RESUMEN
Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most devastating mental illnesses known to mankind. Apart from the classical psychotic symptoms of the illness, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation also contribute to the morbidity and mortality in schizophrenia. Adequate knowledge about these symptoms and their risk factors may help the clinicians for the better treatment of the patients. Aims: To study the prevalence of depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: The study subjects were assessed using a semi-structured proforma consisting of socio-demographic details, Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptoms of schizophrenia, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) for evaluation of depression and Columbia Suicidal Severity Rating scale (C-SSRS) to assess suicidal behaviour. Results: About one third of the patients with schizophrenia were depressed and about one fourth had suicidal ideation. The risk of developing depression was more in subjects from urban areas and with increasing age of the patients. Both depression and suicidal ideation correlated positively with high positive symptom score and general psychopathology score of PANSS. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are frequent in patients with schizophrenia and they need adequate assessment and management for recovery and normal functioning.
RESUMEN
Background: Crime is a complex psychological, sociological and situational behaviour. Personality theories provide possible insights into the psychological aspects of crime. The primary assumption behind the personality theories is that crime and delinquency are related to the presence of some personality traits. Aims: To assess the personality dimensions of offenders, mentally ill offenders and to compare them with normal control population. Methods: A semi-structured interview consisting of Socio-demographic details, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) were used to assess the personality of offenders, mentally ill offenders and normal population. Results: Offenders with and without mental illness did not differ in their personality, but both the groups differed significantly with the personality of general population. The offenders were more impulsive compared to normal population in general and offenders with mental illness were scoring high on total BIS-11 score and on non-planning impulsivity score compared to normal offenders. Conclusion: Personality traits can predict the person’s vulnerability to commit an offence.