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Background Alcohol and substance use is a major health challenge in Turkey, as it is worldwide. Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of females using substances and although usage tends to reduce during pregnancy, it is of critical importance to determine its exact level as substance use negatively impacts on the health of both the mother and infant. Aim The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of smoking, alcohol, and substance use, and quitting rates during pregnancy. Method This study was conducted on pregnant females in Sakarya, Turkey. A total of 1,082 consecutively presenting females who agreed to participate in the study were evaluated. The study team prepared a sociodemographic data form and adapted the "Introduction" section, derived from the Addiction Profile Index, to cover substance use during pregnancy. Results The substances most frequently used by pregnant females in their previous pregnancies and current pregnancies were cigarettes/tobacco products (11% and 11.8%, respectively), alcohol (0.6% and 0.4%, respectively), and rarely, synthetic cannabinoids (0.3% and 0.2%, respectively). Daily tobacco smokers continued to smoke during pregnancy, with a rate of 42.5%. Based on research into predictors of smoking (cigarettes) in pregnancy, a correlation was found between lifetime smoking and smoking during a previous pregnancy. A similar link was found with respect to alcohol. Conclusion Cigarettes are the most frequently used substance in pregnancy, and to a lesser extent, alcohol and synthetic cannabinoids, also considered to be risky substances. A high incidence of smoking regularly during pregnancy was found in daily smokers. It is recommended that physicians should sensitively ask pregnant females presenting at clinics about all forms of substance use, including alcohol and synthetic cannabinoids, and to include such questions in their routine enquiries.

Sports and physical activity are widely recommended, both as guidelines and in clinical practice, because of their broad range of positive effects on health, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being. While several studies have examined the anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects of physical activity in clinical populations, and fewer studies have focused on the nonclinical populations, the relationship between tennis and well-being has not been clearly investigated. This study was carried out with 76 student volunteers from Kocaeli University (Turkey) who had chosen tennis lessons as their University. The tennis exercise program consisted of 90-minute basic tennis skills lessons for 13 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the study, the students were given the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales, and were evaluated by the DeWitt- Dugan Tennis Service Test, the DeWitt-Dugan Speed Test, and the Dyer Backboard Tennis Test. Upon evaluating the students’ pre- and post-test scores, we concluded that their BDI and BAI scores had significantly decreased, with the most significant decreases seen in several sub-scores of the SCL-90-R; their tennis skills, meanwhile, increased significantly. This study shows that partaking in tennis exercise once a week decreases depression and anxiety symptoms and enhances well-being in healthy young people.

Aim: Neurodegenerative processes are effective in schizophrenia. However, the underlying causes of the symptoms and associated factors have not yet been fully elucidated. Recent research has focused on the relationship between neurodegeneration and vitamin D, Klotho and homocysteine levels. In this study, we aimed to investigate this relationship in schizophrenia.Method: This study included 30 schizophrenic inpatients, 30 schizophrenic outpatients in remission and 28 healthy volunteers as the control group. The psychiatric diagnoses of our patients were evaluated according to DSM-IV criteria. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale were used for clinical measurements. Serum Klotho, homocysteine, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were analyzed using ELISA and compared with clinical properties.Results: The PANSS scores and CGI scores were higher in schizophrenic inpatients than outpatients, and the GAF scores were lower (p0.05). However, vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine levels were higher in schizophrenic patients than the control group (p

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medical applications (CAM) and non-drug treatments of women during their pregnancies, postpartum periods and the changes between these periods. The Screening Form for Non-pharmacologic Methods Used during Pregnancy and Postpartum period was administered to the participants. Passiflora (Incarnata), Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort), omega 3 supplements, bright light treatment, transmagnetic stimulation, S-adenosyl-methionine, herbal teas, biofeedback/neurofeedback, amulets, exercise, acupuncture and psychotherapy were investigated. The ratio of the use of one of the CAM methods for psychiatric complaints during people's lifetime was found to be 33.3% (n=162). Herbal teas were the main practice used during pregnancy (58.8%) and the postpartum. The use of CAM according to the utilization periods of the participants statistically significantly decreased in those who were currently pregnant (Cochran's Q=298.007; P

Schizophrenia (SCH) and drug addiction are chronic disorders that are frequently accompanied by physical diseases, poor nutrition and reduced self-care, all of which are likely to result in vitamin deficiencies. The objective of this study was to compare vitamin levels in SCH patients, substance use disorder (SUD) patients and healthy controls (HCs). The study included 189 SCH patients, 119 SUD patients and 109 HCs. Information on vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D levels were retrieved from the hospital's database, and mean values and deficiency/insufficiency were evaluated. Vitamin D deficiency (

