Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Re-Hospitalization Of Psychiatric Patients: The Patients, Or The Illness And Treatment?, Amresh Srivastava, Robbie Campbell, Megan Johnston, Ruth Mooser, Larry Stitt

Amresh Srivastava

Purpose: The goal of this project was to find out why psychiatric patients get hospitalised repeatedly. Studies have found that repeated hospitalization leads to economic drain, disability, poor outcome, stigma and discrimination. Hospitalization consumes more than 90% of mental health budgets. Identifying the potential risk factors for repeated hospitalization, interrelationships between risk factors, and vulnerability will help us take the appropriate measures to prevent hospitalization and promote care in the community. Logistically, there are three possible factors which may lead to repeated hospitalization: (1) Characteristics of the patient; (2) Nature of the illness; and (3) The management of the illness …

Study Of Negatives Symptoms In First Episode Schizophrenia*, Vivek Bambole, Nilesh, Shah, Shushma Sonavane, Megan , Johnston, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

Background: Prevalence of negative symptoms in the early phase of schizophrenia remains uncertain. Ne- gative symptoms are the primary cause of long term disability and poor functional outcome. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence of negative symptoms in patients with fist episode psychosis in schizophrenia who were hospitalized. Methods: Nega- tive symptoms were measured in 72 patients present- ing with FEP using the scale for assessment of nega- tive symptoms (SANS) and ascertained diagnosis us- ing DSM-IV. Prevalence of SANS items and sub- scales were examined for both schizophrenia and bi- polar disorder. Results: This study …

Should ‘Risk Syndrome Of Psychosis’ Be Included In Dsm V As A Diagnosis? A Road Towards Preventive Psychiatry”, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

Psychiatric diagnosis has acquired a position of a quasi-legal document for mental health services and agencies working with mental health. Its utility has gone far beyond ‘clinical diagnosis for treatment’.

The concept of risk syndrome for schizophrenia has been thoroughly researched in last ten years or so. Significant advancement has been made in phenomenology, diagnostic criteria, classification, & neurobiology. The research of prodromal or at-risk or Ultra high-risk psychosis has significantly contributed to the body of knowledge of aetio-pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

The science of risk syndrome has apparently matured and its proponents are ready for its inclusion in DSM V …

Outcome, Early Intervention & Dup: The Matrix Of Research In Early Psychosis, Amresh Srivastava, Megan Johnston

Amresh Srivastava

There has been little investigation of the relationship of DUP to other long-term outcomes such as negative symptoms and cognitive functioning neither have the possible confounds of DUP been widely investigated or controlled. It is important that there should be more thorough investigations of DUP, its correlates, and the extent to which it does mediate any advantages of earlier intervention. Shorter duration of untreated psychosis was associated with greater response to antipsychotic treatment, as measured by severity of global psychopathology, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and functional outcomes. At the time of treatment initiation, duration of initially untreated psychosis was associated …