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Objective: This study is aimed to study antidepressant prescription in new cases of major depressive disorders in the Out-patient Psychiatric Department and to compare antidepressant prescription between staff and residents. Another reason was to study basic data of major depressive disorders such as incidence, response and follow - up patterns for further study. Methods: A retrospective study of new cases of major depressive disorders who came to the Out-patient Psychiatric Department from April 2003 to September 2003 (6-month period). Personal data, treatment data, as well as result and follow - up data were collected. Data were analyzed in percentage and Chi-square. Results: The incidence of major depressive disorders in the Out-patient Psychiatric Department was 5.9%. The subjects of the study consisted of 53 cases; the largest group was over 51 years old (41.5%), with females doubling the number males (66 % and 34%), most of whom were housewives (35.8%). The predominant diagnosis was major depressive disorder with no psychotic symptoms or sychosocial stress (81.1%). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or new generation antidepressants were mainly prescribed (64.2%); most of the antidepressants were in the National Drug Prescription (71.7%). About 52.8% of patients had been prescribed one co-drug treatment and the most frequently prescribed was benzodiazepine. The major pattern of antidepressant prescription was a non-adjustment dose (41.5%). Antidepressants at the therapeutic period were mostly unchanged compared to the initial period (58.5%) and were in the National Drug Prescription (54.7%). There was no statistically significant difference between staff and residents in antidepressant prescription except that residents prescribed antidepressants in the National Drug Prescription at first visit and the therapeutic period with no side effects, unlike members of the staff, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001***; P < 0.01**; P < 0.05,* respectively). Conclusion: The antidepressant prescription in the Out-patient Psychiatric Department commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or new generation antidepressants and non-adjustment doses. Residents prescribed more antidepressants in the National Drug Prescription than staff members were, which was statistically significant. This study found that the patients of residents did not continue follow-up after the first visit, a higher number than that of the staff (19.4%, 5.6%), further study should be considered.

A case of 66 year-old male with Alzheimer's dementia with classical 99mTc-ECD SPECT imaging findings is reported. The history, physical examination, and investigation, are described. Biological markers which are new used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia and current treatment are discussed.

A retrospective study of eighty - three in - patients with schizophrenia re-admitted to Siriraj Hospital between 1992 and 1996 was carried out to determine what risk factors had accounted for their re-admission. Of the 83 patients, 44 (53%) had previously been admitted at least twice, while 39 (47%) had been treated once. Only the duration of illness was found to be significantly different between these two groups. This was more prominent in those who had been ill for more than five years. When a comparison was made between patients who relapsed within one year and those with a longer remission period, there were significant differences in their occupation, childhood history and their family responsibilities. Patients with a remission period of one-year or less appeared to have a worse prognosis and tended to be have chronic disease, be more depedent and we found that in childhood they had been brought up by their own parent.

Objective: 1) To study the relationship between psychological capital and study strategies and 2) to find the components of psychological capital that can predict study strategies of upper secondary school students in Bangkok. Materials and Methods: The samples consisted of 453 upper secondary school students who were studying in coeducational high schools from Santiratwittayalai School, Chinorotwittayalai School, Sarawittaya School, and Yannawate Wittayakom School, using a simple random sampling method. The data collection instrument consisted of a 3-part questionnaire: the student's general questionnaire, the Thai Psychological Capital Inventory [TPCI], and the study strategies test. Frequency, percentage, means, standard deviation [SD], independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The samples included 453 upper secondary school students where they were 170 male students (37.5%) and 283 female students (62.4%). The results revealed that their levels of psychological capital and study strategies were moderately high. The result of the comparison of study strategies between genders showed that female students have better study strategies than male students with a statistical significance at 0.01 level. In consideration of grade levels, twelfth grade students had better study strategies than eleventh grade students and tenth grade students with a statistical significance at the 0.01 level. In addition, psychological capital and its components hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism were positively correlated to study strategies with a statistical significance at the 0.01 level. Hope and optimism can predict study strategies approximately 16.5%. Conclusion: Psychological capital was positively related to study strategies. The components of psychological capital that could predict study strategies of the sample group were hope and optimism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study forgiveness among vocational students in Bangkok area as well as evaluation of overall forgiveness and its subscales classified by year and department. Materials and Methods: The 240 participants were students who studied in vocational college for whom data was collected using a Forgiveness Scales for Teenagers Questionnaire. Results: The results indicated that the categories of overall forgiveness, situational forgiveness and forgive others were ranked in 'indifference to forgive' while self-forgiveness was ranked 'slightly forgive'. When comparing the total scale and subscale scores of forgiveness by year, 1st-year students had higher scores than the 2nd-year students with significance level at 0.05. However, both total scale and sub-scale scores of the students from various departments did not illustrated statistical differences. Conclusion: The findings reflected the characteristics of forgiveness in vocational certificate level students which provide vital information in planning to promote forgiveness quality in order to minimize violence when resolving conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare drug adherence behaviors during the sixth week between patients with first diagnosed major depressive disorder who received the Drug Adherence Enhancement Program and those who received only the usual care. A randomized clinical trial, post-test only design was conducted in the outpatient-unit of a medical school hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. The experimental and control groups consisted of 30 and 26 participants respectively. Participants in the experimental group exhibited significantly higher drug adherence behaviors than the control group. This is important for nurses in promoting adherence to antidepressant drugs for patients with first diagnosed major depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]