Indian Journal of Psychiatry
January 1, 2019
Suprio Mandal, VinodKumar Sinha, Nishant Goyal
92 citations
Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, produced a rapid improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms in 25 drug-free men with severe depression. Improvement was observed within one hour of the first subanesthetic dose (0.5 mg/kg intravenous bolus) and was sustained one month after the last of six doses given over two weeks. Illness severity did not improve. Transient adverse effects occurred in some patients but resolved within an hour. The findings suggest ketamine has a robust and rapid antidepressant effect, though the study lacks a control group and is limited to men.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
May 1, 2019
Amit Jagtiani, H. Khurana, N. Malhotra
15 citations
Depression improves faster with electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) than with antidepressant medications. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antagonist, has rapid antidepressant effects when given intravenously. In a randomized trial of 60 hospitalized patients aged 18–45 with major depressive disorder, those receiving ketamine as anesthesia during modified ECT required significantly fewer sessions to achieve remission and showed faster improvement on depression rating scales compared to those receiving thiopentone anesthesia. The ketamine group also needed lower stimulus intensity and had longer seizure duration. Ketamine anesthesia appears to be a better option when rapid response to ECT is desired.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
January 29, 2023
Jahnavis Kedare, Sachin Pradeep Baliga, Adnanm Kadiani
6 citations
Dissociative disorders are common in Indian emergency departments, most often presenting as dissociative motor disorders, convulsions, or possession states. Prevalence in outpatient settings ranges from 1.5 to 15 per 1000, and in inpatient settings from 1.5 to 11.6 per 1000. Assessment is challenging because symptoms can mimic medical conditions; a detailed history, mental state examination, and targeted investigations are essential. Management focuses on ensuring safety, reducing acute symptoms through reassurance and a calm environment, and arranging follow-up. The Indian Psychiatric Society provides guidelines tailored to emergency settings, emphasizing the need to rule out organic causes and address concurrent psychiatric conditions such as depression or suicide risk.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
July 1, 2016
Sravanti L. Sanivarapu
4 citations
Buddhism, originating in India, emphasizes cultivating a healthy mind. Modern psychiatry incorporates Buddhist concepts, particularly mindfulness from the Satipatthana Sutta, into therapies such as Gestalt practice, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Evidence supports mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it can be effective in chronic and terminal illnesses. Mindfulness is an effective therapeutic technique that can also promote positive mental health in healthy individuals.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
July 1, 2022
Gokul Raj
3 citations
An online survey of 49 Indian psychedelic users found LSD was the most popular substance (93.9%), followed by psilocybin mushrooms (75.5%) and DMT (36.7%). The average age of first use was 22.4 years. Most participants (75.5%) researched the substance beforehand, and the main reasons for trying psychedelics were personality development (38.7%), curiosity (36.7%), and spiritual reasons (30.6%). Mystical Experience Questionnaire scores averaged 117 out of 150, indicating profound mystical experiences. Challenging experiences included heart racing, crying, isolation, and fear. Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder occurred in 4.08% of the sample. The authors note that established questionnaires may not fully capture subjective experiences in an Indian context, calling for more qualitative research.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
January 1, 2022
Ravi Prakash Sharma, Ram Kumar Solanki, Suresh Gupta et al.
People with trance and possession types of dissociative disorder report stronger spiritual beliefs than those with other types. Among 44 participants diagnosed with dissociative disorder according to ICD-10 criteria, those with trance and possession disorder scored significantly higher on the Spirituality Involvement and Belief Scale compared to those with dissociative disorder not otherwise specified, amnesia, and motor types. Scores were also higher than for convulsion and mixed types, though not statistically significant. The core spirituality factor was especially elevated in the trance and possession group. The findings suggest that spiritual beliefs differ across dissociative disorder subtypes and may help clarify psychopathological aspects of these conditions.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
March 1, 2025
Tathagata Mahintamani, Diptadhi Mukherjee, Debasish Basu
A narrative review of research from 2014 to 2024 updates understanding of cannabis and psychopathology. The association between cannabis and psychosis is robustly established, especially for very high-potency cannabis and vulnerable populations like young people. Cannabis withdrawal syndrome is better characterized. Links between cannabis and mood disorders, suicidality, and cognitive impairment are better characterized, though questions remain. Liberalizing policies on cannabis have produced findings on prenatal and accidental cannabis use with deleterious effects on offspring and mixed findings on later psychopathology, with a documented increase in emergency visits related to recent cannabis use.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
March 1, 2022
Jassar Abdul Jabbar, A. Ayyappan
Psychedelic research, which began in Western countries in the 1930s, was halted by a global ban due to widespread use and side effects. The 21st century has seen renewed interest in this area. This presentation reviews the history of psychedelic research, the reasons for the ban, the neurobiological mechanisms of psychedelics, potential treatments currently under investigation, and future directions.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
July 1, 1994
D. Basu, A. Malhotra, V. Varma
Cannabis use is associated with several psychiatric syndromes, but the nature of these associations remains unclear. This paper discusses cannabis intoxication, 'cannabis psychosis,' and related conditions such as flashbacks and prolonged depersonalization. The controversial link between cannabis and schizophrenia is noted, and various methodological issues in clinical cannabis research are highlighted.