Primary and Secondary Capacities in the Context of Positive Psychotherapy in Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder: The Relationship with Criminal Behaviors and Anger. / Antisosyal Kisilik Bozuklugu Olan Bireylerde Pozitif Psikoterapi Baglaminda Birincil ve Ikincil Yetenekler: Suç Isleme Davranislari ve Öfke ile Iliskisi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of primary (PCs) and secondary capacities (SCs) in individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and the effects of these capacities on delinquent behaviors and anger levels. METHODS: 101 male patients aged 18 years and over with a diagnosis of ASPD were divided into two groups as those with a criminal ASPD (cASPD) diagnosis (n=37) and those with a non-criminal ASPD (ncASPD) diagnosis (n=64). Participants were evaluated using a sociodemographic form, Wiesbaden's Inventory of Positive Psychotherapy and Family Therapy (WIPPF-2) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 22.0 program; significance level was taken as p0.05. RESULTS: PCs, SCs and anger control levels of people with ASPD were lower while trait anger, anger expression and anger import were higher than the control group. In cASPD, among the PCs, belief (ß=0.796, p=0.032), hope (ß=-1.069, p=0.011), relationship (ß=-0.980, p=0.007) and sexuality (ß=0.937, p=0.021) predicted anger-out, and among the SAs politeness (ß=-1.020, p=0.002) and reliability (ß=1.140, p=0.001) predicted trait anger level. In ncASPD, patience predicted anger-out (ß=-1.752, p=0.001) and anger control (ß=1.468, p=0.002); belief (ß=1.468, p=0.005) and trust (ß=-0.845, p=0.002) predicted anger control. CONCLUSIONS: Positive psychotherapy can be effective in improving PCs and SCs of individuals with ASPD, improving interpersonal relationships, reducing criminal behaviors, anger management and psychotherapeutic treatment of ASPD.

[Evaluation of quality of life of female patients after bilateral total knee arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the quality of life of female patients following total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: The study included 50 women (mean age 67 years; range 52 to 84 years) who underwent bilateral total knee arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis of the knee. All the patients were administered the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Knee Society Clinical Rating System (KSCRS) preoperatively and at six weeks, three and six months postoperatively. Particular attention was given to provide patients with sufficient information on surgery and postoperative rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Compared to preoperative scores, all the subscales of both instruments showed significant improvement at six weeks and six months (p<0.05). After six weeks, however, only SF-36 physical function scores continued to improve significantly till the final assessment (p<0.05), whereas the other subscales reflected only maintenance of improvement. Conversely, a consistent significant improvement after six weeks was seen in the pain score of the KSCRS, while the function score representing only maintenance of improvement. CONCLUSION: Significant improvement is achieved in the quality of life of female patients within six weeks after total knee arthroplasty. It appears that, beyond six weeks, this improvement continues to be significant only in the physical function score of the SF-36 and pain score of the KSCRS.

[Evaluation of patient quality of life after total hip arthroplasty]. / Primer kalça protezi uygulanan hastalarda yasam kalitesinin degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effect of total hip arthroplasty on patient quality of life. METHODS: The study included 30 patients (6 men, 24 women; mean age 62 years; range 36 to 82 years) undergoing total hip arthroplasty. The Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) was administered to the patients before and after 1.5 and 3 months of surgery. Special attention was given to provide the patients with sufficient information on surgery and postoperative rehabilitation program. RESULTS: All the patients returned to their daily activities within six weeks postoperatively. SF-36 scores obtained after three months of surgery showed significant improvement in all SF-36 subscales compared to those obtained preoperatively and 1.5 months after surgery (p<0.05). Postoperative patient satisfaction was not correlated with sex, age, socioeconomic status, and education level of the patients. The presence of accompanying diseases or previous operations did not affect postoperative quality of life scores. CONCLUSION: Quality of life of patients increases substantially following total hip arthroplasty, with a corresponding increase in patient satisfaction.

[Psychological evaluation of patients with benign musculoskeletal system tumors]. / Benign kas-iskelet sistemi tümörü olan hastalarda psikolojik durum degerlendirmesi.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine to what extent psychological status was affected by sociodemographic characteristics and by being informed about the diagnosis in patients with benign musculoskeletal tumors. METHODS: The study included 112 male patients (mean age 23.8 years; range 20 to 35 years) who were hospitalized for benign tumors of the musculoskeletal system. A questionnaire was administered to all the patients concerning their sociodemographic characteristics and the status of their knowledge about the diagnosis. Psychological status was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Evaluation Scale. RESULTS: The depression level was not correlated with the localization (upper or lower extremity) of the musculoskeletal system tumor, the marital status of the patient, and the presence or absence of knowledge of the patient about the diagnosis (p>0.05). Educational status was the only factor that was found to be in correlation with the depression level (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Lack of correlation between sociodemographic characteristics and the psychological status suggests that informing the patients with special attention to their physical and psychological integrity may contribute positively to the patients' psychiatric status.

[Psychiatric symptoms in patients treated with an Ilizarov external fixator]. / Ilizarov eksternal fiksatörü uygulanan hastalarda psikiyatrik belirtiler.

OBJECTIVES: The Ilizarov technique limits daily activities of patients and may cause psychiatric symptoms. We investigated psychiatric symptoms associated with the use of an Ilizarov circular external fixator (CEF) and the relationship between symptoms and duration of CEF application in adult patients. METHODS: The study included 40 adult male outpatients (mean age 26.4 years; range 20 to 40 years) who were treated with a CEF. The participants were administered a questionnaire on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R). Data were compared with those of a control group consisting of 30 healthy males with similar sociodemographic features. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the patient and control groups with regard to somatization (p=0.03), interpersonal sensitivity (p=0.027), depression (p=0.003), anxiety (p=0.025), hostility (p=0.004), paranoid ideation (p=0.021), additional scale (p=0.000), and overall symptom (p=0.024) scores. There was at least one psychiatric symptom in 52.5% of the subjects treated with a CEF. Hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, sleep disturbances, obsessive-compulsive signs, and anxiety were detected in 37.5%, 35%, 32.5%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. The duration of CEF application was positively correlated with depression and interpersonal sensitivity (p=0.000), and negatively correlated with anxiety (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that, during treatment with a CEF, psychiatric problems emerge, which warrant careful evaluation of the psychiatric condition of the patients.

[The assessment of anxiety levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder]. / Travma sonrasi stres bozuklugu olan hastalarda anksiyete düzeylerinin degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to measure state and trait anxiety levels of veterans who developed posttraumatic stress disorder following combat or landmine injuries, or vehicle accidents. METHODS: The anxiety levels of 98 veterans (mean age 20 years; range 18 to 25 years) were measured with the use of the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI I-II). Diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder was made on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM III-R. RESULTS: The number of patients with high levels of anxiety was not in significant relationship with education level and trauma type (p>0.05). Regardless of education levels and trauma types, the number of patients with high trait anxiety significantly outweighed the number of patients with high state anxiety (p<0.05). Trait anxiety levels differed significantly between primary school and high school graduates (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Veterans should be under close supervision to determine and treat increased anxiety which worsens the quality of life. Special attention should be paid to appropriate psychological rehabilitation throughout the treatment plan.