Serum concentrations of aminoacylase 1 in schizophrenia as a potential biomarker: a case-sibling-control study.

PURPOSE: Aminoacylase 1 (ACY1) catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction during protein degradation. N-acetylamino acids are accumulated in the urine in Aminoacylase 1 deficiency (ACY1D). This study attempts to evaluate the potential of ACY1 as a biomarker for schizophrenia and predict genetic vulnerability in the high-risk population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy patients with schizophrenia, twenty-five of which have newly diagnosed, forty-nine unaffected siblings of patients, and fifty-six healthy controls were included in the study. The ELISA method was used to measure serum ACY1. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and The Clinical Global Impression - Severity scale (CGI-S) were used to analyze the severity of the symptoms. Data were analysed statistically by non-parametric tests. RESULTS: The finding of the study indicated that the serum levels of ACY1 in patients and siblings were lower compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.023). There was no statistically significant difference between patients and siblings (p = 0.067). The duration of disease, PANSS total scores, and CGI-S scores did not have a significant association with the ACY1 levels in the patient group (p > 0.005). ACY1 levels among the drug-using patient group and the newly diagnosed patient group showed no notable difference (respectively, p = 0.120 and p = 0.843). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to evaluate the serum ACY1 levels in patients with schizophrenia. The result of the study provides us insight regarding the first hints that ACY1 might be a potential biomarker. Being aware of the molecule will pave the way for further explorations in the field.

Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia and their Unaffected Siblings.

Many hypothesis suggest that inflammation plays an important role in schizophrenia. Galectins can regulate inflammatory response in central nervous system. The relation between galectins and neuropsyhchiatric diseases and schizophrenia is unclear. The present study compared levels of Gal-1 and Gal-3 of patients with schizophrenia to that of first-degree relatives without the disease and healthy controls in order to evaluate any possible association. Sixty-two patients with schizophrenia, fifty-five unaffected siblings and fifty-eight age- and sex-matched healthy controls enrolled. Serum Gal-1, Gal-3 and CRP levels were measured. PANNS and CGI-S were used to evaluate the severity of disease. There was a statistically significant difference in serum Gal-1 levels among the patient, sibling, and control groups. There were no statistically significant correlations between serum CRP ​​and serum Gal-1 or Gal-3 levels. Gal-1 values were significantly higher in the unaffected siblings compared to both the patient group and the healthy control group. Gal-3 levels were elevated in the sibling group relative to the patient group. In the literature, the relationship between galectins and schizophrenia is very limited and appears to be a new field of study. Future studies are needed to evaluate the protective roles of galectins.

Correction to: Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia and their Unaffected Siblings.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The name of the 5th author was incorrectly listed as Çigdem Yüksel, when it is actually Çigdem Yücel. The correct information is as shown above.

Examination of formal thought disorder and its clinical correlates with the Turkish Version of the Thought and Language Disorder Scale (TALD-TR) in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Formal thought disorder (FTD) is considered to be a fundamental feature of schizophrenia. This study aims to analyze psychometric properties of the Turkish version of "Thought and Language Disorder Scale (TALD)" and investigate the relationship between FTD and various clinical characteristics in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: TALD was adapted into Turkish and applied to a total of 149 participants of which 114 had DSM-5 psychiatric diagnoses (schizophrenia N = 70, mania N = 20, depression N = 24) and 35 were healthy controls. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression were administered to detect illness severity. RESULTS: The principal component analyses revealed that the Turkish version of TALD (TALD-TR) consisted of four factors including the Objective Positive (OP), Subjective Negative (SN), Objective Negative (ON) and Subjective Positive (SP) symptom dimensions which were in line with the original TALD factorial structure. It was concluded that TALD-TR shows strong construct validity and high interrater reliability. The correlation analyses with TALD-TR and PANSS showed that there are positive correlations between the TALD-TR total score and the PANSS total and subscale scores. Each diagnostic group showed the distinct pattern of FTD. The mania group exhibited the highest mean total score in the OP, whereas the schizophrenia group exhibited the highest mean total score in the ON factor. In the schizophrenia group, the severity of FTD correlated positively with duration of illness and negatively with age at onset of illness. CONCLUSION: Adaptation of TALD into different languages seems to be possible, bringing in an international tool for research on FTD.

High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in schizophrenia independent of infectious and metabolic parameters.

