Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Prevalence Of Depression And Its Coping Strategies Among Rural And Urban Geriatric Population, Mohit Negi, Smitha M C

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Aging is a natural process, and older age is a period in which most aspects of life require support from others. Globally, Depression is a serious public health concern among elderly populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and its coping strategies among geriatric population and to evaluate the association between socio-demographic factors and level of depression.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 study participants in both rural and urban areas. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was used to measure the depression and brief-COPE (28-items) scale was used to measure the coping …

Myocardial Infarction Trends Following Covid-19 Vaccination: A Retrospective Investigation From India, Hema S. Pinnam, Hrithika Madhavan, Jagarlamudi Harshitha, Vikram Patil, Harshita Tiwari, Isha A. Kumthekar, Jampala Sri Mounya

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: The relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and the incidence of myocardial infarction remains a topic of debate. The study aimed to analyze the demographic, clinical, and outcome characteristics of MI patients post-vaccination in India, focusing on differences between Covishield and Covaxin recipients.

Methods: The retrospective observational study included 303 MI patients admitted to a tertiary care center. Data were collected on demographics, comorbidities, vaccination status, ICU admissions, and outcomes. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to assess disease severity. Statistical analyses evaluated the associations between vaccination status, clinical parameters, and mortality.

Results: Among the study population, 74.3% were males, …

Establishing Psychiatry Clubs: Novel Approach To Enhance Psychiatry Teaching Learning In India, Akuti Khanna, Kishor M

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Despite the fact that over 150 million Indians suffer from psychiatric disorders, the country faces a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with less than 1,300 psychiatrists graduating annually. One such solution is the establishment of Psychiatry Clubs in medical colleges, which can significantly enhance awareness, education, and community engagement in mental health. The Psychiatry Club at JSS Medical College, Mysuru, established on October 10, 2023, aims to promote mental well-being, provide peer support, as well as foster professional development through workshops, seminars, and collaborations with other mental health professionals and other student led organisations. These clubs offer a sustainable …

Assessment Of Effectiveness And Evaluation Of Perception Among Students Towards Flipped Classroom Learning: A Prospective Study., Nagaraja Prasad Sai, Vedavathi Hanumaiah, Shreenivas Prabhakar Revankar, Shruthi S. Lingesh, Avanthi Eshwar

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

BACKGROUND: Flipped learning (FL) is a teaching learning approach in andragogy. In FL students are involved in self-directed learning with the teacher acting as a facilitator and a moderator. Introduction of Competency Based Medical Education led many educators to shift from traditional teaching to blended teaching learning methods. This study was conducted to assess effectiveness and evaluate students’ perception towards FL.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To assess effectiveness of FL teaching in improvement of student scores and to evaluate student’s perception towards FL teaching.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-class activities included study materials in the form of PowerPoint slides …

Changing Climate, Changing Health: Perspectives From General Population In Mysuru, Lekhashree A, Manirsha P V, Paranthaman Chinnasamy, Srishti Arya, Sunil Kumar D

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Climate change has emerged as a major public health concern, contributing to rising morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, increasing heat waves, unpredictable rainfall, and deteriorating air quality have intensified climate-sensitive health conditions. This study aims to assess the health impacts of climate change among the general population of Mysuru.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 residents of Mysuru (April–June 2024). Participants were recruited through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire via Google Forms. Analysis was performed using SPSS v26, with descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Among 400 participants, …

A Cross-Sectional Study Of The Correlation Between Working Models, Work-Life Balance And Psychological Distress In It Professionals In An Urban Setting., Neeharika Krishna Kumar, Ponnammal Sundar Lakshmi, Vathsalya S. Gowda, Kshamaa Haradanahalli Giriprakash, Manju Aswath

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: India makes up more than 19% of the global Information Technology (IT) Market. The health and well-being of the population employed in this sector will affect their productivity at work and, in turn, the economic outcome. Changes in working models and altered work-life balance can lead to increased distress in IT Professionals, hence the current study.

