Dr. Aruni Hapangama

MBBS, MPhil, MDpsych, FRANZCP
Senior Lecturer (Grade I)
Head, Department of Psychiatry

Specialization

General Adult Psychiatry

Research Interests

Publications

Books

Recognizing and referring emotionally distressed undergraduates: a guide for university teachers. Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A; Hapangama, Aruni, 2015. ISBN: 9789554563469.

Publications in Journals

Hapangama, A., de Silva, R., Williams, S.S., de Zoysa, P.T., Wickremasinghe, R.., Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A. and Ravindran, A., 2021. Randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour group therapy (CBGT) compared to a waitlist control in the treatment of university students with social anxiety disorder. Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, 8(2), pp.E151 1–10. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jpgim.8327

Hapangama, A., Kuruppuarachchi, K., & Hanwella, R. (2021). Achievements and challenges in psychiatric education and training in Sri Lanka. BJPsych International, 1-3. doi:10.1192/bji.2021.35

Isuru A, Hapangama A, Ediriweera D, Samarasinghe L, Fonseka M, Ranawaka Prevalence and predictors of new onset depression in the acute phase of stroke. Asian J Psychiatr. 2021 May;59:102636. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102636. Epub 2021 Apr 6. PMID: 33848806.

Baminiwatta, A., De Silva, S., Hapangama, A., Basnayake, K., Abayaweera, C., Kulasinghe, D., Kaushalya, D. and Williams, S., 2021. Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of frontline and non-frontline healthcare workers in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal, 66(1), pp.16–31. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v66i1.9351

Baminiwatta, A.K.A.B.; Gunesekara, T.; Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Hapangama, A.; Harshini, M.L.; Bandara, T.R.; Perera, K.M.N. Validity and clinical utility of a Sinhalese version of the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS). Sri Lanka. Journal of Psychiatry. 2021;12(1): 25–30
Hapangama, A., & Kuruppuarachchi, K. (2020). Maternal mental health services in Sri Lanka: Challenges and solutions. BJPsych International, 1-3. doi:10.1192/bji.2020.52

Hapangama, A., Kuruppuarachch, L.A., de Silva, R., Wickremasinghe, A.R., Ravindran, and Williams, S.S., 2020. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR) Sinhala Version. Ceylon Medical Journal, 65(1-2), pp.28–31. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v65i1-2.9134

Gunasekera, T., Fernando, R., Peris, M.U.P.K., Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A. and Hapangama, A., Awareness and attitudes regarding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among patients and caregivers at a psychiatry unit in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, 11(2), pp.20–25. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i2.8255
Isuru A, Ediriweera D, Pathmeswaran A, Embuldeniya A, Narammalage H, Warnakulasuriya S, Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A, Hapangama A. Betel-quid use and its effects on symptoms of schizophrenia and extrapyramidal symptoms among a group of patients in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;11(1):32–8.
Hapangama, A. and Perera, S.R., 2020. Non-invasive brain stimulation – a new way forward for psychiatric disorders?. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, 11(1), pp.61–62. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i1.8245
Hapangama A, KALA Kuruppuarachchi. Gabapentin Misuse . A silent Epidemic.SL J Psychiatry 2019; 10(2): 15-16
Hapangama A, S. R. Perera Snips from the Journals. Psychosis, ethnicity and migration. SL J Psychiatry 2019; 10(2): 15-16
Premawardhena A. K Ranawaka U.K. Hapangama A, Pathmeswaran A. Weatherall D Headache: an important symptom possibly linked to white matter lesions in thalassemia. Journal: British Journal of Hematology. Premawardhena A. K Ranawaka U.K. Hapangama A, Pathmeswaran A. Weatherall D, et al. 05 March 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.15825
Niriella, M. A., A. Hapangama, H. P. Luke, K. Withanaarachchi, A. Pathmeswaran, K. A. Kuruppuarachchi, and H. J. de Silva "Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections and their relationship to injectable drug use in a cohort of Sri Lankan prison inmates" The Ceylon medical journal 60, no. 1 (2015): 18-20.

Hapangama A, Kuruppuarachchi KA, Pathmeswaran A. Substance use disorders among mentally ill patients in a General Hospital in Sri Lanka: prevalence and correlates. Ceylon Medical Journal. 2013 Sep 27;58(3).
Patient choice in psychiatry in low- and middle-income countries. K.AL.A.Kuruppuarachchchi, A.Hapangama. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008; 192: 233 - 234.
K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachch chi, A. Hapangama.Postnatal Mental Disorders. Ceylon Medical Journal.2009; 54(2): 65-37

K.AL.A.Kuruppuarachchchi, A.Hapangama Patient choice in psychiatry in low- and middle-inc ome countries. (Correspondence).The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008; 192: 233 - 234.

Deepthi C. de Silva, P. Jayawardana, A. Hapangama Attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy for genetic disorders among healthcare workers in a selected setting in Sri Lanka. (Original Paper)., E.G.D.N. Su raweera, D. Ranjani, S. Fernando, C. Karunasena, S.Jinadasa. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2008; 28(8): 715-721.

