Evaluation of olfactory bulb volume and olfactory sulcus depth in patients with panic disorder and depressive disorder: An MRI study.

Background: Although some studies have shown decreases in the olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory function in depressive disorder, there are no studies investigating OB volume in patients with panic disorder. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a change in OB volume and olfactory sulcus (OS) depth in patients with panic and depressive disorder when compared with the control group, and which group was more affected by comparing the two disease groups. Methods: Data of 51 patients with panic disorder and 56 patients with depressive disorder were obtained by scanning the database of the hospital retrospectively. The control group consisted of 56 subjects without panic and depressive disorder. OB volume and OS depth measurements were performed on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Bilateral OB volume of the panic and depressive disorder groups were significantly lower than those of the control group. The lowest volume was found in depressive patients. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to OS measurements. When OB volume and OS depth differences between the genders were evaluated, a statistically significant difference was not determined. Conclusion: Reduced OB volume was determined in both panic and depressive disorder patients, and clarification of these preliminary findings may contribute to the pathophysiology of panic and depressive disorders.

Impact of dissociative experiences in migraine and its close relationship with osmophobia.

OBJECTIVE: Migraine is a complex episodic disease manifested by dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system along with numerous neuropsychiatric symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify the dissociative symptoms with neurobiological similarities in episodic and chronic migraine patients and to evaluate their correlation with migraine frequency and severity of attacks. METHODS: The study included 61 episodic, 45 chronic migraine patients diagnosed using the criteria of the International Headache Society and 54 healthy control subjects. Dissociative Experiences Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were filled with the interviews. Demographic, clinical and headache characteristics of the patients were recorded according to migraine types. Results were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis method and Spearman's correlation tests. RESULTS: Dissociative symptoms were more common in the patients with chronic migraine, and there was a statistically significant difference between the chronic migraine group and the episodic migraine and control groups (p = 0.001, p < 0.001). Dissociative experiences were correlated with depression and anxiety findings, and in both groups, there was a significant correlation between clinical characteristics of migraine and osmophobia in the controlled partial correlation analysis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that dissociative symptoms are more common especially in patients with chronic migraine and there is a significant association with osmophobia in both migraine groups. According to these data, we think that dissociative symptoms in chronic migraine patients will be questioned and osmophobia may be a guide in this regard.

Who is more important in stigmatization, family or friends?

INTRODUCTION: Although the knowledge about epilepsy is rapidly increasing, the rate of stigmatization still remains high among patients. Since stigmatization is a condition that reduces the quality of life of patients and adversely affects the treatment response, it is very important to reveal the contributing factors. In this study, it was aimed to investigate which of the current social support resources of the patients are related to stigmatization, whether the support received from family or friends and a special person. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with epilepsy (30 males and 30 females) were included in the study. Sociodemographic data form, stigma scale of epilepsy, and multidimensional scale of perceived social support were administered to all participants. RESULTS: Duration of education from sociodemographic variables and duration of epilepsy from clinical variables were associated with stigma scores (for each other, p < 0.01). While a negative correlation was determined between friend support, special person support scores, and total social support score and stigma scores (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively), no significant relationship was detected between family support score and stigma score. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study show that the support of a friend and a special person may be more important than the family support in patients with epilepsy. When evaluating these patients, questioning the type and adequacy of social support that they receive and taking necessary interventions (such as forming peer support groups) may be helpful in reducing the perceived stigmatization.

Difficulties in emotion regulation and quality of life in patients with acne.

BACKGROUND: The psychological factors associated with the impairment of the quality of life (QoL) in acne vulgaris have not been fully elucidated, yet. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of the difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) in predicting the QoL of patients with acne vulgaris and to examine the relationship between acne vulgaris and common psychopathologies, such as anxiety and depression. METHODS: A total of 141 patients were administered the difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS-Brief Form) (DERS-16), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Acne Quality of Life (AQOL) Scale, while the control group including 102 participants was administered all scales other than the AQOL. RESULTS: The patients with acne vulgaris had significantly higher DERS scores than the control group. DER were found to predict quality of life more than acne severity. A strong positive correlation was found between the DERS and anxiety and depressive symptoms. There was no significant correlation between the acne severity and HADS and DERS scores, although only a weak correlation was found with the AQOL scores. The duration of acne showed no correlation with any of the variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results showed the relationship between the DER and acne vulgaris. The ignorance of this relationship while evaluating patients with acne may result in anxiety and depression symptoms and impairment in the QoL in the future. Hence, psychopathologies should be considered in acne treatment and patients should gain the ability of regulating their emotions through appropriate therapeutic approaches.

Comparison of patients with migraine and tension-type headache in terms of somatosensory amplification and health anxiety.

INTRODUCTION: Although it is known that anxiety and depressive disorders frequently accompany migraine and TTH, the role of somatic amplification (SSA) and health anxiety in these diseases is not adequately known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare SSA and health anxiety in patients with migraine or TTH, and healthy controls and to investigate the relationships between SSA, health anxiety, headache characteristics, anxiety and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Fifty-four migraine, 50 TTH patients from the outpatient unit of the neurology department and 53 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. The somatosensory amplification scale (SSAS), health anxiety inventory, Beck depression (BDI) and anxiety inventory (BAI) were administered to all participants. RESULTS: The SSAS scores were significantly higher in migraineurs compared with the healthy controls. The health anxiety scores were significantly higher in both migraine and TTH groups. The BDI and BAI scores were also significantly higher in migraine and TTH groups compared with the controls. A significant positive correlation was found between headache frequency and BAI scores, the visual analogue scale scores and SSAS and BDI scores in migraineurs. The SSAS scores were also significantly correlated with the BDI and BAI scores in both of the headache groups. A similar correlation was determined with the health anxiety scores. CONCLUSIONS: While patients with migraine and TTH evalute, taking into account the SSA and health anxiety may contribute to the prognosis and treatment of these diseases.