Methodology: The current cross-sectional descriptive study assessed 247 IT professionals. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for socio-demographic details, working models and work-life balance. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Plus was used to assess psychological distress. Statistics and correlations were done using SPSS 20. …

A Study Of Electrocardiogram And Echocardiography Parameters Of Post Covid – 19 Patients, Venkateswararao K, Durga Prasad Sadhupati

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Coronavirus Disease – 2019 [COVID-19] infection is multisystem disease not restricted to the lungs it has negative impact on Cardiovascular system by activation of ACE-2 receptors causing plaque stability, vascular inflammation and MI. ECG and 2D ECHO is a simple bed side diagnostic test can be used to assess cardiovascular disease involvement in such patients. We aimed to find out ECG and 2D ECHO abnormalities of Covid – 19 patients. To Study relation of SARS-COV-2 infection and Prevalence of Cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We perform Cross Sectional study among 500 Post Covid – 19 patients [>20 and

Results: Out …

Subclinical Myocardial Disease: The Next Frontier In Cardiovascular Prevention., Param Darpan Sheth, Chandana S., Nimrah Rehman

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Subclinical myocardial disease refers to pathological cardiac changes that precede overt symptoms. It represents an emerging frontier in cardiovascular disease prevention; wherein early detection of myocardial dysfunction could allow timely intervention to avert heart failure (HF) and other outcomes. This narrative review summarizes the current and emerging tools for detecting subclinical myocardial disease, including advanced cardiac imaging and circulating biomarkers, and discusses their potential to improve risk stratification and preventive care in asymptomatic high-risk individuals. Novel echocardiographic measures such as global longitudinal strain (GLS) can unmask subtle systolic dysfunction despite preserved ejection fraction, while cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue mapping …

Havana Syndrome: A Scientific Review Of An Unresolved Medical Mystery, Aishik Dutta

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background

Since 2016, U.S. and Canadian officials have reported Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), or "Havana Syndrome," characterised by a strange sensory experience followed by chronic neurological, cognitive, and vestibular issues. The cause is intensely debated, with primary hypotheses pointing to either psychosocial factors or a directed-energy weapon, creating a significant medical and geopolitical puzzle.

Methods

This review critically assesses the current evidence by analysing peer-reviewed clinical studies and major institutional reports.

Results

The findings are deeply contradictory. A 2020 NASEM report identified directed, pulsed radiofrequency energy as the most plausible mechanism for a core set of symptoms. Conversely, comprehensive 2024 …

Self-Inflicted, Non-Sexual, Non-Masturbatory Penile Fracture Case Report - An Atypical Presentation, Sajan Sehgal, Vijayakumar R, Sachin Dharwadkar, Amruthraj G. Gowda

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Traumatic injuries to the genitalia are uncommon due to the mobility of the penis and scrotum. Penile fracture is a relatively rare condition arising from disruption of tunica albuginea with rupture of the corpus cavernosum. In order to ensure that such an injury is not missed, it is necessary to have a high index of suspicion to diagnose this condition.

Result: Patient underwent an emergency repair of penile fracture.

Conclusion: We hereby, report a rare case of accidental, non-masturbatory, self-inflicted penile fracture which was diagnosed promptly based on clinical assessment, confirmed radiologically and managed surgically, resulting …

Case Series On Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry In Pain Abdomen With School Refusal Among Children, Jatin Kumar, Aditya Takiar, Kishor M, Sudhamshu K.C, Anil Kumar M.G., Prashanth S.N

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Chronic abdominal pain is one of the most common causes of school refusal in children often leading to multiple hospital visits and expenses. This study was done to assess the psychiatric morbidity underlying functional gastrointestinal complaints in children presenting to paediatric surgery unit. We conducted a prospective case series (N=11; ages 8–13) of children referred from Paediatric Surgery between June and December 2025. All these children presented with idiopathic abdominal pain and a significant period of absence from school. These children were evaluated for any organic causes through the use of various investigations including imaging studies and were referred to …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Vertical Integration In Training Undergraduate Medical Students Under Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum, Pratham Mehta, Yashika Sharma, Kishor M, Arun M

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: The National Medical Council in the Indian Medical Graduate guidelines to enhance learning, recommends Vertical and Horizontal Integration. Vertical integration may be defined as a curricular strategy that aligns para-clinical and clinical teaching across time with a view to enhancing relevance and application of knowledge. The present study is an attempt to test whether vertical integration of Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry is associated with greater short-term learning gains and improved student perceptions compared with conventional didactic lectures.

