Publications by authors named "Gopalkrishna Gururaj"

Objective: Youths represent a significant portion of the population in Karnataka, India. However, a closer look at their health paints a worrying picture. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, researchers conducted a study in the Kolar district to assess the prevalence of health-impacting behaviours among this age group.

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Alcohol taxation is a key policy to reduce consumption and alcohol harm but evidence on tax design and indicators to assess taxation policy are lacking. Tax design and two indicators: tax as a share of lowest retail price and affordability, were investigated in eight high-income and nine middle-income jurisdictions. Collaborators populated the International Alcohol Control (IAC) study online Alcohol Policy Tool, providing measures of tax design, tax rates; and typical lowest prices available for retail take-away alcohol.

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Background: The alcohol industry uses many of the tobacco industry's strategies to influence policy-making, yet unlike the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there is no intergovernmental guidance on protecting policies from alcohol industry influence. Systematic assessment of alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards is also lacking. Here, we aimed to identify the nature and extent of industry penetration in a cross-section of jurisdictions.

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Introduction: Substance-use disorders (SUDs) are a public health problem. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provide evidence of high usage. Hence, the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) WB data were analyzed to estimate the prevalence, pattern, disability burden, and service utilization of SUD.

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Background & objectives Injuries profoundly impact global health, with substantial deaths and disabilities, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper presents strategic consensus from the Transdisciplinary Research, Advocacy, and Implementation Network for Trauma in India (TRAIN Trauma India) symposium, advocating for enhanced, system-level trauma care to address this challenge. Methods Five working groups conducted separate literature reviews on pre-hospital trauma care, in-hospital trauma resuscitation and training, trauma systems, trauma registries, and India's Towards Improving Trauma Care Outcomes (TITCO) registry.

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Introduction: Amid the ongoing Non-Communicable Disease and COVID-19 pandemic, understanding prevalence and characteristics associated with work stress is vital from a health and economic perspective, more so among information technology (IT) professionals.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with work stress among IT professionals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Bengaluru, India.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken on a convenient sample of 356 IT professionals in Bengaluru, India, between September 2020 and March 2021 to assess work stress.

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Background: Psychiatric disorders are among the leading contributors to disability in India and worldwide. The pattern, prevalence, and distribution of psychiatric disorders in the country and its regions need to be assessed to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. No study on the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders has been conducted in the Chhattisgarh state.

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Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs) have a higher prevalence among women in their reproductive age (WRA) compared to the general population. Large Indian epidemiological studies focusing on the prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of CMDs among WRA are lacking. The associated disability and treatment gap particularly in the women population is unknown.

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Background: Disability associated with mental illness has a disproportionate impact on the work, social, and family responsibilities of an individual toward society. The evidence for disability in mental illnesses would help the clinician, caregivers, policymakers, and various stakeholders to come up with sustainable solutions not only to help fill the existing gaps in care but also to develop new avenues as per the specific needs of the population of Madhya Pradesh (MP).

Aim: To estimate the burden of disability related to mental illnesses in the state of MP.

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Article Synopsis
  • PTSD is a chronic mental health condition linked to major distress, with global prevalence ranging from 3.9% to 24%, but significantly under-researched in India.
  • The National Mental Health Survey 2015-2016, involving over 39,000 individuals, found a low PTSD prevalence of just 0.2% in India, influenced by factors like female gender, middle age, and urban living.
  • The study highlights challenges in accurately diagnosing PTSD in India due to cultural factors and stigma, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment approaches and better awareness.
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Introduction: Panic disorder (PD) is one of the most common and debilitating anxiety disorder. Individuals with PD seek frequent healthcare and emergency services leading to frequent work absenteeism and economic burden. However, its prevalence patterns in the Indian context are poorly understood.

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Article Synopsis
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common yet under-researched anxiety disorder, and the study aims to provide epidemiological data from India’s National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2016 to understand its prevalence and impact.
  • The survey found that the weighted prevalence of GAD is 0.57%, with higher odds in urban, married individuals, and those with comorbid conditions like depression.
  • The study highlights a significant treatment gap of 75.7% for GAD, indicating that a large number of affected individuals are not receiving adequate care.*
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Introduction: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders represent a significant global health concern, contributing significantly to the global burden of disease. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) of India, conducted between 2015 and 2016, investigated the prevalence and epidemiological correlates of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in India.

