Overview

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS), Bengaluru is a multidisciplinary institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the frontier area of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. NIMHANS was conferred a deemed university status by the UGC in 1994 and has recently been declared as an Institute of National Importance by an Act of the Parliament. The history of NIMHANS can be traced from The Lunatic Asylum renamed as Mental Hospital in 1925 by the then Government of Mysore. This hospital and All India Institute of Mental Health established in 1954 by Government of India were amalgamated on December 27, 1974, and thus was formed the autonomous National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). NIMHANS functions under the direction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka. NIMHANS receives resources from several national and international funding organisations for research.

Campus

The institute’s Library and Information Centre functions as a national clearing-house for mental health and neurosciences information in India with 51,000 volumes of print and electronic journals and access to 4700 e-journals provided through fiber optics with more than 700 nodes in the campus. The library boasts a seating capacity for 240 with internet and database access. The campus facilities include the Advanced Centre for Ayurveda in Mental Health and Neuro Sciences which has outpatient and inpatient facilities, the inpatient unit comprises two general wards and four pay wards supported with well-equipped Panchakarma therapy rooms; the Biomedical Engineering department provides Computer Network (LAN) and WiFi connectivity to more than 2500 nodes having 100 mbps speed; Cognitive Neurosciences laboratory, 3T MRI records EEG simultaneously with FMRI; canteen for staff, students and the public; a state-of-the-art convention centre facility for medical and other related programmes/conferences; three auditoriums with seating capacities ranging from 150 to 850 persons; a huge dining hall, guest and storage rooms and ample parking space are other facilities available on the campus. The campus also hosts a Neurobiology Research Centre with 14 laboratories equipped with sophisticated equipment to promote interdisciplinary research; Centre for Well Being to promote preventive and positive mental health and offer counselling services to the needy; a photography section for video coverage and photography as well as assisting clinicians in their dissertations/research; publication department that brings out annual reports, institute activity reports, research publications and health education materials periodically; Hindi cell, Free Legal Aid Cell which has advocates listed by Karnataka State Legal Aid Authority to provide free legal services to needy patients and the caregivers. A state-of-the-art gymkhana, a multi-gym for ladies and gents and facilities for badminton, carom, chess, table tennis, football, cricket, hockey volleyball etc., are also available.

Academics

Undergraduate Courses B.Sc: Radiography; Nursing Diploma: Clinical Neurophysiology Technology Postgraduate Courses PG students are required to learn Kannada for better communication with patients and their family members. The department of publication organises a three month Kannada Language Learning Programme in collaboration with the Department of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka. Central Animal Research Facility (CARF) - a certificate course on Care, Breeding and Management of Laboratory animals is also conducted. The course is of 60 hour duration. It is presented in the power point presentation format. In addition to this, there is practical training programme using routine laboratory animal techniques. MD: Psychiatry Fellowship: Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management; Psychiatric Rehabilitation M.Phil.: Clinical Psychology; Psychiatric Social Work; Neurophysiology; Biophysics; Neurosciences Masters in Public Health M.Sc: Psychiatric Nursing Ph.D: Institute Fellowship: Clinical Psychology; Neurophysiology; Psychiatric Social Work; Speech Pathology and Audiology; Biostatistics ICMR Fellowship: Clinical Neurosciences (ICMR Programme) External Fellowship: Biophysics; Biostatistics; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Clinical Psychology; Human Genetics; Neurochemistry; Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology; Neurological Rehabilitation; Neuromicrobiology; Neuropathology; Neurophysiology; Neurovirology; Nursing; Psychiatric Social Work; Mental Health Rehabilitation; Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Speech Pathology and Audiology; Super specialty Courses DM: Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology; Neurology; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Addiction Psychiatry; Neuroanaesthesia; Neuropathology M.Ch: Neurosurgery Post Doctoral Fellowship Courses 1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2. Neuroanaesthesia 3. Neurocritical Care 4. Neuroinfection 5. Hospital Infection Control 6. Neurology: Epilepsy/Movement Disorders/Neuromuscular Disorder/Stroke 7. Neuropathology 8. Transfusion Medicine 9. Neurological Rehabilitation 10.Psychiatry: Acute Care and Emergency Psychiatry/Community Mental Health/Addiction Medicine/Consultation Liasion Psychiatry/Geriatric Psychiatry/Obsessive Compulsive disorder & related disorders/Clinical Neuro Sciences and Therapeutics in Schizophrenia Student Observer at NIMHANS Observers are allowed in all medical departments along with Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Social Work. The observation can vary from 15 days to 3 months depending on the need and the department to which the observer is coming. Foreign nationals are also allowed to come as observers.

