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Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to investigate the gender differences in patients with schizophrenia in age of onset, other demographic and clinical characteristics and their relationship with QEEG power spectrum measures., Material and Methods: Thirty patients with schizophrenia were enrolled in the study, 17 female and 13 male, mean age 34 years. Comprehensive assessment of the symptoms of schizophrenia was performed using PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) and CGI (Clinical Global Impression) scale. The age of onset of schizophrenia and the duration of psychosis was assessed using the medical history and parts of the IRAOS (Interview for Retrospective Assessment of Onset of Schizophrenia)., Results: Female patients had more severe psychopathology with statistically significant differences in PANSS and BPRS scores (larger total scores) and on the positive subscale of PANSS. QEEG power spectrum showed statistical significant difference only for the beta band in female patients. Women were less employed and had longer duration of illness and previous treatment. There were no differences in the mean age of onset of the disease (26 years in male and 25 years in female patients) and in the familiar occurrence., Conclusion: Fast basic activity in beta bands was associated with female patients with schizophrenia who presented more severe psychopathology and had longer duration of the disease and previous treatment. Considering the relatively small sample the current results must be replicated with a larger group of subjects to confirm the findings.

Aim: To explore the association between depression in older adults and marital status, marital quality and relationships with close family members., Methods: This study is cross-sectional, carried out at the Department of Geriatric Psychiatry of Skopje Psychiatric Hospital. We studied 120 subjects, 60 patients with unipolar depression and 60 subjects without depression. There is no significant difference in the sex proportion and the average age between the two groups. Data were taken by questionnaire designed for the study. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms., Results: The patients with late life depression reported significantly more dissatisfaction with marital relationships in their life (p=0.048). The difference between the two groups in regard to living arrangements was statistically significant, because more patients lived in a geriatric institution (p<0.01). The quality of family relations was confirmed with a significant difference (p<0.001). Harmoniousness and toleration are considerably present in the families of the control group, while lack of interest, dislike and permanent conflictual relationships considerably predominate in the families of the experimental group. High significance was confirmed with regard to the feeling of emotional neglect and a feeling of being an unloved member of the family in the patients with depression., Conclusion: Dissatisfaction with marital relationships was associated with a considerable risk of late life depression. The patients with late life depression reported significantly more conflictual family relations, a feeling of poor attention and neglect and the sense of not being a loved member of the family.

Aim of the Paper: To monitor personal and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia and to find out the difference regarding sociodemographic characteristics and out-patient or day hospital treatment., Material and Methods: The investigation included 120 subjects divided into two groups of 60 patients each with a diagnosis F20 according to MKD 10 criteria. Patients from the first group received out-patient care whereas those from the second group had day hospital treatment. Patients were of different age and gender, receiving regular antipsychotic therapy. They were included in individual and group psychosocial therapeutic procedures during the day hospital treatment. The investigation utilized the following diagnostic instruments: standardized clinical interview and PSP scale, Personal and social performance scale, Morosini, Magliano et al. 2000, and a non-standardized questionnaire of sociodemographic data, family support and existence of mental disorder in other family members., Results: The results obtained have shown better personal and social functioning in patients who had family support, in those who are employed, in those with no mental disorder in other family members and in patients on day hospital treatment as opposed to patients receiving out-patient care., Conclusion: Day hospital psychosocial therapeutic treatment in combination with regular antipsychotic therapy, family and social support helps in more rapid reintegration and resocialization and a better quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determinate some characteristics of schizophrenia patients who attempted suicide at the Skopje Psychiatric Hospital, Skopje, with respect to clinical, ethical and legal context., Methods: The study included 80 patients with schizophrenia, 17.5% (n=14) of whom attempted suicide. The psychiatric diagnosis of schizophrenia was based on ICD-10 criteria. Sociodemographic and clinical data are presented descriptively as percentages., Results: Based on the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who attempted suicide, we obtained a typical profile as follows: middle-aged persons (average age 44.8), single (71.4% were not married and 35.7% lived alone), (87.5%) unemployed, repeatedly hospitalized and had a history of suicide attempts (50%), attempting suicide using a violent method (poisoning 64.3%, drowning 21.4%, slashing their wrists 14.3%, jumped from a height 7.1% etc.) after more than three weeks of hospital treatment, and out of hospital. The success of psychiatric treatment is the perception of the legal and medical aspects of suicide as well as their efficient balancing.