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Bipolar disorder (BD) is a high-suicide-risk mental disorder. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between temperament and character traits with suicide probability, suicide attempts, and perceived stress level in patients with BD. A total of 39 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder who had a history of suicide attempts and 39 euthymic patients without a history of suicide attempts were included in this study. The sociodemographic and clinical data form, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Clinician Version (SCID-5/CV), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Suicide Probability Scale were used to obtain the data. HDRS, PSS, and SPS scores of the group comprised of patients who attempted suicide were higher than the other group. There was no significant difference between the group of patients who had attempted suicide and the other group in terms of temperament characteristics. In the group of patients who had attempted suicide, self-directedness (SD) and cooperativeness (CO) scores were lower, and the self-transcendence (ST) score was higher than the other group. HA and ST were positively and SD negatively associated with SPS scores. In the regression analysis for suicide risk, the factors most associated with suicide risk were high HDRS and low CO score. Low SD in BD and high ST with CO may be associated with suicide attempts. Alongside low SD, high HA and ST may be associated with suicidal ideation. Treating residual depressive symptoms can reduce the risk of suicide.

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AIM: In this study, the prevalence and risk factors of Internet addiction in high school students was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Mersin Province in 2012. The study sample consisted of students attending high school in the central district of Mersin. The data were summarized by descriptive statistics and compared by a binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Our study population included 1156 students, among whom 609 (52.7%) were male. The mean age of the students was 16.1 ± 0.9 years. Seventy-nine percent of the students had a computer at home, and 64.0% had a home Internet connection. In this study, 175 (15.1%) students were defined as Internet addicts. Whereas the addiction rate was 9.3% in girls, it was 20.4% in boys (P < 0.001). In this study, Internet addiction was found to have an independent relationship with gender, grade level, having a hobby, duration of daily computer use, depression and negative self-perception. CONCLUSION: According to our study results, the prevalence of Internet addiction was high among high school students. We recommend preventing Internet addiction among adolescents by building a healthy living environment around them, controlling the computer and Internet use, promoting book reading and providing treatment to those with a psychological problem.

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BACKGROUND: Studies have yielded conflicting results concerning flow cytometric lymphocyte analyses in patients with depression. Data about the effect of antidepressants on lymphocyte subsets are also contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine effects of venlafaxine versus fluoxetine on lymphocyte subsets in depressive patients. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) according to DSM-IV and 36 healthy controls are included in the study. Sixty-nine patients were randomized to take fluoxetine (FLX) (n=33) or venlafaxine (VEN) (n=36). Serum lymphocyte subsets included CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16/56, CD19, CD45, Anti-HLA-DR which were measured by flow cytometric analyses at baseline and 6 weeks after the start of treatment. The severity of depression was evaluated with Hamilton rating scale for depression. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with MDD had significantly lower CD16/56 ratio and higher CD45 ratio compared to the controls. Although numerically higher in the VEN treated patients, treatment response rates between the FLX (53%) and the VEN (75%) groups were not different statistically. CD45 values decreased significantly in the VEN group at the end of the 6 week treatment period whereas no difference was observed in the FLX group. By the 6th week, treatment responders showed a significantly higher CD16/56 ratio than non-responders. Baseline severity of depression and anxiety was positively correlated with baseline CD45 ratio and negatively correlated with baseline CD16/56 ratio. We did not observe consistent changes in the absolute number of circulating B or T cells, nor in the helper/inducer (CD4) or suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8) subsets. CONCLUSIONS: CD16/56 was lower in patients with MDD and increased in treatment responders at 6th week. CD45 ratio was higher in patients with MDD than healthy subjects; it decreased with antidepressant treatment and was positively correlated with the severity of depression. Antidepressant treatment contributes to immune regulation in patients with major depressive disorder.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential of ototopical ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone (CDX) to delay the closure of myringotomy perforation and to evaluate its effect on inflammation. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, and controlled. METHODS: Effusion is obtained in the right middle ear of 24 rats by blocking nasopharyngeal opening of eustachian tube by fibrin glue. Left middle ears of 30 rats remained healthy. Animals were randomly classified into three groups; each containing eight right ears with effusion and 10 rats with healthy left ear. Bilateral myringotomy was applied to all rats and randomly divided into three groups. First group received CDX, second group received serum physiologic (SF) for 14 days. Third group served as control. Otomicroscopy was performed by days 7, 14 and 28 to assess wound healing. On day of 28, all animals were humanly euthanized in order to pathological examination of the tympanic bullas. RESULT: CDX group showed lesser perforation closure ratios both in healthy and diseased ears. Inflammation was found to be lesser at CDX group in comparison to other groups. CONCLUSION: Closure of the myringotomy perforation can be modulated by ototopical CDX treatment. This delaying of wound healing may be attributed to antiinflammatory action of dexamethasone.

