Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine electrocardiographic ventricular arrhythmia predictors in patients with schizophrenia by comparing with healthy controls. Methods: The study included 100 patients with schizophrenia and 100 healthy controls. Electrocardiography (ECG) was performed on all participants in resting position. T-wave peak to end (Tp-e), QT ranges, P-wave dispersion (Pd), and R-R range were measured. Then, the Schizophrenia Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were applied to the schizophrenia group. Results: The PANSS positive symptom subscale was calculated as 10.41 (SD = 2.27), the negative symptom subscale was calculated as 14.44 (SD = 5.42), and the overall functionality level was calculated as 27.04 (SD = 5.43). The mean CDSS score was determined to be 3.74 (SD = 2.15). No differences were detected in the heart rate measurements of the patient and control groups in ECG results (P = .427). The minimum QT interval and minimum Tp-e wave times were found to be low in the patient group (P < .001 for both intervals). Corrected QTc dispersion, Pd, Tp-e dispersion, and QT dispersion were found to be higher in the patient group than in healthy controls (P < .001 for all intervals). Discussion: Based on our results, it is possible to speculate that patients with schizophrenia are at a risk of developing cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac dysfunction if they do not receive treatment. For this reason, clinicians should pay attention to cardiac transmission problems when organizing the treatment of patients. Further studies should be conducted to determine cardiac problems in patients with schizophrenia.
Objective:This study aimed to reveal a process model of the relations between automatic thoughts, dysfunctional attitudes, social problem-solving skills, and social media addiction. In this context, the aim was to investigate the mediating effect of automatic thoughts and social problem-solving skills in the relationship between intermediate beliefs and social media addiction. Methods:This study included 56 male and 107 female young adults aged 18-25 years who were referred to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of Yenimahalle Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. The participants completed sociodemographic data form, social problem-solving inventory revised form, social media addiction scale, dysfunctional attitudes scale short form, and automatic thoughts questionnaire. In the data analysis, the effect and mediation were tested by the process method. Results: Dysfunctional attitudes positively affected social media addiction and automatic thoughts and negatively affected social problem solving. According to this, the effect of dysfunctional attitudes on social media addiction was mediated by automatic thoughts and social problem solving. Conclusion: In this sense, both cognitive and behavioral processes can be useful in the treatment of social media addiction, and cognitive behavioral therapies can be an effective option.
Headache is generally perceived as a negative symptom focused on oneself. However, there are reports suggesting that patients suffering from pain, especially headache, can be aggressive. The precise nature of the link between headache and aggression is not known. Here, we describe a homicidal attack, triggered by headache, in a middle-aged man. The patient’s background and the characteristics of the attack suggested a dissociative behavior. The case shows that headache may be a trigger for homicidal behavior. Case-control studies are needed to determine the prevalence of aggressive tendencies in patients with headache.
Objective:The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between personality traits, psychopathology, and nonverbal immediacy behaviors. The study gains importance because of the fact that personality traits, psychopathology, and the concept of nonverbal immediacy have not been studied together in Turkish culture. Methods: The research sample was created with the convenience sampling method, one of the nonrandom sampling methods. The sample consisted of 336 university students aged 18 and over. In the study, the 10-Item Personality Inventory, Nonverbal Immediacy Scale-Self Report Form (NIS-STr), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), and Communicator Styles Scale were used. To examine the effect of personality traits on SCL-90-R and the effect of SCL-90-R scores on nonverbal immediacy behavior, a structural equation model was used and the path analysis of the model was created. Results: Although it was determined that the scores for conscientiousness, emotional stability, and extraversion in the scale of resilience to the scope of the study did not significantly predict the SCL-90-R scores (P > 0.05), the scores for agreeableness (beta = 0.38, P < 0.05) and openness (beta = 0.38, P < 0.05) predicted the SCL-90-R scores significantly and positively. In addition, it was determined that the scores of other applications from the SCL-90-R were similarly significant surrounding other predictors of NIS-STr scores (beta = -0.30, P < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be stated that personality traits are predictors of psychopathological symptoms. Students' SCL-90-R scores positively predicted the NIS-STr scores in a statistically negative way.
Objective:There are few studies on oxidative stress in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The thiol/disulfide homeostasis is a new marker of oxidative stress. This study aimed to examine the oxidative DNA damage and thiol/disulfide homeostasis after 6 months in patients who developed PTSD after an avalanche disaster and to compare them with healthy controls.Methods:A total of 31 patients who developed PTSD after 2 consecutive avalanche disasters that occurred in Van on February 4 and 5, 2020, resulting in 42 deaths, and 33 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patients were followed up by a psychiatrist within the framework of psychosocial intervention during their admission to Yüzüncü Yil University Medical Faculty Emergency Service. The patients monitored for a long time were diagnosed according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The clinical follow-up was evaluated with the post-traumatic stress disorder self-assessment (PTSD-KD) and the impact of events scale. To determine oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and deoxyguanosine (dG) levels were determined by isolating leukocyte DNA. Oxidative DNA damage was given as a ratio of 8-OHdG/106dG. Total thiol/native thiol levels were also determined. Disulfide levels were calculated by subtracting native thiol results from the total thiol results and dividing them by 2.Results:It was determined that total thiol and native thiol levels in patients with PTSD were statistically significantly lower than in the healthy control group (P = .001), and the disulfide levels were higher in the PTSD group compared with that in the healthy control group (P = .001). In addition, 8-OHdG, an indicator of DNA damage, was found to be significantly lower in the control group than in the patient group (P = .001).Conclusion:In our study, thiol/disulfide homeostasis was observed to shift toward disulfide in patients with PTSD when compared with healthy controls. The level of 8-OHdG, the indicator of DNA damage, was observed to increase in patients with PTSD. This result indicates that thiol/disulfide homeostasis can be significant in the pathophysiology of oxidative stress in these patients.
Objective: There are multiple studies that show that exposure to a traumatic life event is a significant factor in the development and continuation of addiction. When post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is added to an alcohol-substance use disorder, the course of treatment is negatively affected. This study aimed to compare people with and without the risk of PTSD in terms of substance use features and psychological problems on the basis of their substance preferences. Methods: The study was conducted with 614 individuals hospitalized in an addiction recovery center because of an alcohol and substance use disorder. Development of the addiction profile index (BAPI) clinical form was used to measure the addiction features and their severity, psychological condition, and some personal characteristics of the patients. The Kocaeli short screening scale for psychological trauma was used to determine traumatic life events and evaluate traumatic stress symptoms. Results: PTSD frequency of the participants with an alcohol-substance use disorder was 29.8% (n = 162). Considering the frequency of PTSD risk, 29.2% (n = 98) of the participants with opioid use disorder, 33.3% (n = 13) of the participants with cannabis use disorder, and 35.7% (n = 20) of the participants with alcohol use disorder had a risk of PTSD. Participants with PTSD symptoms had higher scores in substance use features, diagnosis, effect of substance use on life, cravings, greater addiction severity, difficulty in anger control, more excitement seeking behaviors, safe behavior deficiency, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion: Substance use features and psychological problems varied in individuals with and without the risk of PTSD. Configuration of the treatment plan considering this differentiation is significant in terms of the course of the treatment.
Objective:The number of studies that reveal the relationship between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and various health problems is increasing. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship among PSU, depression, and anxiety and the mediating effect of psychological inflexibility (PI) in this relationship in university students.Methods:This study was conducted with 412 university students aged between 18-35 years studying at a state university. All participants completed the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. PROCESS macro in SPSS was used for mediation analysis.Results:Our analyses showed that both depression and anxiety were independent predictors of PSU even after controlling for each other. Our findings show that PI is the mediator variable in the effect of depression and anxiety on PSU.Conclusion:Mental health professionals working with problematic smartphone use among university students should consider psychological inflexibility as well as depression and anxiety.
Pregabalin is a γ-amino butyric acid analogue drug that is used in fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury, and postherpetic neuralgia. Symptoms reported in association with pregabalin withdrawal include insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, tachycardia, and headache. This case report describes a 68-year-old patient who developed delirium after experiencing pregabalin withdrawal. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of pregabalin withdrawal delirium.
Objective: Euthanasia is the decision to terminate the lives of patients who do not improve with medical treatment at their explicit request. This study was carried out to determine the opinions of medical students regarding euthanasia and to evaluate the effect of medical education on this issue. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among first and sixth-year students of the Gaziantep University School of Medicine during the 2018-2019 academic years. Results: Of the 242 students who participated in the study, 54.1% (131) were first-year and 45.9% (111) were sixth-year students. Overall, 39.7% of the first-year students and 31.5% of the sixth-year students supported active euthanasia. The percentage of students who were against passive euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) was 63.4% and 53.4% for first-year students and 49.5% and 54.1% for sixth-year students, respectively. Conclusion: Approximately half of the first and the sixth-year students were opposed to active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, and PAS, and there was no significant difference between these two groups of students in their being against euthanasia. However, there were significant differences between these two groups with respect to their reasons against euthanasia.
Objective This study aimed to examine the sub-dimensions of the theory of mind (ToM) and to investigate the relationship between ToM skills and disorder severity by comparing adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) with healthy individuals. Methods The study included 42 adolescents with ADHD and education- and age-matched 41 healthy volunteers. The Smarties test, ice cream truck test, faux pas recognition test, and eyes test were applied to all participants. Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-IV)-Based Child and Adolescent Disruptive Behavioral Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) was applied to the group with ADHD to measure the disorder severity. Results The group with ADHD was seen to have ToM skills impairment. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the ice cream truck test, faux pas recognition test, and eyes test. A significant correlation was observed between the T-DSM-IV-S results and the eyes test results of the patients. Conclusion This study has shown that advanced ToM skills can be impaired in adolescents with ADHD and that impairment in skills is associated with disorder severity.
Background:Violence is a universal health problem that is encountered in all segments of society and is increasing. in TRNC The attitude of violence against women is increasing day by day, this behavior is not only in the home, It can also be seen in social settings. The aim of this study is to examine the attitude of adults living in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) about violence against women and the effect of print press on the attitude against violence.Methods:The study was carried out in 6 districts of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with a total number of 84 participants. The questionnaire used in the study consisted of 48 questions, 8 of which were demographic, 40 of which were open-ended questions that queried the attitude towards violence against women and the effect of print press. The study was done using the qualitative research method, and Nvivo program was used in the analysis of the data obtained. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed under 6 themes: violence definition theme, theme of victims exposed to violence, prevalence theme, prevention theme, theme of media effect and expectations from media, and education theme in the last section.Results:It has been observed that children as well as women are affected by these violent incidents. It has been revealed that there is a need for public health policies on violence against women in society. It has been determined that the police behave insufficiently in terms of violence against women and in the implementation stages and many incidents are not reflected in the judiciary. It has been observed that the relevant field experts, especially the police, print press members, lawyers, doctors, and educators, need education and public awareness programs.Conclusion:In our study, it has been revealed that violence against women is common in the TRNC, and children as well as women are affected by these acts of violence.
Objective: It is known that impaired energy metabolism contributes to the neuropathology of bipolar disorder (BD). This study aimed to compare the levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), adropin, and desnutrin, which have many metabolic functions besides the regulation of energy metabolism, between patients with BD and healthy controls and to investigate the related factors. Methods: In the study group, 73 age- and sex-matched participants were included. Of them, 35 were patients diagnosed with BD and 38 were healthy individuals. In the blood samples, in addition to routine biochemistry lipid parameters, the levels of adropin, desnutrin, and GLP-1 were determined. Results: Adropin, desnutrin, and GLP-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with BD than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher in patients with BD than in healthy controls (respectively P < 0.001, P= 0.001, P= 0.002, P= 0.001). It was observed that adropin levels decreased significantly as the duration of the disease increased. Conclusion: The low levels of adropin, desnutrin, and GLP-1 that we determined in patients with BD indicate that these peptides may be important in BD pathophysiology.
Objective: It is known that the negative impact of childhood traumas on the mental health of the individual is significant and leads to the emergence of many psychiatric conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between childhood trauma, violence tendency, and crime among male prisoners and inmates in prison. Methods: The study group consisted of 313 male prisoners who have been convicted of drug crimes, sexual crimes, deliberate manslaughter, and theft crimes in Mersin Anamur T type closed-open prison. Sociodemographic forms prepared by researchers, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Violence Tendency Scale (VTS) were used for measuring variables. Results:It was observed that there is a relationship between childhood traumas and criminal behavior in prisoners and detainees and that criminal behavior is affected by sociodemographic variables. In addition, there is a relationship between childhood traumas and violent tendencies. As the scores of individuals on emotional abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and childhood trauma scales increased, the scores of individuals on VTS increased as well. CTQ predicts 11% of the variance of violence tendency. Conclusion: If psychiatric conditions and violence tendency of individuals with childhood trauma are detected, it will be possible for preventive actions to be taken before these people become prisoners or detainees.
