Drinking contaminated water is believed to have killed four lady inmates of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in Ayanavaram, India, the authorities report. The four inmates, all suffering from schizophrenia succumbed at the Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH) in the city, where they were admitted following manifestation of a series of symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, etc. Read the rest of this story »

Although, meditation a form of mental exercise that leads to self awareness and better concentration abilities, it is not seen as a treatment in a medical sense. Meditation is actually a way of life, a healthy way of life. Read the rest of this story »

Results of a study show that women experiencing infertility benefit from psychological interventions such as support groups and mind body workshops. Nearly 55 percent of these women became pregnant compared to only 20 percent of the women who did not participate in the psychological interventions.

“When women learn skills to relieve their depression, they are more likely to get pregnant,” says Alice Domar, Ph.D., leader of the study and director the women’s health programs at Harvard Medical School’s Division of Behavioral Medicine. “When you look at the viable pregnancy rates, which means basically the take-home baby rates, the mind/body patients and the support groups had a much better conception rate.”

Americans spend more than $2 billion annually on infertility treatments. Add the psychological costs of failing to produce a child, and the burden can seem incalculable.

“I felt like a failure,” says Kristen Magnacca of Upton, Massachusetts. “I never thought this would happen, and it caused dramatic changes in my personality. I felt great sadness and a lot of anger toward my husband Mark.”

“The psychological impact of infertility is very comparable to what cancer patients report,” says Dr. Domar. “I’ve had patients who’ve had both, and said the experience was actually very similar, which sounds strange to the average lay person. But this is what the patients are reporting. And this is affecting one out of every six couples of child bearing age.”

Dr. Domar’s five-year study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and examined two questions. First, the researchers asked whether psychological interventions could affect pregnancy rates. Second, they wondered if these interventions could help prevent the depression women tend to suffer as they experience infertility.

“It was Christmas, and we were still dealing with the miscarriage I had the day before Thanksgiving,” says Magnacca. “That Christmas was very difficult, and Mark gave me all these self help books about healing through exercise and other ways. And he also found Dr. Domar. He actually called hoping to get me in to see her.”

Magnacca was one of 185 women who participated in Dr. Domar’s study. The psychological interventions in the study took the form of support groups or mind/body groups meeting once a week for ten weeks. The results showed that more than half of the women in the intervention groups conceived a healthy baby within the first year. Only one out of five women in the control groups became pregnant. The control groups had received routine care, but no psychological intervention.

Relaxation training, stress management, nutrition awareness and exercise comprised much of the mind/body group sessions. “We also give extensive advice about things that affect fertility,” explains Dr. Domar. “The women acquire skills in a very structured way in the mind/body groups.”

According to the mind/body model, one’s general health depends on a multitude of factors including habits, emotions, social supports and spiritual well-being. “Benefits derive from positive changes in any of these areas,” says Dr. Domar.

“In the support groups, women spent the first hour checking in with each other and sharing their feelings,” explains Dr. Domar. “During the second hour, women discussed the impact of infertility on different aspects of their lives.”

“The data from our study is extremely controversial,” says Dr. Domar. “Many people in the field seem to believe that all aspects of reproduction can be controlled through medical intervention. My theory is that depression in some way hampers conception.”

Even couples who did not conceive, reported less depression and a greater sense of well-being after participating in either the mind/body or support groups.

“Kristen was really gung-ho and went from being a very sad person to a happy person. And that change occurred before she got pregnant,” says Dr. Domar.

Few women trying to conceive a child want to be in a control group. Consequently, researchers face obstacles conducting infertility studies.

“One of the hardest things about this study was that half of the women in the control group dropped out during the first year,” says Dr. Domar. “But our study was still statistically significant. We used a very conservative statistical analysis called the Kaplan-Meyer analysis, which is designed for studies just like this.”

The Magnaccas both say the mind/body work gave them the keys to manage their lives better. “Everything that you experience with infertility can become such an ordeal,” says Mark Magnacca. “But Dr. Domar’s program taught us that there’s a process to relaxing and gaining a sense of control. Kristen applied herself with a sense of passion, and I think that made a huge difference.”

Kristen says the mind/body work helped her learn to stop obsessing about not having a baby. She believes this in turn helped her body prepare for conception.

“We gained a sense of confidence back and felt more in control,” says Kristen. “I believe this allowed our baby to come to us. Our miracle happened, and we have a beautiful son now. But, one thing you don’t ever want to say to a woman who is trying to conceive is ‘Just relax.’ It’s like telling an insomniac to just fall asleep. There’s much more to it. Part of it is learning to be mindful and asking yourself the right kinds of questions about your life.”

It is true that the unparalleled terror attack in Mumbai has outraged not only the whole of India but also the international fraternity. There is perhaps no on under the sun who is not overwhelmed by the pains of the bereaved families. But there is something else than this, which the terrorists fail to understand. It is the undying spirit of a human being that remains steadfast come what may. If you want to have a glimpse of this strength of mind, you have to come to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Read the rest of this story »

It is said that a human being’s spirit is best tested during the greatest and worst crisis only. In the same manner the efficiency of any procedure is tested during the emergency only. What can you say of the Internet therefore? Well, it is certainly useful but the way in which this entire system is working in the ongoing Mumbai episode proves it utility and necessity once again. Read the rest of this story »

There is simply no dearth of diseases in this enormous country of India. Wherever you go, especially in the rural sector, you will find out one common feature. It is the dominance of diseases and the appalling health service along with it. Which diseases are most common? In short there are thousands of diseases but most of them are the results of malnutrition. On the other hand you can find hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, heart, poor self-esteem along with a poor quality of life. These are also growing by leaps and bounds with the passing of years. Read the rest of this story »

What is the fundamental nature of business? It is true that the foundation of a business revolves around the notion of profit but this is not all. The successful operation of a business depends on many other factors apart from this. One of these factors happens to be persistent determination. This is not only essential but also motivates a person even at the hours of distress. Are you a student of MBA? If you are, you have surely gone through many case studies related to this. But now you can have something in your home. Read the rest of this story »

There is no doubt in it that terror strikes have become a part of the national life and we, by now, have also become well aware that it may happen at any time in any thickly populated city of the country. If we go back to the history, we will realize that the precursor of all these happen to be the serial bomb blasts of 1993 that not only shocked the city of Mumbai (then Bombay) but also the entire nation. Well, 15 years have already passed but the situation remains dismal, if not more. Read the rest of this story »

How can we shed obesity? This is certainly the biggest question of the day. Reason? According to the World Health Organization obesity is no longer any exclusive phenomenon but has already become global epidemic and leads to the occurrence of lots of diseases. There include 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, heart, poor self-esteem along with a poor quality of life. Again, to a number of studies conducted by the eminent study groups throughout the international arena at least 2 billion people have become easy preys to this malady. Read the rest of this story »

Is the fate of Chandrayaan-1 doomed? This question has not only flummoxed the scientists in the pertinent sphere but also the whole of the nation in the recent days. How can the subject of science attract people in large numbers? The only reason is that Chandrayaan-1 happens to be one of the greatest achievements of India in the field of science and technology and has made all Indians proud. Read the rest of this story »