Indian Journal of Medical Psychiatry

Modern science has addressed the issues concerned with the functioning of the human brain in the personal, social and to an extent in the global contexts. Centuries of efforts in understanding the functioning of human brain have merely provided a basic understanding of about 1% of the human brain. More importantly, the ‘cosmic context’ of its functioning that is richly discussed in the indic scriptures is neither defined nor explored by the current day science. This aspect of human experience, hitherto condemned as abnormal by modern science, may provide vital clues in unraveling the secrets of human brain and its behavior. Modern science postulates that Human brain is like any typical engine with a limited energy at its disposal. The entropy inherent in its functioning leads to irrevocable loss of energy that has to be replenished. The process of replenishment can be natural rest, forced rest or medication that reduces or slows down the brain functioning. The indic scriptures profess that it is possible for the human brain to attain a state called “consciousness” wherein it has an unlimited energy at its disposal. An understanding of this human phenomenon has eluded many scientists and it may be the unexpected science to come in the new millennium. Several methodologies vividly portrayed in the indic scriptures enable an individual to attain this highly coveted state of functioning of the brain. ‘Kundalini Yoga’ is one such methodology. The practitioner of this yoga is called a ‘sadhaka’. Indic scriptures pertaining to this yoga provide graphic descriptions of several ‘mysterious’ experiences that could be encountered by the sadhaka. Lack of scientific basis coupled with gross mis­interpretation and misuse of the descriptions by quacks has condemned many aspects of this yoga into the realms of ‘mysticism’ and obnoxious cults. This article is an attempt to provide a rational view for several mysterious experiences of the practitioners of ‘Kundalini Yoga’. Some approaches to investigate such experiences using scientific methods are also suggested.

Keywords: Kundalini Yoga; Mysticism; Cosmic Context; Mantra; Music.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of internet addiction and its relationship with the personality traits in undergraduate medical students. Materials and Methods: The present study employed a descriptive, correlative method and the sample comprised 300 undergraduate medical students of Mamata Medical College, Khammam. The tools used are Internet Addiction test (IAT) designed and developed by Young and NEO­Five Factor Inventory (NEO­FFI) questionnaires. Results: Results indicated that 71.6% of medical students are addicted to internet, internet addiction is high in final year medical students and internet addiction is significantly correlated with conscientiousness. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there is high prevalence of internet addiction in medical students, so to prevent internet addiction in adolescents we should take measures like teaching and counseling them regarding the pathological effects of internet addiction and also personality screening to be done during the start of under graduation to identify the risk personalities and to counsel them from being addicted.

Keywords: Personality Traits; Internet Addiction; Medical Students.

Objective: To assess multiple facets of attraction to women and men among college students. Methodology: A sample of 150 undergraduates and postgraduates of medicine were approached at random. Participant’s wereprovided with self­administered 23 item questionnaire to assess multiple aspects of attraction to women and men. Statistical analyses were carried out and the findings were discussed by referring to relevant literature. Results: A number of 123 questionnaires were obtained from the participants after having ruled out those who did not give consent and those who filled in the forms incompletely. Physical attractions, emotional attractions and sexual fantasies have a significant positive correlation among themselves. Conclusion: There is a possibility for an individual to experience sexual and/or romantic feelings for multiple people throughout the course of a relationship.

Keywords: Attraction; Men; Women; College Students.

Background: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic and disabling condition that negatively affects quality of life (QoL) of patients with this disorder attributable to socio­demographic, clinical and illness­specific factors. Aim and Objectives: To study correlation between phenomenology and socio demographic variable and to assess QOL and its correlation with phenomenology of OCD. Place of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Psychiatry, JLN Medical College, Ajmer (Raj). Study Design: It was a cross sectional hospital based analytical study. Observation and Discussion: Male gender, lower education and unemployment were significantly associated with OCD and scores related to physical, psychological, social and environmental domains of WHOQOL BREF were significantly lower in OCD. All grades of satisfaction levels differ significantly between sub­items of 4 domains of QoL of OCD. Conclusion: The preliminary results of this study are partially comparable to international data on QoL of patients with OCD and call for a research with a larger sample in community setting.

Keywords: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Subjective Quality of Life; WHOQOL­BREF Scale.

Introduction: Mobile phones are now an important part of everyone’s life. Every person has it as it can function in terms of technology, communication, social media and many other ways. Unfortunately, the younger population are those who may be more inclined to use them, so the study looks at the prevalence of mobile use in students. Methods and Materials: Three hundred students were approached to participate in this study. A mobile use questionnaire was prepared and administered to the participants and comparison was done between males and females and age groups. Results: There were 150 males and 150 females, 100 each from school, Pre­university and undergraduate college. There was no significant gender difference among school students, as compared to PUC and college student for being uncomfortable without their phone. Both male and female students were reported of sometimes checking their phones before doing any other work. Conclusions: The patternof mobile use among the Indian school and college students is not uncommon. Hence, there is a need for awareness programme regardingpattern of mobile use so that future mobile addiction can be prevented.

Keywords: Mobile Use; Pattern; Students.