General Information

Admission

Undergraduate Courses B.Sc B.Sc in Nursing (Duration: 4 years): 77 Seats (Under the College of Nursing) Eligibility: Pre-University examination conducted by Department of Pre-University Education with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum 45% aggregate in the above subjects; Higher Secondary School Certificate Examination (12 years course) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum 45% aggregate; Senior School Certificate examination Pre-Degree Examination (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum 45% aggregate; an equivalent with 12 years of Schooling from a recognised Board or University with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum 45% aggregate. B.Sc in Radiography (Duration: 3 years): 10 (4 for sponsored) (5 seats reserved for Post Diploma candidates) Diploma Diploma in Clinical Neurophysiology Technology (Duration: 2 years): 6 Seats (2 for Sponsored candidates) Eligibility: B.Sc in Physics/Electronics/Computer Sciences with minimum II Class in the qualifying examination OR Diploma in Electronics/Electrical/Instrumentation/Computer (approved by Board of Technical Education) OR 3 years experience as EEG Technician after PUC. Postgraduate Courses PhD PhD in Biophysics (Duration: 3 – 5 years): Only External Fellowship Eligibility: M.Phil Biophysics / Neuroscience / MBBS / M.Sc in Biophysics / Physics / Biochemistry / Biotechnology/ Life Sciences / Physiology Ph.D in Biostatistics (Duration: 3 – 5 years): 1* Seat under Institute Fellowship (Candidates with external fellowship are also taken) Ph.D in Clinical Psychology Eligibility: M.Stat (ISI)/M.Sc in Statistics / Biostatistics / Medical Statistics / Health Statistics / Agricultural Statistics. Ph.D in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Duration: 3 – 5 years): Only External Fellowship Eligibility: MD in Psychiatry/DNB in Psychiatry/M.Phil in Clinical Psychology/M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work Ph.D in Mental Health Rehabilitation (Duration: 3 – 5 years): External Fellowship only. Eligibility: M.Sc in Psychosocial Rehabilitation/M.Phil in Clinical Psychology/M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work/ M.Sc in Psychiatric Nursing/MBBS Fellowship Programmes Fellowship in Psychiatric Rehabilitation (Duration: 1 year):* - 02 Seats (Under Medical) (1 sponsored) - 02 Seats (Under Non-Medical) (1 sponsored) Eligibility: Diploma in Psychiatry/Psychological Medicine or MD (Psychiatry) or DNB (Psychiatry), or M.Phil in Clinical Psychology / Psychiatric Social Work,or M.Sc in Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Those with MBBS and those with MA in Psychology / MSW / M.Sc Nursing who have had minimum of 2 years of experience of having worked in a mental health setting are eligible. (If M.Phil or Diploma is for only 1 year duration, then 1 additional year of experience in mental health setting is necessary) M.Phil M.Phil in Biophysics (Duration: 2 years): 3 Seats Eligibility: MBBS / B.Tech in Biotechnology / Electronics / Computer Science / M.Sc in Biophysics / Physics /Biochemistry / Biotechnology / Life Science / Zoology / Chemistry / Physiology M.Phil in Neurosciences (Duration: 2 years): 4 Seats Eligibility: MBBS / BE / B.Tech Electronics / Electrical / Computer Science / Biotechnology / M.Sc in Physics /Chemistry / Biochemistry / Anatomy / Physiology / Molecular Biology /Genetics / Biotechnology /Zoology / Life Science / MA Psychology / M.Sc Psychology M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work (Duration: 2 years): 21 Seats (3 for foreign/sponsored) Eligibility: 2 years full time MA/MSW degree in Social Work. M.Ch M.Ch in Neurosurgery: 10 Seats (Duration: 5 years for post MBBS candidates): 4 seats for Post MBBS, 6 Seats for Post MS/DNB – Within this 1 seat for sponsored candidate. However, if sponsored candidates are not available, it will go to the institute pool Eligibility: MBBS Or MS/DNB in General Surgery DM DM in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Duration 3 Years): 04 Seats (2 for sponsored candidates) Eligibility: MD/DNB in Psychiatry DM in Neuroanaesthesia (Duration: 3 years): 4 Seats If eligible candidates are not available under sponsored category for DM in Neuroanaesthesia course, such seats are filled by candidates under General Merit Category subject to availability of Senior Residency position at NIMHANS” Eligibility: MD/DNB in Anaesthesiology MD MD in Psychiatry (Duration: 3 years for post MBBS candidates; 2 years for post DPM candidates): 31 Seats (8 seats for Karnataka domiciles) (2 seats for sponsored candidates of which 1 seat is for domiciles of Karnataka). However, if sponsored candidates are not available, one seat will go to the Institute pool Eligibility: MBBS or DPM PDF PDF in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Duration: 1 year): 02 Seats (1 for sponsored candidate) Eligibility: MD/DNB in Psychiatry PDF in Neuroanaesthesia (Duration: 1 year): 4 Seats (2 for foreign / sponsored candidates) Eligibility: MD / DNB in Anaesthesia MPH Master of Public Health (MPH) (Duration: 2 years): 5 Seats (all 5 for sponsored candidates) Eligibility: MBBS from a recognised university and registered with a State Medical Council and currently working with Central or State Government’s health departments M.Sc M.Sc in Psychiatric Nursing (Duration: 2 years): 9 Seats Eligibility: candidate should be a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife or equivalent with any State Nursing Registration Council, minimum qualification is B.Sc. Nursing/B.Sc. Hons.Nursing/Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing with minimum of 55% aggregate marks from an institute recognised by INC and have one year experience after Basic B.Sc. Nursing as on the day of counseling and one year of work experience prior to or after post Basic B.Sc. Nursing as on the day of counseling. Diploma Courses Post Basic Diploma in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (Duration: 1 year): 45 Seats Eligibility: registered Nurse (R.N&R.M) in the State Nursing Council with one year experience as staff nurse Fees Please contact the institute for information on fee structure.

