A syndrome is a set of medical signs and symptoms that are correlated with each other and often associated with a particular disease or disorder. The word derives from a Greek word meaning “concurrence”. When a syndrome is paired with a definite cause, it becomes a disease. In some instances, a syndrome is so closely linked with a pathogenesis or cause that the words syndrome, disease, and disorder end up being used interchangeably. Psychiatric syndromes, often called psychopathological syndromes, refer both to psychic dysfunctions occurring in mental disorders and the study of the origin, diagnosis, development, and treatment of mental disorders. In simple words, “a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterise a particular abnormality or condition that usually form an identifiable pattern” is called a “Psychiatric Syndrome”. However, besides the psychiatric side, more relevant to this particular column is the general literary sense, where it means “a characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behaviour”, e.g., the ‘Not In My Back Yard’ syndrome. Therefore, without any intent to trespass into the experts’ domain, this piece is an endeavour to underscore the psychopathological syndromes afflicting our society and state without much realisation, let alone acknowledgement of the critical issue and subsequent efforts to recover from it.

25 truckloads of encroachment goods seized

In Russia, psychopathological syndromes are used........

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