Are migraineur women really more vulnerable to stress and less able to cope?

Abstract Background In this study, we aimed to investigate the differences between a sample of migraineurs and non-migraineurs with regard to their stress symptoms, tendency to stress, coping styles and life satisfaction. Methods This study was carried out on a migraineur group (n = 62, mean age: 37.5 ± 11.3, range: 18 to 61 years) and a non-migraineur group (n = 58, mean age: 32.0 ± 11.2, range: 18 to 61 years). Stress Audit (Symptoms), Stress Audit (Vulnerability), Turkish version of Ways of Coping Inventory Scales and Life Satisfaction were applied to the migraineur and non-migraineur groups. Results No significant differences were found between the groups in the scores of the stress symptoms except in the sub scores of the sympathetic system. There was no significant difference between the groups in the tendency to stress and life satisfaction (p > .05). For scores of the coping styles, the mean scores of the seeking social support subscale was higher in the control group than that of the migraineur group. However, migraineur women had higher mean scores in the submissive and the optimistic subscales. Conclusion We consider that, these outcomes may emphasize the necessity to be careful when using negative expressions about stress relating to migraineurs. Further comprehensive studies are required considering the multiple triggers of the disease in various cultural contexts.</p

Time series AR(1) model for short-tailed distributions

The innovations in AR(1) models in time series have primarily been assumed to have a normal or long-tailed distributions. We consider short-tailed distributions (kurtosis less than 3) and derive modified maximum likelihood (MML) estimators. We show that the MML estimator of 0 is considerably more efficient than the commonly used least squares estimator and is also robust. This paper is essentially the first to achieve robustness to inliers and to various forms of short-tailedness in time series analysis

Seismic hazard assessment for the North Anatolian and San Andreas faults based on random field models

The North Anatolian fault (NAF), located in northern Turkey and California's San Andreas fault (SAF) show remarkable similarities. A random field model, developed by the authors (Akkaya & Yucemen 1996) is utilized to compare the seismicity characteristics of the two faults on a statistical basis. The seismic hazard model is based on the level-crossing theory of random fields and considers the space-time correlations simultaneously and explicitly through the use of spatial and temporal scales of fluctuation. The comparison between the two faults is carried out with respect to the level of seismic hazard and the space-time correlation structure. In this comparison, the most active portions of the NAF and the SAF are considered

bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder functioning questionnaire

Objective: Even though quality of life and functioning are topics that are point of interest, they are not assessed adequately in mood disorders. In this study, it is aimed to develop a functioning assessment scale in bipolar disorder.Method: Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire (BDFQ) is developed by the Scientific Section for Mood Disorders of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey. The questionnaire contains 58 items, and consists of eleven subscales: emotional functioning, intellectual functioning, sexual functioning, feelings of stigmatization, social withdrawal household relations, relations with friends, participation to social activities, daily activities and hobbies, taking initiative and self sufficiency, and occupation.Results: In this study, 252 remitted bipolar patients from 15 centers were included. In addition, thirty subjects without any lifetime psychiatric, neurological or physical disease were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 38.6 +/- 12.1 and 56% (n=141) were female. The mean duration of the bipolar disorder was 11.9 +/- 9.2 years, and 91.3% of the patients were diagnosed to have bipolar I disorder. In the reliability analyses, after the exclusion of six items with low reliability coefficients, The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated to be 0.91. The item-total scale correlations were between 0.22-0.86. In test-retest reliability, the correlation between the two ratings was high (r=0.82, p<0.0001). In validity analyses, 13 factors were obtained representing 65.1% of the total variance in exploratory factor analysis. In confirmatory factor analysis, 11 domains fit the model with a RMSEA of 0.061. BDFQ significantly correlated with GAF (r=0.428, p<.0001). BDFQ also showed significantly negative correlation with HAM-D (r=-0.541, p<0.0001) and YMRS (r=-0.365, p<0.0001). It discriminated the patients (mean score=111.8 +/- 15.2) from the healthy subjects (mean score=121.4 +/- 10.4) well (t=-2.300, p=0.038).Conclusion: With the six items excluded, it is suggested that the 52-item BDFQ is a reliable and valid instrument in the assessment of functioning in bipolar disorder.C1 [Aydemir, Oemer] Celal Bayar Psikiyatri AD, Manisa, Turkey.[Eren, Ibrahim] Suleyman Demirel Psikiyatri AD, Isparta, Turkey.[Savas, Haluk] Gaziantep Psikiyatri AD, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Oguzhanoglu, Nalan Kalkan] Pamukkale Psikiyatri AD, Denizli, Turkey.[Kocal, Nesrin; Oral, Timucin] Bakirkoy Ruh Sagligi Ve Sinir Hastaliklan Egitim, Istanbul, Turkey.[Oezgueven, Halise Devrimci] Ankara Psikiyatri AD, Ankara, Turkey.[Akkaya, Cengiz] Uludag Psikiyatri AD, Bursa, Turkey.[Basterzi, Ayse Devrim] Mersin Psikiyatri AD, Mersin, Turkey.[Karlidag, Rifat] Inonu Psikiyatri AD, Malatya, Turkey.[Yenilmez, Cinar] Osmangazi Psikiyatri AD, Eskisehir, Turkey.[Oezerdem, Ayseguel] Dokuz Eylul Psikiyatri AD, Izmir, Turkey.[Kora, Kaan] Marmara Psikiyatri AD, Istanbul, Turkey.[Tamam, Lut] Cukurova Psikiyatri AD, Adana, Turkey.[Guelseren, Seref] Psikiyatri B, Ataturk Egitim Arastirma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey.[Vahip, Simavi] Psikiyatri AD, Ege Tip Fak, Izmir, Turkey