A Retrospective Analysis of 105 Drowning Victims with Psychiatric Disorders / 法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the features of drowning victim s with psychiatric disorders to support further investigation on such cases. Methods O ne hundred and five archives of drowning victim s with psychiatric disorders from January 2010 to June 2014 in H arbor Public Security Subbureau, Shanghai Public Security B ureau were reviewed. The decedents’ general inform ation, autopsy findings, case inves-tigation data and disease histories were statistically analyzed. Results O f the 105 cases, 104 were sui-cides. Most decedents were poorly educated. Most suicides occurred in warm clim ate, and the corpses were usually found within 2 days. Most decedents had no suicide history and notes, but had abnorm al m ental or behavior changes before suicide. D epression, depression status and schizophrenia were the m ain types of psychiatric disorders, and only 9 decedents had received regular therapies before their deaths. Conclusion Mental disorder is a high risk factor in the drowning victim s. G uardians should be aware of psychotic abnorm al behaviors, especially during warm clim ate seasons.