Matricide by person with bipolar disorder and dependent overcompliant personality.

Matricide is an infrequent form of homicide. This paper is to present a case of matricide with typical characteristics of the act but interesting particularities as well. The perpetrator was a 43-year-old man, respected member of his community, with over compliant characteristics, eagerness in serving people and caring his parents, good social adaptation before and after the crime. He abandoned his family and work in order to better serve his old, disabled but over demanding mother who frequently insulted and humiliated him. Suddenly he came to a state of "mental confusion" and strangled her. After the crime, the perpetrator manifested the symptoms of a bipolar disorder and also received the diagnosis of dependant personality disorder. Years later, he presented again a crisis of escalating aggressive urge for which he was hospitalized. Many people and associations of his hometown actively demanded the minimal possible punishment for him. The case is discussed especially concerning: a) hypotheses about the aetiopathogeny of the act, b) the constant support provided to the perpetrator by his family and social environment.

Mental health problems of Army personnel seen in medical outpatient clinics in Greece.

OBJECTIVE: The problem of the underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment of mental disorders in people who visit health services has been studied in Greece as well as in other countries. There is not, however, enough research data for military personnel. The purpose of the present study is to assess the psychiatric morbidity of military personnel referred to outpatient clinics for physical problems. METHOD: Two hundred twenty-two (222) males serving in the Army, aged 21.9 +/- 2.8 years, were examined when they visited the outpatient clinics of a General Military Hospital of a border area of Greece. They gave information concerning demographic data, completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and were assessed by the psychiatric interview M.I.N.I. (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview). RESULTS: Eighty-two out of 222 individuals (36.9%) were classified as GHQ cases. Enlisted men and personnel with chronic physical disabilities were classified more often as cases than were professionals and physically able military men. Those referred for fractures had fewer psychiatric problems than those referred for other reasons. The most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders, major depressive episode, and alcohol abuse. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of military personnel present undiagnosed psychological problems despite attempts in the last few years by army services to develop mechanisms of timely diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric cases. Measures for the improvement of this situation are discussed.