Pregnancy and postpartum periods are the main reproductive periods during which women experience mood disorders. Affective temperaments are known antecedents of mood disorders and their importance is increasing in time for early diagnosis and determining risky groups. But data about affective temperaments during perinatal period is limited.Women during pregnancy and perinatal period and healthy controls who are not in perinatal period are included in the study. 83 pregnant women in 1st trimester, 94 pregnant women in 2nd trimester and 115 pregnant women in 3rd trimester; 32 women in 1st month postpartum and 89 women in 2nd month postpartum; and 88 healthy non-pregnant women with similar ages were evaluated regarding their temperament evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) scores.Women in perinatal period had higher scores of hyperthymic temperaments than the control group. Women in the 2nd month of postpartum period had also higher anxious temperament scores. And women in the second trimester had the highest hyperthymic temperament scores.Pregnancy and postpartum periods correlate with hyperthymic temperament characteristics in women without active psychiatric diagnosis. Future studies will help to understand if this is a mental quietness or increased risk for bipolarity.

Objective. This study compares the data of (modified) electroconvulsive theraphy (ECT) applications from two different inpatient clinics in Turkey: Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital (Clinic-I) and Kocaeli University (Clinic-II). Methods. Recorded files of patients from the two clinics were compared in terms of ECT indications, number and duration of seizures, and anesthetic agents used (propofol vs. thiopental). ECT applications occurring between January 2011 and January 2013 were included in the study. Results. A total of 86 patients (9.5% of the inpatients) received ECT in Clinic-I and 103 patients (21.1% of the inpatients) in Clinic-II during the period studied. The yearly ECT rate (treated person rate per 10,000 per year) was 0.59/10,000 for Kocaeli (Turkey) as a whole. The overall number of ECT applications was 539 in Clinic-I and 999 in Clinic-II, and the average number of ECT sessions for each patient was 6.4 +/- 2.33 in Clinic-I and 9.69 +/- 4.66 in Clinic-II. The majority of indications were depressive disorders and insufficient response to medicine. Patients in the clinic which utilized thiopental as the anesthetic agent experienced more cardiovascular and respiratory side effects than the one which used propofol. The number of ECT sessions required was greater for patients with schizoaffective disorder than for others. Conclusions. The administration of ECT was considered to be a reliable method of treatment in these clinics. With respect to specific anesthetic agents, propofol was found to have less hemodynamic side effects and shorter seizure durations than thiopental.

Ahmet Bülent Yazici,1 Esra Yazici,2 Neslihan Akkisi Kumsar,1 Atila Erol2 1Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, 2Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey Introduction: While drug addiction is a global problem, it is important for every region to know the general features of its own addicts in order to develop effective treatment programs. This study presents sociodemographic data of the individuals diagnosed with drug addiction.Methods: In this study, data of the patients between theyears of 2009 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were assessed at psychiatry polyclinics according to probation practices of drug abuse. The study involved 513 patients in whom drug positivity was detected in urine analysis at least once and whose diagnoses were confirmed with a clinical interview.Results: According to this study, a majority of the addicts were detected in 2013. Males made up 98.2% of the sample population, their average age was 32.12±10.21years, and minimum and maximum ages for the first drug use were 7years and 45years, respectively. Marijuana use was found in 90.8% of the patients, 90% of them were living with their families, and 59.6% of them held a regular job. Treatment response was related with age of first use of drugs, duration of use drugs, and prior treatment anamnesis of the patients.Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that the drug which was most frequently was used marijuana. The risk of drug addiction can affect any individual in society, regardless of their education, occupation, or social support levels. Alternative treatment models, especially for chronic and long-term users, should be researched. Keywords: addiction, crime, cannabis, substance use

Esra Yazici,1 Tulay Sati Kirkan,2 Puren Akcali Aslan,3 Nazan Aydin,4 Ahmet Bulent Yazici1 1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Adapazari, Turkey; 2Bolge Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey; 3Adana Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey; 4Bakirkoy Nervous and Mental Disease Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey Background: This is a natural follow-up study that presents the postpartum results of women who experienced depression during pregnancy. Methods: This study involved 78 women diagnosed with depression in the first trimester of pregnancy. All patients were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) in the first trimester and all were referred to a psychiatric center for treatment. Of the 78, 73 were contacted postpartum and reassessed by SCID-I. Treatment anamnesis was evaluated retrospectively. Results: The women were divided into two groups at the postpartum evaluation according to anamnesis of psychiatric treatment. Twenty-one of the 73 (28.7%) had received treatment during pregnancy (treated group). Fifty-two women had not been treated (untreated group). In the treated group, no postpartum depression was determined (0%). In the untreated group, 92% (n=48) of women had a depressive disorder postpartum (P