Objective: Clinical characterization of facial behavior is getting more critical in psychiatric disorders; however, there are no objective measures of these expressions. Our study aims to investigate to affective facial behaviors in specific learning disorder (SLD), collect objective facial behavior information to help decision making, and examine the discrimination ability of these behaviors in SLD and healthy controls (HC). Methods: SLD and HC group watched three, 5-minute scenes from cartoon videos and between these scenes in 2-minute question session was applied. Openface software for video analysis used three machine learning algorithms and the performance of these algorithms tested on our data using SLD and HC groups as prediction class. ROC curves and AUC had been calculated. Results: Prediction models using three machine learning classifiers had been created independently with tenfold cross-validation. SVM method showed the highest AUC=0.76 with sensitivity 72%, specifity 96%. Conclusion: Computational identification of facial behavior in children a promising beginning for the technologies to aid psychiatrists in the evaluation of learning and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Quantitative assessment of facial expression in neurodevelopmental disorders are both beneficial and informative and in future may be used as an addition to traditional methods of psychiatric examination.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between personality disorders and social media use. Methods: Five hundred and ten university students participated in the study. Personality Belief Questionnaire-Short form was used to assess DSM-based personality disorder symptoms and Social Media Disorder Scale was used to determine addictive use of social media. In addition, daily usage of social media, frequency of taking and sharing selfies were examined using a questionnaire created by the authors. Results: Participants with high levels of Social Media Disorder demonstrated higher levels of avoidant, dependent, antisocial, histrionic, paranoid and borderline personality features compared to those with low levels of social media disorder. Results of multivariate analyses showed that addictive use of social media, daily duration of social media use and frequency of selfie sharing were positively predicted by histrionic personality features and female gender. Furthermore, selfie taking was predicted only by narcissistic personality features. Conclusion: This study indicates that histrionic personality features may be risk factors for addictive use of social media.
Objective: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic progressive movement disorder with a pathophysiology that is still not fully known. In recent years, a growing number of studies have suggested that the disease may be of a neurodegenerative nature. We aimed to measure olfactory bulb volume (OBv) in RLS using cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: The study included 24 patients (11 males, 13 females) aged 18-60 years who were diagnosed with idiopathic RLS according to the criteria of the Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) 2014 and followed up by our neurology clinic, and 26 age-matched controls (12 males, 14 females). In the cranial MRI examination of both groups, the right, left and total OBv values were manually calculated in mm(3). Results: While there was no significant difference between the right and left OBv values of the patient and control groups, the total OBv value of the patient group was found to be significantly lower compared to the control group (p=0.041). There was no significant difference between disease severity and OBv values. It was seen that right, left and total OBv values decreased significantly as the duration of the disease increased (p=0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that the olfactory system could be involved in RLS and the underlying mechanism of RLS may be related to neurodegeneration and RLS may be a disorder of central origin. However, longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to fully assess whether neurodegeneration will occur.
Objective: The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate serum heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (NRF2) levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to reveal their association with the severity of ADHD. Methods: The patient group consisted of 41 children aged 6-12 years, first diagnosed with ADHD and the control group consisted of 34 age- and gender- matched children. ADHD was diagnosed by child psychiatrists during clinical interviews based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The parents of the children in the ADHD group were also given the Turgay DSM-IV-based Disruptive Behavior Disorders Child and Adolescent Rating and Screening Scale (T-DSM-IV-S). Serum HO-1, KEAP1, and NRF2 levels were determined in the biochemistry laboratory using the ELISA technique. Results: HO-1 levels in the patient group were significantly lower than in the control group, while KEAP1 levels were significantly higher, but no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of NRF2 (p=0.041, p<0.001, p=0.290, respectively). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed no significant relation between inattention scores and HO-1, KEAP1 or NRF2, (r=-0.197, p=0.224; r=0.005, p=0.976; r=0.274, p=0.088, respectively). Discussion: Low HO-1 and high KEAP1 levels in the patient group suggest that oxidative stress increased in this group, but that HO-1 levels were unable to balance this.
