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Biomedical subjects

L P Sim

Publications and source records attributed to L P Sim.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Psychiatric survey of offenders under criminal commitment in Singapore.

AIM OF STUDY: The study examined the demographic characteristic, pattern of psychiatric morbidity in offenders committed by Singapore courts and the effects of psychiatric recommendations on the disposal of these offenders. METHODS: A retrospective case-note study was done on all offenders committed by the courts from January 1987 to December 1988 to Woodbridge Hospital. A 23-item questionnaire was used to collect data from the offenders. RESULTS: There were 187 offenders in the study, 165 males and 22 females. The typical offender was Chinese, male, unemployed and suffered from schizophrenia. 63.1% of the offenders required treatment after commitment. 13.9% had no psychiatric disorder. At the end of commitment, charges were dropped in 25% of cases. Theft was the most common offense and this was followed by sexual offences (molestation, outrage of modesty, exhibitionism). Offenders with schizophrenia were more likely than the others to have committed violent offences. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of offenders were unwell at the time of the offence, the majority were suffering from schizophrenia. 13.9% had no psychiatric illness and charges were dropped in 25% indicating that the legal process could be further improved by providing additional psychiatric input to the courts so that offenders who exhibit abnormal or deviant behaviour may be appropriately dealt with.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Mortality of public mental health patients: a Singapore experience.

This study reports the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) by age and sex among public mental health patients in Singapore. The authors also examine the differences between those who were classified as "inpatient deaths" and those who were classified as "outpatient deaths". Mortality was 5.1 times that of the general population and the SMR was most accentuated in the younger, female patients. Of the 217 deaths documented over two years, schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. Inpatient deaths (N = 120) occurred in older patients with prior physical illness who died of natural causes. In contrast, outpatient deaths (N = 97) involved younger patients with no previous illness and the majority jumped to their deaths. Mortality studies are necessary in monitoring the efficacy of mental health provisions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence of schizophrenia in relatives of schizophrenic patients.

This study examines the prevalence of schizophrenia in 871 first-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands (N = 121) and 658 first-degree relatives of age-matched controls. The controls (N = 126) were medical inpatients referred for psychiatric opinion in a general hospital. Diagnoses in the probands fulfilled the ICD criteria for schizophrenic psychoses. Information on the relatives were obtained from enquiry of the family history and the hospital case records. The prevalence of schizophrenia in first-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands was 22 times that of the medical controls (6.8% versus 0.3%) (p < 0.05). The result supports the observation that schizophrenia is a familial disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Mortality among psychiatric inpatients in Singapore.

This study examines the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) by age, sex and cause of death among psychiatric inpatients in Singapore. Mortality in mentally ill inpatients was found to be 2.79 times that of the general population. The SMR decreased with age and the SMR for those 70 years and above was lower than that reported in the literature. The mortality ratio was most accentuated in the younger patients, especially in the female. Excess mortality was observed in both the natural as well as the unnatural causes of death. Among the natural causes of death, infection and pneumonia showed high excess in mortality. In the unnatural causes of death, suicide was predominant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A study of police referrals to Woodbridge Hospital.

This is a retrospective study of 127 cases brought by the police under Section 32 of the Mental Health Act (1973). The aims of the study were to collect epidemiological data and to review the mental health provisions. Majority of the patients were Chinese, male, 20-39 age-group, single, unemployed, schizophrenic with previous admissions to Woodbridge Hospital. Aggressive behaviour and public nuisance were the commonest reasons for police interventions. Ninety percent of the patients required admissions to hospital. There was no apparent misuse of the Mental Health Act.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A cross-cultural study of the possession-trance in Singapore.

Possession-trance is a common culture-bound syndrome in Singapore. The characteristic features as seen in 36 young men of the three different ethnic communities are described. At follow-up four to five years later, none of the 26 who could be contacted showed any evidence of mental illness. The psychopathology of the possession-trance is discussed.

Adolescent↗