Asian Journal of Psychiatry

Dyce Sombre's 'Lunacy'
Haldipur CV
Dyce Sombre lost his kingdom when it was confiscated by the British East India company. He, however, was very rich. He travelled to England married an upper class woman. He became a membr of the parliament. His wife's family had his declared as a lunatic. He fought this desigation unsuccefuly.
Fountain House Lahore: An innovative community-based facility in the field of Treatment & Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Pakistan
Javed A, Iqbal R, Afzal M, Murtaza SI and Murtaza A
Suicide prevention strategies in South Korea: What we have learned and the way forward
Kang DH, Marques AH, Yang JH, Park CHK, Kim MJ, Rhee SJ and Ahn YM
Suicide is a serious global public health concern. South Korea has consistently reported one of the highest suicide rates among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries over the past few decades. In response to the increasing suicide rate, South Korea enacted the Suicide Prevention Act in 2011, and allocated significant budget funding for implementation of various policies according to its national strategy for suicide prevention. Suicide prevention policies, such as restricting access to highly hazardous pesticides, implementing emergency room-based follow-up management programs, and adhering to safety guidelines for the media while reporting on suicide, were effective. Thereafter, the overall suicide rate and the suicide rate in older people steadily declined. However, the suicide rate among younger age groups has increased since 2017, and South Korea continues to report higher suicide rates than those of most other countries. Further research is needed to develop and implement suicide prevention strategies that address the recently changing trends.
Considering early adversities in the personalized treatment of addiction
Pirnia B, Malekanmehr P and Khalaj N
Proper naming of medications used in psychiatric practice: Its time has come
Tandon R
New standards, new vision: Directing modern medical research as per the 2024 revised Declaration of Helsinki
Franco D'Souza R and Surapaneni KM
The revised Declaration of Helsinki marks a more informed, inclusive and recognized pathway to clinical research in the contemporary medical field. As clinicians, educators, researchers, administrators or a member of the healthcare community, it becomes our most important responsibility to become more aware and start the adaption of this revised codes. Adhering to these standards is essential not only for fostering public trust but also for upholding the integrity and credibility of medical research. This adherence underscores a commitment to protecting participant welfare and advancing health outcomes that are both ethical and scientifically robust. This opinion paper explores the "what" and "why" of these new standards, urging healthcare professionals, to critically engage with and adopt these revised ethical guidelines. By doing so, the healthcare community can enhance patient safety, promote equity in research participation, and ensure a more ethically sound foundation for scientific advancement. Additionally, one of the four foundational underpinnings of permissible biomedical research enshrined in the Nuremberg code - that of the necessity of potential societal value unprocurable by other means - needs to be re-emphasized in view of the rampant challenges of wasteful medical research. Awareness of research ethics among all involved in healthcare policy and practice is essential.
Exploring the cognitive vulnerabilities in traumatic brain injury: A cross-sectional study conducted in an urban south India cohort
Menon AJ, Selva M and Issac TG
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be primary/secondary injury which may culminate in cognitive impairment. This study aims to study the prevalence and to evaluate the cognition in participants afflicted with mild/moderate TBI.
Methylphenidate augmentation for electroconvulsive therapy-resistant major depressive disorder
Tholasappa V, Naveen YA, Lairenlakpam B, Motwani L, Dangaich R and Arumugham SS
Development of a suicide early warning system for Hong Kong using statistical process control and nowcasting based on media reported suicide deaths
Hsu YC, Lui ID, Lam TM and Yip PSF
Digital companionship or psychological risk? The role of AI characters in shaping youth mental health
Bhat R, Kowshik S, Suresh S, Alamelu G, Gite S and Albattat A
Systematic review of parenteral ketamine for managing acute agitation in emergency settings
Peter C, Suhas S, Gowda GS, Ghadigaonkar D, Muliyala KP and Reddi VSK
Agitation, a significant psychiatric issue often linked to conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, invariably pose challenges in emergency settings. Acute agitation occurs in 2.6 % of emergency cases and up to 12.2 % among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. With limited available options for effective management of acute agitation, ketamine is emerging as a fast-onset alternative to antipsychotics like haloperidol.
Misidentification syndromes: A retrospective study from India
Grover S and Yadav N
Delusional misidentification syndromes (DMS) are rare neuropsychiatric syndromes. Most of the available data on DMS is from the developed countries. The present retrospective analysis was conducted on patients utilizing the psychiatry services in a North Indian tertiary care hospital. Out of the 2596 treatment records that were screened, DMS was seen in 20 (0.77 %) patients. Majority of the patients exhibiting the phenomenon in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (N = 13) and schizoaffective disorder (N = 3). Females (N = 14) outnumbered males (N = 6), and the most common DMS noted was Capgras syndrome. The study found that 12 out of 16 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with DMS had treatment-resistance, necessitating the use of clozapine, with 4 patients also requiring electroconvulsive therapy. The study highlights the fact that DMS is a rare neuropsychiatric syndrome seen in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and respond poorly to conventional antipsychotics.
Safety and efficacy of early augmentation with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Upadhyay S, Agarwal V, Arya A and Kar SK
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is an emerging modality with demonstrated efficacy in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), however, there is paucity of research in adolescent depression. This study attempts to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tDCS in adolescents with MDD as an early augmentation to drug therapy.
