Karyotype patterns, clinical features, and parental ages of three predominant live born autosomal trisomies of Northeast Malaysia.

Chromosomal abnormality is one of the causes of congenital disorders among newborns. Despite aneuploidy being the major cause of first trimester miscarriages, very few aneuploidies such as trisomies of chromosomes 13, 18 and 21 survive to birth. The results of 4,064 patients referred for cytogenetic analysis at Human Genome Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia between 2008 and 2019 were reviewed. We retrospectively investigated the karyotype patterns, clinical features and parental ages of the three common live-born autosomal trisomies such as trisomy 13, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21. The relative frequency of cases with the total sample received and cultured was calculated in each group and compared with those reported elsewhere. Between 2008 and 2019, a total of 1034 live-born trisomic cases which accounted for 25.4% of the 4064 total referred cases and 73.7% of 1403 suspected trisomy cases, were identified, with age ranging from newborns to 57 years. Down syndrome was the commonest aneuploidy (857 cases; 21.1%) followed by Edwards syndrome (133 cases; 3.3%) and Patau syndrome (44 cases; 1.1%). The number of diagnosed cases for each of the trisomies was fairly stable from year to year. About two-thirds of both maternal and paternal ages were ≥ 35 years. This is the first cytogenetic report on the common live-born autosomal trisomies in the North-Eastern region of Malaysia. The prevalence of trisomies 21 was found to be higher compared to an earlier study in the North-Western region of Malaysia, wherein also, advanced maternal age was a significant risk factor.

Gender differences in life stressors associated with child and adolescent suicides in Singapore from 1995 to 2003.

AIMS: This study explored gender differences in life stressors of children and adolescents who died by suicide. Three main classes of life stressors have been identified by previous research to be significant risk factors for suicide in children and adolescents: interpersonal/relationship problems, family problems, and academic/school problems. METHODS: The sample consisted of 156 (89 males and 67 females) completed child and adolescent suicides in Singapore from 1995 to 2003. The age of these individuals ranged from 10 to 19 years with a mean age of 16.49 (SD = 2.59). RESULTS: Significantly more females were found to have had interpersonal/ relationship problems as recent life stressors compared with males. No gender differences were found for the other two life stressors, family problems and academic/school problems. In addition, among the three life stressors studied, only interpersonal/relationship problems emerged as a significant predictor of female child and adolescent suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research literature, these findings contribute to a growing literature documenting the relatively larger impact of relational life stressors on child and adolescent female suicidality. Implications for suicide intervention and prevention, especially among young females, were discussed.

A Singapore study of obsessive compulsive disorder.

This is a study of 283 consecutive patients diagnosed as suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who had sought treatment in a private psychiatric clinic. This represents 4.5% of all patients treated in the clinic. Ninety-four percent were Chinese, 3% were Indians and 0.4% were Malays. The mean age of onset of illness was 27, SD 11.9. Fifty-one percent of patients developed their illness prior to age 25. There were more male than female patients. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. A high percentage of patients had attained higher educational level and were economically active. The main forms of the obsession were idea, impulse and image; and the main contents were contamination, illness, aggression, exactness, sex, death and religion. The main compulsions were cleaning, checking, repetitive behaviour, need for symmetry and precision and hoarding. The co-morbidity diagnoses were depressive, general anxiety, phobia, panic and psychotic disorder. In the patients who were followed-up for more than one year, it was found that 78% improved with treatment given. However, 22% remained unwell or deteriorated. In this series, it was noted that 17% of patients were severely incapacitated by the illness. Six percent had admission to mental hospital and 1% (3 cases) committed suicide.

Suicide and depressive illness.

In this paper 7 cases of patients suffering from depressive illness who finally committed suicide were illustrated. It is hoped that by reading the cases illustrated in depth a better understanding of the thinking, suffering and psychodynamics of depression and suicidal behaviour can be obtained.

A study of obsessive compulsive neurosis in private practice.

This is a study of 58 cases suffering from obsessive-compulsive neurosis treated in a private psychiatric clinic. Obsessive-compulsive neurosis is a relatively rare condition. The poor prognosis once attached to this condition has since changed when behaviour therapy was used.

Suicide of the young in Singapore.

This is a study of 137 cases of young suicide aged below 29 occurring in Singapore from years 1969-1976--a period of 8 years. The pattern of young suicide among the different sexes and ethnic groups in Singapore, the suicide letters and the methods of suicide were analysed, studied and discussed. Where pertinent, case histories were illustrated. Suicide in the young in Singapore as in other countries poses as an important psycho-social and medical problem.

A prospective study of suicides among the mentally ill in a specialist practice.

This is the only prospective study of suicides in Singapore. Out of a total of 1,873 patients registered and treated in a private psychiatric practice from years 1968-1976, 25 patients were found to have committed suicide. Of these, 14 were found to suffer from schizophrenia and 11 from depressive illness. The suicide risk of all the patients under different categories were noted and when possible calculated. It is found that a schizophrenic patient who has attempted suicide carries the highest suicide risk.

Suicide of the elderly in Singapore.

This is a study based on data from all Coroners' case-files (Years 1969-1976) and a 'psychological post-mortem' study of all suicides for the year 1974--57 cases comprising of 39 males and 18 females. The trend of aged suicide in Singapore, the demographic data of the aged suicide population, the methods used by the aged suicide and the causative factors associated with suicide in aged are recorded, analysed and discussed. Reactions of the surviving relatives are also described. The unique features particular to the aged suicide in Singapore are noted and explained. Suicide of the aged in Singapore is mainly a study of the aged Chinese suicide.

Suicide letters.

This is a study of 266 suicide letters collected over a period of 8 years (1969-1976). In the study of completed suicide cases, there are few sources of data available. A critical research may question the reliability of the study of suicide letters. In this paper the author tries to answer some of the many questions which might be posed. It is however felt that the study of suicide letters does help us to understand the mental state of suicidal victims prior to their acts. The study of suicide letter is one of the prerequisites to the understanding of this complicated human behaviour.