Prodromal psychosis as an etiology of suicide: a case report and review of the literature

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
Douglas KnittelEdward Simmer

Abstract

Suicides without apparent antecedent causes present great difficulties for medical examiners and families alike. A case is presented of a young male suicide victim whose antemortem course did not demonstrate apparent psychopathology to either his family or fellow students. A journal written by the decedent was found, however, which revealed extensive ruminations on death, depressive symptomatology, and evidence of possible delusions, and hallucinations. We opine that this represents the prodrome of a psychotic process, possibly schizophrenia, and the decedent's suicide was a response to his awareness of his deteriorating mental status. The prodrome of schizophrenia is a well-described entity that manifests as a decline in social and occupational functioning, along with increasingly bizarre behavior. Prodromal psychosis could represent an explanation for some cases of suicide seemingly without causation.

References

Feb 1, 1991·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·A FoersterR Murray
Jan 1, 1986·Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie·H Fujimori, M Sakaguchi
Nov 1, 1965·Psychiatry·M Bowers
Apr 1, 1994·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·A K Malla, R M Norman
Jul 1, 1993·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·I O'DonnellJ Catalan
Jan 1, 1996·Schizophrenia Bulletin·A R Yung, P D McGorry
Oct 1, 1996·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·A R Yung, P D McGorry
Dec 19, 1998·Journal of Affective Disorders·K HawtonS Simkin
Apr 28, 2000·Nature·D Dickson
Jul 11, 2000·Nature Biotechnology·B Jank, J Rath
Feb 15, 2001·Archives of General Psychiatry·J KlosterkötterF Schultze-Lutter
Dec 1, 2001·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·E T Isometsä
Dec 31, 2002·Schizophrenia Research·Alison R YungPatrick D McGorry
Apr 19, 2003·Psychological Medicine·J T O CavanaghS M Lawrie
May 22, 2004·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·Tom Foster
Apr 13, 2005·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·Toshiki ShioiriToshiyuki Someya
Sep 5, 2006·CNS Spectrums·S W WoodsT H McGlashan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 1, 2011·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Antonio Preti

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of Affective Disorders
M BernalESEMED/MHEDEA Investigators
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
Matthew K NockDavid Williams
Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
Yari Gvion, Alan Apter
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved