Background:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very common in people who inject drugs (PWID). Studies about the prevalence and genotype distribution of the HCV among PWID are very crucial for developing strategies to manage HCV infection. This study's objective is to map the distribution of HCV genotypes among PWID from various regions of Turkey.Method:This prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study involved 197 PWID who tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies from 4 different addiction treatment facilities in Turkey. Interviews were done with people who had anti-HCV antibodies, and blood samples were taken to check the HCV RNA viremia load and genotyping.Results:This study was conducted on 197 individuals with a mean age of 30.3 ± 8.6 years. 9.1% (136/197 patients) had a detectable HCV-RNA viral load. Genotype 3 was the most commonly observed genotype by 44.1%, followed by genotype 1a by 41.9%, genotype 2 by 5.1%, genotype 4 by 4.4%, and genotype 1b by 4.4%. Whereas genotype 3 was dominant with 44.4% at the central Anatolia region of Turkey, the frequencies of genotypes 1a and 3, which were predominantly detected in the south and northwest regions of Turkey, were very close to each other.Conclusion:Although genotype 3 is the predominant genotype in the PWID population in Turkey, the prevalence of HCV genotype varied across the country. To eliminate HCV infection in the PWID, treatment and screening strategies that differ by genotype are essentially required. Especially identification of genotypes will be useful in developing individualized treatments and determining national prevention strategies.

Objective: Nefazodone is a novel antidepressant whose efficacy has been demonstrated in the treatment of depression. The present study was planned to evaluate the efficiency and side effect profile of nefazodone, used recently in our country is psychiatry practice, comparing amitriptyline, an established drug in major depressive disorder. Method: The study consisted of the patients diagnosed as major depressive disorder according to the DSM IV criteria with above 18 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score. The patients were randomly divided into two subgroups; nefazodone (n=19) and amitriptyline (n=19). All patients were assessed by HDRS, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression Scale. Results: Both nefazodone and amitriptyline were found to be efficacious. No patient in the nefazodone group, but two patients in the amitriptyline group, dropped out of the study because of experiencing adverse effect at the beginning of the study. In the nefazodone group, the most frequent adverse effects were weakness, sedation and nausea. However, in the amitriptyline group, those were anticholinergic and sexual side effects. Conclusion: In an eight week follow-up study, it was demonstrated that both nefazodone and amitriptyline were effective agents for the treatment of major depressive disorder and nefazodone was more tolerable compared to amitriptyline. Major depresif bozukluk tedavisinde amitiriptilin ve nefazodonun emniyet ve etkinliklerinin karşılaştırılması Amaç: Nefazodon; depresyona ait başlıca semptomların ortadan kalkmasında etkili olduğu gösterilmiş yeni bir antidepresandır. Çalışmamızda ülkemiz psikiyatri kliniklerinde son yıllarda kullanıma giren nefazodonun, depresyon tedavisinde etkinliği bilinen amitriptilinle etkinlik ve yan etki profillerinin karşılaştırılmasını amaçladık. Yöntem: Bu çalışma, DSM IV kriterlerine göre major depresif bozukluk tanılı ve Hamilton Depresyon Derecelendirme Ölçeğinde (HDDÖ) 18 ve üzerinde puan alan hastalar üzerinde gerçekleştirildi. Hastalar randomize şekilde nefazodon (n=19) ve amitriptilin (n=19) tedavi gruplarına ayrıldı. Tüm hastalar 2, 4, 6 ve 8. haftalarda klinik düzelmeyi izlem açısından HDDÖ, Hamilton Anksiyete Ölçeği ve Klinik Global İzlenim Ölçeği ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Sekiz haftalık izlemde hem nefazodon, hem de amitriptilin etkili bulunmuştur. Nefazodon grubunda hiçbir hasta yan etki nedeniyle tedaviyi bırakmazken; amitriptilin grubunda iki hasta yan etki nedeniyle tedaviyi yarıda bırakmıştır. Nefazodon grubunda en sık gözlenen yan etkiler halsizlik, sersemlik ve bulantı iken; amitriptilin grubunda antikolinerjik ve cinsel yan etkiler olmuştur. Sonuç: Sekiz haftalık izlem çalışmasında hem nefazodon hem de amitriptilinin major depresif bozukluklu hastalarda oldukça etkili olduğu belirlenirken; nefazodonun amitriptiline göre daha iyi tolere edilebildiği ortaya konmuştur.

Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis is a diagnosis that is used to define delusional hypochohdriac occupations without another thougtht and behavior abnormalities. Owing to its rarity and being misdiagnosed on differential diagnosis, it was aimed to present and to discuss a case that exhibits interesting clinical presentation. The patient who had some occupations such as feeling odor of detergent, circulating detergent in his blood and its blood reacting with detergent had applied to many medical and paramedical treatment pathways for two and half years ago. Risperidone was started and a significant improvement was observed. The improvement was sustained for follow-up period. It was supported that these cases were frequently neglected by parapsychiatric physicians on differential diagnosis and exposed to many diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In addition, we suggested that risperidone might be an effective alternative treatment in these cases. Monosemptomatik hipokondriak psikoz: Risperidon kullanılan bir olgu Monosemptomatik hipokondriak psikoz; başka bir düşünce veya davranış bozukluğu eşlik etmeksizin sanrı düzeyinde hipokondriak yakınmaları tanımlamak için kullanılan bir tanıdır. Oldukça seyrek görülmesi ve ayırıcı tanıda gözden kaçırılması nedeniyle; ilginç klinik görünüm sergileyen bir olgunun sunularak, tartışılması amaçlanmıştır. Depresif bir süreci takiben ayak damarlarına deterjanlı su enjeksiyonu yoluyla özkıyım girişiminde bulunması sonrası başlayan ve kanında deterjan dolaştığı, deterjan kokusu hissettiği ve kanının deterjanla reaksiyona girdiği şeklinde iki buçuk yıl süredir yakınmaları bulunan hasta, bu süreçte pek çok hekim ve tıp dışı sağaltım yollarına başvurmuştu. Yatırılarak tedaviye alınan olguda risperidon kullanımıyla oldukça başarılı sonuç alınmış ve düzelme kontrol izlemlerinde de devam etmiştir. Monosemptomatik hipokondriak psikoz olgularının psikiyatri dışı hekimlerce sıklıkla gözden kaçırıldığı, tanı ve sağaltıma yönelik çok sayıda gereksiz işleme maruz kaldıkları yönündeki görüşler desteklenmiştir. Risperidonun bu olgularda kullanılabilecek etkili bir tedavi seçeneği olabileceği düşünülmüştür.

Lithium is a drug that has been using in management and prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorders most frequently. It has been reported that lithium have dermatologic side effects including hair loss. In many studies, the majority of patients using lithium have been reported hair loss, especially in women. In this article, a case of diffüz hair loss who was developed after the beginning of lithium treatment and improved by cessation lithium was presented because of its rarity and importance. Lityum kullanımına bağlı yaygın saç dökülmesi: Bir olgu sunumu Lityum bipolar duygudurum bozuklukların tedavi ve profilaksisinde en sık kullanılan ilaçtır. Lityumun saç kaybını da içine alan dermatolojik bozukluklara sebep olduğu bildirilmektedir. Lityum kullanımı saçın hem büyümesini hem de hacmini etkiler. Yapılan çalışamalarda çoğunlukla kadınlarda olmak üzere lityum kullanan hastaları büyük çoğunluğunun saç kaybıdan yakındığı bildirilmiştir. Ancak çok nadir vakalarda yaygın saç dökülmesi tanımlanmıştır. Çalışmamızda lityum tedavisine başladıktan sonra gelişen ve sadece tedavinin sonlandırılması sonrası kesilen yaygın saç dökülmesi olan bir olguyu nadir görülmesi ve tedavi yönünden önemli olması nedeniyle sunmayı amaçladı.

