New research provides evidence that wiring in the brains of children with autism differs from typically developing children as early as six months of age, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on Friday.
“This is the earliest study of brain development using neuro-imaging,” says Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. “By six months of age, even before the symptoms [of autism] emerge, the brain networks that connect different brain regions do not develop correctly.”
Dawson is not only one of the study authors, she’s also the Chief Science Officer of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, which, along with the National Institutes of Health and the Simons Foundation, funded the research.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, along with researchers from other locations of the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) network, studied 92 babies who were all considered to be at high-risk for developing autism because they had older siblings with the neurodevelopmental disorder. Currently, about one in 110 children in the United States has autism, according to the latest CDC statistics.
All 92 infants underwent a type of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan called diffusion tensor imaging. MRIs do not use radiation and therefore are safe to use on babies.
Most of the children were scanned again at the age of 12 and 24 months. They were also given standard behavioral assessments for autism when they were 24 months old. After the behavioral assessment, 28 children met the criteria for autism, 64 did not.
When the researchers looked at the 6, 12 and 24-month brain scans, they found differences in the development of white matter fiber tract development – how the neurons in the brain talk to or connect to other parts of the brain – in 12 of 15 major brain connections or pathways.
The 6-month brain scans of children who were later diagnosed with autism revealed that these white matter pathways were growing faster or were more dense compared to those who didn’t develop autism. That growth then appears to slow down, so that at 12 months, both groups of children seem to have similar pathway development. By the time the children were 24 months old, the toddlers who developed autism had less dense brain connections than their typically developing counterparts.
Dr. Eric Hollander says these new findings are very important because they suggest brain connectivity plays a central role in autism. Hollander, who is the director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, was not involved in the study.
He says the work done by these researchers is very unique and what’s really fascinating is that they picked up the differences by studying children over time. Had the children only been studied at a single point, like at 12 months, the difference may not have been evident.
“Usually we are picking up clinical [behavioral] symptoms at 18 months, some say even earlier… clearly they are picking up alterations in white matter as early as 6 months.”
Zachary Warren, who also was not involved with the research, describes this new research as “powerful” and “exciting” because he says it’s the most impressive data to date that looks at the developing brain over time.
“It provides the best evidence to date that core features of autism are likely related to nerve biological connectivity. This is really compelling evidence that we should be focusing on connection and disconnection in the brain,” said Warren, director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) at Vanderbilt University.
All the experts, including the study authors, caution that this doesn’t mean researchers have found a way to diagnose autism using MRI scans. The research is far too preliminary to draw that conclusion because it only included children who were known to be at high risk for autism because of their siblings. Lead study author Jason Wolff says in a statement, “it’s a preliminary albeit great first step towards thinking about developing a biomarker for risk in advance of our current ability to diagnose autism.”
He says this study suggests that autism is a whole brain-phenomenon, rather than any particular brain region.
Dawson says further research needs to include other children, including other high-risk babies like those born prematurely, as well as low-risk babies – to see if the same differences in the development of white matter brain connections are seen. Researchers will also study even younger infants to see how early these brain connections seem to go awry.
Early diagnosis of autism leads to earlier interventions and, because this study identifies problems with the brain’s connections before symptoms appear, Dawson is hopeful that this research could lead to earlier interventions. She says if autism could be identified in infants before symptoms are apparent, they could receive therapies to stimulate early social development and possibly even prevent onset of symptoms.
Dawson says this study helps researchers better understand why children with autism have trouble with communication and social skills. If different parts of the brain aren’t properly connected, it helps explain why children with autism have difficulties developing complex social behaviors and language since multiple parts of the brain are involved at any given time.
Since this is still early research that provides clues to biomarkers for autism which may eventually lead to a clear diagnostic test, it’s much too early to suggest regular MRI screenings to determine if a child will have autism.
Until such a test exists, parents are urged to look for early signs of autism, including:
- lack of eye contact
- failure to use gestures
- lack of social play
- child does not respond to its name by age 1

Contributed By: Dr. Mohsin Riaz

Which Foods Are Best for the Brain?
Diet is inextricably linked to conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, what we consume also seems to have significant implications for the brain: Unhealthy diets may increase risk for psychiatric and neurologic conditions, such as depression and dementia, whereas healthy diets may be protective. Based primarily on recent Medscape News coverage, the following slideshow collects some of the more prominent investigations on nutrition and the brain into a single resource to aid in counseling your patients.
A 2009 study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that people who follow Mediterranean dietary patterns — that is, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fat (common in olive and other plant oils) — are up to 30% less likely to develop depression than those who typically consume meatier, dairy-heavy fare.[1] The olive oil-inclined also show a lower risk for ischemic stroke[2,3] and are less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease, particularly when they engage in higher levels of physical activity.[4,5]

A study conducted in Spain[6,7] reported that consumption of both polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in nuts, seeds, fish, and leafy green vegetables) and monounsaturated fatty acids (found in olive oil, avocados, and nuts) decreases the risk for depression over time. However, there were clear dose-response relationships between dietary intake of trans fats and depression risk, whereas other data support an association between trans fats and ischemic stroke risk.[8] Trans fats are found extensively in processed foods, including many commercial chocolates (hence, check that label when considering the chocolate slide below). A deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acids has been linked to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.[9]