Aim: This was a follow-up study to determine postpartum depression (PPD) and its causes in a population previously evaluated in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: The study sample consisted of pregnant women who were evaluated in the first trimester and 360 women who were re-evaluated in the postpartum period. Detailed sociodemographic data were obtained from the women, and depression was assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale (EPDS) and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). Results: In this follow-up study, the prevalence of PPD was 35% ( n = 126). A depressive disorder in the first trimester of pregnancy, previous mental disorder, somatic disorder, exposure to domestic violence during pregnancy, baby’s staying in the incubator and not breastfeeding were predictors of PPD. Exposure to violence and a history of previous depression predicted depression both in pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Conclusion: Depression rates are high in Eastern Turkey. Exposure to violence during pregnancy and the existence of a previous mental disorder were risk factors for perinatal depression in this study. Performing screening tests can identify women at risk of pregnancy-related depression. Prevention programs should be established in areas where the prevalence of depression is high.

This paper reports on the use of cinema therapy at a psychiatry clinic for inpatients. The program, "Watching Cinema Group Therapy," was used with over 500 inpatients over the course of one year. We found that using movies for group psychotherapy sessions encouraged the patients to talk about their beliefs, thoughts, and feelings while discussing the characters and stories. We also used the movies as a reward for patients who had developed a therapeutic alliance. It motivated the patients to be active instead of simply remaining in their rooms. As a follow-up to full-length films, it was more useful to show short scenes to patients who had been administered high doses of drugs. Movies can be an important, positive, and productive means of treatment and teaching.

Aim: There are many studies on the mood disorders that occur during pregnancy, but no studies that question how affective temperaments, which are the antecedents of the mood disorders, are influenced by pregnancy. This study aims to examine the affective temperaments in women without any psychiatric diagnoses during the pregnancy period. Method: The study included 100 pregnant women at the third trimester of their pregnancy (pregnant group) and 75 non-pregnant women (control group). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Axis-I Disorders (SCID-I) was used for the evaluation of psychiatric disorders; Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) was used for the evaluation of affective temperaments. Results: The cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperament scores of the pregnant women were significantly lower than that of the non-pregnant women (p

Introduction: Depression is the most frequently seen mental disease in the pregnancy period. The first trimester of pregnancy is important in terms of its effects on both the fetus and on the mother. This study has researched the prevalence of depression in women in the first trimester of their pregnancies in Erzurum, which is a large province in the Eastern region of Turkey. Method: The study participants were 463 pregnant women who were in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Screening was primarily carried out using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fourth Edition ( DSM-IV)–Clinical Version (SCID-I) was applied to those participants with a score of 12 points and higher. To assess the risk factors, a sociodemographic data form was completed by the authors. Results: The total depressive disorder rate was 16.8% in women in the first trimester of their pregnancies (12.3% major depressive disorder, 1.5% double depression, 2.6% minor depressive disorder and 0.4% dysthymia). A history of mental disease, mental disease suffered during a previous pregnancy, exposure to violence in the present pregnancy, an unplanned pregnancy and spouse’s unemployment were predictors for depressive disorders. Conclusion: It is important to identify the risk groups for the early recognition of depression in pregnancy. Developing depression screening programs can be useful for early diagnosis and therapy.

Background Functions, morphology, distributions, and index of the circulating cells are the most useful parameters that indicate various inflammatory and toxic conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of these parameters in patients diagnosed with (synthetic) cannabis use disorder. Methods This study included a total of 40 patients in the study group (SG) with synthetic cannabis use; and 40 healthy individuals as the control group (CG). Participants, who had hematological disorders and other chronic diseases, were excluded from the study. All hematological parameters of SG were compared with CG. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) values were calculated and compared between groups. Results There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of WBC, MCH, RDW, MCV, MPV, and NEU, LYM%, MONO% parameters (P

Puberty and adolescence are important periods about mental health, particularly for women. Relationship between age of menarche, psychiatric complaints during adolescence and family stories of psychiatric disorders are investigated.The study is conducted with 61 patients with schizophrenia, 35 patients with bipolar affective disorder, 40 patients with depressive disorder and 60 healthy control subjects. All subjects were evaluated with SCID-I and questionnaire fit for the aim of the study was fulfilled.Bipolar affective disorder had a stronger relationship with menarche, psychiatric problems during adolescence were related with early onset of illness in schizophrenia and bipolar groups. Family story of psychiatric illness was related with psychological problems during puberty in schizophrenia group.This study underlies the puberty and adolescence period for psychiatric illness. An integrative clinical approach is suggested while examining the psychiatric illness at the basis of engaged roles of hormonal effects of menarche, social effect of puberty psychiatric complaints and genetical and psychosocial burden of family story of illness.

