The effects of cognitive and emotional status on smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE: Smoking cessation is affected by multiple factors including cognitive status of the patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of demographic, emotional and cognitive functions of 39 male and 42 female patients who applied to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic on smoking cessation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study recruited 81 healthy volunteers of equal age, gender, and educational level. Total Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were compared according to age, gender, cessation methods, and Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores in smoking cessation settings. RESULTS: In our study, there were 39 (48.1%) male patients and 42 (51.9%) female patients. While 36 patients were able to quit smoking, the remaining 38 were unable to do so. During follow-up, 7 patients had yet to be reached. Age, years of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, education level, first reason for starting smoking, reasons for quitting smoking, quitting method, and medical drugs used were found to have no effect on smoking cessation; however, the MoCA total score, Beck depression scale, Beck anxiety scale, and smoking cessation scale score were found to have significant effects on smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Various cognitive processes, particularly visuospatial and attention skills, have been found to be useful in quitting smoking. Furthermore, emotional states, such as depression and anxiety have a negative impact on quitting smoking. We believe that if it is provided to the patients in the smoking cessation outpatient clinic to boost cognitive capabilities and treat mood problems, the success of smoking cessation will increase.

How childhood trauma and emotions influence essential tremor and its severity in Sakarya Province.

OBJECTIVE: Essential tremor (ET) is among the most common central nervous system disorders. It is characterised by symmetrical and bilateral postural tremor, usually affecting the hands. Alongside such motor symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, often occur. This study aimed to investigate how anxiety, depression and childhood trauma influence ET patients' tremor frequency and severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The participants comprised 85 patients and 70 control volunteers. Participating patients have been admitted to our clinic for hand tremor complaints and diagnosed with ET, according to the Washington Heights Inwood Genetic Study of Essential Tremor (WHIGET) diagnosis criteria, and they returned for follow-up for at least one year after their initial treatment. Patients with thyroid dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, central nervous system pathology, a history of smoking or alcohol use or a history of drug use that may cause tremor were excluded from the study. Patients' demographic data, such as their age and gender, age at disease onset, disease duration, family history and tremor severity were recorded. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were applied to all patients. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in BDI score averages and BAI score averages between the patient and control groups (p = 0.002; p = 0.001) and physical abuse, emotional neglect and sexual abuse scores on the CTQ scale (p = 0.001, p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood mental trauma and emotional mood disorders are more common among ET patients. However, these disorders do not appear to affect ET severity.