Acromegaly increases depressive symptoms and reduces quality of life of cohabitants.

PURPOSE: To assess how living with patients with acromegaly affects people's psychology and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Acromegaly patients and their cohabitants included in this study. Patients were administered Acromegaly Quality of Life Questionnaire (AcroQoL), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cohabitants were administered quality of life questionnaire (SF-36), BAI, BDI, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI). RESULTS: This study included 84 patients with acromegaly and 84 cohabitants. Sixty-nine patients (n = 84, 82.1%) had an acromegalic appearance. Cohabitants who were affected by the acromegalic appearance had higher BAI, BDI, and ZBI scores than those who were not affected (p < 0.001 for all). Cohabitants who were affected by the acromegalic appearance had a significantly lower SF-36 score (p = 0.015). The BAI (r=-0.535, p < 0.001), BDI (r=-0.592, p < 0.001), and ZBI (r=-0.465, p < 0.001) scores of the cohabitants showed a negative correlation with AcroQoL. SF-36 scores showed correlation with AcroQoL (r = 0.387, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The chronic process of acromegaly and the external appearance of patients with this disease can negatively affect both the patients and the people living with them. Physicians being aware of this effect and taking counteractive measures may contribute positively to the course of acromegaly.

Disordered eating behaviors in gender-affirmative treatment seeking transgender people.

This study aimed to explore disordered eating behaviors in gender-affirming treatment (GAT)-seeking transgender (TG) adults and cisgender people, in addition to analyzing the association between gender dysphoria intensity, body mass index, and disordered eating behaviors. Data were collected from 132 GAT-seeking TG people with gender dysphoria who had never received GAT (91 TG men, 41 TG women), and 153 cisgender (99 cisgender men, 54 cisgender women) participants from Turkey. The Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale was used to evaluate the intensity of gender dysphoria. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-5 were utilized to assess disordered eating. There was no difference between TG women and TG men in terms of ED psychopathology. The most prominent characteristic in all four groups was shape concern, which was significantly higher in TG men and TG women when compared to cisgender men and cisgender women. Binge eating was notably more frequent in TG men and TG women compared to cisgender men, with 11% of the TG men and 7.3% of the TG women meeting the criteria for possible binge eating disorder. Screening for disordered eating behaviors, particularly binge eating, may be recommended in routine care for TG people.

The Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Psychological Variables in Patients With Schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Depressive symptoms are common in schizophrenia and can be seen at any stage of the disease. Although various models have been proposed to explain the development of depression in schizophrenia, studies investigating related psychological factors are scarce and the studies that have been done usually focus on only a small number of possible factors. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the predictability of some psychological factors on depression in patients with schizophrenia. For this purpose, patients with high and low depression scores were compared. METHODS: Two groups of individuals with schizophrenia, with (n=29) and without (n=31) depression, as determined by scores on the Calgary Depression Scale in Schizophrenia, were compared using a sociodemographic data form, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Rotter Internal-External Locus 2024 of Control Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Stress Coping Styles Scale. RESULTS: No differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, social support scores, and coping styles. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups on the PANSS positive, negative, and general psychopathology subscales, in PANSS total scores, in anxiety scores, and in locus of control scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that high levels of negative, positive, and general psychopathological symptoms, external locus of control, and high anxiety scores may be predictive of depression in individuals with schizophrenia. Studies that examine psychological factors in larger patient groups may provide the opportunity to detect and target these factors earlier in the course of schizophrenia, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.