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The coping of patients with prodromal syndromes prevents relapses, and the differences in coping strategies affect the results of bipolar disorder. The various functionality levels of bipolar disorder patients such as work, marital relations, parental abilities and social presentation are significantly related with how well they cope. The objective of this study was to determine the family functionality and coping attitudes of bipolar disorder patients. The study planned as a descriptive one was carried with 81 bipolar disorder patients. Personal description form, family assessment device and Coping Attitudes Scale were used as data acquisition tools. It was determined that the adaptive coping attitudes used most frequently by the patients were religious coping, positive reinterpretation, active coping, problem-focused coping and emotional focused coping, beneficial social support use, emotional social support use, planning, suppression of competing activities and restraint coping; maladaptive coping attitudes used most frequently by the patients were 'focusing on the problem and venting of emotions and mental disengagement.' It was determined that family functions affected the coping attitudes of patients and that the patients who evaluated family functions in a healthy manner made use of adaptive coping strategies more at a statistically significant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aims to identify the socio-demographic features, psychiatric history, clinic features, and progress of euthymic bipolar patients diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder (BMD), to evaluate patients' levels of adherence to treatment, to evaluate insight and social support levels and to identify their relationship between treatment adherence. Method: The sample comprised of 59 BMD patients in Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Practice Hospital Psychiatry Department Mood Disorder Clinic, who met the study requirements, Results: The results revealed that there is a significant relationship between adherence to treatment and social support levels. It was also found out that age, sex, first mood period in the onset of the disorder, progress of the disorder, regular use of drugs, drug non-adherence and its causes (the environment's negative attitudes, the opinion that the treatment is useless, experience of side-effects) that have influenced treatment adherence Conclusion: The following recommendations are made here; evaluating the patients' treatment compliance at regular intervals with standardized criteria and scales; planning mental health training for inpatients and their families by groups; organizing psychiatric services taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of families; informing patients and families about coping and building sufficient social support networks, ensuring regular outpatient follow-up of bipolar mood disorder (BMD) patients for access to the treatment team and medication control; taking measures to increase treatment continuation; finally conducting a study with longer follow-up period than this one in a larger sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present study is to adapt the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale to Turkish, examine the reliability and validity of the scale among bipolar mood disorder patients and examine the relationship between mood stabilizers' blood drug levels and adherence to treatment. Methods: The sample comprised 59 bipolar mood disorder (BMD) patients in Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Practice Hospital Psychiatry Department Mood Disorder Clinic, who met the study requirements and who was diagnosed with BMD. The inclusion criterion for patients was to be euthymic at the time of the study. After examining the linguistic equivalence of the scale, its reliability and validity were assessed. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were performed for reliability analysis; factor analysis was performed in order to determine construct validity, and Kappa agreement analysis was performed for external validity. Results: The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.62 while test-retest reliability coefficients were found to range between 0.64 and 0.96. In factor analysis, the KMO value was found to be 0.636; Bartlett's test result was found to be 29.312 and the items intercorrelated with each other in a perfect way. It was also found out that most of the variables had common features, loaded on a single factor and the total variance rate of the scale had a sufficient value. Responses of patients' relatives and patients' blood drug levels were taken as criterion for external validity and a statistically significant agreement was found between these criteria and patients' MMAS. Conclusion: On the basis of these results, it was concluded that Morisky Medication Adherence Scale is a valid and reliable measurement instrument for bipolar disorder and is recommended to be used in the clinic and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is becoming increasingly important for problems encountered in mental health field to be assessed by a psychiatric team. Social service specialists are important part of the psychiatric team. The aim of social service applications in psychiatric fields is to ease the admission of treatment by patients, reduce the stress caused by the diseases on patient and family and contribute to solution of social problems caused by the patient's condition. Detection of social condition of patients and eliminating the existing problems are main duties of social service specialist. In this compilation, the duties and responsibilities of social service specialists of treatment team in mental health field are reviewed and possible social services that can be applied in psychiatry are emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether serum ghrelin levels are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in bipolar patients. Methods: A total of 60 bipolar disorder patients and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patient group was separated into two subgroups according to the use of atypical antipsychotics (AA)-risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine or mood stabilizers (MS)-lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepine, lamotrigine. The serum ghrelin level was measured by human ghrelin ELISA kits. Patients were diagnosed with MetS according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel 3 (NCEP ATP 3) criteria; MetS was considered present when 3 or more criteria were met. Results: Among bipolar patients included in the study, 51.7% (n=31) were treated only with AA, while 48.8% (n=29) were treated with MS alone. MetS diagnosis was established in 36.7% (n=22) of patients. There was no significant difference in ghrelin levels when comparing patients with and without MetS. Additionally, there were no significant differences among the patients with MetS using AAs and among the patients with MetS using MSs in terms of ghrelin levels. The serum ghrelin levels were found to be significantly lower in bipolar patients compared to controls. Negative correlation was detected between ghrelin and fasting blood glucose. Conclusion: Our study found that, compared to the general population, MetS was more frequently observed in bipolar patients and that serum ghrelin level was significantly lower in those patients. This result might be associated either with a compensatory mechanism or with an involvement of other disease-specific parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is nonmedical help seeking behavior for psychiatric disorders and associated factors. Method: This study is done between the dates of September 2007 to January 2008 the patients attending psychiatric outpatient units. Analyzing data frequency and chi square tests were used. Findings: 48% of psychiatric problems was found to has nonmedical help seeking behavior. The most frequent nonmedical help seeking behavior is found as going to hodja (78.3%). Discussion and Conclusion: Nonmedical help seeking behavior is high in psychiatric patients. There is a need for information of community about causes, clinical features and treatments of psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination Of The Anxiety And Depression Levels Of The Patients In The Chest Diseases Department Purpose: Chest