Over the past few years, I have seen a remarkable increase in the number of MBBS seats in medical institutions across India. With this precipitous rise, the competition for the PG entrance exams has intensified significantly. It is now fairly common to see medical students starting their preparations for the entrance exams right from the […]
EDITORIALS
Looking Inwards to Close the Mental Health Treatment Gap – By Dr. Priyash Jain
At any given time, one in ten adults in India experiences one or more mental health conditions. Despite this significant burden, the self-reported treatment gap as per the National Mental Health Survey 2016 remains alarmingly high at 84.5%. The treatment gap is highest for substance use disorders (91%, excluding tobacco use disorder) and lowest for […]
Gleanings from IToP National Conference
The medical field finds itself in a new landscape today. Patients do not just want to be diagnosed and prescribed for the illnesses they have. They want to be heard, understood, and engaged with as a human being. And nowhere is this paradigm shift more palpable than in Psychiatry. With this broader theme in mind, […]
Editorial – A New Chapter
As we reflect on how psychiatry has evolved over the decades, the story of schizophrenia offers a poignant example. Our understanding of the disorder has come a long way since late 19th century when Emil Kraepelin first suggested the term Dementia Praecox to denote the disorder. Not much later in the early 20th Century, Eugene […]
Adolescents and the toxic-echo-chamber of the cyberworld.
Volume 14 Issues 2 February, 2024 January 1, 1983, marks the official birthday of the Internet. As I write this, about 70% of the world’s population uses the Internet, and nearly half is engaged in social media. The digital world’s rapid growth is alarming, especially among youth. According to UNICEF, nearly 71% of the online […]
The Hidden Caffeine
Editorial Volume 14 Issues 1 January, 2024 Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world. The recently launched ICD – 11 (International Classification of Diseases) includes a dedicated section on disorders due to caffeine use under the broader category of disorders related to substance use. While caffeine dependence is not yet included […]
A guide of psychological support to military and paramilitary workers.
Volume 13 Issues 12 December, 2023 Military personnel from all nations routinely face challenging situations during their duty. Strong leadership and camaraderie are crucial for maintaining psychological resilience. While most manage these effectively, some inevitably experience distress, and a smaller proportion may develop mental health issues. Military success depends not only on superior firepower and […]
The Rise of the Vapes
Volume 13 Issues 11 November, 2023 Fast forward to the early 2000s, the first modern e-cigarette devices began to emerge, and by the 2010s, various brands had flooded the market. Vaping, defined as using a handheld electronic device to inhale a mist (or “vapor”) into the lungs, became increasingly popular. The landmark 1964 Surgeon General’s […]
Guest Editorial: Respecting a Woman’s “No”: A Fundamental Principle of Consent
Volume 13 Issues 10 October, 2023 In contemporary society, the importance of consent has gained significant recognition, particularly in discussions surrounding gender dynamics and interpersonal relationships. Central to the concept of consent is the understanding that a woman’s “no” must be respected unequivocally. This principle is not merely a guideline; it is a fundamental aspect […]
What you sow, so shall you reap: from micro to macro economy of medical education.
Volume 13 Issues 9 September, 2023 Opening a medical college in India costs 700 crore to 1000 crore, depending on the city and the area. While government colleges offer subsidised undergraduate medical education at around Rs 5 lakh for MBBS, the lowest fee for the complete course in any private college is over Rs 70 […]