K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi, A.Hapangama Use of Herbal Medications among the Out Patients in a Psychiatry Clinic in Sri Lanka. (Original Paper). International Psychiatry.2008; 5(3): 73-75.

A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Ethno psychopharmacology. (Correspondence) International Psychiatry.2008; 5(3): 76.

Dextromethorphan abuse. (Research letter). A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Ceylon Medical Journal. 2008; 53(3): 109-110.

A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi.Volatile substance misuse, is it often missed? (Research letter). Ceylon Medical Journal.2007; 52(2): 68.

K.A.L.A.K uruppuarachchi, Aruni Hapangama. Patient Choice in Psychiatry. (e-letter). British Journal of Psychiatry. 28th November. 2007.

K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi, A.Hapangama. Seclusion and Physical Restraint in Developing Countries.(e-letter). British Journal of Psychiatry. 31st January 2008.

K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi, Aruni Hapangama. Medical Model for Developing Countries.(e-letter). British Journal of Psychiatry. 21st February 2008.

K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi, Aruni Hapangama. A response to Cost of scaling up mental health care in low- and middle - income .e- letter). British Journal of Psychiatry (25 April 2008).

K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi, Dr.A.Hapangama, A response to psychosocial intervention for war - affected children in Sierra Leone .(e- letter). British Journal of Psychiatry (22 May 2008).

K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi, Dr.A.Hapangama. The need for Structured risk assessment in Psychiatry in Developing Countries .( e- letter) British Journal of Psychiatry (8 September 2008).

Prof.K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi MD,FRCPsych(UK) , Dr. Aruni Hapangama MD, Safety of Mental Health Workers in Developing Countries. Psychiatric Bulletin, 11 May 2008.

Publications in Conference Proceedings (Oral and Poster Presentations)

Awareness regarding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among patients and carers at a psychiatry unit in a tertiary care hospital. A. Hapangama, T.Gunasekara, R Fernanado, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Accepted for 17^th Annual academic sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2019
Awareness and usage patterns of substance among students at a medical faculty in Sri Lanka”. A.Hapangama, R.Fernando, K.A.L.A.Kuruppurachchi. Accepted for 17^th Annual academic sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2019
Determinants of medical officers’ attitudes towards elderly patients in three selected hospitals Ratnayake RKDGS, Kuruppuarchchi KALA, A. Hapangama ,et al. Accepted for 17th Annual academic sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2019.
Prevalence and correlates of post stroke depression at a strokes unit in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. A.Hapangama, I A.Isuru, M. Fonseka, U.Ranawaka. Royal College of Psychiatrists, United Kingdom, June, 2018
Prevalence of antenatal and post-natal depression and it’s correlations in mothers attending to Tertiary care Hospital in Sri-Lanka. A .Hapangama, I. A Iusru, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi, A. Pathmeswaran. Royal College of Psychiatrists, Faculty of Perinatal Psychiatry Annual Scientific Conference. November 2017
Awareness and usage patterns of substance among students at a medical faculty in Sri Lanka”. A.Hapangama, S de Siva, K.A.L.A.Kuruppurachchi. 14th Annual academic sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2017
Prevalence and correlates of betel chewing and its effects on symptoms of schizophrenia among patients attending a general hospital in Sri Lanka. A.Hapangama, Isuru LLA A.Pathmeswaran, K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi. . Royal College of Psychiatrists, Annual Scientific Conference 2017
Neurological manifestations of patients with haemoglobin E Beta thalassemia (and other thalassaemias). Anuja Premawardhena, Udaya K Ranawaka, Aruni Hapangama, David Weatherall et al. Hb E/b Thalassemia Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. August 2016
“Silent” white matter changes in brain MRI in patients with haemoglobinopathies and their clinical significance Premawardana AP, Udaya K Ranawaka, Aruni Hapangama, Weatherall DJ. 129th Anniversary International Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. 2016.
Prevalence and correlates of post stroke depression at a strokes unit in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. A.Hapangama, L A.Isuru, U.Ranawaka.World Disability & Rehabilitation Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2016
Prevalence and correlates of post stroke depression at a strokes unit in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. A.Hapangama, L A.Isuru, U.Ranawaka. Sessions of the Association of Neurologists Sri Lanka, 2015
Reliability and factor analysis of the Sinhalese version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self Reported version (LSAS-SR). Hapangama A, Da Silva T, Kuruppuarachchi K.A.L.A, Ravindran A, Wickremasinghe R Williams S.S,. 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. July 2015
Prevalence and correlates of betel chewing and its effects on symptoms of schizophrenia among patients attending a general Hospital in Sri Lanka. Isuru LLA,Kuruppuarachchi K.AL.A., Pathmeswaran A, Hapangama A. Annual Academic sessions Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Colombo 2015.
Attitudes of medical students of a Sri Lankan University towards psychiatry and psychiatric illnesses .A.Hapangama, Isuru LLA, M.Chandrathilake, K. A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi. Annual Academic sessions Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Colombo 2015.
Prevalence and correlates of antenatal and postnatal depression in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka, Isuru LLA,, Samarasinghe L N P, Kuruppuarachchi K.AL.A., Pathmeswaran A, Hapangama A. Annual Academic sessions Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Colombo 2015.
Substance use disorders and their correlates among inmates in a prison in Sri Lanka. Hapangama A, Niriella M, Pathmeswaran A, Dassanayake DGBMS, Kuruppuarachchi K.A.L.A, de Silva H J. Annual Academic sessions Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Colombo 2015.
Cross Cultural validation of the Sinhalese version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR): study of the items and internal consistency. Hapangama A, Da Silva T, Williams S.S, Kuruppuarachchi K.A.L.A, Ravindran A, Wickremasinghe R. Annual Academic sessions Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Colombo 2015.
Attitudes of medical students of a Sri Lankan University towards psychiatry and psychiatric illnesses .A.Hapangama, A.Embuldeniya, H. Narammalage, M.Chandrathilake, K. A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi. South East Asian Regional Association for Medical Education. SEARAME .November Colombo Sri Lanka. 2014
Cross-cultural validation of the Sinhalese version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR): study of the items and internal consistency. Hapangama A, Williams S.S, Kuruppuarachchi K.A.L.A, Ravindran A, Wickremasinghe R. Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya. Annual Research Symposium, October 2014.
Prevalence and Correlates of antenatal and postnatal depression in Gampaha district. Hapangama A, Kuruppuarachchi K.A.L.A., Pathmeswaran A. Annual Academic sessions Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Kandy. 2014
Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis B infections and their relationship with Injectable drug use in a cohort of Sri Lankan Prisoners. M.A Niriella, A. Hapangama, H.P.H Luke, A. Pathmeswaran, K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi, H. J de De Silva. 127th Anniversary International Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. 15-18th July 2014
Prevalence and Correlates of antenatal and postnatal depression. Hapangama A, Chandrasiri O, Gamage S, Kuruppuarachchci K.A.L.A., Pathmeswaran A. Annual Academic sessions Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo. 2013
Burden and impact of mental illness of caring for the mentally ill on Female caregivers. A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Critical women: women as agents of challenge through higher education. Colombo, Sri Lanka. March. 2012.