Thanks to their high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely omega-3 fatty acids, fish can help fend off numerous diseases of the brain. A 2010 study correlated fish consumption with a lower risk for psychotic symptoms,[10] and concurrent work suggested that fish oil may help prevent psychosis in high-risk individuals.[11] Although data are conflicting, new research shows that the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are beneficial in depression and postpartum depression, respectively, and other research suggests that omega-3 deficiency may be a risk factor for suicide.[12-16] Oily, cold-water fish, such as salmon, herring, and mackerel, have the highest omega-3 levels.Polyphenols, namely anthocyanins, found in berries and other darkly pigmented fruits and vegetables may slow cognitive decline through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A study in rats from 2010 showed that a diet high in strawberry, blueberry, or blackberry extract leads to a “reversal of age-related deficits in nerve function and behavior involving learning and memory.”[17] In vitro work by the same group found that strawberry, blueberry, and acai berry extracts — albeit in very high concentrations — can induce autophagy, a means by which cells clear debris, such as proteins linked to mental decline and memory loss.[18] Berry anthocyanins may also reduce cardiovascular disease risk by reducing oxidative stress and attenuating inflammatory gene expression.[19]

A so-called “whole” diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and high-quality meats and fish results in a 30% risk reduction for depression and anxiety disorders, compared with consumption of a “Western diet” high in processed foods and saturated fats, according to a 2010 study.[20] Even unprocessed red meat seems to be protective against depressive and anxiety disorders,[21] in contrast to many studies in which red meat often falls into the category of “unhealthy” food. In speaking with Medscape News, principal investigator Dr. Felice Jacka specifically addressed the importance of farming practices: Despite the growing locavore movement, much of the livestock in the United States is still raised on industrial feedlots, which “…increases saturated fat and decreases very important good fatty acids…pasture-raised animals have a much healthier fatty acid profile.” A “whole” dietary pattern may also reduce depression risk, as assessed at 5-year follow-up.[22]

Brewed Awakening: Coffee for Depression and Stroke
The world’s most widely used stimulant might do more than just wake us up: A 2011 meta-analysis[28] found that consumption of 1-6 cups of coffee a day cut stroke risk by 17%. Although it may increase blood pressure, coffee beans contain antioxidant compounds that may reduce oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and coffee consumption has also been associated with increased insulin sensitivity and reduced concentrations of inflammatory markers.[29] Another 2011 study[30] reported that women who drink 2-3 cups of coffee per day have a 15% decreased risk for depression, compared with those who drink less than 1 cup per week. A 20% decreased risk was seen in those who drank 4 cups or more. The short-term effect of coffee on mood may be due to altered serotonin and dopamine activity, whereas the mechanisms behind its potential long-term effects on mood may relate to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both factors that are thought to play a role in depressive illnesses.[2

Saturated fats and refined carbohydrates have highly detrimental effects on the immune system, oxidative stress, and neurotrophins, all factors that are known to play a role in depression. The study by Akbaraly and colleagues cited previously[22] showed that a diet rich in high-fat dairy foods and fried, refined, and sugary foods significantly increases risk for depression. Similar findings were seen in another study from Spain,[7] showing that intake of such foods as pizza and hamburgers increased the risk for depression over time, and in another study, women with a diet higher in processed foods were more likely to have clinical major depression or dysthymia.[17] Research published last year[37] also showed for the first time that quality of adolescents’ diets was linked to mental health: Healthier diets were associated with reduced mental health symptoms and unhealthy diets with increased mental health symptoms over time. Excess salt intake has been long known to increase blood pressure and stroke risk[38,39]; however, recent data also correlate high salt intake, as well as diets high in trans or saturated fats, with impaired cognition.[40,41]

Author
Bret S. Stetka, MD, Editorial Director, Medscape From WebMD

Reviewers
Michael T. Compton, MD, MPH, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC

Disclosure: Michael T. Compton, MD, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Felice N. Jacka, PhD, Associate Professor, Barwon Psychiatric Research Unit, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

By: Dr. Faisal Mamsa

I want to share something with you that constitutes a vital part of every relationship! It’s an abstract construct, but is very familiar to us, as without it, moving forward in any relationship is not only difficult, but sometimes next to impossible as well. That term is “TRUST”!

We need to inspire trust. It is important, but not hard to achieve. And how can you build trust? Research shows that several qualities promote trust:
1: Showing bravery (but not stupidity) and openness
2: Behaving unselfishly
3: Valuing fairness
4: Showing compassion
5: Displaying empathy
6: Being supportive
7: Offering respect and,
8: Giving credit to others.

If we employ these traits in our every day behavior, not only will we succeed in instilling trust amongst each other, but we will also manage to be a more honest and self- righteous society at large!
Try and generate this feeling of trust with your near and dear ones, and teach them these qualities of enhancing a whole new trustworthy lifestyle; wouldn’t this world be a lot better place to live in, if we are able to trust each other, and feel secure and confident about ourselves and surroundings, respectively??

