HYDERABAD: A fully recovered paranoid schizophrenia patient reportedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling fan at the Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda on Sunday. Ratna Pushpalata (38) of Karimnagar district was admitted to the institute in February following directions from the Karimnagar district Magistrate. Around 4 p.m. on Sunday, Pushpalata walked into the chronic patients ward and locked herself. It is learnt that she hanged herself from the ceiling fan using her chunni.

An attender, Ratna, who was searching for her, found the door bolted from inside, looked through the window and found Pushpalata hanging. The duty doctor declared her dead.

"Normally, we ensure that all patients are kept at one place. But none noticed Pushpalata going to the chronic ward," said Gouri Devi, Professor of Psychiatry and Superintendent at the Institute.

According to her, Pushpalata has been schizophrenic for several years. She would often run away from home and create nuisance. Following this, her husband, Sammi Reddy, approached the police. Pushpalata was produced before the district Magistrate who gave directions that she be admitted to the Institute.

"She had recovered fully. We were planning to discharge her and were in the process of typing a letter informing the Magistrate about her recovery.

But she hanged herself before that. Perhaps, she felt depressed due to the delay in discharging her," Ms. Devi said.

She informed that on Saturday Pushpalata had expressed desire to see her two children. "She might have developed post psychotic depression," Ms. Devi said.

Her relatives have been informed and the body will be handed over after autopsy.

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