diseases may increase the anxiety levels of patients and can cause a decline in their hopes for the future. For this reason, this research was planned to determine the depression and anxiety levels of the patients admitted in the department of chest diseases and to examine relationship between sociodemographic variants and variants related to the illness and depression and anxiety. Methods: 104 patients admitted in the clinic of chest diseases were enrolled in the study. Data was collected with the interview form prepared by authors and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HAD]. In the evaluation of data gathered, descriptive tests, t-test and ANOVA methods were used. Findings: Mean age of all patients (38 women and 66 men), was 50.02±18.84 years. Significant relationship between HAD-Anxiety Scale and profession and social support was determined. Also there was a significant relationship between HAD-Depression Scale and age and diagnosis. We found that there was no significant correlation between anxiety and depression score and all the other investigated parameters. Discussion and Conclusion: Our findings have shown that, there is an increase in depression in chest patients. In our opinion, psychological status assessment and, if necessary, psychological support will be useful for the well-being of chest patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), an ECT regimen within weekly or monthly intervals following a routine cure of ECT, is a useful treatment method for prevention of relapses and recurrences in depression. In this study 4 depressive patients' with treatment difficulties clinical follow-ups, and their responses to the maintenance ECT were evaluated. All of the patients responded well to the maintenance ECT. No serious side effects interfering with functioning were reported. This is the first study reporting a case series of maintenance ECT in depressive patients in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although opioids are known to have a great potential for dependency, they are used in medicine for their analgesic affects. Therefore, drug dependency and abuse is not limitted only with classical opioid addicts but also with people who have started to use it to exterminate their pain caused by a chronic disease or their psychiatric disease. As far as we know, people who began or became an addicted to a drug to heal their diabetes mellitus or to regulate their blood glucose haven't been in literature. In this report, clinics of three diabetic patients who began using heroin to heal their diabetes will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delirium is an important problem which is commonly encountered by physicians from all fields and it can Inflict negative effects over the patient's general profile when not appropriately treated. It may occur due to numerous reasons. While in some cases a single cause can play a role in its development, in certain cases multiple etiologies may be present as well. Multiple etiologies occurs especially in patients who are old and hospitalized. However, in practice, presence of multiple factors is oftenly overlooked. Inappropriate etiological evaluation delays the treatment and contributes to elevation of mortality and morbidity. Thus, it should be always kept in mind that in delirium patients, more than one factor causing the disease can be present. In the present report, a delirium case with combined opioid withdrawal and brain abscess, has been presented in order to emphasize the possibility of presence of multiple etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was thought earlier that environmental and social conditions were effective in the progress of substance use disorder but upon the developments in the genetics area it came forward that the genetic reasons play an important role. The substance use disorder is a complicated process. This process starts with trying the substance, continues with constant use and results in addictiveness progress. The impact of genetic mechanisms on the different levels of this process should be enlightened. It is notified that the addictiveness of alcohol, cigarette, heroin and cocaine pass through the family. The genetic of alcohol use disorder has been studied more compared to the substance use disorder's. As a result of these studies It was stated that the genetic impact in alcohol use disorder is more compared to the others. A genetic settlement that is agreed in the substance use disorder progress has not been obtained yet. The reason for this is that the formation of this sickness is attributed to the polygenic reasons. This situation causes the sickness to come in front of us with very different phenotypical features. The exposure of these different phenotypical features will guide the study of genetic ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study it is aimed to investigate the efficacy of longacting risperidone in treatment of schizophrenia. Method: The files of patients whom diagnosed schizophrenia according to DSM IV and had been treated with long acting risperidone in Gaziantep University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, Pscyhotic Disorders Unit, was investigated retrospectively. Results: End of the study clinical improvement was achieved by 66.7% (20/30). In the course of 6 months follow up period, weight gain in 2 patients (6.6%), tardive dyskinesia in l patient (3.3%), oculogyric crisis (3.3%), and akathisia in l patient (3.3%) was observed. Conclusion: This is the first study in Turkey which evaluates the efficacy of long-acting risperidone treatment for 24 weeks period and long-acting risperidone was appeared lead to clinical improvement in proportion %66.7 especially for schizophrenia patients with partial compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of patients who were applied to the Substance Usage Disorders Unit of Gaziantep University in past five years. Method: We evaluated retrospectively, the medical records of the patients who were applied to the Substance Usage Disorders Unit of Gaziantep University Medical Faculty Hospital in the last five years. All the data were collected and analyzed by SPSS for Windows 10.0. Results: The sample of the study consisted of 126 patients with alcohol and substance dependence and were examined in the past five years. The average age of the sample was 36.02 (SD±11.37) and beginning age to substance use was 13.19 (SD ±10.87) years. Most of the patients were male (96.8%) and 3.2% of the patients were female. Alcohol (46.8%), heroin (42.1%) and kannabis (7.1%) were the most frequently type of used substances. The mean age of first alcohol use of alcocohol dependants were 24.03 (SS±8.53) years and the mean age of first substance use of substance dependants were 22.44 (SS±7.15) years. Rate of marriage were significantly higher in alcohol dependent patients than drug dependent patients (p<0.001). The mean age of alcohol users were significantly higher than drug users (p<0.001). Unemployment rate was higher in drug users than alcohol users (p=0.009). Crime rates were significantly higher in the drug user (p=0.001). Crime rates were significantly higher in the patients who have lower educational level (p<0.001). Conclusion: This is the first study exploring sociodemographic characteristics of alcohol and substance dependent patients applied to a specific Substance Usage Disorders Unit in Gaziantep. The characteristics of substance use is similar to the other areas of Turkiye. However the rate of female patients were fewer than other areas of Turkiye and the mean age of first substance use were higher than other areas of Turkiye. This result may due to sociocultural characteristics of this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuropsychiatric sequelaes that occurred and persisted throughout the follow up period of patients who received a diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Method: The records of the 870 patients, who were hospitalized at Psychiatric Hospital of Medical Faculty of Gaziantep University, were evaluated retrospectively for possible diagnosis of NMS. Ten of 870 inpatients were found to receive a diagnosis of NMS according to DSM-IV criteria during their hospitalization. The treatments and development of any neuropsychiatric sequelae were investigated and noted. Results: Among 10 NMS cases, 4 of them seem to develop neuropsychiatric sequelaes. Two months after development of NMS, in 