By Dr. Ayesha Siddqui

The age old debate of psychopathy versus sociopathy is not one that can be answered easily. This is usually because the words are often used interchangeably, and even when the terms are clearly defined by one scholar, another may disagree and choose to use the term in an entirely different fashion. Looking up these terms in dictionaries can lead to more confusion as the definition for psychopathy may include the word sociopathy in its description and vice versa.

I think it will help to clarify the two words more in detail as little was mentioned about them in my last post , which will, at the very least, hopefully help readers understand what I am referring to. I have tied to use research as my tool in defining and applying these terms to my discussion. Now if you remember Anthony Hopkins’s role in the movie “Silence of the Lambs” and then “Hannibal” , then Sharon Stone’s role in” Basic Instinct” 1 and then 2 or for that matter if you remember Jack the Ripper , you would get the picture of what i am talking about or the concept behind each character’s personality.

Research suggests that generally “psychopaths are a stable proportion of any population, can be from any segment of society, may constitute a distinct taxonomical class forged by frequency-dependent natural selection, and that the muting of the social emotions is the proximate mechanism that enables psychopaths to pursue their self-centered goals without felling the pangs of guilt. Sociopaths are more the products of adverse environmental experiences that affect autonomic nervous system and neurological development that may lead to physiological responses similar to those of psychopaths. Antisocial personality disorder is a legal/clinical label that may be applied to both psychopaths and sociopaths” (Walsh & Wu, 2008). Doesn’t our political leaders come to our mind as we picture a person with no empathy, remorse, greed and ready to kill others.

In other words, in the mental health field there is some consensus that psychopathy is more of an innate phenomenon whereas sociopathy, which has a similar clinical presentation to psychopathy, is more the result of environmental factors (poverty, exposure to violence, permissive or neglectful parenting, etc.). So do psychopaths get levy that they were born this way eh? Not really as this is of course difficult to prove, as the nature versus nurture debate never seems to have a winner, and for good reason–it is very likely that both our biological components and environmental exposures influence and shape us fairly equally.

In 1941, Hervey Cleckley published The Mask of Sanity, which described diagnostic criteria for the “psychopathic personality.” Robert Hare, author of Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us, eventually elaborated on Cleckley’s work to create the PCL-R, the “gold-standard” assessment measure used to diagnose psychopathy.

The PCL-R identifies interpersonal deficits (such as grandiosity, arrogance and deceitfulness), affective deficits (lack of guilt and empathy), and impulsive and criminal behaviors (sexual promiscuity, stealing, etc.) that are typical deficits of the psychopath. In his book, Without Conscience, Hare stated that the difference between psychopathy and sociopathy ”reflects on the origins and determinates of each.” What comes to my mind is , did all cruel leaders of the word suffered from antisocial personality disorders. I wont name them , but just look around the region, our subcontinent and the Arabian peninsula.

However, other differences between psychopathy and sociopathy, aside from origin, have been cited. The capacity to feel attachment and empathy towards another and to feel guilt and shame after doing something wrong is not associated with psychopathy; however it is suggested that sociopaths can emotionally attach to others, and feel badly when they hurt those individuals that they are attached to. The sociopath will still lack empathy and attachment toward the greater society and will not feel guilt in harming a stranger, or rebelling against laws, but does not lack empathy entirely, as is typical with the psychopath.

Therefore, both psychopaths and sociopaths are capable of committing heinous crimes; however, the psychopath would commit crimes against family members or “friends” (as well as strangers) and feel little to no remorse.

The last main difference between psychopathy and sociopathy is in the presentation. The psychopath is callous, yet charming. He or she will con and manipulate others with charisma and intimidation and can effectively mimic feelings to present as “normal” to society. The psychopath is organized in their criminal thinking and behavior, and can maintain good emotional and physical control, displaying little to no emotional or autonomic arousal, even under situations that most would find threatening or horrifying. The psychopath is keenly aware that what he or she is doing is wrong, but does not care.

Conversely, the sociopath is less organized in his or her demeanor; he or she might be nervous, easily agitated, and quick to display anger. A sociopath is more likely to spontaneously act out in inappropriate ways without thinking through the consequences. Compared to the psychopath, the sociopath will not be able to move through society committing callous crimes as easily, as they can form attachments and often have “normal temperaments.” The sociopath will lie, manipulate and hurt others, just as the psychopath would, but will often avoid doing so to the select few people they care about, and will likely feel guilty should they end up hurting someone they care about.

So, while these two terms seem interchangeable on the surface because they share many of the same characteristics, they are more like two sides of the same coin. Looking at the differences may seem futile; however, looking at psychopathy and sociopathy as different constructs may prove to be helpful in understanding the etiology of these disorders, and in the development of effective treatment methods.

By Dr.Faisal Mamsa

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is described by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV-TR), as a personality disorder characterized by:

“A pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood.”

The World Health Organization’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems’, tenth edition (ICD-10), defines a conceptually similar disorder to antisocial personality disorder called (F60.2) Dissocial personality disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders incorporated various concepts of psychopathy/sociopathy/antisocial personality in early versions but, starting with the DSM-III in 1980, used instead a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder.

ASPD replaced psychopathy as a diagnosis in the DSM but the terms are not identical. Psychopathy is now (like sociopathy) usually seen as a subset of ASPD. Many people with this disorder are not violent unless significantly and specifically provoked.

DSM-IV

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM IV-TR), a shrink’s bible, defines antisocial personality disorder as:

A) There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three or more of the following:

1.failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;

2.deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;

3.impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead;

4.irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;

5.reckless disregard for safety of self or others;

6.consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;

7.lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another;

B) The individual is at least age 18 years.
C) There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.
D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode.

New evidence points to the possibility that children often develop antisocial personality disorder as a result of environmental as well as genetic influence. The individual must be at least 18 years of age to be diagnosed with this disorder , but those commonly diagnosed with ASPD as adults were diagnosed with conduct disorder as children.

The prevalence of this disorder is 3% in males and 1% from females in USA as stated in the DSM IV-TR. However in the third world the prevalence might be higher due to various reasons like poverty, lack of education,lack of empathy, no proper guidance etc. They might have incapacity to experience guilt and to profit from experience, particularly punishment.
I personally think that in certain areas ( terrorist training camps) this kind of mentality and personality is inculcated and promoted as a part of their life. If not having a full blown personality disorder , people might develop personality traits of becoming an antisocial person.

Epidemiology

Antisocial personality disorder is seen in 3% to 30% of psychiatric outpatients. The prevalence of the disorder is even higher in selected populations, such as people in prisons (who include many violent offenders). A 2002 literature review of studies on mental disorders in prisoners stated that 47% of male prisoners and 21% of female prisoners had anti-social personality disorder in USA. Similarly, the prevalence of ASPD is higher among patients in alcohol or other drug (AOD) abuse treatment programs than in the general population (Hare 1983), suggesting a link between ASPD and AOD abuse and dependence.

Treatment

To date there have been no controlled studies reported which found an effective treatment for ASPD, although contingency management programs, or a reward system, has been shown moderately effective for behavioral change. Some studies have found that the presence of ASPD does not significantly interfere with treatment for other disorders, such as substance abuse, although others have reported contradictory findings.Schema based psychotherapy is being investigated as a treatment for antisocial personality disorder. Cognitive behavioral strategies are being studied as a means to combat personality disorders, and they appear to help at least some antisocial persons. Medications targeting comorbid psychiatric disorders may help to reduce antisocial behaviors.

Psychopathy and sociopathy

Psychopathy and sociopathy are terms related to ASPD. ASPD replaced psychopathy as a diagnosis in the DSM but the terms are not identical. Psychopathy is now (like sociopathy) usually seen as a subset of ASPD.

Psychopathy

Psychopathy was, until 1980, the term used for a personality disorder characterized by an abnormal lack of empathy combined with strongly amoral conduct but masked by an ability to appear outwardly normal. The publication of DSM-III changed the name of this mental disorder to Antisocial Personality Disorder and also broadened the diagnostic criteria considerably by shifting from clinical inferences to behavioral diagnostic criteria. The ICD-10 diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization also lacks psychopathy as a personality disorder, its 1992 manual including Dissocial (Antisocial) Personality Disorder, which encompasses amoral, antisocial, asocial, psychopathic, and sociopathic personalities.

Some researchers are critical of the changed diagnostic criteria. Antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed via behavior and social deviant behaviors, whereas a diagnosis of psychopathy also includes affective and interpersonal personality factors. Books say that there are also differences between psychopaths and others on “processing and use of linguistic and emotional information” while such differences are small between those diagnosed with ASPD and not.

Sociopathy

The difference between sociopathy and psychopathy may “reflect the user’s views on the origins and determinates of the disorder.” The term sociopathy may be preferred by sociologists that see the causes as due to social factors. The term psychopathy may be preferred by psychologists who see the causes as due to a combination of psychological, genetic, and environmental factors.

David T. Lykken proposed psychopathy and sociopathy are two distinct kinds of antisocial personality disorder. He believed psychopaths are born with temperamental differences such as impulsivity, cortical underarousal, and fearlessness that lead them to risk-seeking behavior and an inability to internalize social norms.

On the other hand, he claimed that sociopaths have relatively normal temperaments; their personality disorder being more an effect of negative sociological factors like parental neglect, delinquent peers, poverty, and extremely low or extremely high intelligence. Both personality disorders are the result of an interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors[citation , but psychopathy leans towards the hereditary whereas sociopathy tends towards the environmental.

Coming back to our society and what is going on here, im not sure where we went wrong. I can pin point two important things. Lack of education and poor wisdom. Since the last 4 decades, not much emphasis has been given to attaining either. Inculcating wisdom is a job responsibility of a parent. For those of us whose parents are not there , then father figures or mentors are held responsible. As far as education is concerned , sure new universities and schools have sprung up, but how much emphasis is being given to become a good human being is something i leave up to you to study and realize.

 Data taken from Wikipedia.

