3 results
DIVORCE AND DEPRESSION: A FORENSIC CASE OF OUR OBSERVATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES
- C. Scalise, F. Cordasco, M. A. Sacco, V. Ritorto, G. Pulpito, S. Gualtieri, P. Ricci, I. Aquila
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S844-S845
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Nearly 300 million people worldwide are affected by depression. According to the DSM-5, the depressive episode is characterized by a depressed mood, a marked decrease in interest or pleasure in all activities, insomnia, agitation or psychomotor slowdown. It occurs mainly in the female sex. Traumatic life events are associated with a depressive onset.
ObjectivesIt is well known that interpersonal relationships are foundations for human beings, especially emotional ones and that they have an important effect on mental health. Specifically, 60% of divorced people with a previous history of depression will develop a new depressive episode; this will develop in 10% of subjects without a previous history of depression. The recurring thought of death and suicide is also frequent, as well as the abuse of drugs and ethanol in cases of depression. The forensic pathologist often finds himself having to carry out complex inspections in order to trace the cause of death in these types of deaths.
MethodsWe report the case of a lady, found dead at her home, in her bed.
ResultsA medical prescription for benzodiazepines was found on the cabinet next to her bed with five bottles of benzodiazepines, one of which was empty, two semi-empty packs of antidepressants. Under the bed there was a photo album containing 58 pages to which the photographs of the lady’s wedding were attached. In all the photographs the groom’s face appeared torn. The hygienic-sanitary conditions of the house were precarious. The analysis of the medical record showed that the lady was being treated for major depressive disorder with psychotic manifestations, severe chronic insomnia disorder and abuse of ethyl alcohol and anxiolytics, which arose after separation from her husband five years before her. The toxicological examination performed on blood and urine confirmed the presence of massive doses of benzodiazepines and ethanol, causing death from respiratory depression.
ConclusionsIn similar cases, the clinical and family history as well as the toxicological examination help the forensic pathologist in defining the cause of death. Depression leads to family and social isolation, affecting all aspects of a person’s life. Divorce is not only a painful and expensive experience but also harmful to health. The subject is not only in a condition of marital and economic abandonment but also health because the resources currently used in this field are few. Together with the legal process, there should also be a health process with prevention strategies such as questionnaires, interviews, exercises in order to identify those at risk and treat them appropriately.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Particular suicides and psychiatric pathologies: Case Series.
- V. Ritorto, M. A. Sacco, S. Gualtieri, P. Ricci, A. P. Tarallo, I. Aquila
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S1117-S1118
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Suicide is one of the main cause of death in the world. It’s an important public health problem that is growning on new generations.
ObjectivesThe manners used to die have always been studied from psychiatry to understand which mental illness induced victim to various ways of suicide. They are multiples and are influenced by different factors. This study includes suicides cases defined “atypical”.
MethodsThe cases were examined at the Insitute of legal Medicine Institute of Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro. Methods used were autopsies, and psycological autopsies. The study of the three cases also included the first level toxicological tests..
ResultsIn the first case, the victim died for cut injuries by using a kitchen knife on the lateral-cervical region of neck; the inspection revealed superficial lesions (test cuts) which, with progressive depth, reached the vascular-nervous bundle. In the second case, in a family contest of apparent welfare, the victim decided to go out home in the middle of the night, to reach an isolated place: there, when he still was in his car, he spilled on his head flammable liquid to accelerate fire effects.
In the case number 3, the victim was found at the bottom of a cliff with earplugs; maybe she was hearing voices in her mind that induced her to death. At home, police found a message on paper about her autopsy will.
ConclusionsThe autopsy findings on the cases described are atypical. In every three cases of atypical suicide, the victim was not being treated with therapy, and all victims, probably, were very able to hide their socio-relational malaise. Forensic investigations for the study of suicides must not be limited to the study of fatal injuries. Forensic study about the modalities used to commit suicide wants to be a help to improve knowledge on certain psychiatric pathologies at high risk of suicide.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the risk of social stigma
- M.A. Sacco, C. Scalise, A. Zibetti, V. Aquila, L. Abenavoli, P. Ricci, I. Aquila
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 65 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 September 2022, p. S869
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Social stigma indicates a process of negative connotation of a person which results in discrimination. The victim of stigma experiences a condition of social exclusion that negatively affects his relationships. The COVID-19 pandemic has spread the fear of being “contaminated”, which has led to the discrimination of a part of population.
ObjectivesThe purpose of this work is to analyze which people have suffered from stigma due to the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the negative effects on their health during this period.
MethodsA literature review of peer-reviewed articles was performed on Pubmed NCBI database by inserting the keywords: stigma and COVID-19 in the period 2020-2021.
ResultsThe data showed that the categories most at risk were positive patients and their families; healthcare workers in COVID-19 wards; Asian people. Discrimination has included avoidance attitudes, physical or verbal abuse, hypersurveillance in public places. Negative effects on victims included anxiety, depression, feelings of rejection and shame, self-harm and suicide. COVID-19 patients attempted to hide the disease by avoiding access to hospital; health personnel developed risk of burnout; Asian restaurants experienced a drop in reservations, even after quarantine period.
ConclusionsSocial stigma is a public health problem and greater efforts are mandatory to reduce it including correct information, with the help of social and mass media; social interventions aimed at generating empathy; avoiding the use of negative language focused on stereotypes that could generate fear or discrimination. Such interventions are crucial to reduce discrimination in such a fragile period as COVID-19 pandemic.
DisclosureNo significant relationships.