NIMHANS digitises largest mental health records dating from 1890s

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’s Heritage Museum by Director Prof. Pratima Murthy early this week.

According to an IANS report, NADI offers “a rare glimpse into over a century of mental health and neuroscience history at our institution,” NIMHANS shared in a post on social media platform X.

“This monumental collection, comprising over 37,000 patient files, represents one of the largest historical archives in mental health and neurosciences globally,” it added.

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Calling the records of conditions ranging from schizophrenia to epilepsy to tumours “invaluable”, NIMHANS said that they “span 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 — a free and open-source Integrated Library System — to facilitate access for students and researchers.

“The 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),” NIMHANS said.

“Each in-patient record captures the diagnostic understanding of its time, detailing treatment approaches and outcomes,” 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 “will require administrative and ethical approvals”, NIMHANS said, adding that the institute will share detailed guidelines on how to access these resources for training and research purposes, reports IANS.

“This initiative marks a significant step in preserving both our institution’s and the country’s mental health and neuroscience heritage, while also supporting future research in the field,” NIMHANS said.

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