birth of a boy? Why is a boy considered a symbol of status and a girl just another financial burden? A deeper thought has to be given to find out the reason why despite so many government policies and facilities we still have not been able to change our thinking and consider women as 'Human'.

Pages: 676-679
Neelam (Clinical Psychologist, DMHP, Kurukshetra, Haryana)

Schizophrenia and drug addiction, in its most form is serve and usually long lasting, causing maximum disability. The burden of care on the family members of patients with schizophrenia and drug addiction become much more compared to other mental disorders. The present study was mainly aimed at understanding that Schizophrenia and drug addiction can also affect the quality of life and the health of the family members. For this 60 schizophrenic patients and 60 drug addict patients diagnosed as per ICD-10 criteria with at least two years duration of illness were identifiedin District Mental Health Programme, kurukshetra. The close care takers of family members of these patients were studied by administering the scale of family burden(Family Burden Schedule) and Quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). The result of study have revealed that longer the duration of illness greater the overall burden. The illness of patients also significantly effects the quality of life of close care taling members of the family. The study has shed significant light on family and social consequences of schizophrenia and drug addiction.

Pages: 685-687
Deepali Tyagi (Faculty of Education, Banasthali University, Banasthali, District Tonk, Rajasthan)

More and more youths becoming integral part of industrial processes and machines with sole aim to produce and sell products in bulks to boost the profits of their companies. The situation is, therefore, turning them into narrow minded population which cannot find mental peace and well being due to lack of basic knowledge of spirituality. There needs to be a greater recognition of absence of spirituality course work in the educational curriculum as an academic-problem. To cope with the dilemma, it is necessary that every student of Higher Education must have at least preliminary knowledge about spirituality, so that they may truly become global citizens who might accept the criticism of their belief-systems as a praiseworthy thing like they accept the writings of the sacred scriptures of their own religions. Throughout human history, there have been people of faith, and people who do not believe in any Super Being. Problems occur when one side misunderstands the other. This article aims towards imparting preliminary knowledge of Spirituality, Religion, Belief about God, Religious Beliefs, Difference between Religion, Spirituality and Superstition, Experiencing God, Approaches to God to the students.

Pages: 692-694
Haroon Ahmad and Ibrar Khan (Centre of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa, Pakistan)

Over the centuries medicinal plants have benefited mankind against different diseases. Advanced glycation end-products (AGE's) formation due to non-enzymatic glycation and oxidative stress has been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications and aging processes. In this study we investigated the antiglycation and antioxidation potential of different fraction F. indica whole plant. Our results indicated that the chloroform fraction of B. bulbocastanumfruitshad more antiglycation ability with a Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of 148.96 µg/mL as compared to the MIC50 of 221.96, 270.00, 294.01 and 322.49µg/ml of aqueous, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and crude methanolic fractions, respectively. While the results of antioxidation assay showed that chloroform fraction has more antioxidation potential than the standard (ascorbic acid) at 0.5 mg/ml concentration. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, aqueous, n-hexane and crude methanolic fractions had 29.39, 21.41, 15.25, 13.01and 11.33 % antioxidation potential at 0.5 mg / ml respectively.