Asia‐Pacific Psychiatry最新文献

Suicide is one of the most critical issues worldwide. In Japan, more than 30 000 people died by suicide every year between 1998 and 2011, and the Japanese government, local governments, and various other agencies have been working on suicide prevention programs to reduce the suicide rate. While the number of suicides is still high (more than 20 000 per year), many specialists are striving to further reduce the number of suicides in Japan. The Japanese government has played a central role in suicide prevention through the enactment of several laws, and in recent years, suicide prevention has shifted from government to community-specific measures. This review discusses the suicide prevention measures that have been taken so far: (1) policy strategies for suicide prevention by the Japanese government, (2) community suicide prevention, and (3) strategic studies for suicide prevention. Finally, as shown in the ACTION-J study, we conclude that cooperation among related organizations in the community, not just one institution, is important for future suicide prevention, especially youth suicide prevention.

The caregivers of people with schizophrenia might suffer from various problems. We investigated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among them, and factors associated with their quality of life. A cross-sectional study in communities of rural areas was conducted. We found that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 14.2%, 25.5%, and 6.6%, respectively. Their quality of life was independently associated with family functioning (affective responsiveness, problem solving, communication) and the presence of depressive symptoms (p < .05). Schizophrenia caregivers need more supports from health care professionals to improve their skills in problem solving.

The study aimed to compare thyroid function between psychosis with postpartum onset (PPO), psychosis without postpartum onset (PWPO), and normal postpartum females (HC). Twenty women were recruited in each of the three groups. The PPO group had significantly greater psychopathology and shorter episodes compared to the PWPO group. The PPO group was found to have significantly greater right lobe volume than the other groups. The PPO group also had significantly higher FT4 levels than the HC group. We conclude that isolated increase in FT4 and thyroid lobe volumetric changes could be more specifically associated with psychosis of post-partum onset.

Suicide involves a complex set of behaviors and emotions that lead up to actions that may be based on planning and forethought or the result of impulse. While there are a host of antecedent circumstances the presence of a mood disorder, primarily depression, is the most common factor in suicide. While management of depression is recognized as important prevention strategy in depression, the means by which suicide occurs must be a critical element of prevention. Policies that lower access to the means for suicide will decrease the fatality. Guns are associated with half of suicides and the case fatality rate of gun associated suicide is over 90% compared to 7% for all other means. This emphasizes the importance of offering strategies that limit access to guns to those at higher risk for suicide. A declaration of formal self-exclusion for access to firearms (guns and ammunition) offers the individual at greater risk for suicide to place themselves on an official list that would prevent them from purchasing lethal weapons. A person with depression, when well, might wish to enroll voluntarily to prevent themselves, when ill, from procuring a weapon to harm themselves or others. This recognizes the autonomy of the person and protects both the individual, the family, and society.