Written and Compiled By: Dr. Faisal Mamsa

There has been a lot happening around us, we all fall prey to the evils of society. Lately, life has witnessed some serious roller coaster scenarios. But such is life and are humans. It might be nostalgic to go back in time and be old fashioned for a change. I am a strong promoter of Urdu language (literature & Poetry). So let’s for a change talk about something which may be “un cool”, There are so many outstanding masterpieces written by Urdu writers: Ismat Chughtai, Qurattulain Haider (Anny), Saadat Hassan Manto, Patras Bhukhari, Imtiaz Ali Taj, Abul Kaam Azaad, Krishan Chandar, Rajindr Singh Bedi, Munshi Prem Chand, Ashfaq Ahmed and Bano Qudsia, Qudratullah Shahab, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Ibn-e- Safi, along with so many others legends. I purposely highlighted the names so that whoever is reading this post and wearing out already, might remember these names which will make me smile. Somehow I feel Urdu is utterly Romantic language and it is sweetest medium one could express and feel things, romance of Urdu is commendable and is ultimate. As I feel that Urdu writers made odd things romantic, just by words and fine tuning of expressions things like eating, remorse, pain, sickness and all so many other daily life things. Loving/liking/reading/writing Urdu is too romantic.
This book (Raja Gidh) or concept might be contentious but I still feel it is worth reading for. Few more stories that I shall be talking about in my future posts are more controversial but very thought provoking, for example: Lihaaf by Ismat Chughtai and Thanda Ghosht by Saadat Hassan Manto (very short stories), for which both writers faced prosecution because of their progressive and liberal approach. When we can read and appreciate the thoughts and works of Angrezi writers like Paulo Coelho, than why not some Urdu thinkers and writers as well (and I bet we feel so cool to quote and read him). A dearest friend of mine asked me when was the last time I had read this novel, I sadly said long time ago and he said, read it again, so I complied. I have highlighted so many interesting lines, book is literally yellow. Now I have decided to share and write a bit about it to pay tribute to this wonderful novel. We should always remember our lost glories; create awareness about the richness of Urdu Prose and Poetry, which has tremendous messages and concepts for readers and thinkers and our future generations. Everyone must read and understand this amazing jewel. Novel is called Raja Gidh written by Bano Qudsia, in 1981. Name, of the author and the book seems so out dated and most of us wouldn’t even know her work (besides old PTV dramas) but let me assure you, this is one spectacular novel with so many notions we can relate to, whatever is happening in our society today. In this day and age when rapid advancements are being made in the field of Human Genetics, and considering what we now know of the impact of hereditary genes in molding the recipient’s personality. It is quite amazing to learn that author had already tackled sensitive issues like, unrequited love, sex appeal, women, men, depression, fear and loneliness, theories behind human nature and traits, how and why it erupts in a person like you and me. There are so many aspects of life are addressed and reasoned in such an intricate manner, way back in 1981.
She manages to convince the reader that money/fortune/fame/education earned through illegal or falsehood affects a person’s personality (for the worse), and that part of this personality then gets transferred via hereditary genes to the next generation. Out of all her novels, none has received as much recognition as Raja Gidh which centers around the forbidden truth. The plot builds around the symbol of a vulture, a bird of prey that feeds on dead flesh and carcasses. On various occasions Gidth is mentioned in relation of mankind or even better than that. The moral thought implies that indulgence in the forbidden leads to physical and mental degeneration. This is creative writing at its best. Gidh is the Urdu word for a Vulture and Raja is a Hindi synonym for king. The name anticipates the kingdom of vultures. In fact, parallel to the main plot of the novel, an allegorical story of such a kingdom is narrated. Wrapping her theory around a novel makes it all the more interesting for the reader, her way of telling the story ensures that the reader remains hooked to the book.
Bano Qudsia has written this novel drawing on the religious concept of Haraam and Halaal. Many readers tend to interpret Raja Gidh as a sermon, in which Bano Qudsia puts forth her theory of hereditary transmission of Haraam genes. Naturally the plot is woven to support the thesis. In the opinion of many readers and critics she manages to convince them that the pursuance of Haraam, be it Financial, Sexual, Moral or Emotional, results in the deterioration of a person’s normality in some sense. She seems to suggest that the abnormality is transferred genetically to the next generation. Apart from the above implication the novel has many social, emotional and psychological aspects. The nostalgic narration of the historical Government College Lahore and of the Lawrence Garden Lahore lights upon the days of seventies and eighties when things were simple and radicalism in our society was distinct.

