A study of depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation in patients with schizophrenia

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.

Personal apparel endangering life.

Survival after accidental pressure exerted over neck is not common. In the literature also only few cases are available. Further, the victims or their relatives seek medical assistance only if complications arise and also it is not mandatory on the part of treating private practitioner to report such cases to the police. Findings in the living on the 4th day after accidental compression of the neck by the personal apparel are described in this article. Red eyes due to scleral haemorrhages are the most striking feature and the position of knot with ligature mark is also well marked.

Finger nail abrasions in manual strangulation (throttling).

Autopsy surgeons, often observed that the nail abrasions produced over the neck of victims in manual strangulation are almost straight and do not resemble the shape of nails, which are semi-circular/cresentic. A study is undertaken to know the reason for the same. During the study it is observed that the skin gets stretched while the assailant is applying pressure and only then nails produce indentations. Once the pressure is removed the stretched skin reverts back to its original position. Thus the semicircular indentations caused over the stretched skin appear straight after the skin regains its original position.