The Effect of the New Type Coronavirus Outbreak on Quality of Life and Suicidal Thoughts in Psychiatric Patients. / Yeni Tip Koronavirüs Salgininin Psikiyatrik Hastalarda Yasam Kalitesi ve Intihar Düsüncelerine Etkisi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of perceptions on the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life and suicidal ideation in both healthy controls and individuals with psychiatric disorders. METHOD: The study was conducted on 4 different groups with 83 depressive disorders, 90 anxiety disorders and 61 schizophrenia patients who have been followed in Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital Mental Health and Diseases outpatient clinic since before the COVID-19 pandemic period and another group of 93 healthy volunteers. Participants were evaluated with Sociodemographic Data Form, Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), SF-36 Quality of Life Scale (SF- 36), Perception of COVID-19 Scale (P-COVID-19), and Perception of Causes of COVID-19 Scale (PCa-COVID-19). RESULTS: The perception on the danger and contaigiousness of P-COVID-19 scored lowest in the schizophrenia group, compared to other groups and PCa-COVID-19's Conspiracy and Belief subdimension scores were highest. In all groups, a significant negative correlation was found between the P-COVID-19's dangerousness subdimension score and the SF-36 scale's Mental Health sub-dimension. Again, in all groups, significant positive correlations were found between the Dangerousness sub-dimension score of P-COVID-19 and the anger/impulsivity, hopelessness/loneliness and suicidal thoughts sub-dimensions of the SPS. CONCLUSION: The negative effects of perceptions associated with COVID-19 on mental health were observed both in groups with a psychiatric disorder and in healthy controls. The higher number of participants and longitudinal research will provide a better understanding of the effects of perceptions associated with COVID-19 and will guide the necessary treatment interventions.

The use of social media among high school students and its relationship with the perception of loneliness: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Physical, psychological, and social impairments are becoming more common in the world due to internet use and excessive use. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between social media addiction (SMA) and the perception of loneliness in the high school period when peer influence is important. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 988 students studying at four high schools in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, in the fall semester of 2019-2020. The research data were collected using Introductory Information Form, Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), and UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: According to the findings, 67.2% of the students had different degrees of SMA. It was found that 7.8% of the students had a high or very high degree of addiction. Loneliness levels of the students were found to be high (UCLA mean 62.78). A strong negative correlation (p < 0.01) was found between loneliness and all the subscales of the SMAS except the busyness subscale. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate the social media addiction and the perception of loneliness in high school students are related at a level that cannot be ignored. Future research should evaluate social media addiction and loneliness together with other psychological markers.