BACKGROUND: Immunological and inflammatory mechanisms play an important role in schizophrenia. In the literature, there are studies investigating neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) association with schizophrenia. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare NLR values between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. In addition, the study aimed to investigate the relationship between NLR and disease severity and some metabolic/inflammatory parameters. METHODS: Fifty-two patients diagnosed with schzophrenia and 53 healthy controls were included in the study. A socio-demographic information form was filled out by the clinician. Height, body weight, waist and hip circumference and blood pressure values of each patient were measured. Severity of disease was assessed by positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and clinical global impression-severity scale (CGI-S). Complete blood count was performed to both patient and control groups. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. RESULTS: The number of leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and NLR values in patients with schizophrenia was significantly higher than in the control group. There was no significant relationship between NLR values and the number of hospitalisation, duration of ilness or disease severity in patients. There was no correlation between other laboratory findings and NLR values. CONCLUSION: NLR levels are high in schizophrenia independent of metabolic parameters according to the results. So, it can be considered that inflammatory processes may play a role in the etiology of the disease.

Management of psychiatric treatments of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the COVID-19 pandemic: A one-year evaluation in the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The course of bipolar disorder (BD) is sensitive to factors that may disrupt biological and social rhythms. It is important for patients diagnosed with BD to continue their follow-up and treatment during the pandemic due to personal and social effects. This study aimed to evaluate the disease course and treatment compliance of individuals diagnosed with BD during the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 267 patients with BD were included in the study. The scales were applied by phone calls. A sociodemographic data form was filled out during the phone interviews. Diagnostic criteria for hypomanic, manic, and depressive episodes in DSM-5 were questioned and recorded through the created form. RESULTS: During the first of the pandemic, a total of 72 (27.0%) patients had a mood episode, of which 56 (21.0%) were manic/hypomanic episodes and 16 (6.0%) depressive episodes. Also, 54.7% of the patients were able to obtain their medications thanks to the extended medication reports. Being unable to use their medications regularly, having a seasonal pattern of disease, and using an increased number of psychotropics were significant predictors of a new episode. While 74.5% of the patients wanted to talk to their psychiatrists online, only 1.1% could reach the psychiatrist online. DISCUSSION: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are particularly evident in patients with a seasonal pattern. Telepsychiatry practices should be actively included in clinical practice, and government policies developed for treatment compliance seem important.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and inflammatory markers in schizophrenia: A comparative analysis of drug-naive schizophrenia patients, remitted patients, and healthy controls.

This study aims to examine the plasma concentrations of NGAL and other inflammatory parameters, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IFN-γ, in schizophrenia patients and healthy volunteers. It also investigates potential associations between these biomarkers and symptom severity in schizophrenia and the utility of NGAL as a potential diagnostic and monitoring biomarker for schizophrenia. The study included 49 drug-naive schizophrenia patients (DNS), 59 patients with schizophrenia in remission (REM) on antipsychotic treatment, and 58 healthy volunteers (HC). The Positive and Negative Symptoms Evaluation Scale (PANSS) was utilized to assess the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients. Plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IFN-γ, and NGAL were measured for all participants. NGAL levels were significantly lower in the DNS group than in HC. Significantly lower TNF-α levels were observed in both the DNS and REM groups compared to the HC group. Notably, a statistically significant positive correlation was detected between TNF-α and NGAL levels. The findings of this study are noteworthy, as they demonstrate that drug-naive individuals with schizophrenia exhibit significantly diminished levels of NGAL and TNF-α compared to healthy controls. These identified biomarkers hold promise for providing valuable insights into the complex and evolving pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Evaluation of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 levels in patients with bipolar disorder: Is Galectin-3 associated with treatment response?

INTRODUCTION: Galectins (Gal) were linked with inflammatory responses in the central nervous system, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of BD.In this study,we aimed to investigate whether serum Gal-1 and Gal-3 levels are related to BD. METHODS: 36 patients diagnosed with BD were included.C-Reactive Protein(CRP),Gal-1,Gal-3 blood levels were evaluated on the first day of hospitalization and the third week of treatment and compared with 41 healthy controls.The severity of the illness was evaluated with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). RESULTS: CRP levels of BD patients at hospitalization were significantly higher than the third week of treatment and healthy controls.Gal-1 levels on the first day of hospitalization and the third week of treatment were found higher than the healthy controls.There was no significant difference in Gal-3 levels of the patients on the day of hospitalization compared to healthy controls;at the end of the 3rd week of treatment,Gal-3 was statistically significantly higher than the first day of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Our study is valuable in that it is the first study to show the change in Gal levels after treatment and to evaluate the role of Gal in BD.Gal-1 may play roles in the pathophysiology of BD.Gal-3 may be a biomarker candidate for the evaluation of the treatment response.

Decreased serum levels of α-synuclein in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings.