Achievement

Most research initiatives at NIMHANS have been inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary in nature. The main areas of research are: a) unraveling the molecular and sub-cellular mechanisms for disease process, b) linking clinical status with structural, biochemical, immunological and serological abnormalities searching for biomarkers, c) exploring genetic basis for disease causation, d) developing prognostic and clinical predictors and diagnostic inventory/checklists. During the year 2013-14, NIMHANS stepped up its research activities with various new projects and initiatives. A total of 767 scientific articles/communications were published -357 articles in International Journals, 216 in National Journals, and 194 other publications including monographs, manuals, chapters in books, articles in newspapers.

Accommodation

There are six hostels attached to the Institute – Kabini hostel and its annexe, staff hostel, hostel for men, hostel for ladies and two hostels for female nurses. Hostel accommodation is provided only to resident doctors, students, research fellows/officers and to trainees from other institutes. Employees (both permanent and adhoc) are not eligible for hostel accommodation. Students admitted to post-graduate courses or the Ph.D Programme or to M.Phil courses are provided accommodation in staff hostel, men’s or ladies’ hostels. The accommodation generally will be a single room facility and is partially furnished. Family accommodation cannot be guaranteed. Preference is given for senior residents and Ph.D students. The accommodation is free for junior residents. However, they are required to pay Rs.250/- per month towards electricity and water charges. Ph.D and M.Phil students are also required to pay Rs.250/- per month towards electricity and water charges along with hostel rates fixed by the Institute. Candidates admitted to the nursing course are provided rent free and partially furnished accommodation. Accommodation for the trainees is provided subject to availability only. Trainees should come prepared with alternate arrangement for accommodation. The accommodation charges is Rs.100/- per day for Indian nationals and 150 per day for Foreign nationals. Those residing in the hostels should compulsorily join the mess, which is run on a sharing basis.