PubMed ID: 20677024, Objective: To investigate if it was necessary to dilate the cervix routinely during elective cesarean section and to determine the effects of this traditional maneuver on maternal morbidity. Methods: A total of 150 patients meeting eligibility criteria were enrolled in this prospective, randomized controlled study. Patients were allocated randomly into cervical dilatation group or non-dilated group. In the cervical dilatation group, the surgeon performed cervical dilatation by inserting a double-gloved index finger into the cervical canal of the patients after extraction of placenta and membranes. Endometrial cavity thickness of the patients at postoperative 24 h, development of postoperative febrile-infectious morbidity and postoperative hemoglobin levels were evaluated and compared between the groups. Results: The two groups were comparable with regard to demographic and clinical properties. Mean postoperative endometrial cavity thickness of the dilated group was significantly less than the non-dilated group (6.87 ± 2.50, 9.51 ± 3.35 respectively, p < 0.0001). The level of hemoglobin reduction was comparable between the groups (p = 0.37). Febrile morbidity was seen in one patient in the dilated group. Endometritis or wound infection was not encountered in either group during the puerperium. Conclusions: Cervical dilatation seems to be an unnecessary intervention during the cesarean section. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Objective: Societies have been searching for different traditional treatments for schizophrenia at different rates. Understanding the preferences and priorities of patients as they explore treatment is important for the proper management of this process. This study evaluated the frequency of patients’ pursuit of traditional treatment for schizophrenia and the factors associated with this in western Turkey. Methods: The study involved 346 patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia at inpatient psychiatry clinics and community mental health centers in Kocaeli and Sakarya. The patients were re-evaluated using the SCID-I-CV to confirm the diagnosis and were then asked to fill in a survey form to facilitate the evaluation of their search for traditional schizophrenia treatment. Results: Amongst the participants, 89.3% had consulted a traditional healer for schizophrenia treatment at least once in their lifetime. All of the traditional healers who were consulted were religious healers. Of all the participants, 39% consulted traditional healers for first aid treatment. Although the patients had not had any attack that required hospitalization in the past year, 27% continued to consult such healers and 26% continued to wear amulets. The results showed that the educational levels of the patients’ relatives were a predictor of the tendency to consult traditional healers. Conclusions: Most schizophrenic patients have consulted traditional religious healers at least once in their lifetime (89.3%). This is a very high rate and should be considered by physicians as they evaluate patients’ search for help.

WOS: 000342389400001, Objective: In the field of mental health it is not rare to encounter that patients have difficulties in learning, recalling and pronouncing brand names of their medicines. In this study it was aimed to determine the problems of psychiatric outpatients in recalling and pronouncing brand names of their medicines. Methods: Patients from four psychiatric outpatient clinics were questioned about the brand names of their medicines. Response scores were standardized as: One point: accurately recalled and accurately pronounced. Two points: accurately recalled, but inaccurately pronounced. Three points: recalled with assistance (by given clue) and accurately pronounced. Four points: recalled with assistance (by given clue), but inaccurately pronounced. Five points: Not recalled at all. Correlations between scores and educational level, age and duration of the medicine usage were examined. Results: Eight hundred and forty-eight patients were enrolled to the study. All patients gave verbal informant consent. Most of the participants were female, married and unemployed. Mean age was 40 and mean level of education was eight years. Fifty-six percent of patients have accurately recalled and pronounced (those scored 1 point) brand name of at least one medicine they are taking, but 30% of patients inaccurately recalled and pronounced their medicines. While Zestat, Dideral, Clonex, Akineton and Depakin were brand names those more accurately recalled and accurately pronounced, Xetanor, Wellbutrin, Tegretol, Desyrel and Redepra were brand names those most difficultly recalled and pronounced. No important correlation between scores and level of education, age and duration of the medicine usage has been found. Conclusion: Results of this study address a serious problem about to recall and pronouncing of brand names of medicines those are used in mental health field. In regard to learning and recalling of the words easily, it is necessary to have an association between the phonetic, auditory and meaningful association of the words. Brand names those have familiar association for the patient were easily recalled and pronounced. This study refers to the importance of starting to consider what to do about substituting brand names of drugs with those are more compatible with Turkish language in order to recall and pronounce the medicine names easily and accurately for patients speaking Turkish.