Synopsis:

Raja Gidh, a phenomenal and classical novel written by Bano Qudsia. This novel not only delineate the long-term effects of “Rizq-e-Haraam” on the lives of human beings ,but helps in revealing some of the main reasons for dissatisfied and catastrophic life.
The characters in Raja Gidh are everyday characters (basically it’s us). The writer compares the ‘human nature’ with ‘Gidh’ (scavenger) and tries to convince the reader that humans are just like Gidhs (even worst then them). If a Gidh eat meat of only dead animal so are humans, who always like to take advantages of weak /disturb and emotionally dead people. In trying to gain what is beyond his/her destination he often choose the forbidden path which leads him to earn Rizq-e-haraam. The writer comprehensively explains the adverse effects of Rizq-e-haraam on human’s genes mutation process. It could lead to insanity and abnormality which is then genetically transferred to next generations.
The second point which is strongly highlighted though out the novel is the concept of “Ishq–e-Lahasil” {Unrequited Love} {love with no destination}. Love for forbidden desires always leads a person in earning rizq-e-haraam which in turn destroys one’s life and at the end the person is left alone with nothing except his discontented life. In this novel character Seemi Shah hailing from upper middle class educated family residing in Gulberg, Lahore, and falls in love with her handsome class fellow Aftab in the MA Sociology class at Government College, Lahore. Seemi is a modern and attractive urban girl and attracts most of her male class fellows, including the narrator Qayyum and also the young liberal professor Sohail Aftab. Though Aftaab loved her but he could not rise above his family values and succumbs to his parent’s pressure to marry someone else. Now the long story of separation begins. Qayyum, a middle class member of society falls in loves with Seemi Shah, liberal and beautiful women who had a prior and true love for her other class fellow. Due to the circumstances Seemi was unable to marry her beloved and this made her emotionally upset and weak. During this time of depression and loneliness Qayyum takes physical advantage of Seemi Shah but as always remains unsuccessful in emotionally molding her love feeling towards him. This was Ishq-e- lahasil [unrequited love] of Qayyum. He ran after someone who was never meant for him and his desire lead him towards the wrong path and he kept moving in the wrong direction and at the end was left alone with nothing but regret and dissatisfaction. There are so many interesting and mind blowing lines in this novel, I am just writing these few in roman Urdu which I liked:

“Describing one October day” (autumn day)“Jiss tarah bhatti say nikal ker makai kay danay safaid phoolay hoay baray or thanday nazar atay hae’n, aisay hi aktober ka yeh din tha”
“Men’s thinking” “Shayad her mard kay andar yeh arzu hoti hay kay wo aurot ko iski patri say utaray or apnay rastay per lay ker chalay”
Women: “Aurat kay shar say bacho” jesay heera heeray ko kat’ta hay wesay hi Aurat, Aurat ko katti hay”
As someone else stated a very profound concept almost based on same lines: “
“Jesay Paisa, paisay ko khencta hay, wesay hi Aurat, aurat ko khinchtie hay”

“Gidh saying this: “agar mukamal torr per insaano ki sohbaat rahi tou phir ham bhi gunha ghaar thera’aye jaye’n gay, kyon kay yeh insaano say or bhet si baeddi sekh lai’n gay, masllan bughaz or hasaad”.
“What are we after” “Insaan ki sab say bari dorr jinshi hay” or taqqat bhi jinsi hay jiss say wo her cheez hassil ker sakta hay or kho bhi sakta hay”

Interesting thoughts? Mind boggling indeed. This novel strongly reflects on the negatives points of our society today. If only we can understand the concept and adverse effects of Rizq-e-haram and learn to strongly believe in destiny and the fate decided by our own deeds, we are likely to prosper as a good human being and a perfect member of society. Now, it is up to the readers to find the Gidh (Vulture) in this book, as to which character they think is really a Gidh.. Let us for a change look into the hidden depth of Urdu and appreciate the forbidden Romance. Let us go back to the forgotten future & chalo muskeratay howay Urdu kay Rumanwi safar pay aaj chala’yn. Do take time out and read this novel, in case you can’t find it, write me, I will send you a copy or manuscript. Have a good Saturday and a weekend.

By: Naveed Farooqi

Excerpts from the “Alchemist’’

The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who knelt daily, beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called narcissus.
But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.
He said that when narcissus died, the Goddess of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears. “Why do you weep’’? The Goddess asked. ‘’I weep for narcissus,’’ the lake replied.
“Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus,’’ they said, ‘’for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand.’’
“But ……was Narcissus beautiful?’’ the lake asked. “who better than you know that?’’ the Goddess said in wonder. “After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself ! ’’
The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said:
“I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.’’

Written by Paulo Coelho

Let’s say you’ve just heard a REALLY juicy rumor about someone you know. It may not be true, but it’s too good to keep to yourself. Your first instinct is to hop online or sms it to all your friends.
We’ve all had that kind of urge. But why? Here are some possible reasons:

To feel superior
When people are feeling bad about themselves, they sometimes think they’ll feel better if there were someone worse off than they are. It’s like, it’s okay being near the bottom, as long as they’re not actually on the bottom. The easiest way for them to make sure someone else is on the bottom is to make up a rumor that puts him or her there.
To feel like part of the group
If everybody else is gossiping or spreading rumors, you might feel you have to do the same thing in order to fit in. When you’re “in on the secret,” you’re in the group. Unfortunately, the person who the gossip or rumor is about is usually left out of the group for the same reason that you’re let into it.

For attention
When you know that you are nobody and have no standing of your own, then gossiping and spreading a rumor can make you the center of attention and u have something to talk about. A rumor or piece of gossip is sometimes like money; telling it to people is like buying their attention, if only for a few minutes. You might even save up a really scandalous rumor, waiting for the right moment to blab so you get the maximum amount of attention for it.

