The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `MHC inmate suffered from mood disorder'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 28, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

`MHC inmate suffered from mood disorder'

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: An inmate of the Poojappura Central Prison, Tara Bai, 43, who committed suicide at the Mental Health Centre (MHC) on October 24, suffered from extreme mood swings, said S. Jayaram, the Superintendent of the MHC.

Tara Bai was admitted to the MHC on October 7 on the basis of a letter issued by the Superintendent of Central Prison and the case sheet of the prison medical officer, he said.

Diagnosis

One of the senior psychiatrists at the hospital, who examined Tara Bai, had on the first day given a confirmed diagnosis of bi-polar mood disorder (mixed type). Under this condition, the patient goes through extreme mood swings, he said.

Though this is a major mental disorder, it does not affect a person's thinking or rational abilities, Dr. Jayaram said. The disease often goes undetected unless the person gets into a destructive or violent mood.

Tara Bai had been put on medication from day one and had been housed in Ward 12 like all female judicial admissions.

On October 22, it was noticed that she was a bit irritable, but after medications, her condition improved the next day.

However, on October 24 she was found hanging in the hospital's bathroom, Dr. Jayaram said.

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