Methods: With Institutional and Ethics Committee clearance, a two-phase quasi-experimental study was performed across two consecutive academic cohorts (Phase 1, …

Mitochondrial-Targeted Therapies In Traumatic Brain Injury: From Bench To Bedside, Sidra Tabassum, Silin Wu, Chang-Hun Lee, Bosco Seong Kyu Yang, Aaron M Gusdon, Huimahn A Choi, Xuefang S Ren

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with limited effective therapeutic options currently available. Recent research has highlighted the pivotal role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of TBI, making mitochondria an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. This review comprehensively examines advancements in mitochondrial-targeted therapies for TBI, bridging the gap from basic research to clinical applications. We discuss the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial damage in TBI, including oxidative stress, impaired bioenergetics, mitochondrial dynamics, and apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, we highlight the complex interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, elucidating how these …

Exploring Psychological Implications Of The Contemporary Lung Transplant, Isaac C. Machar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Since its inception in 1963 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, more than 50,000 lung transplant procedures have been performed. During its 50-year anniversary, 2023 saw just over 3,000 lung transplants performed in the United Sates. However, as this procedure continues to increase in execution each year, it is critical that the psychological implications of this procedure are explored. In this paper, I hope to develop an understanding of the psychological background of contemporary lung transplantation. Reviewing the lung and double lung transplant, the goal is to apply biopsychology principles to the field. Background information about transplant science is …

Cultivating Compassion: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation Of Empathy Among Medical Undergraduate Students, Anchu R Nath, Ishika Jindal, Nayanabai Shabadi, Sunil Kumar D

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND: Empathy plays a crucial role in medical practice, profoundly affecting patient outcomes and treatment. Understanding the factors that influence empathy among medical students can help in developing strategies to enhance empathetic skills during medical training. This study aims to evaluate the correlates of empathy among medical undergraduate students using an epidemiological cross-sectional design.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 medical undergraduate students from various academic years at JSS Medical College for four months (September 2023-December 2023). Convenient sampling was used to select study participants. Participants completed a standardized empathy questionnaire, the Jefferson Scale …

Community, State And Professionalism: Negotiating The Experience Of Community Health Workers In The Provision Of Maternal And Child Health Services In Tanzania, Chakupewa Joseph Mpambije

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Research on community health workers (CHWs) has been on the increase in the past decades in Tanzania, focusing on the provision of maternal and child health (MCH) services. While performing their tasks, CHWs work within three constructs: the community, the state, and their professionalism. However, as CHWs work within these constructs, there exists scanty literature which discourses their experiences within the realm of the community, the state and their professionalism. This review aimed to articulate how these constructs facilitate or inhibit CHWs’ performance in improving MCH services. It employed a scoping review method in which peer-reviewed articles and grey literature …

Analysis Of Public Opinion Polls About Covid-19 Vaccines: Theoretical And Policy Implications For Vaccine Communication And Campaigns To Address Vaccine Hesitancy, Muhammad Ittefaq, Hong Tien Vu, Ali Zain, Tayyeb Ramazan, Gary L. Kreps

School of Communication Studies - Faculty Scholarship

This study analyzed 1432 questions asked in 19 surveys (N = 43,014) on COVID-19 vaccines between January 2020 and August 2022 using dimensions including (1) information sources about COVID-19 vaccine, (2) information about the access, effectiveness, and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine, (3) COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (i.e. false perception, skepticism, and vaccine refusal), (4) motivations to get the COVID-19 vaccine (i.e. to perform routine activities, convenience, incentives, influences, and travel requirement), (5) false perceptions caused vaccine refusal, and (6) intentions to get vaccinated. Our results show that vaccine refusal was rampant throughout the pandemic and mostly attributed to the …

