K Monicka

Abstract

Introduction: On 24th March 2020, a 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced by the prime minister of India. This was a beginning of more phases of lockdown. People had to stay indoors, with worries about an uncertain future, about the well-being of near and dear, the lockdown added to the stress of the pandemic. Aims and Objectives: Our study aims at finding out the responses of the residents of Chennai in the immediate aftermath of the initial 21-day lockdown and to assess their mental health at that time. Materials and Methods: The study design was cross-sectional with a sample of 800. An online questionnaire was created using Google forms and was circulated via social media platforms. Post online consent, the participants filled up the questionnaire which included two psychiatric scales: ADNM-20 and HADS. IBM SPSS Software version 25 was used for analysing data. Results: Out of the total 800, 215(26.84%) participants had adjustment disorder, 109(13.6%) had anxiety and 50(6.24%) had depression. Significant mean difference was observed between males and females in the scores ADNM20 (t= 81.5, p= 0.0290), ANXIETY (t= 27.5, p=0.010), DEPRESSION (t= 25.9, p=0.039). For occupations, a significant group difference was on ANXIETY scale (F= 2.427, p= 0.047) and DEPRESSION scale (F= 3.994, p=0.003). A significant group difference was observed in adjustment (F= 2.973, p= 0.019) and anxiety (F= 2.786, P= 0.026) for time spent on watching corona news. Financial worries showed a significant association with adjustment (chi =28.128, p= 0.0001), anxiety (chi= 50.252, p=0.0001) and depression (chi = 16.661, p= 0.002). A significant association was found). A significant association was found between participants picking a fight with a family members and adjustment disorder (chi =64.328, p= 0.0001), anxiety (chi= 78.089, p= 0.0001) and depression (chi= 54.667, p= 0.0001). Conclusion: This study findings will prompt the policymakers, to intervene and prioritize mental health resources and substance use services, as these will be needed on a longer term. Domestic violence incidents that increased in Chennai during the lockdown have been highlighted in our study. Keywords: Lockdown, Corona related news, Domestic violence.

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Abstract

Introduction: A substantial decline in cognitive function has been found to be associated with the diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases in the general population. Aims and Objective: To compare the cognitive dysfunctions in patients with heart disease admitted in the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) with that of the patients admitted in general medical wards with heart diseases. Materials and Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study done on a total of 30 patients admitted to ICCU and 30 patients with heart disease admitted in general medical ward of a tertiary care hospital. The tools used were a semi-structured proforma, Hospital anxiety-depression scale, Standardized Mini-Mental Status Examination, and Brief Cognitive Rating Scale. Statistical tests used were Student ‘t’ test and Chi-Square test using SPSS software. Results: Comparison of the two groups illustrates that patients with heart disease admitted in ICCU had greater levels of anxiety (p= 0.00).These two groups differ statistically significantly in all five items of the BCRS-concentration, recent memory, remote memory, orientation, functioning with p= 0.00 in each item and with respect to Orientation to time (p= 0.00), orientation to city (p=0.01) and orientation to floor of building (p=0.00), in Registration. (p= 0.03), Spelling WORLD backward (p=0.00), Recall (p= 0.026), Identifying Wristwatch. (p= 0.039), repeat “No Ifs, and or buts”. (p= 0.0004), Reading. (p= 0.009) using SMMSE. Conclusion: The study has shown that heart disease patients admitted in ICCU have more cognitive impairment compared to those admitted in general medical ward and that early intervention can potentially revert the condition to improve the quality of life in heart disease patients. Keywords: Heart disease, Cognitive impairment, Intensive cardiac care unit.

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