NIMHANS launches Yoga-based Extension Services in community intervention programmes
YES, will be a six-session, once a month face-to-face programme whenever a patient comes to the Primary Health Centre/hospital for a follow-up, for a 30-45 minute duration. Brochures/videos depicting yoga practice with instructions in the local language will be provided to encourage daily practice at home. Indian Council of Medical Research director-general Rajiv Bahl, NIMHANS director Pratima Murthy and National Medical Commission chairperson B.N. Gangadhar launched the YES programme on Tuesday.
'We expect to observe improvement in symptom severity, disability, social cognition, socio-occupational functioning, and well-being over six months, along with delivery and fidelity (support and challenges) of YES,' said Aarti Jagannathan, principal investigator of YES project and additional professor of Psychiatric Social Work at NIMHANS.
Schizophrenia patients
The Community Intervention Psychotic Disorders programme in Thirthahalli was started in June 2005 with research grants under the National Mental Health Programme. Since then, NIMHANS team has been examining clinically relevant research questions among these representative, community-dwelling schizophrenia patients.
In addition to studying this cohort scientifically, the team has also been providing regular clinical services to these underserved patients. 'Nearly two-thirds of these patients were out-of-treatment, and our team has provided services to them at their doorsteps – while most receive follow-up care in their nearest primary health centres, a substantial proportion of patients are seen in their homes,' she said.
Till date, 400 schizophrenia patients have been identified and are being treated and followed up regularly. Apart from these, thousands of patients with other neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions are being treated.
The Turuvekere intervention programme was started in December 2009. 'Like in Thirthahalli, our team aimed to identify and treat all patients with schizophrenia in the taluk. Till date, 325 patients with schizophrenia have been identified, treated, and are being followed up. The total number of patients with other psychiatric disorders is over 2,000,' the doctor explained.
'Yoga as a culturally appropriate intervention is found to be effective in improving the physical, mental health and well-being of persons with mental disorders in India. We wish to address this important clinical, public health and research gap through YES,' she said.
The event also marked the International Yoga Day 2025 month, as well as for celebrating over 15 years of community mental health service at Tirthahalli and Turuvekere, she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
2 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Seshadripuram Public School embraces yoga
Seshadripuram Public School observed International Yoga Day through school performances and participation in a neighbourhood yoga event at Allasandra. Under the guidance of instructors, students practised asanas, pranayama, and meditation, spreading awareness about holistic health.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
No link between Covid vaccine and sudden cardiac arrest in young people: AIIMS Delhi study finds
There is no link between the Covid-19 vaccine and deaths in young people from cardiac arrest, claimed an ongoing study being conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi. These deaths were attributed to coronary artery disease (CHD) linked to poor lifestyle choices. These preliminary findings are part of an interim report based on a study, titled 'Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young', which AIIMS is conducting in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research. On Thursday, doctors involved in the study said the cause of death among the young population was CHD. Addressing the risk factor around Covid vaccination, Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor of Community Medicine, said there was a huge benefit from vaccination. 'A certain risk is always present, which is why we do a risk and benefit analysis before starting any vaccination,' he added. Dr Rai was the principal investigator of the vaccine safety (phases 1 & 2) and effectiveness (phase 3) trial at AIIMS. Dr Abhishek Yadav, Professor of Forensic Medicine, said the study began in 2023 with a sample size of 300 medico-legal cases of sudden deaths. Post-mortems in these cases were conducted in the AIIMS Forensic Medicine Department. 