AIM: The final common pathway in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia is suggested that there is a defect in the presynaptic terminal in dopaminergic transmission, in which α-synuclein has an important role. Peripheral biomarker studies in schizophrenia have become crucial for better diagnoses, early interventions, and personalized therapies. This study aims to compare α-synuclein levels in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings with healthy controls, as a potential peripheral biomarker for schizophrenia. METHODS: The quantifications of α-synuclein serum concentrations were conducted by the ELISA method. PANSS and CGI-S were used to analyse the severity of the symptoms of the subjects. Data were analysed by nonparametric tests and the Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients with schizophrenia (mean age: 34,8 ± 9,9, %64,5 male), their 56 unaffected siblings (mean age: 39,4 ± 11,5, %55,4 male) and 56 healthy controls (mean age: 36,2 ± 9,8, %64,3 male) were included. α-synuclein levels were significantly lower in the patient (27,65 (12,61-46,09) pg/ml) and the unaffected sibling groups (24,62 (15,60-57,87) pg/ml) compared with healthy controls (45,58 (11,25-108,30) pg/ml) (p < .001). According to the ROC analysis, the optimal cut-off value for α-synuclein levels in distinguishing the schizophrenia group from the control group was 42.20. The sensitivity of the measurement of serum α-synuclein at this point was 93.5%, and the specificity was 60.7%. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that decreased levels of serum α-synuclein may be utilized as a possible peripheral biomarker of familial risk for schizophrenia in both patients and their siblings.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in patients with schizophrenia.

RATIONALE: Although the immune system is thought to contribute to the etiology of schizophrenia, the mechanism has not been elucidated. Clarifying the relationship between them is important in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention approaches. OBJECTIVE: In this study, it is aimed to determine whether there is any difference in serum levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the group of patients with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers, whether these values are changed by medical treatment, whether there is any relation between these values and the severity of the symptoms of patients with schizophrenia, and whether NGAL can be used as a biomarker in the diagnosis and the follow-up of the schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of 64 patients who were hospitalized in the Psychiatry Clinic of Ankara City Hospital and diagnosed with schizophrenia and 55 healthy volunteers were included in the study. A sociodemographic information form was given to all participants and TNF-α and NGAL values were measured. Positive and Negative Symptoms Rating Scale (PANSS) were applied to the schizophrenia group on admission and follow-up. TNF-α and NGAL levels were re-measured in the 4th week after the start of antipsychotic treatment. RESULTS: As a result of the present study, it was found that NGAL levels decreased significantly after antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia patients hospitalized with exacerbation. There was no significant correlation between NGAL and TNF-α levels among schizophrenia and the control group. CONCLUSION: In psychiatric diseases, especially schizophrenia, there may be differences in immune and inflammatory markers compared to the healthy population. After treatment, the NGAL levels of the patients at follow-up were reduced compared to the levels at admission. It can be thought that NGAL may be related to psychopathology in schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment. This is the first follow-up study for NGAL levels in schizophrenia.

Comparison of Formal Thought Disorder in the Acute Episode of Schizophrenia and Manic Episode of Bipolar Affective Disorder. / Sizofreni ve Ikiuçlu Duygudurum Bozuklugunun Akut Hastalik Döneminde Düsünce Süreci Bozukluklarinin Karsilastirilmasi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the formal thought disorder (FTD) in the acute episode of schizophrenia (SCHZ) and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), and to determine the FTD dimensions associated with BPAD. METHOD: The study included a total of 34 SCHZ patients not meeting the standardized remission criteria and 20 patients in BPAD manic episode. The patients completed the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Thought and Language Disorder Scale (TALD) in order to assess FTD. The association of FTD with the diagnoses was analyzed by a logistic regression model including the TALD factors and the SCHZ and BPAD groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were not determined between the demographic features, the CGI scores and the TALD objective positive factor scores of the SCHZ and BPAD groups. The objective negative and subjective negative factors (p<0.001 for all) were higher in SCHZ group and the subjective positive factor were significantly higher in BPAD group (p=0.028). In the logistic regression model, the TALD subjective positive factor was associated with BPAD diagnosis, and the objective negative factor was associated with SCHZ diagnosis. In the BPAD group, the TALD total score correlated positively with the manic episode severity, and the scores on the subjective negative and subjective positive factors correlated negatively with disease duration. CONCLUSION: The study results show that FTD is common to the acute episodes of both SCHZ and BPAD and that assessment of the subjective positive FTD symptoms and objective negative FTD symptoms may be useful to differentiate the acute episode of SCHZ from the BPAD manic episode.

