Factors influencing the level of stigma in Parkinson's disease in western Turkey.

Background and purpose:

Stigma is a widespread phenomenon in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and has been shown to affect the quality of life of individuals. This study aims to assess the level of stigma and identify the factors contributing to stigma in patients with PD in Turkey.

A total of 142 patients diagno­sed with PD between June 2022 and March 2023 were included in the study. Sociodemographic data including age, gender, marital status, education level, and duration of PD were collected using a sociodemographic information form. Motor symptom severity was assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS part III). The disease stage was determined using the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Participants were classified as PIGD (postural instability/gait difficulty) or TD (tremor dominant) based on the UPDRS score. Patients with a UPDRS ratio greater than or equal to 1.5 were classified as TD, while subjects with a ratio less than or equal to 1.0 were classified as PIGD. Ratios between 1.0 and 1.5 were classified as mixed type. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), while stigma was measured using the Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS) and the stigma sub-scale of the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39 stigma sub-scale).

The mean score on the stigma sub-scale of the PDQ-39 was 7.60±4.39, while the mean total stigma score on the CIASS was 1.37±0.39. Our results indicated that stigma was more prevalent among patients with PD with the TD motor subtype, younger age, shorter disease duration, higher level of disability, and presence of depression symptoms.

Our study highlights the association between stigma and disease progression, duration, and depressive symptoms in patients with PD in western Turkey.

Depression and Anxiety Disorders in COVID-19 Survivors: Role of Inflammatory Predictors.

Introduction: Infection-triggered perturbation of the immune system, which was observed after previous coronavirus outbreaks, could induce psychiatric sequelae. The spreading of the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic could be associated with psychiatric implications. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between inflammatory biomarkers and the levels of depression and anxiety in patients who recovered from COVID-19. Methods: We screened 109 COVID-19 survivor adults for psychiatric symptoms on the 15th day of follow-up after discharge from the hospital. The patients were split into two groups, the ones with depression and anxiety, and the ones without depression or anxiety, after the psychiatric interview. Self-rating Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to assess the levels in patients with depression and anxiety. We collected and recorded the sociodemographic information, clinical data, and baseline inflammatory markers. Results: Higher baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were found in patients with depression and anxiety. Higher levels of depression and anxiety were found in younger and female patients. Besides, a significant correlation was found between BAI and ferritin levels in patients with anxiety, while no association was found between BAI and other inflammatory biomarkers. Moreover, no significant relationship was found between BDI scores and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with depression. Conclusion: COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Nonetheless, psychiatric involvement is not uncommon and can lead to severe problems if not detected and managed at an early stage. It is recommended that clinicians should be vigilant in terms of psychiatric involvement in COVID-19 patients presenting with high inflammatory parameters.

A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Quality of Life in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of physical signs and comorbid psychopathology on quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess 84 women with PCOS according to Rotterdam diagnosis criteria. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis 1 Disorders (SCID-I) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Form (WHOQOL-BREF) were applied to each participant. The biochemical parameters and physical signs of the participants were evaluated. RESULTS: A negative correlation was found between hirsutism score and physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains of WHOQOL-BREF (p=0.023, p=0.007, p=0.020, and p=0.033, respectively). Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and psychological domain of WHOQOL-BREF (p=0.001). Depression was found to be an important predictor for physical, psychological, and social domains of quality of life (p=0.002, p=0.001, and p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Comorbid depression and high BMI and hirsutism scores decrease the quality of life in women with PCOS.

The Association Between Childhood Traumatic Events and Headache-Related Parameters in Patients with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Turkish Population.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between childhood traumatic events and headache-related clinical parameters in migraine patients. METHODS: 95 patients diagnosed with migraine and 50 healthy controls were included in the study. A socio-demographic form, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were completed by all participants. Additionally, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS) were applied to migraine patients. RESULTS: Positive correlations were found between emotional abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, CTQ total scores, and headache frequency (r=0.33, r=0.24, r=0.26 and r=0.28 respectively) in migraine patients. A positive correlation was found between physical neglect and headache duration (r=0.28). Positive correlations were also found between emotional abuse and physical neglect, and MIDAS total scores (r=0.22 and r=0.23, respectively). Emotional abuse and CTQ total scores were associated with younger mean age of headache onset (r=-0.24 and r=-0.23). CONCLUSION: Childhood traumatic events are associated with more frequent and more severe headache episodes, and younger headache onset in migraine patients.

Correlations between impulsiveness and biochemical parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anger, impulsiveness, and biochemical parameters (testosterone, insulin, insulin resistance) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: We recruited 84 women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome according to the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. Psychiatric interviews were performed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory were also administered to each participant. Lastly, the women's biochemical parameters, which included total testosterone, free androgen index, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin and insulin resistance, thyroid functions, and prolactin, were measured. RESULTS: A statistically significant correlation was found between participants' increasing total testosterone levels and total impulsiveness scores, and their increasing free androgen index levels and motor and non-planning-related impulsiveness (r=0.24, p=0.027; r=0.27, p=0.015; and r=0.26, p=0.017, respectively). High insulin and insulin resistance levels were associated with high non-planning-related impulsiveness scores (r=0.26, p=0.018; and r=0.26, p=0.019). Lastly, high trait anger and anger expression scores were related to high total testosterone and insulin and insulin resistance levels. CONCLUSION: Androgens and glucose dysregulation seemingly affect anger expression as well as the attentional, motor, and non-planning-related impulsiveness of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Frequency and types of headaches in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and headaches are common public health problems in whole world. The relationship between headaches and the MetS isn't understood clearly. Purpose - The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and types of headaches, and evaluate the relationship between headache characteristics and clinical and laboratory parameters analyzed in patients diagnosed with MetS. METHODS: Of the patients diagnosed with MetS in Endocrinology outpatient clinics between July 2011 and July 2012, 202 patients were included in the study. Hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL cholesterol, thyroid function tests and HbA1c values of all patients were recorded. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to all patients. The headache severity was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: The prevalence of headache in patients with MetS was found to be 61.4%. The incidence of headache was higher in female patients (F: 86.4%, M: 13.6%). The distribution of the subtypes of headaches was as follows: Episodic Tension-Type Headaches (ETTH) 24.8%, Episodic Migraine 14.4%, Chronic Tension-Type Headaches (CTTH) 11.3%, Episodic Tension-Type Headaches (ETTH) and Episodic Migraine 7.9%, and other types of headaches (Cervicogenic Headache and Cluster Headache) 3%. No statistically significant relationship was found between headache and non-headache groups in terms of body mass index, waist circumference, and the laboratory parameters (p>0.05). The mean BDI and BAI scores were higher in the headache group (p<0.001 and p<0.001). No significant difference was found between the mean MIDAS scores in the subtypes of headaches (p=0.35). In the headache group, there was a significant relationship only between triglyceride levels and attack frequency, duration and severity. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of headache in patients with MetS was 61.4%. The incidence of subtypes of headaches was similar to those in the general population. A relationship was found between triglyceride levels and attack frequency and severity. The result may be important to draw attention to the evaluation of triglyceride levels for reducing the frequency and severity of attacks in patients with headaches.