CV and articles(cont.2)

CV

Name Dr. Ratna Bilwani

Address ‘Better We’ - Child and Parent Guidance Clinic,

Gf, Alokik Avenue, Lane opp. US Pizza, Nr. Commerce College six roads, Navrangpura – 380 009

Phone – (Home) +9179-27437430, (Work) +9179- 26462819

Date of birth – 26.11.1949

E-mail address - ratnabilwani@yahoo.com

Current Post -

Currently practising Child and Adult psychiatry in a Multidisciplinary Set up for last 25 years, specially working on children with Dyslexia.

Qualification - M.B.B.S. with 5 gold medals and distinctions (December 1971)

- Pt. J.N.M. Medical College, Raipur

M.D. (Psychiatry) (June 1977)

- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, N.Delhi

Teaching Experience –

As Pool officer and Assistant professor of Psychiatry for about 7 years and then took charge of Child Guidance Clinic at Civil Hospital and BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad. Worked from 1985 to 1998 teaching Child Psychiatry to Post graduate students.

Other Activities –

Having undertaken School counselling programs for social skill training for adolescents, I also hold workshops for Personality Enhancement, Stress Management, and Effective Parenting.

Conducted workshops and lectures on Child Mental Health all over Gujarat as well as in other states for various organisations of Physicians, Pediatricians and Psychiatrists.

Television, Internet and Mobile Addiction

By Dr.Ratna Bilwani

It is essential for mental health professional to study the influence of media on children and adolescents as most of their time is utilized in television, computers and cell phones. Media not only plays a role in socializing and educating society but also promotes various detrimental effects especially on children.

Are these Media tools addictive?

If someone can be addicted to television internet, mobile phones, then people could be addicted to anything - this criticism stands true for many cases. Addictions are usually described as either physical dependence and or psychological addiction, these addictions are only behavioral not physical.

According to DSM IV criteria for substance abuse disorder we can see lot of similarities in applicability of these criteria to addiction to TV, Internet and Mobiles. The criteria like Tolerance, Withdrawal, Use of Substance for longer/ larger amounts, desire to control, excessive time spent to obtain, and compromise with social occupational activities are very much applicable.

For mental health professionals, television addiction is believed to exist as a type of behavioral addiction similar to pathological gambling. In 1990, a symposium at the convention of the American Psychological Association developed the definition of TV addiction as "Heavy television watching that is subjectively experienced as being to some extent involuntary, displacing more productive activities, and difficult to stop or curtail." Though not considered an "official" mental disorder, there is a growing body of evidence that pieces together the framework of the TV addict.

Now a new form of addiction, "mobile phone addiction" seems to have overtaken many people and children are no exception. Gaming addiction has also been increasingly reported as an area of concern in adolescents.

What makes gadgets addictive? - TV, internet and other such modes can be addictive as viewing is passive, emotionally gratifying with out any negative, painful and punitive interactions.

Boredom, not being involved in their own constructive activities, inconsistent discipline and inadequate supervision can add to being addicted. Association with emotional and behavior problems are seen in most cases presented in clinic for help.

Teenagers are more at risk as they are unsupervised.

Management- as most of the children reported for treatment have associated Emotional, behavior and educational problems.

• They need integrated multidisciplinary therapy

• Not only stopping the addictive behavior but a switch from - inaction to action.

• Set behavior strategy to face consequences of misuse (prefixed by a contract).

Preventive steps by parents –

• In childhood one needs to explore, experience smell, touch and enjoy chores with parents, as young children learn through direct exploration and manipulation.
• Parents need to actively help child set goals and work on their priorities. Understand the basic principles of rearing children towards healthy happy and emotionally balanced personalities.

Conclusion – Technology today is a part and parcel of our lives. Every change brings with it its merits and demerits; so too with electronic media. But so far merits have far outweighed demerits. We have to take care of our future generations by bringing up our children to be mature and mentally healthy adults so we need to teach them the right mode of handling these Gen-next gadgets.

Information on various aspects of TV, internet, mobile phones and video games can usefully contribute to better and holistic understanding and management of psychiatric ailments in children and adolescents. Prevention at all levels should be essential part of our practice.