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BACKGROUND: Several studies demonstrated that depressed patients had low serum BDNF levels which correlated with the severity of their depression, and antidepressant treatment increases levels of serum BDNF in depressed patients. It was speculated that agents acting on both noradrenergic and serotonergic transporters might have a greater influence on BDNF levels. The aim of our study was to determine effects of venlafaxine vs. fluoxetine on serum BDNF levels in depressive patients. METHODS: Forty-three patients diagnosed as major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV are included in the study. Forty-three patients were randomized to take fluoxetine (22 cases) or venlafaxine (21 cases). Serum levels of BDNF were measured by ELISA at baseline and 6 weeks after the start of treatment. RESULTS: Baseline levels of BDNF were not significantly different between the patient group and the controls. But male patients and the male controls showed statistical differences with respect to baseline BDNF levels. BDNF levels of the patient group did not change with treatment. Yet, the increase of BDNF levels was close to statistically significant in the fluoxetine group, whereas not significant in the venlafaxine group. There were no significant differences in baseline and 6th week BDNF levels between the responders and the non-responders. CONCLUSION: Further studies controlling for a wide variety of confounding variables are needed, which may help to reach a clear conclusion about the potential of BDNF as a biomarker for depression or as a predictor of antidepressant efficacy.

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AIM: To investigate the relationship between the major depression and bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared BMD, plasma cortisol level, osteocalcin and C-telopeptide levels of 35 premenopausal women with major depression with those of 30 healthy women who were matched for age and body mass index. Major depression was diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition) criteria. Nineteen patients had mild and 16 patients had moderate severity of major depression as measured by Hamilton rating scale for depression. RESULTS: Women with any risk factor for osteoporosis were excluded from the study. All women underwent BMD measurement by DEXA at lumbar (L2-4) and femoral neck region. After an overnight fasting, plasma cortisol levels were measured at 08:00 h by using competitive immunoassay method. Osteocalcin and C-telopeptide were used for the evaluation of bone turnover. There were no significant differences in BMD, plasma cortisol level, osteocalcin and C-telopeptide levels between the patients and the control groups. There was also no correlation between the plasma cortisol level, the duration and the severity of disease, antidepressant drug use and BMD. CONCLUSION: Major depression had no significant effect on BMD and bone turnover markers in our patient group of mild to moderate severity of the disorder.

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The objective of this study was to determine the effects of psychosocial factors such as peer group, family and academic self-perception on smoking, alcohol and substance use by adolescents living in Mersin, Turkey. The study included a total of 3282 students from the sixth and tenth grades and college. The number of participating students required from each school was obtained through stratification, and by weighing the enrolled student population in each subgroup. The final sample was derived using a simple random sampling technique. A 45-item self-administered questionnaire was used. The questionnaire included questions about socio-demographic characteristics and lifetime and current (i.e. within the past month) use of cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, inhalants and other illicit drugs (heroin, cocaine, sedative-hypnotic drugs, etc.). This study found that: (1) higher socio-economic status of the family increased the likelihood of smoking and alcohol use in adolescents; (2) the prevalence of alcohol use was higher in adolescents whose mothers had a higher educational level and whose mothers and fathers drank alcohol; (3) there was a significant association between substance use and having a peer who used a substance; and (4) the prevalence of smoking was significantly higher in students who perceived their academic performance to be poor. Understanding the role and importance of psychosocial factors associated with smoking, alcohol and substance use will be crucial to develop preventive measures for adolescents.