Neuronal pentraxin-2 (NPTX2) serum levels during an acute psychotic episode in patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal pentraxin-2 (NPTX2, an immediate-early gene), which regulates synapse activity and neuroplasticity, plays an essential role in the neurodevelopmental process. NPTX2 possibly enhances the accumulation of amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic receptors (AMPAR) on the postsynaptic membranes and stimulates excitatory synaptogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the plasma concentrations of NPTX2 of patients with schizophrenia in acute psychotic episodes compared with matched community-based controls. METHODS: Ninety-three (93) patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 and 83 healthy controls were included. The patients, all of which were in acute psychotic episodes, were recruited from the inpatient clinic. The patients were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression- Severity (CGIS) scale, whereas the healthy subjects were evaluated with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) to exclude any major psychiatric diagnoses. RESULTS: NPTX2 serum concentrations were significantly higher in the schizophrenia group (p < 0.001). NPTX2 levels negatively correlated with age (p = 0.004) and PANSS-positive symptom scores (p < 0.001). The most determinant factors in predicting the change in NPTX2 levels were PANSS-positive symptom and general psychopathology scores. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that NPTX2 could be involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology and valuable as a synapse-derived and glutamate-related biomarker. Further studies in larger samples assessing NPTX2 levels in remitted schizophrenia patients and combining neuroimaging techniques and cognitive evaluations with blood samples are needed.

Low Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels Are Associated with the Severity of Anxiety Experienced by Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of this study is to investigate a possible correlation between anxiety status and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels among healthcare professionals who provide medical care directly to COVID-19-positive patients during the recent pandemic. Fifty-two healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives, and residents) who provide medical care directly to COVID-19-positive patients in inpatient clinics or intensive care units were enrolled in this study. Serum AMH levels were analyzed to reflect ovarian reserve. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S and STAI-T, respectively) were completed by participants to assess their anxiety status. A linear regression model with participant age as the constant variable was applied to analyze the relationship between inventory scale scores and AMH levels. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The mean AMH value was significantly lower for the participants in the moderate/severe anxiety group compared to the minimal/mild anxiety group (p = 0.007). A linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between AMH levels and both BAI (B = -0.030, standard error = 0.010, p = 0.004) and STAI-S and STAI-T scores when age was controlled (both p = 0.003). The severity of anxiety experienced during the recent COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare professionals, who provide medical care directly to COVID-19-positive patients, is found to be related to low AMH levels.

Causal attributions and alexithymia in female patients with fibromyalgia or chronic low back pain.

AIMS: Our general objective was to assess the psychological symptoms and the types of causal attributions linked to the symptoms among women chronic pain. METHODS: 70 fibromyalgia (FM) patients, 56 chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients and 72 healthy controls were assessed within a general hospital setting, using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory and Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire. Three-way analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used for inter-group comparisons, followed by multivariate correlation, covariate analysis and linear regression. RESULTS: Alexithymia, somatization, depression, anxiety and hostility scores were significantly higher in FM patients relative to CLBP patients and healthy controls (P < 0.05). Alexithymia was linked to psychological attributions in FM patients and to somatic attributions in CLBP patients. Psychological attributions, the number of symptoms and difficulty in describing emotions were related to increased anxiety in FM patients. Depression, anxiety and somatization were significantly increased in subjects with high alexithymia scores in the FM group. There was no difference between groups regarding causal attributions. CONCLUSIONS: Causal attributions do not seem to have distinctive features between functional somatic syndromes like FM and CLBP, though differences might exist between groups as to the effects of coexisting psychological distress symptoms like anxiety and depression.

Association of Glial Cell-Line Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor with Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Clinical Symptoms in Drug-Naive Schizophrenia.

Background: The neurodevelopmental hypothesis is one of the most-emphasized hypotheses in the etiology of schizophrenia. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-line derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) are neurotrophic factors that provide growth, differentiation, and survival in nerve cells in the development process. In this study, we aimed to compare the GDNF and NGF levels of schizophrenia patients with healthy controls and to analyze the relationship between the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores, serum GDNF and NGF levels and the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) of the patients. Methods: The study involved 45 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, who had never used any antipsychotic drug, and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy participants. The participants filled a sociodemographic data form. The PANSS was applied to evaluate the clinical conditions. Before the initiation of the treatment, serum samples were collected from the patients. Results: The difference between the GDNF and NGF levels of the patient group and control group was statistically significant. The serum GDNF and NGF levels in schizophrenia patients were lower than healthy controls. No correlation was found between the DUP and serum GDNF and NGF levels. There was a positive correlation between general psychopathology and negative scores of PANSS and the DUP of patients. Conclusion: GDNF and NGF levels seem to be indicators of schizophrenia and its progress; nevertheless, we still do not have sufficient information about these neurotrophic factors. The results of our study indicate that the neurodevelopmental changes occurring at the early stages of the illness prominently affect the progress of disease, highlighting the importance of treatment in the early stages of disease.

