{"title":"Pericardial effusion: a rare side effect of clozapine","authors":"P. Wijesinghe, R. Jayasinghe, F. V. D. Silva","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8275","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48029008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T. Gunasekera, R. Fernando, M. Peris, K. Kuruppuarachchi, A. Hapangama
{"title":"Awareness and attitudes regarding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among patients and caregivers at a psychiatry unit in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka","authors":"T. Gunasekera, R. Fernando, M. Peris, K. Kuruppuarachchi, A. Hapangama","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8255","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a life-saving procedure in certain psychiatric conditions and is also extremely effective for treatment resistant psychiatric conditions. Despite the proven safety and efficacy there appears to be unease and stigma attached to ECT. Exploration about the awareness and attitudes regarding ECT among patients and caregivers can improve the practice of ECT.","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"11 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49640798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A financial audit on hospital costs in an inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka","authors":"J. C. Udeshika, A. Ellepola","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8227","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8227","url":null,"abstract":"Background The Sri Lankan public health care system provides free health care. Psychiatric services in the public sector have expanded over the years to reach the whole country. Currently, the cost of care per patient in a government hospital is not calculated directly. Aims To assess the total in-ward expenditure, expenditures incurred in different cost heads, average per patient cost and cost per patient day in a psychiatry unit at Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Methods A financial audit was carried out at Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura. All patients admitted for in-patient psychiatry care from 1st to 30th of September 2019 were included. Data were collected retrospectively from patient documentations and hospital accounting using a data extraction form. Results Ninety patients, 48 (53.3%) females and 42 (46.7%) males, were included in the study, with 711 in-patient days. The average length of stay was 7.9 days. The mean age was 39.8 years, ranging from 16 to 75 years, and most were married (55.6%). Schizophrenia and depressive disorder were the commonest diagnoses. The total cost per month in the psychiatry unit was LKR 3 321 050.60, with an average of LKR 110 701.70 per day. The average cost per patient per day was LKR 4 670.96. Staff wages accounted for 56.27% of the total expenses, and medications and other consumables accounted for 13.01%. Conclusions Clinicians can carry out cost analysis with data available to them. The results can be used to efficiently allocate resources from the total budget in the given institution, and to implement cost reduction plans to use limited resources effectively.","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"11 1","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46350145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PTSD presenting as possession states in children and adolescents in rural Sri Lanka: a case series","authors":"J. Herath, S. Perera","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8276","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"11 1","pages":"35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47674249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Chandradasa, C. Kuruppuarachchi, L. Rathnayake, K. Kuruppuarachchi
{"title":"Clozapine induced severe weight loss in resistant schizophrenia managed with risperidone add-on therapy","authors":"M. Chandradasa, C. Kuruppuarachchi, L. Rathnayake, K. Kuruppuarachchi","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8259","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"11 1","pages":"38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47618663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lithium: the wonder drug of psychiatry","authors":"R. Hanwella","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8272","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"11 1","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43584699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Suraweera, D. P. Yasira, V. Silva, R. Hanwella, J. Galhenage, I. Perera
{"title":"Rating scales validated for Sri Lankan populations: an update","authors":"C. Suraweera, D. P. Yasira, V. Silva, R. Hanwella, J. Galhenage, I. Perera","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8273","url":null,"abstract":"Rating scales are widely used in psychiatric practice to screen, diagnose, monitor symptoms, and for research purposes. Most scales utilized in psychiatry have been formulated in the West. Many rating scales are limited with regards to local use, as they have not been culturally adapted and validated to the Sri Lankan setting. We searched all relevant publications in journals indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar and dissertations in the Registry of Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo to identify relevant articles containing details on validation and adaption of rating scales for the Sri Lankan setting. We identified 31 scales validated for use in Sri Lanka.","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46960268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heroin Dependence in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka: A retrospective Audit","authors":"A. Ellepola","doi":"10.4038/SLJPSYC.V10I2.8204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/SLJPSYC.V10I2.8204","url":null,"abstract":"Treatment of Opioid dependence varies from one country to the other, with different national policies. Methadone tablets and syrup were available in Sri Lanka in the past. However, its’ use had been discontinued, and currently there’s only symptomatic management available for patients suffering from Opioid Dependence. Symptomatic treatment is sometimes failed due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms. \u0000 \u0000This audit done over 03 months showed treatment dropout of 38 out of 58 patients (65%). Most of the drop out patients had severe withdrawal symptoms on presentation, and had low educational attainment. Sixteen patients (27% of the sample) remained abstinent over 3 months. Rest of the 04 patients used Tramadol 50 mg, Apple (Tramadol 225 mg), Pregabaline and Heroin in lower doses to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Majority of the patients, 56 of 58 (96%), had co morbid substance use (Nicotine, Cannabis, Alcohol). Patients spent a significant proportion of their income for substances. All the patients received pharmacological treatment for withdrawal symptoms. The most distressing withdrawal symptoms were insomnia and body aches. None of the patients had the interest for psychotherapy. \u0000 \u0000The study emphasises that Heroin dependence is a very significant issue in Anuradhapura district, especially among unskilled and semiskilled workers. Availability of Methodone, Buprenorphine or Buprenorphine/ Naloxone combined pills could have a beneficial role in treating Opioid dependence in Sri Lanka. Proper management of substance related conditions and appropriate national policies and laws on drugs will have a major contribution to country’s development.","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49275403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emotional and behavioural dysregulation in children of health care workers in the frontline of COVID-19 response in Sri Lanka","authors":"L. Rathnayake, M. Chandradasa","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i1.8236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i1.8236","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41441395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychiatry amid COVID-19: the Sri Lankan experience","authors":"S. Perera, C. Suraweera","doi":"10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i1.8241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i1.8241","url":null,"abstract":"Communicable diseases however are not new and have been in existence from the pre-historic era. As far back as 430 BC, history records a disease with fever, thirst, bleeding and skin lesions that killed as much as twothirds of the world population (1). Since then, the world has survived several pandemics of plague, leprosy, smallpox, cholera and HIV/AIDS. SARS and MERS were more recent epidemics (2).","PeriodicalId":53403,"journal":{"name":"Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46803267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}