Objective: Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of cGMP spesific phosphodiesterase type 5 which is the main isoenzyme responsible to metabolizing cyclic GMP in the penil corpus cavernosum. Sexual side effects are frequent, causing poor compliance and recently being considered effects of antidepressant treatment. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sildenafil on antidepressant induced erectile dysfunction. Method: Of twenty seven male patients who had applied to Psychiatry Department of F›rat University Medical Faculty and been started on antidepressant drugs for any indication and experienced erectile dysfunction between October-August 2000, 18 who had not contraindication and accepted to study were included to this study. Sildenafil was started at 25 mg dose and increased to 50 and 100 mg doses. Erectile dysfunction before treatment and each dose was assessed by The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Results: Of the patients, 14 (77.8%) improved. The most frequent side effects were flushing (n=3) and headache (n=2). Discussion: Our results demonstrate sildenafil to be efficacious and reliable in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Antidepresan ilaçlara bağlı erektil disfonksiyonda sildenafil kullanımı Amaç: Cinsel yan etkiler antidepresan tedavinin sık görülen, tedaviye uyumu olumsuz etkileyen ve son zamanlarda oldukça önem kazanan istenmeyen etkileridir. Sildenafil sitrat, siklik guanezin monofosfatın (cGMP) penis korpus kavernozumunda yıkımından sorumlu olan cGMP-spesifik fosfodiesteraz tip 5 (PDE5) enziminin selektif inhibitörüdür. Çalışmamızda eşitli gruplardan antidepresan ilaç kullanan ve buna bağlı erektil disfonksiyon gelişen hastalarda, sildenafil sitrat kullanımının disfonksiyon üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçadık. Yöntem: Çalışma grubunu, Fırat üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri Kliniğine Ocak 1999 ile Ağustos 1999 tarihleri arasında başvuran ve herhangi bir nedenle bir antidepresan başlanan ve erektil disfonksiyon gelişen 27 hastadan, sildenafil sitrat başlanan 18 olgu oluşturdu. Sildenafil dozu 25mg olarak başlanıp 50 ve 100 mg dozlarına çıkıldı. Tedavi öncesi ve her bir dozdaki erektil disfonksiyonun durumu Ereksiyon işlevi Uluslararas Değerlendirme Formu (EİDF) ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Hastaları 14ünde (%77.8) ereksiyonda belirgin düzelme gözlendi. En sık gözlenen yan etkiler ateş basmas (s=3) ve baş ağrısıydı (s=2). Tartışma: Çalışmanın bulguları sildenafilin antidepresan ilaç kullanımına bağlı erektil disfonksiyonda oldukça etkili ve güvenilir olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.

Objective: Sexual side effects are frequent, causing poor complianceand recently being considered as side-effects of antidepressanttreatment. In this study, it was aimed to compare sexualside effect profiles of different group antidepressants and to assessthe results under literature. Method: The study group consistedof 300 patients (182 females, 118 males) who had appliedto diagnosed as mood disorder (n=165), anxiety disorder (n=70),somatoform disorder (n=59) and adjustment disorder (n=6) accordingto DSM-IV. After the patients have been divided into fourgroups (n=60Ðgroup), each group was given chlorimipramine(mean: 168.2±24.2 mgÐday); fluvoxamine (mean: 143.4±16.7mgÐday); sertraline (mean: 114.7±14.4 mgÐday); paroxetine(mean: 42.3±3.9 mgÐÐday); and moclobemide (mean 336.8±42.6mgÐday) respectively. All subjects were fulfilled a semistructuralform which included sociodemographic, clinical characteristicsand sexual function informations including libido, erection-lubricationproblems and orgasm problems at the beginning and sexualinformation part one month later if drug tolerated.Results: Of the patients, 98 had (%32.7) any sexual side effect. Of them, 12expressed spontanously and 86 (%87.8) by provocation. Decreasedlibido was the most frequent amongst all side effects.Paroxetine and sertraline reported side effect frequently. Conclusions:Results of our study revealed that sexual side effects werean important problem in front of antidepressant treatment.

Objective: In Turkey, due to the increase of drug addiction, substance abuse is becoming one of the most important areas of psychiatry. Opioid dependence is one of the most difficult addictions. Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist with a poor abuse potential, which inhibits the effects of opioids. The use of long-acting, slow-release naltrexone implants has been reported to be more successful than oral naltrexone because of the discontinuation to the oral treatment. In our study, it was aimed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients who underwent subcutaneous naltrexone implantation at Alcohol and Substance Abuse Research and Application Center (AMBAUM) of Akdeniz University Medical School. The treatment compliance of the patients and the continuity of the patients were investigated with a retrospective file screening. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 120 patients who underwent naltrexone implantation between November 2016 and November 2017 in AMBAUM by reviewing their sociodemographic characteristics and urine toxicology results. Results: One hundred and fifty-two naltrexone implants in 120 patients evaluated in the study; to 27 patients second implant, to four patients third implant, to one patient fourth implant treatment was applied. Mean age of onset for heroin use was 20.08 +/- 4.29, the use amount of 1.86 +/- 1.47 gr/day and the average duration of heroin use was 6.58 +/- 3.08 years. The implant of a patient from 120 patients was spontaneously protruded, a patient's implant was removed due to allergic reaction, 69 of the remaining 118 patients (58.47%) came to their controls for 12 weeks, 62 of 69 patients had negative opiate in urine toxicology for 12 weeks, 51 of 62 patients who were opiate-negative in urine toxicology for 12 weeks were found no substance in urine toxicology. Conclusion: As a result, in the treatment of opioid dependence, the use of naltrexone implant allows patients to stay in treatment for longer, low substance use and relapses. It seems that it is a good treatment option for patients in terms of joining to the society.