Materials And Methods: The NMHS conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in 12 Indian states from 2015 to 2016, encompassing 34,802 adults.

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Background And Aims: There is no data on the treatment gap and health care utilization for mental disorders from Punjab. The present study reports on the same by using the data collected during the National Mental Health Survey.

Settings And Design: Multisite, multistage, stratified, random cluster sampling study conducted in four districts, namely Faridkot, Moga, Patiala, and Ludhiana (for urban metro areas).

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The National Mental Health Survey of India (NMHS) was a ground-breaking nationwide study that harnessed a uniform, standardized methodology blending quantitative and qualitative approaches. Covering data from 12 states across diverse regions, its mission was to gauge the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, bridge treatment gaps, explore service utilization, and gauge the socioeconomic repercussions of these conditions. This initiative provided pivotal insights into the intricate landscape of mental health in India.

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Article Synopsis
  • West Bengal, with a population of over 91 million, participated in the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 to assess mental health issues within the state.
  • The study found that 13.07% of individuals in West Bengal have mental disorders, surpassing the national average of 10.56%, with a notably higher prevalence of severe mental illness and suicide risk, especially in rural areas.
  • Alcohol use disorder and epilepsy rates in West Bengal were lower than the national average, indicating unique regional trends in mental health prevalence.
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Background: A staggering 85% of the global population resides in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs). India stands as an exemplary pioneer in the realm of mental health initiatives among LAMICs, having launched its National Mental Health Program in 1982. It is imperative to effectively evaluate mental health systems periodically to cultivate a dynamic learning model sustained through continuous feedback from mental healthcare structures and processes.

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Background: The National Mental Health Survey was borne out of the felt need for a comprehensive epidemiological survey on mental health to understand the magnitude of psychiatric morbidities in India to aid in mental health policymaking, service planning, and delivery. Kerala was one of the 12 surveyed states, representing southern India.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence and pattern of various mental illnesses and substance use disorders in a representative sample from Kerala state.

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Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also termed as social phobia, is a disabling psychiatric condition with limited epidemiological research on it in India. This study, using data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2016, is the first to explore its current prevalence and associated factors in India.

Materials And Methods: The NMHS in India used a comprehensive population-based study with subjects selected through a multistage stratified random cluster sampling technique across 12 states.

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Background: The lifetime prevalence of mental morbidity in Assam is estimated at 8% (NMHS 2015-16). Understanding the distribution patterns of different types of mental disorders among persons with mental morbidity in different districts would facilitate evidence-driven district mental health programming in Assam. Given the varied socio-geopolitical situation across districts in Assam, significant variations in the distribution of mental disorders are expected.

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Background: Existing psychiatric epidemiological studies from Tamil Nadu with methodological limitations and variations had under-reported the prevalence of mental morbidity. Robust data from a representative population-based epidemiological study are not readily available to guide mental health programs in Tamil Nadu.

Aim: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, correlates, and treatment gap of mental morbidity in the state of Tamil Nadu using data from National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) of India, 2015-2016.

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Introduction: Encephalitis is a major public health problem worldwide that causes huge emotional and economic loss to humanity. Encephalitis, being a serious illness, affects people of all ages. The aim is to describe the sociodemographic, clinical, etiological, and neuroimaging profile among 101 acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) patients visiting a tertiary neuro-specialty care hospital in India.

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Background: Youth are consideren to be most vulnerable to health and lifestyle issues (HLS) in India. The current study aims to investigate the factors that contribute to health and lifestyle issues among youth attending mental health promotion clinics (YMHP) in Karnataka.

Method: Three-year first-visit data from beneficiaries (aged 15-35 years) attending YMHP clinics in Karnataka between 2017 and 2020 were analyzed.

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Background Objectives: In Himachal Pradesh (HP), a comprehensive health survey was conducted to assess the prevalent health affecting habits and issues among young individuals aged 10 to 24 yr. The study was aimed to evaluate key factors such as nutrition, substance use (including tobacco and alcohol), mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, sexual behaviours and personal hygiene, as well as incidents of violence and injury (including road traffic and other injuries).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in HP on 2895 individuals aged between 10 and 24 yr.

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