ANALYSIS OF TIME, PLACE AND METHOD OF SUICIDE IN THE AREA OF BJELOVAR-BILOGORA COUNTY IN THE 1988-2017 PERIOD.

The aim of the study was to analyze changes in the number of suicides associated with seasonal variables, calendar month, time of day versus variable location and method of suicide. Data were obtained from the Analytical Police Department of Bjelovar-Bilogora County for the 1988-2017 period. The process of Croatian application process into the European Union, accompanied by economic and social changes, was a significant socioeconomic event, which divided the analyzed period into two parts. Significant changes in the impact of the analyzed variables on the suicides committed in the two observed periods were tested with the χ2-test and Fisher exact test. Consistency of the results, as well as absence of the impact of significant changes would show less susceptibility of the covariate variable to the effect of socioeconomic factors. In the case of time of day and location of the suicides, there was no significant difference when comparing results between the 1988-2004 and 2005-2017 periods; however, a statistically significant difference was confirmed when considering the month of suicide (February) and season (winter, borderline result for autumn). Statistically, the most significant changes were found in the methods of suicide. The two observed periods differed in the mean suicide rate.

MULTIDIMENSIONALITY AND MULTIDISCIPLINARITY OF CHRONIC NEUROPATHIC NONODONTOGENIC OROFACIAL PAIN.

This study compared the self-assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and degree of depression between patients with chronic neuropathic nonodontogenic orofacial pain (NOFP) and healthy controls using the Short Form Survey (SF-36) health status questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). This controlled cross-sectional study included 100 patients and 119 healthy controls. The diagnostic protocol recorded the following: 1) pain intensity using a visual analog scale for the time of examination and during the one-month prior; 2) evidence for neuropathic pain using the Leeds questionnaire for neuropathic signs and symptoms (LANSS); 3) emotional status using the BDI-II; and 4) HRQoL using the SF-36 questionnaire. The mean LANSS score was 17.18 in the patient group and 0.0 in the control group. The mean BDI-II score was 18.31 in the patient group and 5.87 in the control group. The SF-36 scores were shown with Mann-Whitney U testing to have statistically significant differences between the patient and healthy control groups in all categories. Vitality was the only SF-36 category in which the patient group scored higher than the control group. In conclusion, NOFP significantly reduces the self-reported HRQoL. NOFP is also related to the development of depression, but does not affect its severity. There is a significant correlation between depression and low quality of life in patients with NOFP.

[Suicides in Bjelovar-Bilogora County in the war period, pre-war and post-war period, and the period of the economic expansion and recession]. / Samoubojstva na Podrucju bjelovarsko-Bilogorske Zupanije u prijeratnom, ratnom i poratnom razdoblju te razdoblju ekspanzije i recesije.

In the sample of 1134 suicides committed in the period 1988-2011 in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, we have analyzed the number of suicides, methods, scene and time of committing, gender, age and probable motives, comparing results from the Homeland war period, pre-war and post-war period, and the period of the economic expansion and recession. The study results show increase in the suicide rate in wartime and stagnation in the period of the recession. Age-standardized suicide rates for all ages are higher than the Croatian average. Men commit suicides more than women, and 3.53% of the total number of suicides are committed by minors. The most frequent method of performing suicide was by hanging, most suicides were committed in the morning hours, in the spring months, in closed buildings (houses, outbuildings), the most probable motive for suicide is a disease. Seen by periods, suicide rate is the highest in the wartime, with an increase in the percentage of suicides committed by firearms and explosives, and outdoor committed suicides. During the period of the expansion and the recession, we note a shift of suicides toward people in their fifties. The ratio of male and female suicides is the highest in the periods of crisis.

[Epidemiological study of psychiatric hospitalizations in general hospital Bjelovar]. / Epidemioloska slika psihijatrijskih hospitalizacija u opcoj bolnici Bjelovar.

Summary. Based on the data provided by the Registry of the Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital Bjelovar, an epidemiological study of the hospital treated patients for the years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 was made. In determining the diagnostic groups, the authors used the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations, adjusting all diagnostic entities to that classification. The study sample consists of patients hospitalized at the Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital Bjelovar in the years mentioned above. Following parameters were analyzed: total number of hospitalizations, gender, age and hospitalization outcome--by diagnostic groups. What is noted is the decrease in the total number of psychiatric hospitalizations, the reduction of the proportion of men and women in the sample, and the decrease of mortality. In the observed period, the number of hospitalized patients diagnosed as alcoholics decreased, and the number of patients hospitalized with diagnosed as alcoholics decreased, and the number of patients hospitalized with diagnosed dementia, affective disorders, and critical conditions increased, while the number of the hospitalized schizophrenic patients has been oscillating. The main differences between the results of the initial and final year of the epidemiological study have been analyzed by the chi square test. The results of the epidemiological study shall help the evaluation, rational planning and further development in the protection of mental health of the inhabitants of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County.

