Dr. Nishtha Chawla

Curriculum Vitae

Name of applicant: Dr Nishtha Chawla

Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor in Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS, New Delhi

 

Education/training:

Institution and location	Degree	Start date (dd/mm/yyyy)	End date (dd/mm/yyyy)
Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi, India	M.B.B.S.	01/08/2007	31/12/2012
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India	M.D. (Psychiatry)	01/07/2014	30/06/2017

 

1. Positions and Employment (previously held)

• Intern: (01/01/2012 to 31/12/2012) at Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated hospitals, New Delhi

• Junior Resident (non-academic): (01/01/2014 to 02/03/2014) in Department of Emergency Medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

• Junior Resident (academic): (01/07/2014 to 30/06/2017) in Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

• Senior Resident: (13/07/2017 to 12/07/2020) in Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

• Senior Resident (extended tenure): (13/07/2020 to 12/10/2020) in Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

• Senior Research Officer: (20/10/2020 – 30/06/2021) in NIHR (UK) funded project on outcomes of psychosis in Department of Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (Project No. N-1781)

• Senior Research Associate (Pool Officer): (01/07/2021 – 20/01/2022) in Department of Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

• Assistant Professor: (21/01/2022 – 01/12/2022) in Department of Psychiatry at Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi

 

2. Additional Qualification

• Diplomat of National Board (DNB), Psychiatry: December 2018

 

3. Memberships

• Member of National Academy of Medical Sciences (MNAMS) 2021

• Life Ordinary Member: Indian Psychiatric Society: 2018 (Membership No.: IPS/N19/17)

• Life Ordinary Member: Indian Psychiatric Society - North Zone: 2018 (Membership No.: IPS/N19/17)

• Life Associate Member: Indian Association for Social Psychiatry: 2016 (Membership No.: AM 03022)

 

4. Academic and Professional Honours

1. 2022 – Bhagwat Award for best research paper in early career, 74^th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 24^th – 26^th March, 2022, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

2. 2021 – Registration bursary for ISAM 2021 Global Congress held from 19^th to 21^st November 2021

3. 2021 – Fellowship for the 21^st WPA World Congress of Psychiatry held between 18^th to 21^st October 2021

4. 2020 – Fellowship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the post of Senior Research Associateship (Scientist’s Pool Scheme)

5. 2019 – Dr. B.B. Sethi award in Indian Association for Social Psychiatry held in Bhubaneswar, Orissa from 29^th November to 1^st December 2019

6. 2018 – Dr. Vidya Sagar Gold medal for best post graduate student in psychiatry for the year 2017

7. 2017 – Predoctoral Scholars Fellowship award by Society of Biological Psychiatry, USA (May 19^th, 2017)

8. 2016 – 1^st prize in QUIZ, CME on Alcohol use disorders: Contemporary issues, held in AIIMS, New Delhi (April 2016)

9. 2016 – Awarded “Most informative poster” titled, “Geriatric mental health services and policies in India: Miles to go before we reach” in National mid-term CME of Indian association for geriatric mental health (IAGMH), held in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

10. 2015 – 2^nd prize in QUIZ, Opioid dependence and its treatment - National CME on Opioid substitution therapy: Policy and practice, held in AIIMS, New Delhi (April 2015)

11. 2015 – Indian Council of Medical Research award for thesis (Medical post graduate award with grant of Rs. 25,000/-)

 

5. Contributions to Science

1. Editor/ assistant editor

1. Assistant editor of a multi-author book titled “Social Psychiatry Principles & Clinical Perspectives” (Indian Psychiatric Society Publication)

 

2. Original research

1. Chawla N, Deep R, Khandelwal SK, Garg A. Cingulum bundle integrity in schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations: A DTI tractography study. Indian J Med Res (Accepted, in Press)

2. Chawla N, Verma S, Ganesh R, Sarkar S, Ambekar A.Sexual relationship, self-esteem, dysfunction, and sexual satisfaction in treatment naïve men with heroin dependence. J Psychoact Drugs. 2021; 16:1-9.

3. Chawla N*, Verma S, Sarkar S, Ambekar A. Assessment of sexual behaviour among patients seeking treatment for opioid dependence & their knowledge and attitude about high-risk sexual behaviour: A cross-sectional observational study. Indian J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;36(1):29-36

4. Chawla N, Deep R, Khandelwal SK, Garg A. Reduced integrity of superior longitudinal fasciculus and arcuate fasciculus as a marker for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: A DTI tractography study. Asian J Psychiatr. 2019;30(44):179-186

5. Chawla N, Deep R, Khandelwal SK, Garg A. Beliefs about voices and their relation to severity of psychosis in chronic schizophrenia patients. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(5):465-471

6. Chawla N, Deep R, Gupta S, Vishwakarma A, Sen MS. Assessment of lethality and its clinical correlates in suicide attempters with mood disorders. Industrial psychiatry journal. 2022; 31(2):221.