8 patients, the signs of persisting cog-wheel rigidity and rigidity were observed. During follow-up period of patients, 3 patients presented cognitive deficiency, 1 presented parkinsonism, and 1 patient had flexion-contracture in his hand as a permanent complication of NMS. The cognitive deficiency in case 1 resolved after 4 months which had been presumed to be related with ECT treatment. The symptoms of cognitive deficiencies in other cases did not show any progress despite vigorous treatment. Conclusions: With the development of emergency treatment approaches, NMS cases usually respond to treatment and are mostly improved mortality rates were decreased. However, some patients may have persistent neuropsychiatric sequelaes which should be taken into account during treatment course and should be dealt with carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Adrenomedullin (AM) induces vasorelaxation by activating adenylate cyclase and also by stimulating the release of NO. AM immune reactivity is present in the brain, consistent with a role as neurotransmitter. Therefore, it is suggested that these two molecules may play a role together in the brain. We aimed to examine AM and NO in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Forty-four patients with BPAD and 21 healthy control subjects were included in this study. DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (type I, manic episodes) was independently established by two psychiatrists and the Turkish version of the Bech-Rafaelson Mania Scale was administered. Also, a semistructured form was used to ascertain several sociodemographic and clinical variables of the patients. AM and NO were studied in plasma. The mean value of plasma NO levels in the BPAD group of 46.58 ± 13.97 μmol/l was significantly higher than that of controls (31.81 ± 8.14 μmol/l) (z = –4.15, p = 0.000). Mean plasma AM levels were found to be increased in patients with BPAD (35.13 ± 5.26 pmol/l) compared to controls (16.22 ± 3.02 pmol/l) (z = –6.16, p = 0.000). AM levels of BPAD patients were approximately 2-fold higher than controls. AM levels were positively correlated with the duration of hospitalization for the current episode and negatively correlated with the total duration of illness. Both NO and AM may have a pathophysiological role in BPAD (type I, manic episodes) and the clinical symptomatology and prognosis of BPAD.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal on mood disorders that notes the efforts of the editorial board, publishers and reviewers as the journal celebrates it's fifth year focusing on articles on topics like bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and connection between mood and mental health.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare patients with bipolar disorder who have manic episode with or without psychotic features according to oxidative stress indices. Method: This study included 61 euthymic bipolar patients diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria who were followed-up at the Mood Disorders Unit of Gaziantep University Sahinbey Research and Education Hospital's Psychiatry Clinic and 41 healthy controls without any psychiatric disorder history. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured at the Harran University Biochemistry Laboratory from blood samples obtained appropriately from the patients and the controls. Results: Comparison of mean TAS, TOS, and OSI levels revealed that the patient group had significantly higher oxidative stress indices. No statistical differences were found in comparison of TAS, TOS, and OSI levels between patients with or without psychotic features. Discussion: Our results demonstrated that psychotic symptoms did not cause additional oxidative stress in bipolar disorder patients. However, oxidative balance was found to be impaired in bipolar disorder patients. Antioxidant level might have increased to compensate increased oxidant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine may exhibit antidepressant effect. Previous studies of treatment-resistant depression reveal that ketamine infusions may result in a rapid antidepressant response with improvement usually sustained for several days. This case suggests that intravenous administration of ketamine may be effective for immediate relief from symptoms in unipolar depression and may also relieve suicidal ideation. Due to the prolonged period between the initiation of treatment and the onset of action of currently available antidepressants, only a few things can be done for the management of acute and severe suicidal ideation other than close monitoring or hospitalization. Rapid effect of ketamine may be an advantage in the management of suicide risk. Although additional research is needed to ascertain optimal dosing schedules and route of administration of ketamine, NMDA agents warrant further investigation as a treatment option in treatment-resistant depression and as an agent intended to reduce suicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of individuals who have elementary school-aged children towards childhood psychiatric disorders and to determine to what extent they could tell the difference between child psychiatrists and psychologists, the two different professional groups working in this field. Method: The study was conducted on individuals waiting for their children after school in central Konya. A questionnaire containing 29 questions was applied using the 'nonprobability sampling' method over 400 individuals who agreed to attend face-to-face interviews. Results: 92.3% of the participants responded to the question "Who is a child psychiatrist?" saying, "They are medical school graduates who have received specialist education and who are working towards the diagnosis and treatment of children's psychological health and disorders", while 52.5% responded to the question "Who is a psychologist?" using the same definition. The subjects considered 97.5% of childhood psychiatric disorders to be treatable. 62.3% of the respondents stated that they believed that the drugs used in treatment were addictive. The respondents gave the highest marks to the statement "I would take him/her to a child psychiatrist" to a question where Major Depression was defined, followed by the question "What would you do in such a situation?" and to a question where Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms were defined, with a rating of 50.8% and 44.8%, respectively; and 64.8% of the respondents replied "most frequently" to a question where the symptoms of panic disorder were given, followed by the question "I would take him/her to a pediatrician." Conclusion: We found that individuals with elementary school-aged children mostly failed to distinguish between child psychiatrists and psychologists, with a widespread conviction that the drugs used in the treatment process would result in addiction. In psychiatric disorders other than panic disorder, the most rated response was "I would take him/her to a child psychiatrist." which indicate that the first choice of recourse is the child psychiatrists in childhood psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of individuals who have elementary school-aged children towards childhood psychiatric disorders and to determine to what extent they could tell the difference between child psychiatrists and psychologists, the two different professional groups working in this field. Method: The study was conducted on individuals waiting for their children after school in central Konya. A questionnaire containing 29 questions was applied using the 'nonprobability sampling' method over 400 individuals who agreed to attend face-to-face interviews. Results: 92.3% of the participants responded to the question 'Who is a child psychiatrist?' saying, 'They are medical school graduates who have received specialist education and who are working towards the diagnosis and treatment of children's psychological health and disorders', while 52.5% responded to the question 'Who is a psychologist?' using the same definition. The subjects considered 97.5% of childhood psychiatric disorders to be treatable. 