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Biomedical subjects

P S Gopinath

Publications and source records attributed to P S Gopinath.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

A comparative study of thought disorder in acute and chronic schizophrenia.

A differential phenomenological study of acute and chronic schizophrenia is scanty. Thought disorder was assessed in 22 acute and 23 chronic schizophrenics. The scale for the assessment of thought, language and communication was used. Poverty of speech was significantly more frequent in acute schizophrenia. Positive formal thought disorder was unusually found to be severer in chronic schizophrenia. No other significant difference was found. From the perspective of thought disorder, acute and chronic forms of schizophrenia seem to be in a continuum with minimal difference.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Thought disorder and its correlation with clinicodemographic variables in schizophrenia.

The correlation of clinical and demographic variables of thought disorder was studied in 45 Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) schizophrenics. Thought disorder was assessed by the scale for the assessment of Thought, Language and Communication (TLC). Negative thought disorder was significantly correlated with the rural background. Individual TLC items like Distractible speech, Illogicality, Clanging, Neologisms, etc. were correlated with the literate group and perseveration with the illiterate group. No significant correlation was noted between thought disorder and clinical variables.

Educational Status↗
PubMed1992

Distressing behaviour of schizophrenics at home.

The care of mentally ill people at home is being encouraged nowadays. As a result, the family members feel an increased burden of care and find it difficult to cope with the care of a schizophrenic patient at home. We interviewed the relatives of 62 schizophrenics systematically regarding the behaviour of the patients that was perceived to be distressful. This was done using the Scale for Assessment of Family Distress. It was noted that behaviours related to activity and self-care were perceived to be most distressful, and not aggressive or psychotic behaviour. Distress was more often reported by younger relatives and those with more education. The findings have implications in planning appropriate family intervention methods.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

A study of thought disorder in paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenia.

Thought disorder was studied in 21 paranoid and 24 non-paranoid schizophrenics fulfilling the research diagnostic criteria using the Thought, Language and Communication Scale. Chronic paranoid schizophrenics more often had tangentiality. Other thought disorders were similar in paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Scale for Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication in psychotic in-patients.

The reliability and usefulness of the Scale for Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication was evaluated in a group of psychotic in-patients. A very high interrater reliability (0.75-1.0) and an optimum rate-rerate reliability (0.50-1.0) were found on the individual items of the scale as well as the global rating. Since the scale has a good scope in different clinical and research settings, it was necessary to evaluate its reliability at a place other than where it originated. This study confirms its usefulness in the field of both clinical practice and research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Controlled study of alexithymic characteristics in patients with psychogenic pain disorder.

Alexithymic characteristics were examined in a sample of 30 patients fulfilling the DSM-III criteria for psychogenic pain disorder using an interviewer-rated scale (Beth Israel Hospital Psychosomatic Questionnaire), a self-rated scale (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and a projective technique (Thematic Apperception Test). The findings were compared with a control group of healthy subjects matched on sociodemographic variables. Pain patients were found to be more alexithymic in contrast to the control group as evidenced by the interviewer-rated and self-rated scales. The correlations among the three measures were in the expected direction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Deficits of chronic schizophrenia in relation to long-term hospitalization.

Eighty chronic schizophrenic and 16 manic-depressive psychotic patients conforming to Research Diagnostic Criteria were examined in terms of their mental state, cognitive functioning, current behaviour, and neurological status. They comprised out-patients, day-care patients, and long-stay in-patients belonging to two mental hospitals with different social conditions. Assessed deficits were not significantly related to record variables such as age, duration of illness, duration of hospitalisation, or treatment received. Analysis of the different groups of patients reveals that long-term hospital care has had little effect on the deficits of chronic schizophrenia, and suggests that these are integral features of the disease process.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Walk-in clinic drop-outs.

Data were collected among 159 consecutive new patients in a walk-in clinic. Patients were given an appointment for a subsequent visit after the initial clinical diagnostic interview, and 61% completed their referral. A long waiting list and a diagnosis of depressive neurosis were significantly associated with drop-out. Possible forms of follow-up are suggested.

Adult↗