ABOUT
The table in the latest edition of Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry that lists the important persons and events in the history of Psychiatry (Colp, 2000) begins with Hippocrates, mentions Robert Burton, Daniel M’Naghton, misuse of psychiatric treatment in USSR, etc, etc, and finally ends with comments on the applications of computers and internet in Psychiatry. The internet have been described as the most important development in global communication since both the television and the telephone (Al-Shahi et al, 2002), and this revolution is providing the medical professionals across the globe with an unprecedented access to invaluable information. Articles that discuss how the net is changing the day-to-day practice of Psychiatry have already appeared in major psychiatric journals (For e.g., Huang and Alessi, 1996; Al-Shahi et al, 2002). Healthcare workers in the developing world have for years had the problem of very limited access to the latest information that is the lifeblood of effective health care and as a direct result, their patients suffer (Grant, 1994; Godlee et al, 2000). Information also underpins the learning, research, and debate that drive a country forward, and access to information is essential for describing and understanding the deficiencies of the present, building visions of a better future, developing practical ways to achieve those visions, and educating and inspiring those who must make the future (Godlee et al, 2000). Whereas the professionals in the developed world have information overload, the developing countries have bare library shelves - and the internet provides an opportunity to narrow this gap (Kennard, 2001). For eg, under the auspices of the World Health Organization, leading medical publishers have agreed to provide free access to electronic versions of journals to people working in developing countries (Kmietowicz, 2001). But, unfortunately, most of us fail to fully utilize the amazing possibilities the internet has to offer, since we are not adequately informed.
When I started Plexus few months back as a “humble, amateur attempt to compile various sites that offer useful information on various aspects of mental health” based in a free-hosting server, it was just for the fun of doing it. But the responses generated by that small venture were surprising and beyond my expectations. Even though I publicized Plexus only through E-mails to some of my contacts and a small slip in the notice board of my institute, Plexus have been visited nearly 300 times in the last five-and-a half months. The support and encouragement shown by eminent persons like Dr. Chittaranjan Andrade (Dept. of Psychopharmacology, NIMHANS, Bangalore), Dr. Gauranga Banerjee (Editor, Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry), etc. were extremely motivating, and that was how I decided to go through a lot of 'literature' about web designing, to thoroughly revise the form and content of Plexus, and to shell out the money required to shift it to an independent domain. I hope that in its present shape, Plexus will be at least of some use to mental health professionals practicing in developing countries like India. I would like to remind you all that the future growth of Plexus is to a large extent dependent on the contributions and comments from our guests. I request you to inform your colleagues/friends/students about Plexus, and to let me know about any page or site you think Plexus should have a link to, so that together, we can make Plexus a more useful site. Plexus also welcomes original articles (or those previously published in print media if the author is the owner of the copyright), especially those relevant for day-to-day practice of Psychiatry. Articles may be prepared in Microsoft Word and submitted as attachment via E- mail.
Some Notes about Plexus:
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Though pages dealing with all the areas under Psychiatry are included, more importance is given to articles that cover areas of diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders. Articles dealing with purely theoretical issues are excluded - not because they are considered less important, but to maintain the focus of Plexus on clinical aspects. |
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Articles that do not provide cross references are not included in sections dealing with management issues. |
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More importance is given to articles covering disorders commonly encountered in India and drugs that are available in this country. |
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Even though the articles are divided into sections like schizophrenia, substance use, etc., it is done only for convenience. This division is not concretely adhered to, and it does not follow any particular nosological system. |
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Links provided in Plexus are hand-checked at the time of inclusion in the site, and will be periodically verified with assistance of a software. Still, if you find any broken links, please inform me. |
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Plexus respects the confidentiality of individual visitors to its pages. Data gathered from the visitors through various forms or through e-mail is never divulged to third parties. |
With Warm Regards,
Dr. Shahul Ameen, M.D.,
Senior Resident,
Centre for Cognitive Neurosciences,
Central Institute of Psychiatry,
Ranchi, India
30 August, 2003
REFERENCES:
Al-Shahi, R., Sadler, M., Rees, G., et al. (2002) The internet. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry,73:619–628.
Colp, R. History of Psychiatry. In : Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, Vol, 2, Edn. 7, (Eds.) Sadock, B. J. & Sadock, V. A. pp 3301-3333, Philadelphia : Williams and Wilkins.
Godlee, F., Horton, R. & Smith, R. (2000) Global information flow. British Medical Journal, 321:776-777.
Grant, J.(1994) Opening session, world summit on medical education, Edinburgh 8–12 August, 1993. Medical Education,28(suppl 1):11.
Huang, M.P. & Alessi, N.E. (1996) The internet and the future of Psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153:861-869.
Kennard, C. Getting our Journal to developing countries. (2001) Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry,71:711.
Kmietowicz, Z. (2001) Deal allows developing countries free access to journals. British Medical Journal,323:65.