Comparison of patients with migraine and tension-type headache in terms of somatosensory amplification and health anxiety / Estudo comparativo de pacientes com enxaqueca e cefaleia do tipo tensional em relação à amplificação somatossensorial e à ansiedade associada à saúde

ABSTRACT Although it is known that anxiety and depressive disorders frequently accompany migraine and TTH, the role of somatic amplification (SSA) and health anxiety in these diseases is not adequately known. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare SSA and health anxiety in patients with migraine or TTH, and healthy controls and to investigate the relationships between SSA, health anxiety, headache characteristics, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: Fifty-four migraine, 50 TTH patients from the outpatient unit of the neurology department and 53 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. The somatosensory amplification scale (SSAS), health anxiety inventory, Beck depression (BDI) and anxiety inventory (BAI) were administered to all participants. Results: The SSAS scores were significantly higher in migraineurs compared with the healthy controls. The health anxiety scores were significantly higher in both migraine and TTH groups. The BDI and BAI scores were also significantly higher in migraine and TTH groups compared with the controls. A significant positive correlation was found between headache frequency and BAI scores, the visual analogue scale scores and SSAS and BDI scores in migraineurs. The SSAS scores were also significantly correlated with the BDI and BAI scores in both of the headache groups. A similar correlation was determined with the health anxiety scores. Conclusions: While patients with migraine and TTH evalute, taking into account the SSA and health anxiety may contribute to the prognosis and treatment of these diseases.

RESUMO Embora se saiba que os distúrbios de ansiedade e depressão frequentemente acompanhem a enxaqueca e a TTH, o papel da amplificação somatossensorial (somatosensory amplification, SSA) e da hipocondria nessas doenças ainda não é bem conhecido. Objetivo: O presente estudo faz uma comparação entre pacientes que sofrem de enxaqueca e TTH com um grupo de controle saudável em termos de SSA e hipocondria e investiga a relação entre os achados e as características da cefaleia, a ansiedade e os sintomas depressivos. Métodos: O estudo incluiu 54 pacientes com enxaqueca, 50 pacientes com TTH e 53 voluntários saudáveis que se cadastraram na clínica de neurologia. A escala de amplificação somatossensorial (somatosensory amplification scale, SSAS), o inventário de hipocondria, o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) e o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI) foram aplicados aos participantes. Resultados: Quando comparados com os controles saudáveis, as pontuações da SSAS dos pacientes com enxaqueca foram significativamente maiores, enquanto as pontuações de hipocondria foram significativamente maiores em ambos os grupos de enxaqueca e TTH. As pontuações do BAI e do BDI foram significativamente maiores em ambos os grupos de pacientes que no grupo de controle. No grupo da enxaqueca, foi identificada uma correlação positiva entre frequência de cefaleia e ansiedade, bem como entre a Escala Analógica Visual (EVA), a SSAS e a depressão. Em ambos os grupos de pacientes, a SSA foi correlacionada positivamente com a depressão e a ansiedade, e uma correlação semelhante foi encontrada entre a SSA e a hipocondria. Conclusão: Em avaliações dessas doenças, a hipocondria e a SSA devem ser levadas em consideração, pois se acredita que essa abordagem possa contribuir positivamente para o prognóstico e tratamento da doença.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E).

The aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), which was developed to rapidly investigate depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy. A consecutive sample of 51 patients with epilepsy was included in the study. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Turkish version of the NDDI-E were applied to the participants. During the application, it was observed that the participants could quickly fill the scale without any difficulties in understanding the translated items. The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.721. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.902 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.822-0.983), a cutoff score of >15, a sensitivity of 88.2%, a specificity of 82.4%, a positive predictive value of 71.4%, a negative predictive value of 93.3%. The NDDI-E Turkish version scores were significantly and positively correlated with those of the BDI (Spearman's ρ = 0.832, p < 0.001). In conclusion, it has been determined that the Turkish version of the NDDI-E can be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool to detect major depression in Turkish people with epilepsy.

Chronic psychosis related to benzydamine hydrochloride abuse.

Benzydamine hydrochloride is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic effects. In those who use medicines containing this agent at high doses (500-3000 mg), some adverse effects such as hallucinosis, stimulant effects in the central nervous system, paranoia, and convulsions can be seen. The drug is vulnerable to abuse because of the stimulant effects on the central nervous system. In this paper, we present a young male patient with symptoms of psychosis due to benzydamine hydrochloride abuse. He was admitted to the psychiatry outpatient clinic with visual hallucinations, fear, and insomnia. His symptoms started after taking 10 tablets of benzydamine hydrochloride (500 mg) 6 months ago, which continued for 1-2 days and spontaneously resolved. The patient used high doses of the drug 3-4 times over a period of 3 months. Although his last drug intake was 3 months ago, his symptoms continued at the time of admission to the clinic. A neurologic examination and detailed laboratory tests of the patient revealed no evidence of a cause for psychotic symptoms. The patient was scheduled to undergo oral antipsychotic therapy. Although similar cases have been reported in the literature, this is the only case in which psychosis was still present despite discontinuation of the drug. Our aim was to contribute to the literature on the use of BH in causing chronic psychosis and to draw attention to the growing number of BH abuse cases.