62.3% of the respondents stated that they believed that the drugs used in treatment were addictive. The respondents gave the highest marks to the statement 'I would take him/her to a child psychiatrist' to a question where Major Depression was defined, followed by the question 'What would you do in such a situation?' and to a question where Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms were defined, with a rating of 50.8% and 44.8%, respectively; and 64.8% of the respondents replied 'most frequently' to a question where the symptoms of panic disorder were given, followed by the question 'I would take him/her to a pediatrician.' Conclusion: We found that individuals with elementary school-aged children mostly failed to distinguish between child psychiatrists and psychologists, with a widespread conviction that the drugs used in the treatment process would result in addiction. In psychiatric disorders other than panic disorder, the most rated response was 'I would take him/her to a child psychiatrist.' which indicate that the first choice of recourse is the child psychiatrists in childhood psychiatric disorders. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry, 2013; 50: 154-160) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of individuals who have elementary school-aged children towards childhood psychiatric disorders and to determine to what extent they could tell the difference between child psychiatrists and psychologists, the two different professional groups working in this field. Method: The study was conducted on individuals waiting for their children after school in central Konya. A questionnaire containing 29 questions was applied using the 'nonprobability sampling' method over 400 individuals who agreed to attend face-to-face interviews. Results: 92.3% of the participants responded to the question "Who is a child psychiatrist?" saying, "They are medical school graduates who have received specialist education and who are working towards the diagnosis and treatment of children's psychological health and disorders", while 52.5% responded to the question "Who is a psychologist?" using the same definition. The subjects considered 97.5% of childhood psychiatric disorders to be treatable. 62.3% of the respondents stated that they believed that the drugs used in treatment were addictive. The respondents gave the highest marks to the statement "I would take him/her to a child psychiatrist" to a question where Major Depression was defined, followed by the question "What would you do in such a situation?" and to a question where Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms were defined, with a rating of 50.8% and 44.8%, respectively; and 64.8% of the respondents replied "most frequently" to a question where the symptoms of panic disorder were given, followed by the question "I would take him/her to a pediatrician." Conclusion: We found that individuals with elementary school-aged children mostly failed to distinguish between child psychiatrists and psychologists, with a widespread conviction that the drugs used in the treatment process would result in addiction. In psychiatric disorders other than panic disorder, the most rated response was "I would take him/her to a child psychiatrist." which indicate that the first choice of recourse is the child psychiatrists in childhood psychiatric disorders. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry, 2013; 50: 154-160) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human brain forms a lot of unique features of human behaviour and personality. As a result of a damage to a specific region of the human brain, with various reasons; permanent and mixed neuropsychiatric symptoms can be seen. Neurological deficits or sometimes psychiatric findings can be dominant. One of the cases which causes such a clinical complexity is the syndrome of frontal lobe (FLS). FLS is constituted by the damage of prefrontal lobe region of frontal lobe. It is characterized with the change in the behavior and the personality of the individuals whose previous behaviours were normal. FLS was first defined by Harlow with the case of Phineas Gage about one hundred years ago. Since then, its relationship with the behavior and personality construct still remains its mystery. The spectrum of the behavioral changes observed in the patients with frontal lesion is quite large. While some of these patients are childish, disrespectful, shabby, tactless; the others lose their spontaneity, curiosity, and initiative and they exhibit apathic atrophy in the emotions, motive, thought, and behaviours. Again some of the patients lose their insight, foresight and judgment, some of them postpone the enjoyment, and they lose their creativity, planning the complex behaviors in regular way, and also they can't direct their attention to various events simultaneously. The ability of manipulating the focus of concentration from one to the other in a flexible way is deteriorated. They can't follow the instructions with multisteps. In addition to these, the ability of spontaneous but inappropriate responses while sustaining the output without pressure are deteriorated in a remarkable way. However, in the literature such a phenomenon in which the deterioration of schizotypal personality and FLS were observed together hasn't been encountered. Here, we present a case in a patient with an earlier childhood head trauma manifesting enigmatic thought and deterioration of adaption developed later in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lamotrigine is found to be effective in continuation treatment of bipolar disorder's depressive phase. Some fatal, hepatic side effects were reported due to lamotrigine treatment. A laboratory study on rats showed significant increase of liver enzymes, SGOT, SGPT and Total Billirubin levels which might also be valid for human subjects. In this study we aimed to evaluate retrospectively the effect of lamotrigine on liver functioning. Method: Patients between 18-60 years, who applied to Gaziantep University fiahinbey Research Hospital between 30 November 2006 and 28 February 2007 and diagnosed as bipolar disorder, recent episode depressive or major depressive disorder according to DSM IV were included in the study. All patients received lamotrigine as prophylactic treatment for mood disorders. After inclusion into the study medical records of the patients were retrospectively evaluated. The serum levels of several liver function tests (ie. SGOT, SGPT and Total Bilirubin) before treatment and 1st or 3 rd month after the initation of the treatment were taken into consideration. Missing values were estimated by series means method. Results: There was no significant difference betwen initial and late values. There was no correlation between initial and late dosage, and levels. After treatment the SGOT, SGPT levels of only two patients were elevated. Discussion: From the fact that there was no significant difference between groups but significant elevation in transaminase levels of two patients lead us to think that routine montioring of liver functioning throughout the treatment may not be essential, but a cross-sectional test should be beneficial. Results should be considered carefully as this is the one of the first studies evaluating the effect in men of lamotrigine on liver enzymes in the short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Negative attitudes towards alcohol and substance use and dependency are prevelant and detrimental on the treatment process of these disorders. Method: The relationship between the sociodemographic factors, personal and family history of alcohol-substance use and attitudes towards alcohol-substance use were investigated in this study. A sample of 425 undergraduate medical and nursing students in Gaziantep University were randomly recruited to the study. A questionnaire including items related with negative attitudes towards alcohol-substance use and dependency, was formed and psychometrically investigated. Results: Psychometric investigation finally revealed a scale of 21 items, with a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.871 and Guttman split-half reliability quefficient of 0.775. Although nursing and medical students did not differ in terms of negative attitudes, results suggest that level of stigmatizing attitudes of medical and nursing students can not be understimated. Students with higher level of income and students of higher classes had less negative attitudes. Personal and family history of alcohol-substance use was also found to be related with less negative attitudes. Conclusion: Although these results suggest that education is partially effective in reducing negative attitudes towards alcohol/drug dependence, educational programs