Objective: The present study was intended to compare the body image, self-esteem, temperament and character traits of a group of patients who applied for aesthetic rhinoplasty with healthy controls subjects. Methods: Thirty patients who applied the Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Clinic at the Fırat University Hospital for aesthetic surgery were included in the present study. In addition, thirty healthy individuals who met the study criteria and were matched the patient group by age and gender were included in the study as the healthy control group. Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), body image (BI) scale, The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and sociodemographic data form were applied to patient and control groups. Results: The patients with aesthetic rhinoplasty had higher body image (BI) scores compared to the control group (t = 2.828, p = .006), and had higher novelty seeking (NS) (p = .038) and lower harm avoidance (HA) scores for temperament dimensions. The outcomes of the correlation analysis yielded a positive correlation between the RSES and BP scores and the HA temperament subscale scores were positively correlated with RSES (r = 0.389, p = .033) and BP (r = 0.461, p = .010) scores. In addition, a negative correlation (r = −0.496, p = .005) was determined between the RSES scores and self-directedness (SD), which is a character subdimension. Conclusion: The present study established that there existed differences in the aesthetic rhinoplasty patient group in terms of body image, self-esteem, temperament and character traits. The differences in temperament traits could indicate that the condition is hereditary. Determining such differences was considered significant for both identifying patients as candidates for surgery and predicting the level of satisfaction from surgery. In order to obtain better results, it is required to perform longitudinal studies with larger sample.

Opioid misuse and dependence are major medical and social concerns worldwide. Buprenorphine/naloxone combination (BNC) is a drug that has misuse potential and is used to treat opioid dependence, including buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine shows its pharmacological effects by binding to opioid receptors. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist and has smaller maximal effects compared to those of full agonists (heroin, methadone). Naloxone is a non-selective opiate antagonist added to buprenorphine for the prevention of intravenous diversion. BNC is used in the treatment of opioid dependence for detoxification and maintenance. The drug should be used as a sublingual film tablet. Pregabalin is used in the treatment of neuropathic pain, epilepsy and anxiety disorders. It is increasingly being reported as possessing a potential for misuse. In this article, we present a case of intravenous BNC and concomitant oral pregabalin misuse that developed in a monitored and treated patient for the reason of opioid dependence.

Background: The ratio between the length of the second and fourth fingers (2D:4D ratio) has been linked with prenatal testosterone concentrations, but also with alcohol and tobacco misuse. Aim: We aimed to investigate any possible association between 2D:4D ratios and heroin use disorder, and whether such a relationship might be independent of impulsivity. Methods: A group of 150 men with heroin use disorder, consecutively admitted to a detoxification and therapy unit, completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-version 11 (BIS-11) and had their 2D:4D ratios measured, along with a group of 266 male controls of similar age and education. Results: Men with heroin use disorder had lower 2D:4D ratios on their right hand when compared with those without heroin use disorder. Results from logistic regression indicated that 2D:4D ratios were not significant independent predictors of heroin use disorder when attentional and non-planning impulsivity were considered. Conclusions: These findings suggest that high prenatal testosterone levels, as measured indirectly by 2D:4D ratios, are not independently associated with heroin use disorder among males.

Background and aims The ratio of the second and fourth fingers (2D:4D ratio) is a sexually dimorphic trait, with men tending to have lower values than women. This ratio has been related to prenatal testosterone concentrations and addictive behaviors including problematic video-gaming. We aimed to investigate the possible association between 2D:4D ratios and Internet addiction and whether such a relationship would be independent of impulsivity. Methods A total of 652 university students (369 women, 283 men), aged 17–27 years, were enrolled in the study. Problematic and pathological Internet use (PPIU) was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The participants also completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (version 11; BIS-11) and had their 2D:4D ratios measured. Results 2D:4D ratios were not significantly different in women with PPIU and in those with adaptive Internet use (AIU). Men with PPIU exhibited lower 2D:4D ratios on both hands when compared with those with AIU. Correlation analysis revealed that 2D:4D ratios on both hands were negatively correlated with IAT scores among men, but not among women. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, duration of weekly Internet use, impulsiveness, and 2D:4D ratios on the right hand were independently associated with IAT scores among men, and impulsivity did not mediate the relationship between 2D:4D ratios and PPIU. Conclusions For men, 2D:4D ratios on the right hand were inversely correlated with Internet addiction severity even after controlling for individual differences in impulsivity. These findings suggest that high prenatal testosterone levels may contribute to the occurrence of PPIU among men.

