Journal/Magazine Articles
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This collection contains original research articles, review articles and case reports published in local and international peer reviewed journals by the staff members of the Faculty of Medicine
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Item Effects of hospitalization in children of parents working in foreign countries(SAARC Psychiatric Federation, 2013) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.; Gunasekera, D.P.S.; Karunasekera, K.A.W.INTRODUCTION: Increasing number of females in Sri Lanka leave their families to work in the Middle East. This leads to disruption in the family structure and the attachment process. Effects of this can be long lasting and is likely to be seen at events that can be considered stressful in a child’s life. Admission to hospital has been shown to be a stressful experience for children. METHODOLOGY: Behavioural problems in hospitalized children who have one or more parent working in the Middle East were compared with hospitalized children who are not separated from their parents. The prevalence of deteriorating school performance and failure to gain weight were also compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Behaviours such as irritability, aggression, poor sleep and low mood were seen more in children who had one or more parent working in the Middle East. Deteriorating school performance and weight loss were also seen more in this group. CONCLUSION: Long term separation from a parent results in acute behavioural problems seen at times of stress as well as more long-term effects.Item Validation of Kessler's psychological distress scale among the Sinhalese population in Sri Lanka(SAARC Psychiatric Federation, 2011) Wijeratne, L.T.; Williams, S.S.; Rodrigo, M.D.A.; Peiris, M.U.P.K.; Kawamura, N.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.OBJECTIVE: Kessler's psychological distress scales, KlO and K6 are short rating scales designed to screen psychiatric morbidity in the population. Despite being increasingly popular elsewhere, they have not been validated in Sri Lanka. We examined the validity of these scales among the Sinhala speaking population in the Gampaha district of Sri Lanka. DESIGN: The English language version of the KiD and K6 questionnaire were translated into Sinhala using standard methods. The KiD and K6 scores for 27 healthy and 37 psychiatrically ill individuals were compared with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorders (SClD) outcome categories. RESULTS: The KiD and K6 were sensitive and specific in detecting mental illness, especially depression. Those with schizophrenia had scores similar to healthy individuals. We suggest cut offs of 12 for KiD and 7 for K6 having 9D% sensitivity and 81% specificity for both scales. INTERPRETATION: KiD and K6 are valid screening tools for non-psychotic psychiatric illness among the Sinhala speaking population in Sri Lanka. They can be used in psychiatric epidemiological studies.Item A Study of intimate partner violence among females attending a Teaching Hospital out-patient department(Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2010) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.; Weerasinghe, G.D.S.S.K.; Peiris, M.U.P.K.; Williams, S.S.BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is considered a public health problem with physical and psychological consequences. AIMS: To describe the prevalence of IPV among married females attending the out-patient department of North Colombo Teaching Hospital and their attitude towards abuse. METHODS: A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire on physical, verbal, sexual and emotional abuse was given to the first 50 consenting married females attending the out-patient department on each day for five consecutive days. Confidentiality of responses was assured and adequate privacy was provided for the questionnaires to be completed. RESULTS: Of the 242 participants 98(40.5%) reported some form of abuse by their male partner. Prevalence of abuse reported was physical abuse 19%, verbal abuse 23%, emotional abuse 23% and sexual abuse 7%. A quarter (26.9%) of those inflicted physical violence sought medical treatment for the injuries but only two of them divulged the reason for the injury to medical staff. More than three quarters (79%) of those abused were in the relationship for more than ten years. The majority of the females surveyed believed that violence by the male partner should be tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: IPV is a common problem that is poorly divulged to medical personnel. Attitudes regarding IPV have to be changed in order to reduce abuse significantly.Item Health shop treatments for depressions(Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2007) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.Comment on : Reed & Trigwell (Psychiatric Bulletin, October 2006, 30, 365-368). No Abstract AvailableItem Prion disease in Sri Lanka(Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2007) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.Comment on: Br J Psychiatry. 2006;189:295-6; No Abstract AvailableItem Domestic violence and female mental health in developing countries(Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2005) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.No Abstract AvailableItem Post-traumatic stress in former Ugandan child soldiers(Lancet Publishing Group, 2004) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.No Abstract Available.Item ADHD in developing countries.(Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.No Abstract Available.Item Depression intervention in resource-poor regions(Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.No Abstract AvailableItem The Continuing story of dhat syndrome(Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.Comment on : Culture-bound syndromes: the story of dhat syndrome. Sumathipala A, et al.(Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Mar;184:200-9.) No Abstract Available