0
0
BENGALURU, July 4, 2025 — In a landmark achievement for mental health research, the National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru has launched the world’s largest digital archive of patient records, preserving and digitising health data that stretches back over 130 years.
The initiative, known as the NIMHANS Archiving Digital Initiative (NADI), brings together more than 37,000 meticulously catalogued patient files. These records, now housed at the institute’s Heritage Museum, provide an unparalleled glimpse into the evolution of mental health and neuroscience in India, spanning from the era of the Mysore Lunatic Asylum in the 1890s, through the establishment of the All-India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH) in 1954, and the eventual formation of NIMHANS in 1974.
NIMHANS Director Prof. Pratima Murthy officially inaugurated the archive earlier this week, highlighting its significance for students, researchers, and historians. The collection includes detailed documentation of a wide range of conditions, from psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression to neurological and neurosurgical cases like epilepsy, dementia, head injuries, and tumours.
To ensure accessibility and preservation, the records have been systematically categorised using KOHA, an open-source Integrated Library System. This enables easier research and analysis, and is expected to fuel new insights into the history and treatment of mental health and neurological disorders in India.
NIMHANS described the archive as “invaluable,” noting its diversity and depth. The digitisation effort not only safeguards fragile historical documents but also opens new avenues for research into trends, treatment outcomes, and the social context of mental health care over more than a century.
“This monumental collection, comprising over 37,000 patient files, represents one of the largest historical archives in mental health and neurosciences globally,” NIMHANS stated on social media.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available as of July 4, 2025, from NIMHANS and related news sources. The digitised patient records are intended for academic and research purposes, and access to sensitive data is subject to ethical guidelines and institutional policies. The details provided herein are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or legal advice.
