By Kajal Rajput
Bengaluru: The National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences (NIMHANS) at Bengaluru has launched the world’s largest archival patient records, digitising health data dating from the 1890s. The NIMHANS Archiving Digital Initiative (NADI), with more than 37,000 patient records, was consecrated at the institute鈥檚 Heritage Museum by Director Prof. Pratima Murthy early this week.According to an IANS report, NADI offers 鈥渁 rare glimpse into over a century of mental health and neuroscience history at our institution,鈥 NIMHANS shared in a post on social media platform X.鈥淭his monumental collection, comprising over 37,000 patient files, represents one of the largest historical archives in mental health and neurosciences globally,鈥 it added.Also Read:Rs 498 crore Polytrauma Centre sanctioned at NIMHANS North CampusCalling the records of conditions ranging from schizophrenia to epilepsy to tumours 鈥渋nvaluable鈥, NIMHANS said that they 鈥渟pan from the 1890s, during the era of the Mysore Lunatic Asylum through the period of All-India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH), established in 1954.NIMHANS was established in 1974 by merging the Mental Hospital, established by the Government of Mysore, and the AIIMH, established by the Government of India.The records have been meticulously categorised and catalogued using KOHA software 鈥 a free and open-source Integrated Library System 鈥 to facilitate access for students and researchers.鈥淭he diagnostic categories represented are notably diverse ranging from psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, depression) to neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, dementia), and neurosurgical cases (e.g., head injuries, tumours),鈥 NIMHANS said.鈥淓ach in-patient record captures the diagnostic understanding of its time, detailing treatment approaches and outcomes,鈥 it added.The initiative will enable researchers, students, and historians to explore diagnostic trends and treatment evolution. It will also help study the socio-medical context of health care in mental health and neuroscience in India.However, access 鈥渨ill require administrative and ethical approvals鈥, NIMHANS said, adding that the institute will share detailed guidelines on how to access these resources for training and research purposes, reports IANS.鈥淭his initiative marks a significant step in preserving both our institution鈥檚 and the country鈥檚 mental health and neuroscience heritage, while also supporting future research in the field,鈥 NIMHANS said.Also Read:NIMHANS-Modelled Institutes to be set up in Mysuru, Kalaburagi at Rs 100 Crore