7. Chawla N, Sood M, Chadda RK. Pattern and Experience of Internet Use Among Persons with Severe Mental Disorders: A Qualitative Study. Indian J Soc Psychiatry. 2022 (accepted, In Press)

8. Sen MS, Chattopadhyay A, Chawla N*, Ganesh R, Verma S, Sarkar S, Ambekar A. A comparative study of sexual behavior, dysfunction, satisfaction, relationship, and sexual quality of life amongst treatment-naïve and abstinent men (buprenorphine-maintained) with Opioid (heroin) dependence syndrome. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2023; 65(1):75-82.

9. Sood M, Chadda RK, Chawla N, Sharma M, Patel R, Mohan MP, Singh SP, Iyer S, Padmavati R, Thara R. Understanding needs of stakeholders and outcomes desired from a home-based intervention program for ‘difficult to treat’ schizophrenia and related disorders: A qualitative study. Indian J Psychiatry. 2022; 64(1):38-47

10. Chatterjee B, Jain R, Chawla N, Raghav R. Serum Corticotrophin Releasing Factor (CRF) and its correlation with stress and craving in detoxified opioid-dependent subjects. Asian J Psychiatr. 2022; 68:102964

11. Sagar R, Sen MS, Kumar N, Chawla N. Longitudinal assessment of disability amongst patients of bipolar and unipolar depressive disorders presenting to a tertiary care center in North India. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2022; 00207640211070158 (https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640211070158)

12. Balhara YPS, Sarkar S, Bera S, Gupta R, Chawla N, Lal R. Who seeks treatment for Dual Disorders?: Observations from a Dual Disorder clinic at National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre in India over 12 year period. Int J High Risk Behav and Addict. 2017;6(1):e32501

13. Singh Balhara YP, Jain R, Kuppili PP, Shukla A, Chawla N, Gupta R. Which Criteria to Use to Identify Metabolic Syndrome among Patients with Addictive Disorders?: Observations among Patients with Alcohol and Opioid Dependence Syndrome. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2018;22(4):565-568

 

3. Reviews

   1. Chawla N*, Gyawali S, Sharma P, Balhara YP. Internet-Based Learning for Professionals in Addiction Psychiatry: A Scoping Review. Indian J Psychol Med. 2022:02537176221082897.

   2. Sarkar S, Chawla N*, Tom A, Pandit PM, Sen MS. A systematic review of Indian studies on sexual dysfunction in patients with substance use disorders. Indian J Psychiatry 2021;63(4):326-334.

   3. Chawla N, Tom A, Sen MS, Sagar R. Psychological impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents: A systematic review. Indian J Psychol Med. 2021;43(4):294-299.

   4. Sarkar S, Chawla N, Dayal P. Smoking, and tobacco use cessation in the elderly. J Geriatr Ment Health. 2020; 7(2):70.

   5. Chawla N, Sarkar S. Defining "High-risk Sexual Behavior" in the Context of Substance Use. J Psychosexual Health. 2019;1(1):26-31.

   6. Balhara YPS, Sharma P, Chawla N. Education and training on addiction psychiatry in low and middle income countries: Observations from existing literature and recommendations going ahead. Asia Pac Psychiatry 2021:e12492.

 

4. Case report/ Case series/ Correspondence/ Perspective/ Symposia/ Letter to editor

   1. Sen MS, Deep R, Chawla N, Sagar R, Chadda RK. Relationship of Month-Wise COVID-19 National Statistics to Pediatric Psychiatric Emergencies Presenting at a Tertiary Care Center. Indian J Paediatr. 2022;12:1.

   2. Sood M, Chawla N, Shukla T, Patel R, Singh P, Mohan MP, Singh SP, Chadda RK. A process narrative of developing a mobile app (Saksham) for patients with schizophrenia and related disorders in low resource settings. World Soc Psychiatry. 2021; 3(3):183.

   3. Sood M, Chawla N, Shukla T, Patel R, Bhogal J, Chadda RK. Challenges in conducting mental health research during coronavirus disease 19 pandemic and approaches to handle them. World Soc Psychiatry. 2021; 3(3):215.

   4. Singh R, Chawla N*, Chadda RK. Letter to editor regarding “COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: An emotional health perspective of Indians on Twitter”. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020; 20764020975795 (doi: 10.1177/0020764020975795.)

   5. Sen MS, Chawla N, Sagar R. Focussing on ‘mental hygiene’ in times of ‘hand hygiene’. Indian J Med Res. 2021; 153(1):238.