in the curricula of medical and nursing education, aiming to decrease negative attitudes should be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Relationship between oxidative metabolism and psychiatric disorders has been researched in several studies. We aimed to investigate oxidative metabolism in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and healthy controls in the present study. Method: 30 schizophrenia, 30 schizoaffective, 30 bipolar patients and 30 healthy controls were included the study. Total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured in the collected blood samples and oxidative stress index was calculated. The four groups were compared. Results: TOS and OSI were higher in schizoaffective patients than schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and controls. There was no difference in the TAS between groups. Conclusions: Increased TOS in schizoaffective disorder indicate that schizoaffective disorder is a different illness from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in regard to oxidative metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic illness that negatively affects the quality of life and psychosocial functions. Defined criteria to assess remission in schizophrenia are considered to be useful in the longterm follow-up of patients and in discriminating diagnostic factors. This study investigated the quality of life and functionality in schizophrenia patients in symptomatic remission (R-Sch) and not in remission (Non- R-Sch). Methods: Sociodemographic data were collected for 40 R-Sch and 40 Non-R-Sch patients, and the following scales were administered: the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Scale; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form, Turkish Version (WHOQOL-BREF-TR), Quality of Life Scale for Schizophrenia Patients (QLS), and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Results: The total and all subscale scores of PANSS and the CGI-S score were significantly lower in the R-Sch group than in the Non- R-Sch group, whereas the GAF scores and all subscales of QLS and WHOQOL-BREF-TR were significantly higher. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that improvement in symptoms in schizophrenia patients improves quality and functionality in all areas of life, suggesting that an improvement in symptoms is the most important determinant of functional recovery in the treatment of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To determine the knowledge and attitudes of non-psychiatry residents about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and additionally to make a comparison between residents of medical sciences and surgical sciences. METHODS: The study consisted of 176 medical school graduates in their residency training (119 medical sciences, 57 surgical sciences) at a university hospital. All subjects are asked to fill a questionnaire prepared by the authors. RESULTS: Among all, 58 of the medical sciences residents (48.7%), and 32 of the surgical sciences residents (56.1%) had reported that they have never observed any ECT session. There was no statistically significant difference between the residents of the two groups in terms of theirs attitudes towards ECT (p>0.05). The residents of surgical sciences differed from the others only in their response to the question that sought answer whether they would agree to have any of their relatives to undergo ECT. They more often disagreed to this statement (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and attitudes of residents in medical, and surgical sciences about ECT seemed to be similar. Despite their significant amount of knowledge about ECT the residents showed similar attitudes towards it with the patients and their caregivers that were previously reported in the literature. Additionally, the results also suggest that current training in medical schools need a revision that would eventually improve attitudes of medical graduates towards ECT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity is more common among patients with bipolar disorder as compared to normal population. There are studies showing increased leptin levels in obese patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations in leptin levels, body mass index (BMI), and lipid-lipoprotein levels during manic period, as well as during euthymic period, after one month in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: Thirty-one adult patients, who had been hospitalized in the psychiatry clinic because of manic period of bipolar disorder, were included in the present study. Serum leptin and lipid-lipoprotein levels and BMI of the patients were analyzed both on the first day and 30th day of hospitalization after they became euthymic. Results: Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly increased in male patients (p<0.05). The increase in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels was not significant in female patients (p=0.066 and p=0.056, respectively). BMI was significantly, but slightly increased in both genders (0.56±0.14 kg/m2), however, such a change was not observed in serum leptin levels. Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrated that clinical improvement in bipolar patients showed different association in each gender with the alterations in BMI and serum lipid and/or lipoprotein levels. Such an alteration might have resulted from direct or indirect effect of drugs, as well as from lifestyle changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity is more common among patients with bipolar disorder as compared to normal population. There are studies showing increased leptin levels in obese patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations in leptin levels, body mass index (BMI), and lipid-lipoprotein levels during manic period, as well as during euthymic period, after one month in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: Thirty-one adult patients, who had been hospitalized in the psychiatry clinic because of manic period of bipolar disorder, were included in the present study. Serum leptin and lipid-lipoprotein levels and BMI of the patients were analyzed both on the first day and 30th day of hospitalization after they became euthymic. Results: Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly increased in male patients (p<0.05). The increase in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels was not significant in female patients (p=0.066 and p=0.056, respectively). BMI was significantly, but slightly increased in both genders (0.56±0.14 kg/m2), however, such a change was not observed in serum leptin levels. Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrated that clinical improvement in bipolar patients showed different association in each gender with the alterations in BMI and serum lipid and/or lipoprotein levels. Such an alteration might have resulted from direct or indirect effect of drugs, as well as from lifestyle changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the diagnosis, substance use situations, sociodemographic and clinical features of cases referred from forensic medicine to our forensic psychiatry clinic. Method: In this study archive files and reports of 412 cases referred from forensic medicine to Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine Forensic Psychiatry Clinic between 2007-2011 years were investigated retrospectively. Results: Cases in which substance use and dependence were evaluated, cannabis was found to be 57.1%, heroin 14.6%, multiple substances 13.1% and drug 0.5%. Cases that were evaluated with regards to TCK 32, multiple substances were found to be 7.7%, cannabis 6.9%, and heroin 3.8%. Male sex was found to be significantly higher and educational levels were found to be significantly lower in cases in terms of crime, substance use and dependence and evaluated for criminal liability. In our study, cases involved in crime, had the psychiatric diagnoses in order of frequency as substance dependence, psychotic disorders and mood disorders. Discussion: People with substance use and dependence are too much involved in crime directly or indirectly depending upon the substance use. These people are frequently enrolled in the judicial system and in this process they are subjects of forensic psychiatry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroconvulsive (ECT) is one of the most efficacious choice in the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is no study conducted on human being investigating the effect of ECT on oxidative balance in bipolar disorder. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative parameters on bipolar inpatients who is treated with ECT and pharmacotherapy. 31 bipolar inpatients in psychiatry department of Gaziantep University and 35 healty volunteeers were included in the study. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Total Oxidant Status (TOS) of serum samples were measured and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were counted in Harran University Biochemistry Laboratory. In all patient group, bipolar manic episode and depressive episode patients; before ECT and after ECT there was no significant difference for oxidative parameters. Before ECT, TAS levels in bipolar depressive episode patients were significantly lower than the control group (z=-2.614, p=0.009). But after ECT, there was no difference between these two groups (z=-1.558, p>0.05). Before ECT, TOS levels in bipolar manic episode patients were significantly higher than the control group (z=-2.598, p=0.009); after ECT, there was no difference between these two groups (z=-0.910, p>0.05). Finally, when compared with controls, in bipolar depressive episode patients TAS levels were increased with ECT and pharmacotheraphy and in bipolar manic episode patients TOS levels were decreased. For more comprehensive results new studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium's first rise in psychiatry was in 1949 when John Cade tried lithium in manic patients successfully. Clinical research which conducted later on, showed the lithium's effectivity in maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) and mania. On the other hand, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lithium for mania treatment in 1970, and for maintenance treatment against mania in 1974. Lithium still keeps its importance as the first line treatment option in acute mania, maintenance treatment, and depressive episode of BD. However, despite this wide usage area, lithium has a narrow therapeutic index and as a result of this, a lot of serious acute and chronic side effects may occur. Neurologic, endocrine, renal, dermatologic, and gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems may be affected in different severities. Lithium intoxication may result in neurological sequela, even in death. In this article, a BD patient who has been treated with lithium for forty years without side effects, and who has been found to be normal in lab and monitoring examination will be reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Ceruloplasmin, an acute phase reactant with antioxidant capacity, has been found to be increased in some psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder. However, studies in depression are very scarce. We undertook this study determine the serum ceruloplasmin levels of depressive patients before and after treatment, to compare them with those of healthy control subjects, and to assess any possible association of ceruloplasmin and treatment response. Methods: Nineteen (8 male, 11 female) patients with major depressive disorder and 40 (17 male, 23 female) healthy control subjects were included in the study. The patients received naturalistic antidepressant treatment for 8 weeks after diagnosis. Serum ceruloplasmin levels and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores of the patients were measured before and after their antidepressant treatment. Blood collection for ceruloplasmin measurement was done only once for healthy control subjects. Results: Patients’ ceruloplasmin levels before and after antidepressant treatment were significantly higher than control subjects (t = 7.569, p <0.001 and t = 6.764, p <0.001, respectively). Despite clinical improvement, ceruloplasmin did not show any significant change after treatment in patients with depression (t = −1.163, p = 0.260) and remained higher than levels of control subjects. No correlation was found between HAM-D score, presence of response, and ceruloplasmin levels. Conclusions: Compared to healthy control subjects, ceruloplasmin level seemed to be higher in patients with depression and remained high, despite acute antidepressant treatment. Improvement in clinical measurements of depression after antidepressant treatment was not reflected as significant alterations in serum ceruloplasmin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A-ADHD) is one of the psychiatric disorders which awareness is growing. The exact causes of A-ADHD are still unknown. In addition to neurochemical and neuroanatomic disorders, genetic and environmental factors are discussed in its etiology. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative status of A-ADHD patients and investigate whether oxidative metabolites can be used as diagnostic tools or not in A-ADHD. Blood samples were taken from enrolled 50 A-ADHD patients and 31 controls in appropriate way and Total Antioxidative Status (TAS), Total Oxidative Status (TOS), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were studied in Harran University Biochemistry Labs. Results were compared between groups and ROC curve was drawn in order to evaluate diagnostic performances. Patients'' TAS, TOS and OSI were significantly higher than controls. There was not a significant difference between comorbid cases and only A-ADHD patients in terms of measured values. A-ADHD can be predicted for TOS over 9.8575 μmol H2O2 Eqv./L level with 86% positive predictive value and %100 negative predictive value. In A-ADHD, oxidative balance is impaired. High antioxidant levels may be compensatory against the oxidant increase. Oxidative parameters may be used in A-ADHD diagnosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which aims to investigate gender differences with respect to psychiatric comorbidity (PC) in ostructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). It evaluates data of patients with OSAS in University of Gaziantep from January 2006-January 2010. It shows that PC was found in 53.1% of OSAS patients with 42.6% in males and 76.26 in females.

Objective: Considering the suggested association of tryptophan hydroxylase gene 1 (TPH1) polymorphism with some psychiatric disorders and studies concerning serotonin's effect on TPH 1 gene, brain and the neurotransmitter monoamines, as well as the studies performed on the serotonin levels in cerebrospinal şuid of bipolar patients, we aimed to investigate the frequencies and distribution of TPH 1 gene 218 A>C (rs1800532) polymorphism; A/A, A/C and C/C genotypes in bipolar patients and healthy control subjects for the first time in Turkish population (1-2). Methods: One hundred and sixteen adult patients who applied to the Mood Disorders Unit of Psychiatry Department, Medical School of Gaziantep University, and diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were included in the study. One hundred and fifty healthy volunteers, a hospital staff at Gaziantep University, were involved as the control group. Results: In female patients, the frequency of A/A genotype was found to be higher than in the females in the control group. No significant difference was detected between patient and control groups in terms of age and gender distribution. The distribution of A/A, A/C and C/C genotypes were similar in patient and control groups. Conclusion: The distribution of TPH1 gene 218 A>C polymorphism was found to be significantly different between female patients and females in the control group. This result can be explicated as being one of the possible reasons for different course of bipolar disorder in male and female patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to study the bone mineral density in schizophrenia patients, who have been treated with antipsychotic medications. Method: The study population consisted of 30 schizophrenic female patients who have been taking antipsychotic drugs at least for one year or longer and 40 healthy individuals. The patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria. Psychopathological status and severity of disease in each patient were evaluated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales. All subjects completed a questionnaire for demographical characteristics and underwent routine laboratory tests to determinate alkaline phosphatase, parathormon, and prolactine levels. Bone mineral density was measured