NIMHANS gets Rs 30 lakh DBT funding for research on metabolic abnormalities

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has received a Department of biotechnology funding of Rs 30 lakh for a research effort in the area of metabolic abnormalities leading to psychiatric disorders. The research which spans for three years will end in 2011.

The department of psychiatry which has set up a dedicated Metabolic Clinic and Schizophrenia Clinic are now examining patients on the hormone abnormalities and mental disorders which is one-of-the-first initiatives in contemporary international psychiatry. 

The key objective of this research is to help synthesize existing clinical assessments and help translate it into meaningful approach to take care of psychiatric patients with metabolic conditions like obesity or hyperglycaemia. Under the research programme, about 60 schizophrenia patients and 40 healthy subjects for comparative purposes have been examined till now said Dr G Venkatasubramanian, assistant professor of psychiatry, consultant, Metabolic Clinic in Psychiatry and Schizophrenia Clinic of NIMHANS.