For control or power
Certain people always want to be in control and at the top of the ladder. You probably know at least one person who needs to be the leader, say what goes, and make all the decisions. When people are at the top of the popularity scale, or are determined to climb higher, one way they do this is by reducing the “status” of another person. Spreading rumors and gossip is one of the main ways people reduce another person’s status. It’s like one caveman beating up another caveman for control of the tribe-only it’s done with cruel whispers and petty remarks instead of fists.

As a joke:
There are times when one person passes a statement without thinking of the consequences. Such people have verbal incontinence. While they go on passing judgments , other gossip mongers go on spreading the word.

Out of jealousy or a need for revenge
If you’re jealous of someone’s looks, popularity, or money, you might gossip about that person in order to hurt him or her. If you feel that someone’s done something bad to you, or deserves to be hurt, making up a rumor might satisfy your sense of justice.

Out of boredom
Did you know that in many studies, this was the #1 reason why young people say they spread rumors? Sometimes, a period where everyone is happy and getting along just seems kind of-dull. Spreading juicy dish might shake things up a bit, or get two people to start a fight, and that would make life a little more exciting. All those tabloid newspapers and TV shows full of celebrity gossip are pure proof that rumors are a popular form of entertainment.

Well, once you understand the damage they can do, how do you go about Breaking The Chain of rumors and gossip? But that is only if u understand that you are responsible for it.

Let’s say you have a piece of wood, a nail, and a hammer. Pretend the wood is a person, and the nail is a nasty rumor about that person. If you hammer in the nail, you’re obviously hurting him or her. If you then pull out the nail-well, there’s still a hole in the wood, and the damage has been done.
There are many reasons why that nail of a rumor can be so harmful:

Words hurt as much as a punch

Sometimes more, because a punch may be painful, but at least it’s over pretty fast. Rumors are, quite simply, a form of bullying that’s sometimes referred to as “relational aggression.” When a person or a group makes up a rumor about someone or decides to spread nasty gossip, it’s usually to hurt someone, break up a friendship, or make someone less popular. It’s the same thing as teasing, only it’s done behind someone’s back instead of to his or her face.

Gossip and rumors can be a form of exclusion

When you spread a rumor about someone, you’re sending a signal that the person is outside of the group, and somehow less worthy of friendship than others. You’re making fun of that person or pointing out negative things about him or her. This can let others think that it’s okay to make the person feel inferior, and make him or her an outsider.

Gossip and rumors can destroy trust
We need to be able to trust our friends, and gossiping and rumors can break this trust. If you tell a personal secret to a friend, and he turns around and blabs it to someone else, you might feel like you’ll get burned if you ever get close to him again.

True or not, private is private
Let’s say your mother tells you that your friend Susannah’s parents told her that they’re getting a divorce. You don’t feel bad about passing it around because, after all, it’s a fact, right? Wrong! Perhaps Susannah isn’t ready for people to know about her parents splitting up. It can be very painful and humiliating when other people know things about us that we want to keep private. It can make us feel like we’ve been violated, like something that is supposed to be just ours is now out in the open for all to see-and to judge.

Believing rumors can lead to bad choices
Letting a rumor influence your behavior is like letting someone else make a big decision for you. Let’s say you hear that the Principal plans to call a Snow Day tomorrow because a blizzard’s coming. Expecting a day off, you don’t do your homework. The next morning, the blizzard turns out to be nothing more than a drizzle, and school isn’t cancelled after all. Doh! You get zeroes on your assignments.

Face it: people gossip. They always have, and they always will. You can’t change that, but you can change what happens when a rumor comes your way.

Decide whether it’s hurtful or harmless. A gossip or a rumor is always hurtful and never harmless.

When you hear something about someone you know and have the urge to pass it on, don’t think about whether it’s true or not. Instead, ask yourself these questions:

• Why do I want to pass this on?

• Would I want people to know this kind of information about me?

• How will this person feel if he or she knew this rumor was being spread?

• Will this rumor reduce this person’s status or make him or her excluded from the group?

• Your answers will help you figure out the right thing to do.

Make the rumor stop with you
If you decide that the rumor is hurtful in some way, make a stand. Decide that you don’t want to take part in spreading it. Others may continue to circulate the gossip, but you’ve made a personal choice to stay out of it. Chances are that the rumor will die out much more quickly than if you had joined the buzz. Do not go ahead and discuss with your friends as your friends can have a malicious intent too.

Don’t be an audience
When someone comes to you with a rumor, try not to be an audience. This person may want to hurt somebody, or may be after attention or power. It can be hard to resist hearing some juicy dish, especially if you’re bored and have no life, but make an effort to say, “I’m not interested in hearing mean gossip, thanks.”

Just like with physical bullying, there are no “innocent bystanders” with hurtful rumors. Hearing and reacting to the rumor, and letting it continue, makes you almost as responsible for its damage as the person who started it. Instead, don’t provide another pair of ears for the rumor-starter. If he isn’t getting the reaction or attention he’s seeking, he’ll be less likely to do it in the future.