'These were people between the ages of 18 and 45 years and 45 and 60 years… almost all of them had taken the Covid vaccine,' he said. Dr Sudheer Arava, Professor, Department of Pathology, who was involved in the study, said the biggest problem was coronary artery disease — more than 50% of those who died of the disease had a history of alcohol consumption and smoking. Almost all of them had evidence of the Covid-19 vaccine — either a single, double or booster dose. Explaining how they arrived at the findings, Dr Yadav said, 'These were people between the ages of 18 and 45 years and 45 and 60 years… almost all of them had taken the Covid vaccine. We first did a verbal autopsy where we noted down the patient's detailed history, stress, habits, etc. We then did a virtual autopsy and later a traditional autopsy, where we investigated every organ in the body. We then did a histopathological analysis of organs with the help of microscopy.' 'We examined every organ along with the forensic department and did whole body scans, whole body examinations… So any of the secondary causes we would have picked up might have caused the death of these people,' added Dr Arava. Dr Arava further said two-thirds of cardiovascular causes were atherosclerosis (plaque buildup inside the arteries). 'The less common causes were congenital heart problems, the heart vessels not being straight, the original vessels being small, and heart infections. All these problems were in less than 5% of the total sample size,' he added. He further said, looking at the pattern of deaths, there is no difference between the pre-Covid era and the post-Covid era. 'Vaccination has no role to play. The sudden deaths were happening pre-Covid too. The only thing that changed is that we have become more aware.' Dr Ambuj Roy, Professor, Cardiology, who was a part of the study, said vaccines act as a protective factor against cardiac complications of Covid. They reduced venous thrombosis or clotting in veins by 80%, arterial clotting, which leads to heart and brain attacks, by 50% and also reduced heart failure by 50%. According to Dr Rajiv Narang, Professor and Head, Cardiology, the risk factors include smoking, which is easily preventable. 'In the maximum number of heart attack cases where we have to conduct angioplasty, smoking was the most common factor. The other risks are diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, psychosocial stress which leads to abnormal hormone release, and abdominal obesity. Protective factors include exercising regularly and consuming fruits and vegetables,' he said. In the next part of the ongoing study, a molecular-level analysis will be done to find any connection between vaccines and deaths. 'We will analyse any mutation or variation on the molecular level, if any,' said Dr Arava.
NDTV
7 hours ago
- NDTV
No Clear Link Between Covid Vaccine And Sudden Cardiac Arrest Deaths: Delhi AIIMS
New Delhi: A day after the Indian Council of Medical Research debunked claims of the Corona vaccine being responsible for the rising death cases among the youth, a panel of expert doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences addressed the issue. According to Associate Professor Dr Karan Madan, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, AIIMS Delhi, a study was conducted on sudden cardiac arrests to review the COVID-19 vaccines used so far, following which "no clear association was found with sudden cardiac deaths." Dr Madan mentioned that COVID vaccines were effective and they played a crucial role in reducing the mortality of the Coronavirus. He stated that during any pandemic, vaccines are the only possible measures to save lives and the benefits provided by them are immense. "COVID vaccines were effective vaccines and they played a crucial role in reducing the mortality. During the pandemic, vaccines are the only possible measure to save lives. Vaccines were used on a large number of people, and they provided a lot of benefits in preventing excess mortality. The benefits provided by the vaccines are immense. A study was done on sudden cardiac deaths to review the vaccines used so far, but no clear association was found with sudden cardiac deaths", Dr Karan Madan said during the press briefing. Meanwhile, another expert doctor from the panel, Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, informed that the efficacy of the Covishield vaccine is 62.1. He noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) approved 12 vaccines out of which the majority were made from different technologies. He mentioned that Covishield uses a vector that is an "adenovirus". Dr Rai asserted that more than 13 billion doses have already been administered worldwide. There are countries like the US, which have just completed the fourth dose. "The Covishield vaccine efficacy was there are 37 vaccines already approved by various regulatory authorities. The WHO has approved around 12 vaccines, and the majority of these vaccines are based on different technologies. If you see Covaxin, it's an old uses a vector that is an other vaccine, Sputnik, almost the same than 13 billion doses have already been administered all over the world. There are countries like, the US, they have just completed fourth dose. The WHO is also recommending that everybody six months and above must get vaccine with the newer variant", Dr Rai said.
