University of Colombo e-Repository

UCER (University of Colombo Electronic Repository) is a collection of scientific research publications by researchers at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This e-Repository serves to manage, preserve and make available the academic works of the faculty, postgraduate students, and research groups. The collection includes faculty publications, master's and doctoral theses abstracts. This repository is updated regularly, and new works are added to collections on a continuous basis

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Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permission from the publisher and submitting the signed declaration to ir@lib.cmb.ac.lk.

Recent Submissions

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with burns referred for psychiatric assessment to a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, 2021) Galhenage, J.S.; Perera, I.C.; Amarasuriya, M.; Hanwella, Raveen; Dayabandara, M.
Introduction: Burns are associated with significant psychological morbidity. The relationship between burns and psychiatric conditions is bidirectional. There are hardly any Sri Lankan studies describing psychological morbidity among adults with burns. Aims: To describe the psychological morbidity and associated factors in patients with burn injuries referred to the University Psychiatry Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Methods: A retrospective record-based study was carried out by extracting demographic and clinical data from records of all patients with burns, referred for psychiatric assessment to the University Psychiatry Unit, for two years from 1st January 2018 onwards. Associations were explored using the chi-square test. Results: Eighty-seven records were analysed; 56.3% were females. The mean age was 37.8 years (SD=15.8). The mean burn surface area was 36.2% (SD=16.6). The cause of the burn was accidental in 55%, self-inflicted in 31% and homicidal in 3.4%. Among all patients with burns, a past diagnosis of mental illness was detected in 35.6% (95% CI 25.6-46.6), substance use in 11.5%, and personality disorders in 10.3%. Current psychiatric morbidity after burn injury was diagnosed in 59.8% (95% CI 48.7-70.1), the most frequent being depressive disorder (32.2%), followed by adjustment disorder (16.1%) and delirium (6.9%). Female gender, being aged <30 years and a history of psychiatric illness were significantly associated with selfinflicted burns. Conclusions: Burn injuries were associated with psychological morbidity, particularly depression.
Association of Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein (AGP) with hsCRP: A marker of chronic inflammation and pro-inflammatory diet in adult women in the US
(University of Colombo, 2025) Kavirathne, K.B.M.; De Lanerolle Dias, M.; Waidyatilaka, I.; Lanerolle, P.
Chronic diseases are commonly associated with chronic inflammation (CI). hsCRP is a well-established Marker of CI, while a-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), extensively studied in acute inflammation, remains understudied as a potential marker of CI. This analysis of secondary data was aimed at identifying AGP as a potential marker of CI by studying the association of AGP with hsCRP, and other factors associated with chronic inflammation. A dataset of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from August 2021-2023 was used for secondary data analysis. The dataset contained waist-circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), hsCRP and AGP and two-day dietary recalls; from which mean percentage energy from sugars (TS), carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, total energy and dietary fiber (DF) were calculated. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between variables correlated with AGP. Receiver Operated Characteristic Curves (ROC) were used to determine an AGP cut off for CI using established cut offs for hsCRP. The dataset included 683 female participants aged 20-49. AGP significantly (p<0.001) correlated with hsCRP. AGP and hsCRP were significantly (p<0.001) correlated with TS, DF, WC, and BMI. Linear regression showed WC was positively, and DF was negatively correlated with AGP, corrected for TS. ROC curves showed AGP as a predictor of CI between the hsCRP range 3 mg/L to 7 mg/L. The AGP cut off obtained for CI was most sensitive and specific at an hsCRP cutoff of 4 mg/L where the AGP value obtained was 889.5 mg/L. This analysis suggests that AGP is a potential marker of CI, being most predictive at an hsCRP cut off of 4 mg/L. AGP correlated with WC, BMI, DF which are other factors associated with CI. This analysis highlights the need for further investigation and validation of AGP as a chronic inflammatory marker against other markers of CI.
Consultation liaison psychiatry in Sri Lanka: a case for sub-specialisation
(Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, 2010) Hanwella, Raveen
Liaison psychiatry has not been established in Sri Lanka as a sub-speciality. However many psychiatrists who work in general hospital settings are required to do liaison work. Patterns of referrals to a university psychiatry liaison unit were studied in order to identify the requirements in training for liaison psychiatry in Sri Lanka. A retrospective analysis of records of all new patients registered during a six month period from 1st January 2010 in the liaison unit of the University Psychiatry Unit, Colombo was carried out. A total of 1079 patients were referred to the liaison unit during this period. The commonest reason for referral was assessment of patients who were admitted to medical or surgical wards after deliberate self harm. The variety of clinical conditions referred to liaison units highlight that psychiatry trainees need a broad knowledge of general medicine and a wide repertoire of clinical and other skills to effectively manage their patients. Specialised liaison units should be started in the general hospitals and should form the nucleus for training and establishing the field of consultationliaison psychiatry as a subspecialty in Sri Lanka.
Catatonia
(Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, 2013) Hanwella, Raveen
Catatonia was first described by Karlbaum in 1874. It was subsequently catogorised as a subtype of schizophrenia. With the recognition of NMS as a form of catatonia and awareness that catatonia could occur in a number of psychiatric and medical illnesses, catatonia is now increasingly identified in clinical practice. Irrespective of the cause, the treatment of catatonia is the same as that of NMS. Benzodiazepine such as lorazepam in high dose are effective in the treatment of catatonia and ECT should be used in patients who do not respond adequately to benzodiazepines. In addition the underlying condition should be treated and in NMS antipsychotics should be withdrawn.
Association between demographic factors and occupational stress among physiotherapists in government hospitals, Colombo District, Sri Lanka
(University of Colombo, 2025) Manamperi, C.; Herath, P.
Occupational stress among healthcare professionals is a growing concern, particularly in physiotherapy, where high physical and emotional demands exist. Although international research has examined stress among physiotherapists, limited evidence is available in Sri Lanka, especially within government hospitals. Identifying how demographic factors influence occupational stress can guide targeted stress management interventions and improve professional well-being. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all physiotherapists working in government hospitals within the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. This included physiotherapists employed at tertiary-care teaching hospitals, base hospitals, and divisional hospitals, with a total of 127 participants. Stress levels were measured using two validated tools, the Occupational Stress Index (OSI) to assess work-related stress factors, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to capture general perceived stress. Demographic data, including age, gender, and years of experience, were collected via a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Of the 127 physiotherapists, 83 (65.4%) were female and most (38.6%) were aged 35 44 years. OSI scores showed significant associations with gender (p=0.001), age (p=0.03), and years of experience (p= 0.004), with higher stress reported among males, physiotherapists aged 55 years or older, and those with more than 10 years of service. In contrast, PSS scores showed no significant association with gender or age. These findings suggest that occupational stress captures workplace-specific stressors not fully reflected by the PSS. Demographic characteristics, including gender, age, and years of experience, are significantly associated with occupational stress among physiotherapists in government hospitals. The dual use of OSI and PSS provided complementary insights, distinguishing between occupational and general stress. Targeted, demographic-specific interventions are recommended to support the psychological well-being and professional sustainability of physiotherapists in Sri Lanka.