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OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to test whether a Turkish version of the Neck Pain and Disability Scale retains its reliability and validity of the original English version. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with chronic neck pain were enrolled in the study. The Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS), the Pain Disability Index (PDI) and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were filled by all subjects. Reliability was determined by internal consistency. Internal consistency was measured by calculating Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation. Validity was examined by correlating the NPDS scores to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), PDI and HADS scores. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha value for NPDS was found to be 0.86 and this was statistically significant (p<0.0001). The item-total correlations of NPDS varied between 0.08 and 0.69. The cross-sectional construct validity coefficients were 0.51 for PDI, 0.45 for VAS, 0.35 and 0.33 for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales. CONCLUSION: Despite its major limitations, our results seem to support previous findings of the English and French versions of the Neck Pain and Disability Scale, indicating that this functional scale is valid and reliable.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the subjective sensation of dyspnea compared with pulmonary function tests, pulmonary muscle strength, and chest expansion in depressed women and control subjects free of cardiorespiratory disease. METHODS: Thirty female patients with major depression (MD) and 30 age-matched female control subjects were included in the study. All subjects were assessed by pulmonary function tests (spirometry) and pulmonary muscle strength measurement (maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures [MIP and MEP]) by mouth pressure meter (MPM). Chest expansion was measured, and body mass index (kg/m(2)) (BMI) was calculated. The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to evaluate the activities of daily living, and a dyspnea score was used to determine dyspnea severity. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups regarding pulmonary function tests, pulmonary muscle strength, and chest expansion. HAQ scores were significantly lower in women, and dyspnea was higher with MD compared with controls (p < 0.05). BMI was also lower in depressed patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The subjective sensation of dyspnea is increased in women with MD in the presence of normal lung function and is associated with the level of anxiety rather than that of depression.

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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the possible association between T102C and -1438 G/A polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene and susceptibility to and clinical features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD: Fifty-eight patients with OCD and 83 healthy controls were included in the study. All patients were interviewed and rated by Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. T102C and -1438 G/A polymorphisms of 5-HT2A receptor gene were determined by PCR technique in DNAs of peripheral leucocytes. RESULTS: OCD patients and healthy controls did not show significant differences in genotype distribution for both polymorphisms investigated. We found that frequencies of the TT genotype for T102C polymorphism and the AA genotype for -1438 G/A polymorphism were significantly higher in patients with severe OCD compared to those with moderate or moderate-severe OCD. CONCLUSION: The -1438 G/A and T102C polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene are not associated with an increased risk of OCD. Our data suggest that the TT genotype of T102C and the AA genotype of -1438 G/A polymorphism might be a factor in clinical severity of OCD.

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Despite the effectiveness of clomipramine and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 40% to 60% of patients who receive an adequate treatment with these agents have significant persisting symptoms. Newer atypical antipsychotic drugs showed efficacy as augmenting agents in patients with OCD resistant to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amisulpiride augmentation in treatment resistant OCD. A total of 20 patients diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-IV criteria and having a history of resistance to treatment with SRIs were included in the study. Amisulpiride 200 mg/day was added to ongoing SRI treatment and titrated up to 600 mg/day in flexible doses. The mean amisulpiride dose was 325 +/- 106 mg/day. The patients were assessed with the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) at baseline and at week 12 of amisulpiride treatment. Side effects were monitored by the UKU side effect rating scale. The reduction in Y-BOCS scores between the baseline (26.7 +/- 6.3) and the end of the treatment (12.5 +/- 2.8) was statistically significant (p=0.0001). The most commonly observed side effects included weight gain (14 patients, 70%), mild sedation (13 patients, 65%) and asthenia (7 patients, 35%). This study has several limitations and, hence, the results are preliminary and require confirmation in a randomized controlled trial. In conclusion, this study suggests that amisulpiride may be a promising option as an augmentation strategy in treatment resistant OCD.

