Books by Nongmeikapam Premika Devi

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by a virus named Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The disease is characterized by immunosuppression which leads to a spectrum of clinical manifestations that include opportunistic infections, secondary neoplasms, and neurologic manifestations. The clinical features of HIV infection range from asymptomatic infection to severe clinical illness and AIDS. HIV/AIDS in India came into public view in 1986 with detection of first few cases of HIV in Chennai and first AIDS case in Mumbai in 1987. The current scenario in the country is alarming and the situation is grim though the overall prevalence of the disease is still low as compared to many other countries in South East Asia. HIV/AIDS is a major concern and has only recently attracted the attention of psycho-social research. Knowledge of effective ways of coping with HIV is critical to help individuals with HIV to maintain the best possible psychological and physical well-being. HIV has huge impact on cognitive function and is also associated with depression and anxiety. However, very few studies have been conducted on the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and depression/anxiety, and the coping mechanisms. The present work is an attempt to fill this vacuum in the literature on the subject.

Mental retardation among children is a source of pain and bewilderment for many families. Children with mental retardation add stress to the family system, but this stress could result in negative or positive adaptation. Just as every family faces a variety of stressors (e.g. illness or loss of job), so also families of children with retardation can be thought of as facing a stressful situation. Mental retardation may be complicated by several different physical and emotional problems. The child may also have difficulty with hearing, sight or speech. In the past, parents were often advised to institutionalize a child with significant mental retardation. Today, the goal is to help the child with mental retardation stay in the family and take part in community life. Mothers are especially influenced by the presence of a disabled child in the family as the increased demands and inconveniences associated with such a situation are still most often met by mothers. Fathers of retarded children have also been found to be depressed, to have lower self-esteem, to express a lack of interpersonal satisfaction and to undergo long-term personality changes resembling a pattern of neuroticism. But there are also findings to the contrary. Most parents with a retarded child, even if they are well adjusted, are likely to experience major psychological stress. Reactions to this stress vary considerably from person to person, but there are some common patterns. The present work is an attempt to study the psychosocial consequences on parents of mentally-challenged children.