The Niloufer Hospital was established in 1953 with the most generous donations of Princess Niloufer, daughter-in-law of the VIIth Nizam. Subsequently, the Hyderabad Children's Aid Society contributed to the development of the hospital.
The Department of Child Psychiatry, Niloufer Hospital was established in 1960. The treatment approach has been a multi-disciplinary approach with the services of Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers and Special Educators. Every child is evaluated by the team of experts and a treatment plan made according to the needs of the child, taking developmental, emotional, behavioural and the physical components of the child. They have been followed up on regular intervals depending on their requirement.
The Department sees over 3000 new cases and over 4000 follow up cases annually. The Department has been catering to the needs of the children with:
- Emotional problems like depression and anxiety
- Behavioural problems like oppositional behaviour and conduct disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
- Childhood Autism
- Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) like Dyslexia
- Development delays like Mental Retardation and Cerebral Palsy
- Special symptoms like Stuttering, Breath Holding Spells, Bed wetting, Encopresis etc.,
The present faculty in the Department of Child Psychiatry consits of:
- Dr. M. Gowri Devi - Professor and HOD Psychiatry
- Dr. L.V.R. Usha - Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
- Dr. P.K.N. Chowdaary - C.A.S. (Psychiatry)
- Mr. T. Madhavudu - Special Educator
- Mr. D. Niranjan - Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
- Dr. M. Gouri Reddy - Child Psychologist
- Dr. A. Kanakalata - Psychiatric Social Worker (Honorary)
The Niloufer Special School was started in 1969. The School has been the only centre offering free services to children from the weakest sections of the society, who are suffering from mental retardation and other disabilities. It is being run in a building inaugurated by Mother Theresa in 1979.
Services available at the Department of Child Psychiatry
A. CLINICAL
- Clinical Evaluation: The initial clinical evaluation is done by taking a detailed history and an examination of each child supported by appropriate schedulers depending on the clinical diagnosis. Evaluation of physical health and psycho social factors of the child are also done.
- Psychological Testing: Evaluation of intelligence, developmental, temperamental, emotional and behaviour of children using standardized psychological tests depending on the age of the child.
- Psychotherapy and Counselling: Children with emotional problems like convulsion disorders, depression, separation, anxiety, adjustment problems, phobias are counseled.
- Behaviour Modification: Parents of childen with behaviour problems like temper tantrums, conduct disorder are taught child management with behaviour modification techniques.
- Pharmacotherapy: Medication is used judiciously for childhood schizophrenia, major depression, aggression, disruptive behaviour etc.,
- Parent Counselling: Parents groups for Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia are given psycho education as well as counseled in remedial and behavioural treatments.
- Certificates: Certificates for Dyslexia, Autism and Mental Retardation are issued.
B. TEACHING
Teaching for undergraduates, Post graduates in Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology, Home Science, Nurses and Social Work students.
C. RESEARCH
The Department is currently pursuing a funded research on Childhood Autism Molecular markers. It has completed research projects for UNICEF, WHO, DPEP and ICMR in collaboration with NIN.
The Department also guides PG students in Psychiatry and Pediatrics in their thesis.
| Year |
New Cases |
Follow up Cases |
Total |
| 2004 |
3096 |
4023 |
7119 |
| 2005 |
2815 |
3416 |
6231 |
| 2006 |
2868 |
2774 |
5642 |
| 2007 |
2805 |
3677 |
6482 |
| 2008 |
3148 |
3221 |
6369 |
Adult and Child Psychiatry are exceptionally well developed in the Osmania Medical College from where generations of specialists continue to be trained every year.