Indian Journal of Medical Psychiatry

Introduction: HIV/AIDS remains a significant global health challenge, with stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) persisting despite medical advances. Nurses play a crucial role in HIV care, but their attitudes can impact the quality of care. Assessing nursing students’ attitudes toward PLWHA is vital, as these future healthcare providers’ perceptions influence compassionate care delivery. This study evaluated nursing students’ attitudes using the Nurses’ Attitude about HIV/AIDS Scale-Version 2 and examined associations with socio-demographic factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 undergraduate nursing students at Mamata Nursing College from November 2024 to March 2025. Participants completed a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic data and the attitude scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to assess relationships between attitudes and demographics. Ethical approval was obtained, and participation was voluntary. Results: The sample was predominantly female (94.2%) with a mean age of 19.37 years. Most students showed generally positive attitudes toward PLWHA, with some exhibiting moderate attitudes. Chi-square analyses found no significant associations between attitudes and socio-demographic variables, except a nearsignificant trend related to education level (p = 0.054), with third-year students showing slightly more moderate attitudes. Conclusion: Nursing students generally hold positive attitudes toward PLWHA, but education level may influence perceptions. Findings suggest that demographic factors alone do not predict attitudes, highlighting the need for curriculum enhancements focusing on experiential learning, stigma reduction, and empathy training to foster compassionate care for PLWHA.

Background: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among elderly individuals, particularly those residing in institutional settings such as old age homes. Social isolation, loss of autonomy, and reduced family interaction contribute significantly to psychological distress in this population. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of supportive psychotherapy in reducing depression among elderly residents of a selected old-age home. Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental one-group pre-test & post-test study was conducted among 50 elderly residents with depressive symptoms in an old age home in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Depression levels were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-Long Form) before and after a 42-day supportive psychotherapy intervention consisting of individual counselling, group discussions, recreational activities, and activity therapy. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and chi-square test. Results: The mean depression score significantly decreased from 16.49 ± 2.38 (pretest) to 12.11 ± 2.02 (post-test) (t = 38.54, p <0.001). Before intervention, 90% of participants had mild depression, and 10% had moderate-to-severe depression, whereas after intervention, 32% achieved normal mood, 66% had mild depression, and only 2% had moderate-to-severe depression. Conclusion: Supportive psychotherapy is an effective, low-cost nonpharmacological intervention for reducing depression among institutionalized elderly individuals. Integrating structured psychosocial interventions into geriatric care settings can significantly improve mental health outcomes.

Background: Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety, and stress, yet predictors in low-resource settings remain underexplored. Objectives: To compare psychological distress between ADS patients and controls, and identify demographic, clinical, and alcohol-related predictors. Methods: In this case-control study, 162 male ADS patients and 162 age and sex-matched controls were included, with their informed consent. Patients were admitted to the Psychiatry ward of a tertiary care hospital. A self-made sociodemographic data sheet, the MAST, the HDBQ, and the DASS were administered to all subjects. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale was administered to the alcohol dependent patients after two weeks of abstinence in the hospital. Statistical analyses were performed using the t-test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: ADS patients had significantly higher scores on anxiety (12.43±3.34 vs. 6.04±2.35, p<0.001), depression (11.96±3.88 vs. 5.57±2.20, p<0.001), and stress (14.01±3.77 vs. 6.35±3.02, p<0.001) than the normal control group. Regression identified stress, anxiety, duration, age, marital status, HDBQ, and FHADS as depression predictors. Depression, age, stress, MAST scores, and education were the positive predictors of anxiety. Depression and anxiety were positive predictors, while duration was a significant negative predictor of stress.Conclusion: Alcohol dependence is associated with significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress compared to normal control subjects. Prolonged ADS duration and genetic loading predict distress, urging integrated screening in India.

Internet-derived information obstruction treatment (IDIOT) syndrome is an emerging behavioural phenomenon in the digital era, characterized by patients altering or discontinuing prescribed treatment based on unverified online health information. Closely associated with cyberchondria and health anxiety, this condition has significant implications for healthcare delivery. This review synthesizes current literature on the concept, causes, clinical features, and impact of IDIOT syndrome on nursing services. Evidence suggests that the increasing reliance on internet-based health information contributes to self-medication, treatment non-adherence, and mistrust in healthcare professionals, thereby increasing the burden on nursing services and affecting patient outcomes.

Background: Late-onset mania, typically defined as onset after the age of 60 years, is rare and frequently associated with secondary organic, neurological, or metabolic causes. Primary bipolar disorder presenting for the first time in late life poses diagnostic challenges and requires careful evaluation. Case Presentation: This report discusses a 73-year-old male with no past psychiatric or significant medical history who developed a first-episode manic presentation characterized by irritability, elevated mood, grandiosity, increased psychomotor activity, and reduced need for sleep. Extensive laboratory investigations and neuroimaging were normal. The patient was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, type I, current episode manic with psychotic symptoms (ICD-11). He responded well to low-dose atypical antipsychotics and remained stable at follow-up. Conclusion: This case emphasizes the need for systematic evaluation of late-onset manic symptoms to differentiate primary bipolar disorder from secondary causes. Awareness of such presentations supports early diagnosis and tailored geriatric psychopharmacology.