Implementing a collaborative care model for child and adolescent mental health in Qatar: Addressing workforce and access challenges
Khoodoruth MAS, Khoodoruth MAR and Khoodoruth WNC
Child and adolescent mental health disorders in Qatar remain significantly underserved due to a critical shortage of specialists, stigma, and logistical barriers. This paper proposes implementing a Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) within Qatar's primary care settings, leveraging existing infrastructure, such as the CERNER electronic health record system, and innovations like telepsychiatry and AI-driven tools. The model integrates task-sharing among interdisciplinary teams to enhance accessibility and continuity of care. This commentary explores the model's feasibility, addressing challenges like workforce shortages and psychotropic prescribing processes. The proposed CoCM offers a sustainable solution to improve youth mental health outcomes and reduce systemic disparities.
Socio-cultural erosion and the mental health crisis in Iranian youth: Root causes, challenges, and culturally aligned interventions
Kamyabi Azar S, Naeim M and Arjmand H
This review, in light of the Socio-Cultural Erosion Theory, addresses the alarming deterioration in mental health among Iranian youth. According to this theory, rapid socio-cultural changes, economic instability, and pervasive influences of digital media create a drift between traditional values and modern expectations that are detrimental to mental health. The major risk factors identified in order of significance were, in descending order, economic hardship, academic stress, cultural pressures, and digital exposure. It is for this reason that evidence-based, practical interventions are proposed through policy reforms, educational changes, and community-based support to assist youth in Iran in meeting these challenges. The need is for solutions that are embedded within the specific cultural, economic, and social contexts of Iran to promote resilience and mental well-being.
The importance of proper naming - A review of Neuroscience-based Nomenclature (NbN)
Zemach S and Zohar J
Neuroscience-based Nomenclature (NbN) is a pharmacologically-driven classification of psychotropics, aiming to revise the current indication-based classification (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics etc.). Whereas the number of psychotropics has risen dramatically over the years, the current nomenclature preserves a rather narrow categorization that overlooks the rich neurobiological knowledge accumulated to date. The current classification is confusing for the patients ("Why am I getting an 'antipsychotic' for my depression, Doctor? am I psychotic?"), and consequently interfering with optimal care. To address this issue, leading organizations in psychopharmacology have collaborated to introduce a classification which is based on pharmacological domains (neurotransmitters) and mode of action. This approach may relieve patients from confusing labels and help clinicians plan the next pharmacological step from a neuroscientific prism. NbN has earned endorsements from significant psychiatric bodies (including the American Psychiatric Association and the European Psychiatric Association) and has been incorporated into highly ranked peer-reviewed journals, textbooks, and educational programs. It is accessible through a free app, offering an easy-to-navigate database for professionals, as well as specialized versions for child and adolescent psychiatry and for patient and family education. By bridging the gap between complex neurobiological research and clinical practice, NbN may enhance evidence-based prescription practice and serve as an educational resource. Despite its inherent challenges, this initiative may represent a step towards integrating neuroscience into everyday psychiatric care, making it more understandable and relevant for all involved.
Improving acceptance of psychosis risk terminology through cultural sensitivity
Hayati IR, Yakub E, Saputra R, Lidyawati Y, Pohan RA and Ramadhani E
The research gap in evaluating community-based mental health interventions in Korea: A comparative analysis with the United Kingdom
Kim J
South Korea has historically relied on inpatient psychiatric care. Although the 1995 Mental Health Act aimed to promote community mental health services, progress in developing community-based interventions has been limited. This review aims to provide a concise analysis of the current state of research on evaluating community mental health care in Korea, employing a comparative perspective with the United Kingdom (UK), where community-based mental health approaches have been more extensively studied and implemented. On November 19, 2024, a literature search was conducted using PubMed. The search strategy combined keywords related to mental illness and community intervention with the terms "Korea" or "United Kingdom." The review focused on randomized controlled trials from both countries that assessed patient-level outcomes of community-based mental health interventions. The findings reveal a striking contrast: in Korea, only one randomized pilot trial focused on depression in older adults was found. In contrast, 69 studies were identified in the UK, including 13 pilot/feasibility studies and 56 main studies, with 38 of these addressing severe mental illness. This clear difference underscores the limited research and evaluation of community-based mental health interventions in Korea. The results indicate a pressing need for research to assess these interventions. Such research could guide policy reforms toward deinstitutionalization and help Korea strengthen its community-based mental health system in line with global trends.
Deep brain stimulation - A primer for psychiatrists
Sharma LP, Ganesh UM, Arumugham SS, Srinivas D, Venkatasubramanian G and Reddy YJ
Deep Brain Stimulation is a form of neurostimulation where electrical stimulation is delivered via intracranial electrodes over specific subcortical targets. It has been increasingly used as an alternative to ablative procedures for psychiatric disorders refractory to standard treatments. This review describes the common psychiatric indications for DBS, the current evidence base, putative mechanisms, and future directions.
Perinatal mental health within the contours of the Indian MTP Act framework: From the lens of the Indian judiciary
Behl R
Clinical factors for all-cause mortality in people with schizophrenia: A retrospective cohort study between 2013 and 2021
Pan Z, Zhou L, Chen Y, Su J, Duan X and Zhong S
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness associated with significantly elevated mortality rates. However, factors related to the mortality risk among people with schizophrenia in low and middle-income countries remain to be examined. This study aims to explore the clinical factors for all-cause mortality in people with schizophrenia.