Do Anxiety and Depression Levels Affect the Inflammation Response in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The whole world is still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflammation response, thought to be associated with severe illness and death, is an important research topic in COVID-19. Inflammation is also an essential condition explored in psychiatric illnesses. Our knowledge about the relationship between the inflammation response and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 is very limited. In this study, the relationship between anxiety and depression levels and inflammation response of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the hospital was examined. METHODS: 175 patients were included in the study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied to the patients. To evaluate the inflammation responses, blood sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, ferritin, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and IL-6 levels were examined. RESULTS: In our study, no relationship was found between anxiety and depression levels and inflammatory responses in patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Anxiety and depression levels of women were higher than men, and NLR, ferritin, IL-6 levels were found to be lower than men. Anxiety levels increase with age. There is a positive correlation between NLR and ferritin levels and duration of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Our study examining the relationship of psychiatric comorbidities with the inflammation response and our increasing literature knowledge, together with studies evaluating the mental effects of COVID-19, suggest that determining the relationship between inflammation responses and psychiatric comorbidities in COVID-19, whose pathophysiology has not been clarified yet, maybe an essential step in interventions on the course of the disease.

Retrospective Evaluation of Cases Examined to Determine Criminal Responsibilities.

INTRODUCTION: Even though the assessment of criminal responsibility constitutes an important part of forensic psychiatry practices, it is observed that there is little published data in our country about these cases. In this study, it was aimed to examine the sociodemographic data, characteristics of the alleged crime, their diagnoses and the expert opinions on criminal responsibilities of the forensic cases referred to our hospital. METHOD: The medical files and medical board expert reports of 356 cases referred to our hospital by judicial authorities for evaluation of criminal liability, between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017, were retrospectively examined. The sociodemographic data of the cases, psychiatric diagnoses made according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and the judicial expert decisions made about them were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: It was reported that 22.2% of the cases (n=79) had no criminal responsibility related to their alleged crime, and 17.7% (n=63) of them had partial criminal responsibility. 47.8% of the cases with partial or no criminal responsibility were diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, and 30.2% of the cases had mental retardation. "Threat and insult", "theft" or " bodily harm" constituted 53.9% of the 471 criminal acts. CONCLUSION: Results of our study are consistent with the results of studies conducted in our country and abroad. Further descriptive studies are needed for a better understanding of the relationship between criminal behavior and mental health and for improving the punishment and the rehabilitation practices in this context.

From predictions to evidence: Treatment compliance, disease progression and social compliance of patients with schizophrenia in the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: This study explored how patients with schizophrenia were provided with social support and treatment compliance during the pandemic. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 396 patients with schizophrenia and their relatives were interviewed by telephone calls. FINDINGS: Multiple antipsychotic use and depot antipsychotics were not superior in preventing relapse. A total of 70.2% of the patients wanted to meet with their psychiatrist online but only 7.1% of them were reached online. A total of 59% of patients were able to take their medication thanks to the extension of their drug prescriptions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Active inclusion of telepsychiatry applications in clinical practice is necessary for patients with schizophrenia. Government policies developed for treatment compliance seem important.

Evaluating the Relationship Between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Psychological Resilience in a Sample of Turkoman Refugees in Turkey.

Turkey has witnessed an increase in migration of people belonging to neighboring countries due to civil war. Traumatic life events experienced by refugees bring along mental problems. Their psychological resilience enables them to cope with these difficulties. In this study, 101 Iraqi Turkoman refugees who migrated to Turkey following the increasing civil war events in their country were evaluated psychologically. Sociodemographic data form Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and Clinician-Administered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (CAPS) were used for psychological evaluation. The prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the refugees was 25.7%. There was no significant difference between the psychological resilience of the patients who developed PTSD and those who did not (p = 0.709). As the severity of trauma decreased, psychological resilience increased in the people who developed PTSD (p = 0.001, r = -0.622). Considering the psychological resilience of refugees, the area with the highest resilience is access to social resources, while the area with the lowest is the planned future. It was observed that the basic needs of refugees after migration could not be met clearly compared to the ones before migration. It was noteworthy that in cases diagnosed with PTSD, CAPS scores increased (p = 0.011, r: 0.251) and resilience decreased (p < 0.001, r: -0.376) as the inability to reach basic needs increased. Our study is very important in terms of defining how refugees are mentally affected after settling in another country and what determines their psychological resilience.