Geographical differences in completed suicides in 2003 by gender in Turkey

To determine the gender differences between in terms of the method and reason of suicide. The suicidal proportions in seven regions of Turkey by sexes were compared according to three different age groups. The data were evaluated by Loglinear analysis. Suicide rates were higher in women in the region East Anatolia [P<0.01]. It was found that suicide by hanging was the most commonly used method in all the regions [P<0.001]. Committing suicide by hanging [P<0.01] and using firearms [P<0.001] were higher in men, whereas, committing suicide by taking chemical was higher in women [P<0.001]. Gender differences in suicidal behavior in this study clearly merit further research to generate information that can guide clinical practice and prevention strategies

Sulfasalazine plus chloroquine-induced mood disorder in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that affects approximately 0.5-1% of the world population. The current approach to this disease is to start an intensive treatment without delay once the disease has developed. Various studies in the literature have shown that combination of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs such as sulfasalazine and chloroquine offers a more advantageous treatment. Although these drugs may cause central nervous system adverse effects such as serious psychiatric problems including mania and psychosis, these symptoms have been reported to occur only infrequently. The present case study reports a female patient who was hospitalized due to bipolar affective disorder-mixed episode. She had been receiving 250 mg/day chloroquine for 9 months for rheumatoid arthritis without exhibiting any adverse psychiatric effects. However, upon receiving a combination of 250 mg/day chloroquine and 2 gr/day sulfasalazine, she developed serious psychiatric symptoms