[The suicide analysis in Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County in 1988-2005 period]. / Analiza samoubojstava na podrucju bjelovarsko-bilogorske Zupanije u razdoblju od 1988. do 2005. godine.

Every forty seconds a person commits suicide according to the WHO, each year nearly one million people, mostly men in their sixties, but in recent years suicides of young men (aged 15 to 29 years) have increased. The last twenty years in Croatia, the annual number of suicides has been between 871 and 1142. We analyzed the number of suicides, rate, methods, scene and time of committing, gender, age and profession of committers, as well as interdependence of scene, methods and vocation, upon the pattern of 804 cases of suicides committed from 1988 to 2005 in Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County. Our district is characterized by high suicide rate (31/100000). People who perform suicide are predominantly older and men more frequently then women. To add emphasis, there were 2.49% suicides committed by adolescents in overall sample. The most frequent method of performing suicide was by hanging, most suicides were commmitted at the start of the working week, also in morning hours and more in spring and summer months. Methods of committing suicide are correlated with access of means and scene of committting (indirectly with profession). Motives alter depending on committers' age, the most frequent motive being illness.

[Mental health of youths: effect of education on changes in attitude and behavior]. / Mentalna higijena mladih: utjecaj edukacije na promjene stavova i ponasanja.

Two final classes of Bjelovar Secondary Medical School were questioned twice about alcohol, nicotine and drugs abuse, early sexual intercourse and confidence in parents and teachers, in order to estimate their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour: at the beginning and at the end of the winter term of the year 2000/2001. The answers show that significant improvement in the knowledge of mental hygiene does not necessarily change the behavior of the examines. Three quarters of the examinees smoke tobacco, over 90% of them consume alcohol and one quarter have been experimenting with the so called "light" drugs. The majority of the examinees consider early sexual intercourse (before the age of sixteen) undesirable. Less than half of the examinees are satisfied with their relationship with parents. Small number of examinees is willing to ask for the teachers' help in solving noneducational problems. The results of this study have showed the need for the constant performing of preventive school programs for the improvement of communication skills between parents, pupils and teachers.

Psychiatric and somatic complications and pharmacological treatment in patients with dementia.

One hundred and one patients with dementia, treated at Psychiatric department of GH Bjelovar were studied regarding the sort and frequency of complications, the evidence of other psychiatric or physical illnesses and psychopharmacological therapy. Of all the patients diagnosed with dementia, 21.78% were diagnosed with primary dementia, 70.3% with secondary dementia and 7.92% with combined (both primary and secondary) dementia. The number of patients diagnosed with vascular and primary dementia and the number of the registered complications vs. the so called other psychiatric diagnoses accompanying dementia reflects the difficulties in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and the complications of dementia. The results of therapy are thoroughly discussed.

[Epidemiological study of psychiatric hospitalizations in Bjelovar General Hospital]. / Epidemioloska slika psihijatrijskih hospitalizacija Opce bolnice Bjelovar.

Epidemiological studies in psychiatry contribute to the knowledge of prevalence of mental disorders and rational planning of protection of mental health, and also enable the application of optional methods in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Based on the information provided by the Register of psychiatric activities of the Bjelovar General Hospital an epidemiological study of the hospital treated patients for the years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 1999 was made. In determining the diagnostic groups the authors used the International classification of diseases ICD10 and references of the WHO, adapting all the diagnostic entities to the valid classification. According to the Register, in the observed years of the twenty-year period, 4631 psychiatric patients, who make the sample of the study, were treated. The fall of the general number of psychiatric hospitalizations by 28.8%, the reduction of the proportion of men and women in the sample, and also the reduction of mortality were noted. In the observed period the fall of the general number of hospitalised alcoholics, and the increase of hospitalisations due to dementia, schizophrenia, affective disorders and critical conditions were visible. The differences in the results between the initial and the final year of the epidemiological study were analysed by the chi square test. Changing of the social system, the war and post-war occurrences have led to the series of changes in the epidemiological image of psychiatric hospitalisations. The results of the epidemiological study will help the evaluation, rational planning and further development in the protection of mental health of the inhabitants of Bjelovar region.