Comparison Of Quality Of Life, Anxiety, And Depression Levels Based On Acne Vulgaris Severity, Annisaul Husna, Satya Wydya Yenny, Desmawati Desmawati, Gardenia Akhyar, Masrul Masrul, Yulistini Yulistini

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit. Although acne vulgaris is not fatal, it can cause psychological effects. This study aimed to compare the quality of life, anxiety, and depression levels based on the severity of acne vulgaris among medical students at Andalas University.

Methods: This was an observational-analytic study with a cross-sectional design. It was conducted from May to June 2023. The population included the third-grade students of the Medical Study Program of the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University, who had acne vulgaris. The respondents were 70 people, recruited with consecutive sampling techniques. This research …

The Life And Discoveries Of Yellapragada Subbarow, Nikhil R, Varuni Pragya, Subramanian Ramaswamy, Shiva Prasad B N, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Dr. Yellapragada Subbarow was a researcher, teacher, and a wizard of wonder drugs who constantly made efforts in the discoveries/ inventions such as vitamins, anti-vitamins, antibiotics, and many more by disentangling the mysteries of nature for the betterment of the people. He inspired the youngsters to take up the challenges and to stand up above mediocrity. The reward for his achievement was delayed. The article describes a true humanist's journey, discoveries, and his achievements that are largely unknown to date.

Preferences For Starting Daily, On-Demand, And Long-Acting Injectable Hiv Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In The United States (2021-2022): Nationwide Online Cross-Sectional Study, Duygu Islek, Travis Sanchez, Jennifer L. Glick, Jeb Jones, Keith Rawlings, Supriya Sarkar, Patrick S. Sullivan, Vani Vannappagari

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Long-acting (LA) injectable preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and on-demand PrEP may improve overall PrEP uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM), but little is understood about the PrEP option preferences of MSM in practical scenarios where they may choose between various PrEP options. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the preferences for starting various PrEP options among a US nationwide online convenience sample of MSM from September 2021 to February 2022. METHODS: Participants reporting no prior HIV diagnosis were provided brief descriptions of each PrEP option and were asked, "If [PrEP option] were available from your local doctor …

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Of A Smartphone-Based Application To Support At-Home Psa Screening And Culturally Tailored Prostate Cancer Education For African American Men: A Study Protocol, Jordan Neil, Bingjing Mao, Ruosi Shao, E. Ogunsanya Motolani, Summer Frank-Pearce, Michael Businelle, Michael Cookson, Kelly Stratton, Mark Doescher, Stephanie Pharr, Valerie Moise, Brianna Fleshman, Jack Fronheiser, Kimberly Estrada, Iván Flores, David Bradley, Ashley Kendrick, Adam C. Alexander

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality. The current pilot study will test the first-of-its-kind mobile health (mHealth) app to improve prostate cancer knowledge and increase PSA screening uptake among AA men using home-based screening methods. Methods: AA men aged 55 to …

The Impact Of Changes In Depression On Cardiovascular Outcomes In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease., Nishant Vatsa, Josiah Bennett, Sonika Vatsa, Alireza Rahbar, Daniel A Gold, Vardhmaan Jain, Matthew E Gold, Alexander Razavi, Adithya Yadalam, Shivang Desai, Muhammad Owais, Joy D Hartsfield, Yi-An Ko, Laurence Sperling, Viola Vaccarino, Puja K Mehta, Arshed A Quyyumi

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Whether longitudinal changes in depression affect MACE in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the hypothesis that increasing or persistent depression predicts MACE in patients with CHD.

