Opioid Epidemiology in Pakistan Nationwide, one per cent of the population –over one million people– were estimated to be regular opiate (heroin or opium) users. The majority (80 per cent) use heroin, while one-third (33 per cent) use opium. Opium users were slightly older (mean age 38.2, standard deviation 10.1 years) than heroin users (mean age 33.8, standard deviation 9.4 years), and more likely to live in rural environments whereas heroin users live in cities. Two-thirds of opium users and one- third of heroin users were married, and while opium users mostly live in a home (84 per cent), nearly forty per cent of heroin users living in a park/road, shrine, or a location other than a home. A daily heroin habit in Pakistan is estimated to cost between 1.50 and 3.00 USD, yet only 6.5 per cent of heroin users are employed full time. To earn money, one-third report donating/selling blood, and forty per cent report exchanging sex for drugs or money. Opiate users also often beg for money ...

IMPORTANT MOOD DISORDER TOPICS LEARN FOR THE FCPS-2 EXAM Learn the differential diagnosis of depression, dysthymia, stupor,   psychotic depression.   Outline the assessment and treatment of these conditions.   Assess treatment resistance   Enlist or identify risk factors (dysthymia, depression)   Investigate stupor, depression with organic findings Treatment options for refractory depression   Use of lithium in depression   Relevant guidelines, recommendations for depression Patient education about depression and antidepressants Antidepressant response   Association of depression with medical conditions Depression in pregnancy   Lithium (extensively tested from several aspects including risks and benefits used in pregnancy and lactation, predictors of response, efficacy in various conditions, mechanisms/causes of loss of efficacy in the long-term, etc. Take-home message >> wherever you see a line, a para, a topic about lithium REA...

Behavioural Treatments For PTSD  Prolonged Exposure  Introduction Prolonged exposure is a manual-guided CBT comprising ten, sixty-to-ninety-minute weekly individual therapy sessions. We can explain the central therapeutic component of prolonged exposure on "Pavlovian learning theory."  Approach The treatment involves repeatedly presenting a conditioned stimulus (e.g., a trauma reminder) in the absence of an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., the traumatic event). They do this through imaginal exposure during therapy sessions and through in vivo exposure in the environment.  Evidence On average, prolonged exposure proves robust symptom severity improvement.  Cognitive Processing  Introduction Another manual-guided cognitive behavioural modality that has received strong empirical support to treat PTSD is cognitive processing therapy.  Approach Cognitive processing therapy comprises twelve weekly, 60-minute individual sessions.   This therapy involves...

Step 1: First obtain a complete history (to confirm that lithium is indicated and suitable, there is no contraindication, identify whether the patient is taking any medications that interact with lithium, likely to adhere to treatment and the protocol) Step 2: Physical examination especially blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI, and thyroid examination Step 3: Laboratory investigations especially TFTs, eGFR, ECG if needed, and in women of childbearing age, a pregnancy test. Serum calcium is also desirable. Step 4: Education of the patient about the effects, side effects, the need for strict adherence, the risk of toxicity, signs of toxicity, and conditions that increase the risk of toxicity (in a way that generates a realistic and balanced view of the risks and advantages). Provide written materials Step 5: Start lithium OD200mg or 400mg. Aim for a plasma level of 0.4 to 0.8 mmol/L initially. Step 6: Check plasma level after a week, then every two weeks until the plasma level is sta...

In multi-axial diagnosis, a patient’s problems are viewed within a broader context, which includes clinical diagnosis, assessment of disability, and psychosocial factors. In ICD-10, multi-axial diagnoses are made along three axes, as follows: Axis I: clinical diagnoses This includes all disorders, both psychiatric and physical, including learning disability and personality disorders.  Axis II: disabilities Conceptualized in line with WHO definitions of impairments, disabilities, and handicaps, this covers a number of specific areas of functioning that are rated on a scale of 0–5 (‘no disability’ to ‘gross disability’): Personal care: personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, etc. Occupation: expected functioning in paid activities, studying, homemaking, etc. Family and household: participation in family life. Functioning in a broader social context: participation in the wider community, including contact with friends, leisure, and other social activities.  Axis III: contextual fa...

Neurotransmitters Impairments in Depression Depression involves impairments in the following neurotransmitters: Serotonin:  It has reduced levels in synaptic space. Glutamate: it has decreased levels in the anterior brain region. Dopamine: there are complex changes in dopaminergic neurotransmitters; we may say it impairs dopaminergic neurotransmitters.  What does the Monoamine Hypothesis of Depression posit? It posits an imbalance in the monoamine neurotransmitters causes depression.  What kind of monoamine neurotransmitter imbalance causes depression? A decrease What are the monoamine neurotransmitters impairments in patients with depression? Nor-adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine What was noticed in the 1950s? Drugs that decreased monoamine neurotransmitters caused symptoms like depressive disorder What are the characteristics associated with nor-adrenaline? Sleeping, energy, motivation, emotion Characteristics of serotonin? Mood control, sleeping, hunger What other job ...