Be a peacemaker

If one of your friends wants to hurt someone else by spreading lies or rumors, speak up. Let your friend know that this isn’t the right thing to do. If you need to, find another friend who feels the same way and talk to the others together. If rumors are getting out of control and someone is being made a real victim, face the truth and apologize to the person against whom you initiated the rumor.

Respect others’ privacy

If you don’t want other people talking about the personal things in your life, don’t do it to others. When you hear personal information about a group mate or friend, try to keep it to yourself, and don’t worry about whether it’s true or not. If you respect people’s privacy, they’ll be more likely to do the same for you.

Get the facts

Most of the time, you should try to ignore gossip and rumors. But if you hear a rumor about something important, and it does sound a bit crazy, talk to your elders be it your mentor and ask what they think, do not develop verbal incontinence. It hurts. If it’s a modern legend that you find interesting, you can try searching on the Web to see if it’s been proven fake or not. But remember not to believe everything you read, even on the Web!

Need some more help? Go visit a shrink. Get a life, so that you do not destroy others.

By:Dr. Faisal Mamsa

Hello DC: It was an eventful, week, first it was Baqar Eid, than DC dinner (which was so much fun, intimately harmonious), and we shared some interesting articles: (“Happiness” by Dr. Ayesha Siddiqui, than “Psychiatrist & the Mind Reader by Dr. Mohsin Riaz). Yesterday was significant in terms of its binary date (11-11-11) and there was overload of lovely comments on our pictures of DC dinner event. Today is another Saturday, life goes on so does things, its almost 5 months since we started this Group, so much happened, met so many new and nice people, experienced all sorts of issues, information, learned a lot from our doctors, members and their problems/comments/feedback. I am glad to see that people are coming forward with their issues and also seeking more and more help. I get all kinds of feedback about our group, but the best part is mostly people say positive things apart from some controversial people who got deleted from the group for various reasons (their own bloopers). They end up sending some negative remarks, which is all right; we are also learning and realizing things which are helping us in improving on daily bases. We are still at our nascent stage and there is lots of room for betterment. I felt proud when one of our fellow members and a dear friend told me that there has been more groups, which were formed after us with more or less same concept, this is way too encouraging as people are following our footsteps. That is what we wanted: bring the change and make the difference felt, and its happening. We do not mind or feel bad if someone else has made similar group. Our focus and our priorities are still intact. We intend to do a lot and we shall never sit back and relax, we are and will always “Changing Lives”, in various ways that we possibly can, be it a little smile, information, understanding, listening, therapy, education, awareness or counseling. We have a “Vision”, which is going to take us way ahead in terms of our aims and it would do wonders for our community, society and this generation. We shall be revealing our plans periodically and also executing them in due course.
With the induction of Dr. Nadir Ali Syed and Dr. Fouzia Wali Khan, we feel medically excited and emotionally overwhelmed. I would like to thank our new super stars for joining DC and strengthening our team with their immense credentials and another thx for their future contributions. How can I forget to mention the dedication of our Dream Team: Sachin Tandulkar, Vivian Richards, Wasim Akram and Adam Gilchrist (Dr. Mamsa Faisal, Dr. Mohsin Riaz, Dr. Ayesha Siddiqui & Adeela Farooqi, respectively), their massive support, contribution and devotion is outstanding (a definitely a “wow factor”). I also like to thank all of our active volunteers & members who make this all flourish and DC a blooming flower. We miss some of our members who have disappeared or do not participate anymore, please come back and be active. Here, I would like to ask you all again to read our Policy Statement, our Aims, Objectives so that we all should know the do’s and don’ts of DC. People get offended when they are told off; some get sensitive about their views or someone else’s comments/feedback/post. Please take things lightly, do not hurt, get personal, curse, and abuse anyone. If we had hurt somebody’s sentiment, in any manner, be assured that we never intended to do so, do not make an ego issue, simply let go of it (Consider it as if a teacher or father has scolded a student/child for their mistake). I request you all; please ask us before posting any topic/issue on our wall (especially when our wall is open for polls or song/poetry nights). When we post our articles, case studies or other material, please stick to the topic, feel free to debate/discuss, ask questions and write as much as you want. Very important concern that I feel should be reaffirmed here, is do not base your comment, post, song, poem or remark on any religious, political or commercial perspective. All such elements shall be removed. This is not a religious site; religion is everyone’s personal matter and should not be mentioned herein. Let us not get into any sensitive issues, let’s support each other, listen, share, win hearts, defeat hurt, sorrows, sadness. Peace shall prevail. Let’s think beyond ourselves, our path of life might be in Depression but our destination is Elevation. Our past might be Gloomy but our Present is here, enjoy it, consider it as a blessing and make our Future, Glorious.

Wo Adaye Dillbari ho, ya Nawa-e-Aashiqana
Jo Dillo Ko Jeet lay wohi hay Fateh-e-Zamana

And remembering one line from Asian Olympic song, held in Karachi in 80ies: “Hath may dallay hath, ham jo challay sath, tou durr nahi hei’n Ujaallay.” That reminds me, it’s almost Dawn so you all have a Very Good Morning: Yes, DC will bring the Change as this Dawn brings the Daylight.

By: Naveed Farooqi