Objective: Adolescent pregnancy is a common sociological problem in undeveloped and developing countries. An adolescent is not able to reach neither physical nor psychosocial maturity regarding marriage, founding a family and having a child. For this reason, not only girls but also their children born are exposed to many negative consequences as a result of adolescent pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate the prenatal attachment and the anxiety/depression levels of pregnant adolescents. We also examined the emotional availability of their parents. Methods: Fifty-five pregnant adolescents and 61 non-pregnant adolescents were included. Prenatal Attachment Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Lum Emotional Availability of Parents were filled out by the participants. Results: The education of pregnant adolescents ends earlier than control group. The mothers' age of marriage and age of having the first child in the case group were lower (p<0.05). Depression levels and parents' emotional availability were similar in two groups. However, HADS anxiety scores were 7.4 +/- 3.8 in the case group and 9.1 +/- 4.1 in the non-pregnant adolescent group and it was statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between prenatal attachment and depression and parents' emotional availability scores in the case group. Discussion: Adolescent pregnancies cause early termination of girls' education. In addition, as our study findings have shown, daughters of early married women are at risk for adolescent pregnancies. The higher anxiety scores in non-pregnant adolescents suggest that these girls continue their education and may have more future anxiety. The preventive and comprehensive programs need to be developed to struggle with adolescent pregnancies.
Objective: Community mental health centers constitute the core of the community-based mental health service model. Some of the patients enrolled in these centers that provide support to individuals and their families with severe mental disorders are staying in a nursing home. In this study, it was aimed to compare the sociodemog- raphic, clinical and drug treatment characteristics of the patients living in nursing home with the patients living at home. Methods: The study included a total of 135 patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria and who attended to rehabilitation program at community mental health centers of Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Beyhekim Psychiatry Clinic, Konya Numune Hospital and Konya Eregli State Hospital at least one day in a month. The study design was retrospective, the data collection forms were filled using hospital medical records. Results: A total of 135 patients with schizophrenia were included in the study. While 82 (60.7%) of the patients were living at home, 53 (39.3%) were in the nursing home. The rate of male patients in the nursing home, the average age, the number of days they participated in the rehabilitation program, the duration of the illness, and the smoking rate were significantly higher than the patients who were living at home. When all patients using multiple antipsychotics were evaluated, positive correlation was found between the number of drugs and side effect scale score, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score. According to the logistic regression analysis to determine the variables predicting the use of single antipsychotic or multiple antipsychotic drugs, the male gender and the number of hospitalizations were found to increase the rate of combined drug use. Discussion: In order to improve the service provided in community mental health centers, it is necessary to identify the need areas of patients according to living conditions in nursing home or home, to share the good practices in psychosocial interventions and to increase the awareness in drug treatments in order to make new arrangements in line with the recommendations of the treatment guidelines.
Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a data collection tool which targets to determine individuals attitudes toward future. Methods: This methodological study was carried out on 870 individuals who agreed to participate in the study in Istanbul. Data were collected by a survey consisted of an Information Form and the Attitudes toward Future Scale (Draft). During the development of the scale, researchers created a draft pool of 55 scale items. The draft scale consisted of 32 items after content validity and it consisted of 21 items after the item total correlation analyzes. In the second stage of the scale development, construct and criterion validities, time stability and internal consistency reliability of the draft scale have been tested. Percentage, item total score correlations, exploratory factor analysis, paired samples t test and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were performed for data analyses. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.10±10.56; 66.8% of them were women, 28.6% of them were married, 68.4% had a bachelors degree, 22.7% had a child, 60% of them had mid-level of income. It was found that content validity indices of 32 items were over 0.80, item total correlation values of 21 items were over .350 and these items separated four factors that explain 55.26% of total variance. It was found that internal consistency coefficients varied between 0.70-0.87 in subscales and 0.91 in total scale. Conclusion: Attitudes Toward Future Scale which consists of 21 statements in four subscales is valid and reliable tool.