Purpose We aimed to determine the prevalence estimates of binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and food addiction in men with heroin use disorder and a matched sample of control participants. Methods A group of 100 men with heroin use disorder, consecutively admitted to a detoxification and therapy unit, were screened for DSM-5 eating disorders, along with a group of 100 male controls of similar age, education, and body mass index. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), the Barratt Impulsivity Scale-version 11, and the Eating Attitudes Test were used for data collection. Patients were also evaluated for various aspects of heroin use disorder (e.g., craving) using the Addiction Profile Index. Results Binge eating disorder that met DSM­5 criteria was more prevalent in patients with heroin use disorder (21%) than in control subjects (8%) (odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.3–7.3; p < 0.01). Food addiction based on the YFAS was also more common among men with heroin use disorder (28%) than among control participants (12%) (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.4–6.1; p < 0.01). A current food addiction was associated with more severe craving and having a history of suicide attempts in the patients. Conclusions Co-occurring binge eating disorder and food addiction are highly frequent in men with heroin use disorder. Screening for binge eating disorder and food addiction in patients with substance use disorder is important, as interventions may improve treatment outcome in this patient group.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of caffeine use and the one-month prevalence of caffeine intoxication among psychiatric patients in comparison with healthy controls. Methods: Four hundred and one patients with various psychiatric disorders and 150 healthy controls were screened for current (one month) caffeine intoxication according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. All parti-cipants were asked to complete Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The patients were also assessed with the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) to determine symptom severity. Results: The amount of daily caffeine con-sumption was statistically significantly higher in healthy control subjects than in patients. However, the prevalence of caffeine intoxication was greater among patients with a psychiatric disorder (8%) when compared with healthy controls (2.7%). In the patients, the amount of caffeine consumption correlated positively with age, CGI, and PSQI scores, indicating that patients with older age, poorer sleep quality, and more severe pathology consumed higher amounts of caffeine. Conclusions: Caffeine intoxication was more prevalent in psychiatric patients than in healthy subjects. The amount of caffeine intake was shown to be associated positively with the severity of pathology and inversely with sleep quality. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of regulating caffeine consumption on severity of pathology and sleep quality among psychiatric patients.

Galactorrhea is called milky flow spontaneously coming from each breast. It may happen secondary many diseases and drug usage. Antidepressants induce galactorrhea is rare. There are obviously limited reports on mirtazapine, which is noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA), related hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea. In this paper, a hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea case is reported due to mirtazapine treatment of depression.

Objective: Inflammatory and immune mechanisms are reported to play important roles in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is regarded as an effective treatment of not only depression, but also schizophrenia and mania, especially when there is no response to pharmacological interventions. Despite the common use of ECT, its mechanism of action is mostly unknown. Few studies examined the effect of ECT on inflammatory and immune functions. The neutrophillymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple and easily accessible indicator of the systemic inflammatory response. Our aim was to investigate whether a series of ECT sessions would change NLR in patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.Method: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 61 patients (unipolar depression, n=35; acute mania n=13; and schizophrenia, n=13). Complete blood count measurements were recorded before and after repeated ECT treatment.Results: We found no difference in NLR between before (2.27 +/- 2.54) and after (2.49 +/- 1.65) repetaed ECT treatments (p>0.05). Furthermore, a series of ECT did not change NLR in seperate diagnostic groups.Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the impact of ECT on NLR. Our findings suggest that NLR levels are not altered after repeated ECT treatments.