using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at two different regions, lumbal spine and femoral neck. Results: There were no significant differences between patients and controls in respect to age, height, weight, and smoking habits (p >0.05). Prolactine levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p <0.001). Bone mineral densities were lower in both regions in patients group than in controls (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Schizophrenia usually occurs in young adults and requires constant medication treatment throughout life and antipsychotic drugs may contribute to reduction in bone mineral density. It is known that osteoporosis can cause significant complications such as severe pain, vertebral deformities, fractures, or even death. The patients with schizophrenia should be assessed for osteoporosis and fracture risks, and should be treated if needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this cross-sectional study we aimed to determine the metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence in schizophrenia patients followed up in our Psychotic Disorders Unit, and to evaluate the relationship between MetS and medication of the patients. Method: High density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting glucose, triglyceride levels, arterial blood pressure and waist circumference at the level of the umbilicus of the patients included in the study were measured in 87 schizophrenia patients. Results: According to Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), ATP III A and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria; metabolic syndrome prevalence was 29.9%, 35.6% and 42.5% respectively. 27.6% of patients had two criteria of MetS but did not meet MetS diagnosis. There was no association between MetS and age, age of onset of illness and duration of illness. Men had higher MetS prevalence according to all diagnostic criteria, however there was a statistical significance only for IDF. There was no difference of MetS prevalence between monotherapy and combined antipsychotic medications. The metabolic syndrome prevalence was significantly lower in biperiden users than in the nonuser patients Discussion: Although the prevalence of MetS is lower than in some previous studies, it is generally similar to other schizophrenia researches. MetS must be carefully considered in schizophrenia patients' follow up and treatment choices, and some risk decreasing interventions must be made when necessary in the early period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of catatonia was first introduced by Karl Kahlbaum in 1874. Although for many years catatonia was solely linked to schizophrenia, it is currently known that this disorder is seen more frequently in other psychiatric disorders especially in mood disorders than in schizophrenia. Many medical disorders can also present with catatonic symptoms. Medical catatonia may account for as many as 20% to 30% of all cases of catatonia. Endocrine abnormalities, viral and bacterial infections and electrolyte imbalances can all present with catatonia. Neurological conditions like epilepsy, strokes of the anterior brain region and traumatic brain injury may also present with catatonia, and also intoxication or withdrawal of many drugs or substances can result in catatonia. In this paper we present a patient who had catatonia appearing during an acute psychotic condition after an infection. In the course of treatment she did not respond to electro-convulsive treatment (ECT) until the infection was eliminated by medical treatment. After treating the infection, catatonia responded to ECT and benzodiazepine treatment. The patient had decubitus ulcer, too. The decubitus ulcer was probably due to catatonia because the patient had remained in an akinetic position for many days. Consequently, it should be kept in mind that catatonia might be a medical comorbidity which cause a complex course and delay treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study we aimed to evaluate the association between serum leptin levels and metabolic syndrome in bipolar patients Method: Sixty bipolar I disorder (BD) patients, of 29 under mood stabilizer (MS) (lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepin and lamotrigine) treatment and of 31, under atypical antipsychotics (AA) (risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine) treatment for at least 3 months were enrolled. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was screened according to NCEP ATP III (Adult Treatment Protocol of the National Cholesterol Education Programme) criteria. Results: 36.7% of the patients were MetS. The AA subgroup had significantly more MetS than MS. Abdominal obesity was significantly correlated with leptin levels in BD. There was not found significant association between MetS and leptin levels in BD. Discussion: AA taking bipolar patients had higher MetS rates. However, there was no significant difference among AAs for MetS prevelance. Leptin levels were significantly correlated with abdominal obesity in bipolar patients but seem not to be associated with MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is a widely used treatment for psychiatric disorders, have not yet been established. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether the patients’ serum ghrelin and leptin levels are associated with the action of ECT treatment. In the case of the mood disorders, which occurred in 16 patients with major depressive episode (MDE) and 12 patients with bipolar disorder-manic episode (BD-me) and 25 healthy controls, we have determined the serum levels of ghrelin, leptin and cholesterol before ECT and 2 days after ECT. The BMI was also calculated in all subjects. Although ECT treatment did not change mean the BMI and serum leptin level, the mean serum ghrelin level decreased and the total cholesterol level increased after ECT compared with before ECT. While the leptin levels in the patient group were significantly lower than the controls before and after ECT, the mean serum ghrelin and total cholesterol levels differed statistically only before ECT, but not after ECT than those in controls. The ghrelin levels have decreased significantly after ECT in both sub-groups MDE and BB-me. However, the mean serum total cholesterol level increased statistically after ECT only in the MDE sub-group, and the leptin levels did not differ in both sub-groups after ECT compared with before ECT. In conclusion, ECT treatment seems to be associated with decreased ghrelin levels and increased cholesterol levels but not leptin levels. However, more comprehensive and detailed studies are needed to decipher the exact role of ECT on ghrelin, leptin and total cholesterol in mood disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: This study aims to compare the depression and anxiety levels in interferon using and non-using groups of patients with hepatitis C. Method: In this case control study, 55 Hepatitis C patients of 40 using interferon and 15 nonuser were applied Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D) Scale and Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) Scale at first crosss sectional psychiatric evaluation. Results: Frequencey of anxiety disorders and depression was found significantly higher in interferon using group than nonuser group. When compared scale scores; HAM-A and HAM-D scores were signicantly higher in interferon using group than nonuser group. Discussion: In this study, significantly higher depressive and anxiety symptoms were found in interferon using patient group than nonuser group. Physicians should be aware of psychiatric complications during interferon treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remission has provided a realistic treatment goal in mood and anxiety disorders and led to an improved understanding of the relative benefits of available approaches to treatment. The concept of symptomatic remission in schizophrenia has recently been the subject of renewed interest and our aim was to evaluate the potential benefits of this development. In this article, the consensus of opinions of the authors taking part in such a study group is presented and the probable benefits of a definition of remission are taken into evaluation. We critically reviewed a recently proposed consensus definition on the concept of remission. By establishing the remission criteria in schizophrenia, an objective goal