The 36-year-old school teacher, Mukhtar Husain, who allegedly killed his two daughters Sobia (4) and Hira (2) at his home in Bagh Gul Begum on Wednesday is 'schizophrenic', as was evident in his statement made before police.
This assertion was made well known psychiatrist and Registrar of Psychiatry Department, Fatima Jinnah Medical College (FJMC), Dr Abad Ahmad, while talking to Business Recorder here on Friday.
According to him, treatment of schizophrenic patient is a must. If such patients are not given timely treatment, they not only end their own lives but also cause harm to others. Schizophrenic patients had to face illusion, which leads to any serious incident.
Dr Abad said that Mukhtar Husain had unknown fears and used to make contradictory statements, mainly calling his wife 'a woman of loose morals'. Mukhtar also claimed that he was heaped in debt and feared that it would make life miserable for his daughters. Had he been provided in time treatment this horrible act could be avoided, he opined.
The psychiatrist said that Mukhtar was a clear case of schizophrenia as he had also attempted to commit suicide some two years ago.
Emphasising the need for creating more awareness among the people about the disease of schizophrenia, he said that prevalence of this disorder is high in urban areas as compared to rural areas.
According to the psychiatrist, family history, poverty, unemployment, loss of loved ones, arguments with family or friends, breakdown in relationships and legal or work-related problems, and depression are risk factors for schizophrenia. Giving due care and proper treatment, schizophrenic patients can lead normal life. There is also some evidence that educating primary health care personnel in identification and treatment of people with mood disorders may effectively result in checking the disease among those at risk.
He called for treating schizophrenic persons as patients, as through proper treatment and care they can lead normal life. He also called upon the physicians to refer the schizophrenic patients to psychiatrists.
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