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The COMT gene has been implicated to be involved in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and various other psychiatric disorders. COMT enzyme activity is governed by a common genetic polymorphism at codon 158 that results in substantial 3- to 4-fold variation in enzymatic activity [a high-activity COMT variant (H) and a low activity variant (L)]. This study evaluates the association between OCD and the COMT gene polymorphism. Fifty-nine OCD patients that were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria and 114 healthy control subjects were included in the study. PCR technique was used for molecular analysis. The genotypic pattern of distribution of the COMT gene (H/H, H/L, and L/L genotypes) was not different between the OCD patients and controls. There were no significant differences among the patients with positive family history for OCD, those with negative family history for OCD, and the controls with respect to allele frequencies of the COMT gene polymorphisms. Patients that were homozygous or heterozygous for the L allele had significantly higher insight scores (i.e., poorer insight) on Y-BOCS compared to those homozygous for the H allele. We did not find an association between OCD, family history for OCD, and the COMT gene polymorphism. This study suggests that the COMT gene polymorphism is not directly associated with OCD in our patient group.

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OBJECTIVE: Replacement of deficient hormones (hormone replacement therapy, HRT) is the main treatment modality in menopause. There is no concensus among researchers as to how HRT influences psychiatric symptoms that might develop during menopausal period. In this study we aimed to explore the effects of HRT on symptoms of anxiety and depression comparatively by using either estrogen or tibolone. METHOD: Women with natural menopause who applied to the outpatient Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department were included in the study. Subjects (n=70) were randomized into two groups with one group to receive 17beta-estradiol and other group tibolon. All subjects were evaluated at baseline and after 3-months of HRT with Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). RESULTS: Forty six of 70 patients completed the study. The 17beta-estradiol (n=23) and the tibolone (n=23) groups were similar with respect to age, education and occupational status. The time from onset of menopause was longer in the tibolon group. HARS and HDRS scores were significantly decreased after 3 months of HRT in both the 17beta-estradiol and the tibolone groups. The two drug regimens were not significantly different in this respect. CONCLUSION: HRT with 17beta-estradiol and tibolone improves symptoms of anxiety and depression in menopausal women.

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Venlafaxine is an effective antidepressant drug that is chemically distinct from other antidepressants. Alprazolam is a triazolobenzodiazepine and diazepam is a 2-ketobenzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are frequently co-administered with antidepressants, a fact that brings the problem of drug-drug interactions, because they are metabolized by various cytochrome pigment (CYP) 450 isoenzymes. We present three cases who developed symptomatic hypotension with co-administration of venlafaxine and benzodiazepines, namely, alprazolam and diazepam. In all cases, arterial blood pressure returned to normal with the discontinuation of pharmacological treatment. Although there is insufficient evidence, a substantial inhibition of CYP 3A3/4 by venlafaxine could result in a meaningful increase in plasma levels of venlafaxine, O-desmethylvenlafaxine, alprazolam and diazepam, particularly in patients who are CYP 2D6 deficient. A less likely explanation for the interaction between venlafaxine and benzodiazepines would be CYP 3A3/4 deficiency, which might potentiate the increase in plasma levels of benzodiazepines, thereby increasing their adverse effect potential. Combination of venlafaxine and benzodiazepines may increase the incidence and severity of adverse effects of both drugs.

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BACKGROUND: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test and Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) are two neuroendocrine tests that have been extensively used in an attempt to predict treatment response and outcome in schizophrenia. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the relationship between TRH test and DST and various psychiatric symptoms and (2) the potential value of these tests in prediction of short-term outcome in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: TRH test and DST were administered to 58 patients with schizophrenia. All patients were evaluated with a battery of rating scales before neuroendocrine test procedures and at regular intervals for 1 year. Patients were divided into two groups as remitted (RP; n = 30) and nonremitted patients (NRP; n = 28). Baseline results of these two groups were compared with each other and 30 healthy controls. RESULTS: Basal levels of total T3 (T3T) and free T3 (T3F) were higher in RP group than controls. Basal prolactin (PRL) level was higher in RP group, but not in NRP, compared to controls. Basal growth hormone (GH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of NRP were significantly higher than those of RP. DST nonsuppression was observed at a significantly higher rate in RP than NRP and control group. Blunted TSH response rate in RP group was higher significantly compared to other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data implicate that higher basal TSH and GH levels may be associated with a poorer treatment response, whereas higher total and free T3 levels, a blunted TSH response to TRH and nonsuppression on the DST may indicate a better response in schizophrenics.

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