Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness in Depression Patients.

Background: It has been known that there is a significant correlation between depression and cardiovascular diseases. However, the reasons behind this correlation that could affect mortality and morbidity were not fully identified. The present study aimed to analyze arterial stiffness diagnosed with ultrasonography, which could be associated with cardiovascular disease risks in depression patients, and to compare the findings with those of healthy controls. Methods: The study was conducted with 35 depression patients and 35 healthy individuals. Routine complete blood and biochemistry tests were requested for all patients, and their weight and height, waist circumference, and diastolic and systolic arterial blood pressure were measured. Femoral and carotid artery intima-media thickness and other arterial stiffness parameters were determined with Doppler ultrasonography. Results: It was determined that the systolic pressure (P = .028) was higher in the patient group (P = .028). Also, the carotid elastic modulus (P = .048) was significantly higher in the patient group. A negative and significant correlation was determined between femoral compliance and chlorpromazine equivalent dose (P = .021, r = -0.389). Conclusion: It was determined that the systolic blood pressure and carotid elastic modulus arterial stiffness parameters were significantly higher in depression patients. Measurable arterial stiffness parameters should be investigated in depression patients as cardiovascular risk markers. Furthermore, the determination of the effects of psychotropic drugs employed in arterial stiffness treatment could play an important role in the determination of cardiovascular disease risk in these patients.

Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Antisocial Personality Disorder Patients.

Background: Antisocial personality disorder is a frequently studied personality disorder, and its etiopathogenesis is still investigated. Neuroimaging demonstrated that certain regions of the brain could be associated with this disorder, and in the present study, we aimed to investigate the changes in retina, which could be considered an extension of the brain in antisocial personality disorder patients with optical coherence tomography. Methods: The study was conducted with 35 patients and 35 healthy controls. The study data were collected with the Sociodemographic and Clinical Data Form, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Barratt Impulsivity Scale-Short Form. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, choroidal thickness, and macular thickness were analyzed based on optical coherence tomography. Results: The Beck Depression Inventory (P = .044), Beck Anxiety Inventory (P = .005), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-motor (P < .001), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-non-planning dimension (P < .001), and Barratt Impulsivity Scale-total scores (P < .001) of the patients were significantly higher when compared to the controls. The superior (P = .013) and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (P < .001) of the patients were significantly lower when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was significantly lower in the patient group when compared to healthy controls, which suggested that it could be associated with the pathophysiology of antisocial personality disorder.

Inflammation Markers in Patients with Bipolar Disorder Who Have Committed Offenses and Their Relationship with Criminal Behavior.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the function of various inflammation parameters and their interactions in the pathology of Bipolar disorder (BD) and to assess whether they could be biomarkers in the relationship between criminal behavior and BD. Materials and Methods: Overall, 1029 participants, including 343 patients with BD who have committed offenses, 343 nonoffending patients with BD, and 343 healthy controls, were included in this retrospective study. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts; high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) levels; systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR), lymphocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (LHR), monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), platelet to high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) were measured. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of SII, SIRI, NHR, LHR, MHR, PHR, neutrophil, and monocyte values (p < 0.001). The lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the patients with BD who committed offenses (p = 0.04). The platelet counts were significantly lower in the patients with BD who committed offenses compared to nonoffending patients with BD (p = 0.015). The HDL-c levels were significantly lower in the patients with BD who have committed offenses than those of nonoffending patients with BD (p < 0.001). Bipolar disorder, not receiving active psychiatric treatment, having a diagnosis of bipolar manic episodes, and having low platelet and HDL values constitute a risk of involvement in crime. Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the role of systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of patients with BD with and without criminal offenses and the relationship between inflammation and criminal behavior.

Personality Characteristics, Anxiety Sensitivity, Anxiety, and Depression Levels on Patients Diagnosed with Psychogenic Pruritus.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the personality traits, anxiety sensitivity (AS), anxiety, and depression levels in patients diagnosed with psychogenic pruritus (PP). Certain personality traits may come to the fore in psychosomatic disorders; these traits are thought to make the person vulnerable to psychosomatic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the personality traits, anxiety sensitivity (AS), anxiety, and depression levels in patients diagnosed with psychogenic pruritus (PP). Methods: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with PP (patient group) and 21 healthy controls were included in the study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were administered to all participants. Results: Patients' EPQ scores for the extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and lie subdimensions and EPQ-total scores were significantly higher than those of the control group (P = .001; P < .001; P < .001; P = .008; P < .001, respectively). The total score of ASI-3 scale and the scores of all subdimensions (physical, cognitive, and social) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < .001). The BAI (26.8 ± 9.3) and BDI (24.2 ± 8.6) total scores of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < .001). Conclusions: According to EPQ, patients diagnosed with PP are extroverted, but also cold, distrustful, and aloof; show impulsive behavior; are anxious, depressed, and nervous; overly emotional; and prone to lying. Patients suffer more from anxiety, depressive symptoms, and AS in physical, cognitive, and social subdimensions than healthy people. Our findings highlight the importance of psychiatric assessment in PP patients. In this context, we believe that PP deserves to be studied in a broad spectrum with its cognitive, behavioral, and social aspects.

Comparison of Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts in Relation to Anger Rumination.

Background: Angry rumination (AR) defined as thinking about the causes and consequences of anger by focusing on the feelings and experiences of anger can trigger suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury. The purpose of this study was to compare subjects with non-suicidal self-injury and subjects with suicide attempts in relation to anger rumination and also to determine if there is a relationship between anger rumination with non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts, and if so, to determine the direction of this relationship. Methods: In this study, 42 subjects with suicide attempts and 42 subjects with non-suicidal self-injury were included. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory, and Anger Rumination Scale were applied to all participants, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire to those with suicide attempts, and Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury to those with non-suicidal self-injury. Results: Those with non-suicidal self-injury group had significantly higher thoughts of revenge (P = .038), angry afterthoughts (P = .047), and a higher total score of Anger Rumination Scale (P = .025) than those with suicide attempts group. The Beck Depression Inventory scores of suicide attempts group were significantly higher than those of non-suicidal self-injury group (P = .001). A positive and significant correlation was found between Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire and Anger Rumination Scale-total score (r = 0.322, P = .037) and Beck Depression Inventory score (r = 0.440, P = .004). Conclusions: Individuals with non-suicidal self-injury have more anger rumination, angry afterthoughts, and revenge-related thoughts following anger experiences than individuals with suicide attempts. As the severity of suicidal behavior of individuals with suicide attempts increases, so does their anger rumination. Our study may shed light on a better understanding of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts and even contribute to intervention programs for these behaviors.