   6. Chawla N, Sharma P, Sagar R. COVID 19. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Adolescents: Is There a Silver Lining?. Indian J Paediatr. 2020;14:1.

   7. Dhandapani N, Chawla N*, Chadda RK. Letter to the editor regarding "Gender differences in exposure to potentially traumatic events and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by racial and ethnic group". Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 2020 (DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.06.006.)

   8. Sagar R, Chawla N, Sen MS. Is it correct to estimate mental disorder through online surveys during COVID-19 pandemic?. Psychiatry Res. 2020;291:113251

   9. Sagar R, Chawla N, Sen MS. Preserving the “human touch” in times of COVID-19. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;54:102224

   10. Vishwakarma A, Tarwani J, Chawla N*, Mandal P, Dayal P, Agrawal A, Ambekar A. Mephentermine dependence with induced psychosis: A series of two cases. J Subst Use. 2020;18:1-3

   11. Chawla N, Mandal P, Chatterjee B, Dhawan A. Tramadol-associated pica. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2019;73(1):43

   12. Chawla N, Yadav P, Pattanayak RD, Khandelwal SK. Identification and management of "delirious mania:" A rare clinical entity. Ind Psychiatry J. 2018;27(1):151-153

   13. Chawla N, Charan D, Kumar S, Pattanayak RD. Pica associated with initiation of atypical antipsychotic drugs: Report of two cases. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2016;70(8):363-4

   14. Chawla N, Kumar S, Balhara YPS. Olanzapine induced skin eruptions: a case report. Indian J. Psychol. Med. 2017;39(4):537-538

   15. Sharan P, Kathiresan P, Chawla N. Vilazodone induced decrease in libido: A case report. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2018;20(1):17l02150

   16. Sarkar S, Chawla N. Clinical staging model in bipolar disorder: A few considerations. Bipolar Disord. 2019;21(3):278-279

   17. Chawla N, Sarkar S, Sagar R. The meeting of Bill and Bob: Helping the cause of countless alcoholics. J Mental Health Hum Behav. 2017;22(1):72-73

   18. Chawla N, Sood M. Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys. Natl Med J India. 2016;29(4):220-221

 

5. Chapters

1. Chadda, R. K., Chawla, N., & Sarkar, S. Concept of Social Psychiatry. InSocial Psychiatry: Principles & Clinical Perspectives. Chadda, Kumar, Sarkar (ed.), Indian Psychiatric Society, 2018, 43-58 (ISBN No. 978-93-5270-422-4).

2. Ambekar A, Chawla N. (2019) Sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases. In Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS, 3^rd edition (In press)

3. Ambekar A, Chawla N. (2019) Cannabis: From neurobiology to Policy (In Press)

4. Chatterjee B, Sen MS, Chawla N. Substance use in adolescence. In Basics of Addiction Psychology, NDDTC & AIIMS, New Delhi 2019, 112-126 (ISBN No. 978-93-5346-328-1)

5. Chawla N, Deep R. Managing stress in general hospital setting. In Handbook of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 2020, 80-89 (ISBN: 978-93-5407-984-9)

6. Deb KS, Chawla N. Research Methodology in the Digital Era. InCyberpsychiatry. Bhave S (ed.), Indian Psychiatric Society, 2021, 163-175 (ISBN: 978-93-5270-217-6)

7. Chadda RK, Sood M, Chawla N, Sen MS. Family-based care in severe and enduring mental illness in low resource settings. InEssentials of Global mental Health. Okpaku S (ed.), Springer Nature, Switzerland, 2021. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70134-9_103-1)

8. Sarkar S, Chawla N, Sen MS, Gupta R. Indian research on sexuality & sexual disorders (IPS publication: In press)

9. Deep R, Chawla N. Neurocognition in bipolar disorder (IPS-SZ publication: In press)

10. Chadda RK, Chawla N. History taking. Clinical methods in psychiatry (AIIMS publication: In press)

11. Sagar R, ChawlaN, Sen MS. Assessment specific to children and adolescents. Clinical methods in psychiatry (AIIMS publication: In press)

 

6. Reviewer in medical journals

1. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

2. Frontiers Neuroscience

3. Frontiers Public Health

4. Frontiers in Psychiatry

5. Indian journal of Social Psychiatry

 

7. Presentations at international conferences

1. Chawla N, Yadav P, Pattanayak RD, Khandelwal SK. “Delirious mania: A case report and brief review” at Regional Congress of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 25^th – 27^th September 2015, Kochi, Kerala, India

2. Chawla N, Kuppili P, Shukla A, Gupta R, Jain R, Balhara YPS. Difference in Serum HDL levels between alcohol dependent individuals & heroin dependent individuals: Findings from a cross sectional observational study.” at Regional Congress of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 25^th – 27^th September 2015, Kochi, Kerala, India