will be set for the patient and the psychiatrist and, consequently, a comparative assessment of the current therapeutic approaches will be possible. However, since the evaluation of cognitive and functional improvement in schizophrenia is not as simple as measuring the positive and negative symptoms of the disease, these areas were kept out of the concept of remission - for the time being. Therefore, these criteria are an initial step in the way to the definition of remission. The first evaluations concerning remission criteria suggest that achieving symptomatic remission could also lead to efficient results in other areas such as quality of life, social relations and professional life. Setting such an objective goal in treatment and grading this goal will create an efficient method for the patients, families and the community as well as for designing and comparing clinical studies. While the possibility of recovery in schizophrenia still seems out-of-reach, achieving and maintaining remission may be considered a realistic goal. More widespread use of these criteria, particularly in controlled clinical trials is required to fully define how they might be used in standard clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that oxygen free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Although it has not been investigated yet, several recent studies proposed that nitric oxide (NO) and other parameters related to oxidative stress may have a pathophysiological role in autism. Methods: We assessed the changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels in plasma as well as NO levels in red blood cells (RBC) in patients with autism (n=27) compared to age- and sex-matched normal controls (n=30). Results: In the autistic group, increased RBC NO levels (p<0.0001) and plasma GSH-Px activity (p<0.0001) and unchanged plasma TBARS levels and SOD activity were detected. Conclusions: These findings indicate a possible role of increased oxidative stress and altered enzymatic antioxidants, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of autism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. – The pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia (TD) is not completely understood.Aim. – To assess the relationship of TD with 5-HT2A receptor gene, serotonin transporter gene (5 HTT), and catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphisms.Method. – Our study comprised 111 unrelated subjects who strictly met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and 32 TD, and 79 healthy unrelated controls; all the subjects were of Turkish origin. The analyses of 5-HT2A receptor gene, 5 HTT gene, and COMT gene polymorphisms were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.Results. – The polymorphisms of these genes were not significantly different between the schizophrenic patients, TD and control subjects.Conclusion. – Our findings indicated that 5-HT2A receptor gene, 5 HTT gene, and COMT gene polymorphisms were similar in schizophrenia with non-TD, schizophrenia with TD, and healthy controls. These polymorphisms, though, do not help to evaluate the susceptibility to TD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evidence is accumulating for a possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in schizophrenia. Adrenomedullin (AM) induces vasorelaxation by activating adenylate cyclase and also by stimulating the release of NO. AM immune reactivity is present in the brain consistent with a role as neurotransmitter. We aimed to examine plasma levels of nitrite (a metabolite of NO) and AM in schizophrenic patients. Eighty-two patients with schizophrenia and 21 healthy control subjects were included in this study. DSM-IV diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia was established on the basis of independent structured clinical interviews and review of records by two qualified psychiatrists which included the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). Total nitrite and AM have been studied in plasma. The mean values of plasma nitrite and AM levels in schizophrenic group were significantly higher than control values, respectively (P=0.03, P<0.0001). AM levels of schizophrenic patients were three fold higher than controls. In correlation analyses, there were statistically significant positive correlations between AM level and SAPS-delusion subscale (r=0.27, P=0.04); SAPS-bizarre behavior subscale (r=0.28, P=0.03) and SAPS-total (r=0.36, P=0.005). There is no correlation between total nitrite and AM levels (r=0.11, P=0.31). Both NO and AM may have a pathophysiological role in schizophrenia, and clinically symptomatology and prognosis of schizophrenia. This subject needs further study including treatment response and subtypes of schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is great evidence in recent years that oxygen free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The present study was performed to assess the changes in plasma nitric oxide (NO) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities in schizophrenic patients compared to age- and sex-matched normal controls. A hundred patients with schizophrenia and 51 healthy volunteers were included in the study. XO, SOD, and GSH-Px activities as well as NO and TBARS levels were estimated by standard biochemical techniques in the plasma of normal healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. In schizophrenia, increased plasma XO activity (P<.0001) and NO levels (P<.0001), decreased SOD activity (P<.0001), and unchanged GSH-Px activity were detected compared to control group. Plasma TBARS levels were increased in schizophrenic patients (P<.01), especially in the residual subtype. TBARS levels in nonsmoker schizophrenic patients were found to be higher than nonsmoker controls. Although TBARS levels in both patients and controls were found to be higher in smokers as compared to nonsmokers, it was not statistically significant. No effects of duration of the illness, gender, and low and high dose of daily neuroleptic treatment equivalent to chlorpromazine on oxidant and antioxidant parameters were observed. Because the dose and the duration of treatment with drugs have no influence on the results, it can be interpreted that the findings are more likely to be related mainly to the underlying disease. These findings indicated a possible role of increased oxidative stress and diminished enzymatic antioxidants, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. On the other hand, increased NO production by nitric oxide synthetases (NOSs) suggests a possible role of NO in the pathophysiological process of schizophrenia. These findings may also suggest some clues for the new treatment strategies with antioxidants and NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors in schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and polymorphism of the two regions of the 5-HTT gene [variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and 5-HTTLRR] in a sample of Turkish children. Using the PCR technique, these polymorphisms were assessed in 71 patients with ADHD and 128 healthy controls. The 5-HTTLPR S/S genotype was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.018). Homozygous and heterozygous L variant predominated in the ADHD group. But the VNTR STin2.12/12 genotype was significantly less found in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the frequency of the short (S), long, 10, and 12 alleles of both groups. The lack of an S/S variant of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the STin2.12/12 variant of VNTR polymorphism appears to be associated with an increased risk of ADHD.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depression is one of the most frequently seen psychiatric disorders. Classical antidepressant treatments might be insufficient in treating all symptoms of of depression. Therefore, antidepressant treatments which work through different mechanisms have been developed. One of these therapies is agomelatine. Agomelatine is a drug which is a synthetic analogue of melatonin hormone. Melatonin works by stimulating the activities of MT1 and MT2 receptors and inhibiting the activity of serotonin 5HT2C receptor. It is recommended to be cautious in patients taking agomelatine in terms of liver enzyme elevation. In this case report, agomelatine-induced elevation of liver enzymes and the treatment process will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]