METHODS: At baseline, 3,483 Emory Cardiovascular Biobank participants (median age 65.5 years, 31.6% female) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ8) for depression evaluation. At 1 year, 2,639 of these event-free participants repeated the questionnaire. Depression was defined as a PHQ8 score >9 and change in depressive symptoms (Δ" role="presentation"> PHQ8) was year 1 score minus baseline …

The Role Of Lymph-Adipose Crosstalk In Alcohol-Induced Perilymphatic Adipose Tissue Dysfunction, Kourtney D. Weaver, Liz Simon, Patricia E. Molina, Flavia Souza-Smith

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Chronic alcohol use leads to metabolic dysfunction in adipose tissue. The underlying mechanisms and the contribution of alcohol-induced adipose tissue dysfunction to systemic metabolic dysregulation are not well understood. In our previous studies, we found that chronic alcohol feeding induces mesenteric lymphatic leakage, perilymphatic adipose tissue (PLAT) inflammation, and local insulin resistance in rats. The goal of this study was to further explore the link between alcohol-induced lymphatic leakage and PLAT immunometabolic dysregulation, locally and systemically, using in vivo and ex vivo approaches. Male rats received a Lieber–DeCarli liquid diet, of which 36% of the calories were from alcohol, for …

Two Lives, Shruti Trehan Mbbs

Journal of Wellness

A busy oncologist makes a decision to leave her busy, thriving, community practice in the Mid-West and moves to a Veterans Affairs hospital in South Florida in the quest for a better work-life balance.

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Emergency Department Visits For Opioid Use Disorder Across University Of California Health Centers, Matthew Heshmatipour, Ding Quan Ng, Emily Yi-Wen Truong, Jianwei Zheng, Alexandre Chan, Yun Wang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has had a devastating impact on mental health and access to addiction treatment in the United States, including in California, which resulted in the highest rates of emergency department visits (ED) for opioid poisoning in 2020. As California slowly returns to pre-pandemic normalcy, it remains uncertain whether the rates of opioid-related events have slowed down over time. We hypothesized that the number of opioid-related ED visits were exacerbated after the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue at a high rate in the present.

Methods: In this analysis we searched the University of California (UC) Health …

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Association Between Non-Injection Drug Use And Hepatitis C Infection Among Hiv-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men, Jing Zhao, Charles Green, Christine Markham, Kayo Fujimoto, Alan G Nyitray, Lu-Yu Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Prior research predominantly examined the association between HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) or those using injection drugs and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the association among HIV-negative MSM who do not inject drugs. This gap leaves apportion of the population unexamined, potentially overlooking important factor that may contribute to the transmission and prevalence of HCV. This study aims to investigate the relationship between non-injection drug use and HCV infection in this population.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data on 118 MSM who reported use of non-injection …

A Potential Role For Magi-1 In The Bi-Directional Relationship Between Major Depressive Disorder And Cardiovascular Disease, Priyanka Banerjee, Khanh Chau, Sivareddy Kotla, Eleanor L Davis, Estefani Berrios Turcios, Shengyu Li, Zhang Pengzhi, Guangyu Wang, Gopi Krishna Kolluru, Abhishek Jain, John P Cooke, Junichi Abe, Nhat-Tu Le

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of review: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, loss of interest in activities, feelings of sadness and worthlessness. MDD often coexist with cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the precise link between these conditions remains unclear. This review explores factors underlying the development of MDD and CVD, including genetic, epigenetic, platelet activation, inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption.

Recent findings: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the membrane-associated guanylate kinase WW and PDZ domain-containing protein 1 (MAGI-1) are associated with neuroticism and psychiatric disorders including MDD. SNPs in …

Exploring Perinatal Ketamine For Postpartum Depression Following Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review, Jaylyn Thompson, David F Lo, Alexis Foschini, Suvan Sundaresh

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

The aim of this study was to explore the use of perinatal ketamine to see if it can be used for the reduction of postpartum depression (PPD) following cesarean section (C-section). PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science were the primary databases used for this review. Search terms used on January 5, 2024 incorporated "ketamine," "C-section," "postpartum depression," and related synonyms. The criteria for inclusion centered on studies published between January 1, 2008 and January 5, 2024. The final selection of articles was screened based on extraction criteria leaving eight randomized control trials in the final review. The selected data from …