3. Kuppili P, Chawla N, Pattanayak RD. “Auditory hallucinations in context of hearing impairment: Critical analysis and review of literature.” at Regional Congress of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 25^th – 27^th September 2015, Kochi, Kerala, India

4. Chawla N, Kumar S, Dhawan A. “Social anxiety disorder: Lack of Indian research” at 22nd world congress of social psychiatry (WASP), 30^th November-4^th December 2016, New Delhi, India

5. Preethy K, Chawla N, Sharan P. “Vilazodone induced decreased libido: A case report” at 22^nd world congress of social psychiatry (WASP), 30^th November-4^th December 2016, New Delhi, India

6. Gupta P, Chawla N, Verma R, Sood M. “Socio-demographic and Clinical profile of Patients Enrolled in SMI Clinic in a Tertiary Care Centre” at 22^nd world congress of social psychiatry (WASP), 30^th November-4^th December 2016, New Delhi, India

7. Chawla N, Gupta P, Mahapatra A, Verma R, Kumar N. “Antipsychotic Drug Precipitated Primary Parkinson’s: A Case Report.” at 73^rd annual meeting of Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP), 18^th – 20^th May 2017, San Diego, California, USA

8. Chawla, N, Pattanayak RD, Garg A, & Khandelwal SK. “Assessment of White Matter Abnormalities in Cingulate Fasciculus through Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Patients with Schizophrenia with Auditory Hallucinations” at 73^rd annual meeting of Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP), 18^th – 20^th May 2017, San Diego, California, USA

9. Deep R, Jain R, Chawla N, Modak T, Ganesh R. “Response to Lithium prophylaxis among patients with Bipolar Disorder: Relationship to clinical factors and inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α)” at 21^st annual ISBD conference, 20^th – 23^rd March 2019, Sydney, Australia

10. Chawla N, Deep R, Gupta S, Vishwakarma A, Sen MS. “Clinical Characteristics of Suicide Attempters among Patients with Recurrent Mood Disorders Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Care Centre” at 23^rd annual ISBD conference, 13^th – 15^th May 2021 (Global Virtual Conference)

11. Chawla N, Deep R, Gupta S, Vishwakarma A, Sen MS. Correlates of Lethality in Suicide Attempters in Patients with Recurrent Mood Disorders Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Care Centre at 21st WPA World Congress of Psychiatry held between 18th to 21st October 2021

12. Chawla N, Chatterjee B, Saini R, Sen MS, Pakhre A, Verma S. Predictors of treatment outcome in patients of heroin dependence initiated on naltrexone maintenance treatment: A 3-month follow-up study at ISAM 2021 Global Congress held virtually from 19^th to 21^st November 2021

13. Sood M, Singh P, Deb KS, Chawla N. Symposium on “Development of mobile apps – ‘Saksham’ and ‘Disha’ for persons with psychosis” at World Association of Psychiatry Asia Pacific Hybrid Congress held between 16^th to 18^th September 2021 at AIIMS, New Delhi

 

8. Presentations at national conference

1. Chawla N, Balhara YPS, Dhawan A. “Internet Based Learning In Addiction Psychiatry for Professionals: Review” at 68^th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 21st - 24th January 2016, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

2. Chawla N, Balhara YPS, Gupta R, Bera SC, Sarkar S, Lal R. “Profile of Treatment Seeking Individuals at a Dual Disorder Clinic of A Tertiary Care De-Addiction Centre In India Over 12 Year Period” at 68^th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 21st - 24th January 2016, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

3. Chawla N, Kumar S, Pattanayak RDP. “Pica associated with Risperidone use: A Case Report” at 68^th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 21st - 24th January 2016, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

4. Chawla N, Kumar S, Balhara YPS. “Olanzapine Induced Skin Eruptions: A Case Report” at 68^th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 21st - 24th January 2016, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

5. Chawla N, Deep R, Khandelwal SK, Garg A. “Hallucinatory Experiences of Schizophrenia Patients with Persistent Auditory Hallucination” at 71^st Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 31^st January – 3^rd February 2019, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

6. Chawla N, Deep R, Khandelwal SK, Garg A. “Diffusion Tensor Imaging Studies in Auditory Hallucinations: A review” at 71^st Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 31^st January – 3^rd February 2019, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

7. Vishwakarma A, Chawla N, Sarkar S. “Buprenorphine induced skin eruptions: A case Report” at 71^st Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 31^st January – 3^rd February 2019, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

8. Vishwakarma A, Chawla N, Ambekar A. “Mephentermine induced psychosis: A case report” at 71^st Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 31^st January – 3^rd February 2019, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India