Turkish version of the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire: Validity, reliability and psychometric properties.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Turkish form of the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ). Bereaved people (N = 688) completed the PBQ, Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory, and Traumatic Grief Inventory. Although the factor structure is consistent with the original, the Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated that two items should be included in a different factor. The analyses revealed good internal consistency, split-half reliability, and concurrent validity. Subscales produced meaningful correlations with loss-related variables. The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the PBQ indicate the measure is highly suited to measuring the symptoms of pet loss.

Turkish Version of the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR): Validity and reliability.

This study aimed to adapt the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR) to Turkish in a sample of 403 bereaved individuals. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a correlated two-factor structure for the 18-item version. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .94 for the entire scale. Correlation analysis indicated that the TGI-SR was positively correlated with grief-related symptoms. To test discriminant validity, Latent Profile Analysis was performed, and profiles significantly differed from each other in terms of the impact of event, depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Findings showed that the Turkish version of the TGI-SR is a valid and reliable tool.

Does Blood Flow Change according to Mood? Blood Rheology in Bipolar Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular diseases. There is growing evidence that blood viscosity may have a common role, correlated with well-known major risk factors that promote cardiovascular disease. In this study we aimed to investigate the whole blood viscosity (WBV) in different stages of BD. METHODS: A total of 121 bipolar patients and 41 age-gender matched healthy controls were included. Forty-four of bipolar patients were in manic, 35 were depressed and 42 were in euthymic state. WBV was calculated from hematocrit and total plasma protein according to Simone's formula at low and high shear rates (LSR and HSR). RESULTS: WBV at HSR of manic group was 16.91±1.01, depressive group was 17.23±0.80, euthymic group was 17.63±0.95, and control group was 17.52±0.71 (p =0.001). WBV at LSR of manic depressive, euthymic and control group were 53.10±20.58, 60.30±17.02, 8.91±20.33, and 62.01±19.28, respectively (p =0.001). Both WBV at HSR and LSR of manic group was significantly lower than that of the euthymic and control groups (p =0.001 and 0.010 respectively for HSR, p =0.001 and 0.011 respectively for LSR). WBV was significantly positively correlated with lipid profile except high density lipoprotein (HDL). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a decrement in blood viscosity in manic episode compared with euthymics and controls. Positive correlation of blood viscosity with lipid parameters (except HDL), and negative correlation with number of previous manic episodes suggest that manic episode has favorable effect on cardiovascular risk regarding to blood viscosity.

Decreased circulating urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) concentration in acute episodes of bipolar disorder; could it be a reflection of axonal injury?

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of Bipolar Disorder (BD) has been studied thoroughly. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is one of the molecules, whose concentration is of predictive value with regards to an ongoing inflammation and tissue regeneration, and it is hypothesized that it may also be altered in Bipolar Disorder. In this study, it is aimed to compare the levels of serum soluble uPAR during the manic, depressive and euthymic states of cases diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four BD patients at manic state (BD-m), 35 BD patients at depressive state (BD-d), 42 euthymic patients (BD-e) and 41 healthy controls (HC) who were similar with the diseased subjects regarding age and smoking status included in the study. Serum soluble uPAR levels of patients and healthy controls were measured. RESULTS: The main finding of our study is that serum soluble uPAR levels are lower in patients diagnosed with BD either in depressive (BD-d) or in manic state (BD-m) than in BD patients in euthymic state (BD-e) or in healthy controls (HC). There was no significant difference in serum soluble uPAR concentrations between BD-m and BD-d s or between BD-e and HC with regards to serum soluble uPAR concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) is a molecule which is an element of uPAR system and the molecules collectively take role in inflammation, tissue regeneration and axonal regeneration within the Central Nervous System (CNS). It has previously suggested in some studies that there may be a decrease in axonal density or axonal dysfunction in CNS in bipolar individuals. Accordingly, one may say that the low concentrations of soluble uPAR measured in our bipolar patients either at depressive or at manic state is due to the diminished regulatory role of soluble uPAR on axonal regeneration in CNS of BD cases.

Atherogenic index of plasma as a cardiovascular risk marker in manic, depressive, and euthymic stages of bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) frequently suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD), and it is a leading cause of mortality. Clinicians use routine laboratory tests, including a lipid profile, to predict cardiovascular risk. In addition, a particular lipid ratio, the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), is a sensitive, new parameter that can be used to assess highrisk groups. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating cardiovascular risk via AIP in different stages of BD. METHODS: The study group consisted of male patients with BD who were in a manic, depressive, or euthymic state, and age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Lipid profiles were analyzed and the AIP parameter of logarithm of triglyceride (TG) / high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) was calculated for all of the participants. The significance level was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 44 BD patients experiencing a manic episode, 35 depressive BD patients, 42 euthymic patients, and 41 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and smoking status were enrolled in the study. The AIP level was significantly different between groups (p=0.009). Pairwise comparisons of the groups revealed that the AIP level of depressive patients was significantly higher than that of the manic, euthymic, and control groups (p=0.013, p=0.048, and p=0.021, respectively). The AIP level was positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, metabolic syndrome, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride level, and was negatively correlated with the HDLc level. CONCLUSION: In this study, male BD patients in a depressive episode demonstrated an increase in cardiovascular risk. The significant correlations between AIP and other conventional cardiovascular risk factors indicate that AIP may be more useful to identify individuals with BD at high risk for CVD than absolute lipid parameters.

[The Relationship Between Marital Adjustment and Psychological Symptoms in Women: The Mediator Roles of Coping Strategies and Gender Role Attitudes]. / Kadinlarda Evlilik Uyumu ve Psikolojik Belirtiler Arasindaki Iliski: Stresle Bas Etme Biçimleri ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Rolü Tutumlarinin Araci Rolleri.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were to investigate the mediator role of coping strategies and gender roles attitudes on the relationship between women's marital adjustment and psychological symptoms. METHODS: 248 married women participated in the study. Participants completed Marital Adjustment Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory, Gender Role Attitudes Scale and Demographic Information Form. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that Submissive (Sobel z= -2.47, p<.01) and Helpless Coping Approach (Sobel z=-2.95, p<.001) have partial mediator role on the relationship between marital relationship score and psychological symptom level. Also, having Egalitarian Gender Role Attitude effects the psychological symptoms in relation with the marital relationship, but it is seen that this effect is not higher enough to play a mediator role (Sobel z =-1.21, p>.05). CONCLUSION: Regression analysis showed that there is a statistically significant correlation between women's marital adjustment and their psychological symptoms, indicating that the marital adjustment decreases as the psychological symptoms increases. It is also found out that submissive and helpless coping approach have mediator roles in this relationship. Also, contrary to expectations, having egalitarian gender role attitude effects the psychological symptoms in relation with the marital relationship, but this effect does not seem to play a mediator role. It is thought that the effects of marriage and couple therapy approaches considering couples’s problem solving and coping styles should be examined in further studies.