Attitudes of nursing officers towards mental illness and psychiatric patients. Kuruppuarachchi KALA, Hapangama A, Seneviratne AN, Wijesinghe CA, Isuru LLA, Herath HMUK, Fernando WKTR, Fonseka TPM. Annual Academic Sessions, Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, Feb. Colombo, Sri Lanka 2011.

Substance Use among the Mentally Ill Patients in a Ge neral Hospital in Sri Lanka: Prevalence and Correlates. Hapangama A, KuruppuarachchiK.A.L.A., P athmeswaran A. Academic sessions 2011. Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo.

Burden on Female Informal Carers of people with Mental Illness. A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Annual Academic Sessions. S ri Lanka College of Psychiatrists. March 2008.

Attitudes and awareness of patients and their carers with regard to Electro- Convulsive Therapy. A.Hapangama, J.S.Galhenage, W.M.S.Wijesinghe, K.A. L.A.Kuruppuarachchi, Annual Academic Sessions. Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists. March 2008.

Stories of Rebirth in Psychiatry. KALA. Kuruppuarachchi, LT wijeratne, IS Jayathilake, A.Hapangama. 3rd International Conference of South Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations. Kalutara, Sri Lanka November 2007.

Clozapine induced Hypertension- a case history. A.Hapangama, LT Wijeratne, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Annual Academic Sessions. Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists. February 2007.

Burden on Informal Carers of people with Mental Illness. A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Second International Confe rence of SAARC Psychiatric Federation. Kathmandu. Nepal. November 2006.

Use of Herbal Medications among the Psychiatric Outpatients. A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Second International Confe rence of SAARC Psychiatric Federation. Kathmandu. Nepal. November 2006.

Effects of demographic/cultural factors on the mean time lag in the first presentation of the main psychiatric illnesses at the Professorial Psychiat ric Clinic, North Colombo Teaching Hospital.A.Hapangama, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachcchi. Annu al Academic Sessions. Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists. February 2006.

Outcome of Clozapine Treatment for Patients with Tr eatment Resistant Schizophrenia at Professorial Unit, North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ra gama. A.Hapangama, MUPKPeris, R.Jayawardene, D Fernando. Annual Academic Sessions. Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists. May 2005.

Patients’ attitude towards services provided by the outpatient clinics at the North Colombo Teaching Hospital. A.Hapangama, WDD Fernando, MAR Jay awardena, K.A.L.A.Kuruppuarachchi. Annual Academic Sessions. Sri Lanka College of Psychi atrists. May 2005

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