Shashank Arunachal U
St. Johns Medical College, India
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Neurochem Neuropharm
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a irreversible long-term adverse effect of antipsychotics. We report on prevalence and correlates of TD in sample of community dwelling schizophrenia patients. In our community intervention program from seven years, 350 schizophrenia patients have been identified. We conducted a cross-sectional study. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview is used for diagnosing schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is used to assess psychopathology; Tardive Dyskinesia Rating Scale (TDRS) is used to assess Tardive Dyskinesias . Probable TD was defined according to Schooler-Kane research criteria. Severe TD was defined as either �continuous� presence of movements or �incapacitating� movements according to the TDRS. Mean (SD) age of the sample (n=180) was 43.5(11.5) years at baseline; females formed 49.4% (n=89); 89(50%) were from lower socio-economic strata; 96(53.6%) were married. Average years of education was 6.3(4.7) years; mean age at onset of schizophrenia was 28.4(9.9) years; Mean duration of illness was 180.9 (117.6) months. Mean total PANSS was 69.6 (25.1) at baseline; total duration of antipsychotic exposure was 53.4(26.4) months. Most of the patients were exposed to both typical as well as atypical antipsychotic medications. Prevalence of TD was 67/180 (37%). Severe TD was found only in 5 patients. Patients with TD were: significantly elder [age 46.3(12.8) vs. 41.8(10.4) years respectively; p=0.01] and had more severe current symptoms [mean current total PANSS score of 52.3 (20.0) vs. 44.6(15.1) respectively; p<0.01]. Prevalence of TD in our community sample is fairly high & presence of severe TD was very low.
Shashank Arunachal U pursued his Medicine (MBBS) degree from KS Hegde Medical Academy from Rajiv Gandhi University. He is interested in Psychopharmacology and has volunteered in ‘Community Intervention Programme in Schizophrenia Patients’ for period of 3 years a project run by National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in a Taluk Headquaters (Local Governing Body). During this time, he indulged himself in interviewing patients, psycho education of patients/family members, administering rating scales, blood sample collection, conducting home visits, co-ordinating follow-ups and entering the data. During this period he worked on 2 papers ‘Arecanut use in rural South Indian Schizophrenia Patients- a comparative study’ & ‘Epidemiology of Tardive Dyskinesias in Community dwelling Schizophrenia Patients in rural South India’. Currently, he is pursuing his 2nd year Post-graduation in Pharmacology at St. John’s Medical College. At present, he is also working on ‘Drug- Induced Acute Akathisia: A Case-Control Study in Patients taking Neuroleptic Agents at a Tertiary Care Hospital’ as a part of his Post-graduation thesis project.
Email: shashank.arunachal@gmail.com