Background Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating disorder, the etiology of which remains unclear. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death mechanism that might be implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to compare the serum levels of apoptosis among deficit schizophrenia (DS) syndrome patients, nondeficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients, and healthy controls (HCs). Patients and methods After the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 23 DS patients, 46 NDS patients, and 33 HCs were included in the study. The serum apoptosis levels were measured using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay with human monoclonal antibodies directed against DNA and histones. Results There was a significant difference among the three groups in terms of the levels of apoptosis (F2,96=16.58; P<0.001). The serum apoptosis levels in the DS and NDS groups were significantly higher than those in the HC group. Furthermore, the serum apoptosis levels in the DS group were significantly higher than the levels in the NDS group. Conclusion This study suggests that increased levels of apoptosis may be implicated in the pathophysiology of DS syndrome. However, further studies are needed to support the role of apoptosis in DS.

AMAÇ: Major Depresif Bozukluk (MDB) ve Panik bozukluk (PB) tanısı alan hastaların üstbiliş işlevlerinin sağlıklı kontrollerle karşılaştırılarak değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. MATERYAL-METOD: Çalışmaya DSM-IV-TR’ye göre MDB ve PB tanılı 50’şer hasta ile yaş, cinsiyet açısından eşleştirilmiş geçmiş ve şimdiki öyküsünde psikiyatrik ve nörolojik hastalığı olmayan 50 sağlıklı kontrol alındı. Hasta ve kontrol grubuna DSM–IV Eksen–I Bozuklukları için Yapılandırılmış Klinik Görüşme Ölçeği (SCID–I), Sosyodemografik ve Klinik Veri Formu, Üstbiliş Ölçeği-30 (ÜBÖ), MDB hasta grubuna ek olarak ise Beck Depresyon Ölçeği (BDÖ) ile Beck Anksiyete Ölçeği (BAÖ), PB hastalarına ek olarak Panik Agorafobi Ölçeği (PAÖ) ile Durumluluk ve Süreklilik Kaygı ölçeği (STAI–I ve STAI–II) uygulandı. BULGULAR: Hem MDB hem de PB hastalarında, üstbiliş toplam puanları kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak yüksek bulundu. MDB hastalarında; üstbilişin bilişsel güven ile kontrol edilmezlik ve tehlike alt boyutları, PB hastalarında ise; kontrol edilmezlik ve tehlike ile kontrol ihtiyacı alt boyutları kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı yüksek idi. Ek olarak; MDB hastalarında BDÖ puanları ile üstbiliş olumlu inanç, PB hastalarında ise STAI-II ile bilişsel farkındalık alt boyutu arasında pozitif korelasyon saptanırken, PAÖ’nin sağlık konusunda endişelenmeyi değerlendiren soruları ile kontrol edilmezlik ve tehlike alt boyutu arasında ise negatif korelasyon saptandı. SONUÇ: Çalışmamız; MDB ve PB hasta grupları ile sağlıklı kontrol grubunun ÜBÖ parametreleri açısından farklılıklar gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Bu farklılıklar ile MDB ve PB hastalıklarının nedensel ilişkisini saptamaya yönelik daha fazla sayıda çalışmaya gereksinim vardır.

Objective The product of the G72 gene is an activator of d-amino acid oxidase and has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Increased G72 protein levels may be associated with disturbed glutamatergic transmission and increased reactive oxygen species. Only one pilot study by Lin et al. has investigated the potential role of serum G72 protein levels as a biomarker for schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to compare serum G72 protein levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, and to retest the results of the previous pilot study. Materials and methods In total, 107 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and 60 age–sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The groups were compared regarding serum G72 protein levels. Results The mean serum G72 protein values were 495.90±152.03 pg/ml in the schizophrenia group and 346.10±102.08 pg/ml in the healthy control group. The mean serum G72 protein level was significantly increased in the schizophrenia group compared with the healthy control group (t=−3.89, p<0.001). A receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to compare the schizophrenia and healthy control groups. It was determined that the cut-off value was 141.51 pg/ml with a sensitivity of 0.991 and a specificity of 0.821. Conclusion We suggest that serum G72 protein levels may represent a candidate biomarker for schizophrenia and have confirmed the results of the previous preliminary study. Additional studies with larger sample sizes and the inclusion of first episode schizophrenia patients are required to clarify the reliability and validity of serum G72 protein levels as a biomarker for schizophrenia.

Arachnoid cysts are mostly asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. In the literature, some case studies report a probable etiological association between arachnoid cysts and psychiatric disorders. We report an early onset schizophrenia case who had a left temporal arachnoid cyst and who had an inadequate response to antipsychotic treatment. We discuss the potential association between arachnoid cysts and psychiatric disorders in the light of the literature.