ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism, and interpersonal problem solving capacity and cognitive functions in schizophrenia. METHODS: COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism was studied with ARMS-PCR method in 99 outpatients with schizophrenia. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was used to assess symptom severity. The Assessment of Interpersonal Problem Solving Skills (AIPSS) was used to evaluate problem solving capacity. Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), were used to measure cognition. RESULTS: Patients with Met/Met genotype had higher AIPSS subscores for detecting the problem, than those with Val/Val at baseline (p=0.02). Met allele was also found to be related with higher AIPSS-receiving skills (p=0.04). Val allele was found to be related with more commission errors in CPT (p=0.03). There was no relation between Val(158)Met polymorphism and WCST and clinical measurements. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Val allele might be related to poor performance on detecting the interpersonal problems, and attention in schizophrenia.
Subject(s)
Alleles , Catechol O-Methyltransferase/genetics , Interpersonal Relations , Problem Solving , Schizophrenia/genetics , Schizophrenic Psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Attention , Cognition , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Male , Methionine , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Valine , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitudes of healthcare providers and the public in Turkey towards mode of delivery and cesarean delivery on demand. METHODS: A written questionnaire was given to female healthcare providers and women from the general public, and their answers were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 329 female healthcare providers and 347 women from the public group completed the survey. In response, 48.1% of healthcare providers and 69.6% of the public group chose vaginal delivery as the preferred mode of delivery (P<0.001). Some 45.3% of healthcare providers and 20.6% of the public group had undergone a cesarean delivery without any medical indications (P<0.001). In addition, 37.8% of healthcare providers and 36.2% of the public group believed that women should have the right to a cesarean delivery on demand. CONCLUSIONS: In the two groups studied the preference for cesarean delivery is higher in Turkish healthcare providers than in the public population. In both groups the attitude towards cesarean delivery on demand is high.