Gestalt contact styles in OCD patients: a controlled study

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a challenging disease in terms of remission rates and treatment approaches. All theoretical approaches are needed for a better understanding. Compared to other theories, it has not been examined sufficiently from the perspective of gestalt theory in the literature. Objective: To examine and compare the Gestalt Contact Styles of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the Control Group and to examine the relationship between Gestalt Contact Styles and OCD symptoms. Methods: 50 OCD patients were compared with the healthy control group. All patients were evaluated with the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Padua Inventory (PI), and the Gestalt Contact Styles Scale-Revised Form (GCSS-RF). For the control group, GCSS-RF was applied. Results: The scores of the OCD patients for GCSS-RF “Retroflection” and “Deflection” subscales were significantly higher than the Control Group. Statistically significant high scores were found between the subscales of Padua Inventory “contamination obsessions and washing compulsions”, “obsessional thoughts”, “obsessional impulses” and “checking compulsions” subtypes and Gestalt contact styles in the Patient Group in a symptomatological examined manner. With these findings, in terms of Gestalt Contact Styles, it is seen that the difference between Patient and Control Groups is significantly different. There was no significant relationship between the Yale-Brown total score of the Patient Group and the GCSS-RF subscales. Discussion: In conclusion, the findings of the study showed significant differences in terms of Gestalt Contact Styles (Retroflection, Contact, Deflection, Desensitization, Confluence) in Patient and Control Groups and OCD symptoms. These results are important to Gestalt Therapists in terms of shedding light on the therapeutic intervention to be done for an OCD patient and contributing to the literature

Evaluation of Incidence and Clinical Features of Antibody-Associated Autoimmune Encephalitis Mimicking Dementia

Background. Anti-neuronal autoimmunity may cause cognitive impairment that meets the criteria for dementia. Objective. Our aim was to detect the incidence and clinical features of autoimmune encephalitis imitating clinical findings of primary dementia disorders and to delineate the validity of anti-neuronal antibody screening in dementia patients. Methods. Fifty consecutive patients fulfilling the clinical criteria for primary dementia, 130 control patients, and 50 healthy controls were included. Their sera were investigated for several ion channel and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies by a cell-based assay, radioimmunoassay, and ELISA, as required. Results. Sixteen patients satisfying dementia criteria had atypical findings or findings suggestive of autoimmune encephalitis. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibody was detected in a patient with dementia, Parkinsonism, and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) fulfilling the criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). One control patient with bipolar disease displayed low anti-GAD antibody levels. Conclusions. Our study showed for the first time the presence of parkinsonism and RBD in an anti-NMDAR encephalitis patient mimicking DLB. Although autoimmune encephalitis patients may occasionally present with cognitive decline, most dementia patients do not exhibit anti-neuronal antibodies, suggesting that routine analysis of these antibodies in dementia is not mandatory, even though they display atypical features

An examination of the relationship between alexithymia and somatic complaints of mothers and obsessive-compulsive features of children

Objective:The study aims to determine the relationship of alexithymic features and somatization levels in their mothers to obsessive-compulsive features in children.Participants:The sample of our research is composed of 173 mothers and 173 children who are in high school in Osmaniye province. Methods:Sociodemographic data form developed by the researcher, Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) (Somatisation subscale), Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Questionaire (MOCQ), and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) is used as a data collection tool. Results:It was found that there was a strong positive correlation between MOCQ total scores of children with SCL-90's (r = 0,776) Somatization subscale scores and Alexithymia Total scores (r = 0,613) of mothers. Also, all Subscales of MOCQ scores are correlated with TAS-20 subscales and SCL-90 (Somatization subscale) except rumination subscale of MOCQ scales. Conclusion:Mothers who come from ignorant feelings and have somatic complaints affect the relationship with their children significantly. As a result of this relationship, obsessive thoughts increase in children

Evaluation of the relationship between caregiver burden, coping styles and levels of anxiety and depression in caregivers of old age patients

Introduction:  At present, caregiver's health is a public health challenge in itself, as important as the health of the elderly. This study aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and levels of anxiety and depression, the factors influencing them, and also to evaluate the coping strategies of the caregivers.Methods:  This study is a survey-based cross-sectional study, including a total of 70 caregivers. Sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and care receivers were collected by a survey. The functional status of the elderly was evaluated by Katz’ Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Burden Interview Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and The COPE Inventory were used to examine the caregiver burden, anxiety and depression levels and coping strategies of the caregivers.Results:  Anxiety and depression levels of the caregivers included in our study were higher when compared with the other studies. The anxiety levels were correlated with the non-functional coping strategies. The use of effective social support decreased the anxiety levels. Conclusion:  Country specific guidelines should be prepared for the primary healthcare centers in order to evaluate and protect caregiver health. Long-term multicenter clinical studies are needed to develop culture-specific programs for the intervention of functional coping strategies and to help caregivers cope more effectively with their daily life stressors

Evaluation of the relationship between caregiver burden, coping styles and levels of anxiety and depression in caregivers of old age patients

Introduction:  At present, caregiver's health is a public health challenge in itself, as important as the health of the elderly. This study aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and levels of anxiety and depression, the factors influencing them, and also to evaluate the coping strategies of the caregivers.Methods:  This study is a survey-based cross-sectional study, including a total of 70 caregivers. Sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and care receivers were collected by a survey. The functional status of the elderly was evaluated by Katz’ Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Burden Interview Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and The COPE Inventory were used to examine the caregiver burden, anxiety and depression levels and coping strategies of the caregivers.Results:  Anxiety and depression levels of the caregivers included in our study were higher when compared with the other studies. The anxiety levels were correlated with the non-functional coping strategies. The use of effective social support decreased the anxiety levels. Conclusion:  Country specific guidelines should be prepared for the primary healthcare centers in order to evaluate and protect caregiver health. Long-term multicenter clinical studies are needed to develop culture-specific programs for the intervention of functional coping strategies and to help caregivers cope more effectively with their daily life stressors

Evaluation of Incidence and Clinical Features of Antibody-Associated Autoimmune Encephalitis Mimicking Dementia

Background. Anti-neuronal autoimmunity may cause cognitive impairment that meets the criteria for dementia. Objective. Our aim was to detect the incidence and clinical features of autoimmune encephalitis imitating clinical findings of primary dementia disorders and to delineate the validity of anti-neuronal antibody screening in dementia patients. Methods. Fifty consecutive patients fulfilling the clinical criteria for primary dementia, 130 control patients, and 50 healthy controls were included. Their sera were investigated for several ion channel and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies by a cell-based assay, radioimmunoassay, and ELISA, as required. Results. Sixteen patients satisfying dementia criteria had atypical findings or findings suggestive of autoimmune encephalitis. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibody was detected in a patient with dementia, Parkinsonism, and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) fulfilling the criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). One control patient with bipolar disease displayed low anti-GAD antibody levels. Conclusions. Our study showed for the first time the presence of parkinsonism and RBD in an anti-NMDAR encephalitis patient mimicking DLB. Although autoimmune encephalitis patients may occasionally present with cognitive decline, most dementia patients do not exhibit anti-neuronal antibodies, suggesting that routine analysis of these antibodies in dementia is not mandatory, even though they display atypical features