Affective temperaments in subjects with female-to-male gender dysphoria

Background: Males and females have different temperaments. In individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) there is marked incongruence between a person's expressed/experienced gender and their biological sex. The present study aimed to investigate the most Common affective temperaments in individuals with Female-to-male (FtM) GD

Genetic Polymorphism of the Serotonin Transporter Gene, SLC6A4 rs16965628, Is Associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive ideas and compulsive behaviors. Genetic studies have centered on candidate genes involved in OCD etiology related to serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. In this study, the relationship between cathechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) -287A/G (rs2097063), serotonin transporters 5-HTTLPR I/D, and SLC6A4 rs16965628 polymorphisms in 80 OCD patients and 100 healthy controls was determined. Patients and controls were genotyped for COMT rs2097063 and SLC6A4 rs16965628 polymorphisms by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 5-HTTLPR I/D polymorphism was genotyped using PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. Severity of symptoms was checked with a Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS). When the OCD group and controls were compared, no significant difference was found between COMT -287A/G (rs2097063), 5-HTTLPR I/D polymorphisms, and OCD. However, a significant difference was found between 5-HTT rs16965628 polymorphism and OCD (p=0.025, OR=3.43, 95% CI 1.41-10.35). In addition, the G allele frequency was found to be higher for rs16965628 in the OCD group. No significant difference was observed between COMT -287A/G (rs2097063), SLC6A4 rs16965628, and 5-HTTLPR I/D polymorphisms and Y-BOCS scores (p>0.05). There was also lack of correlation between Yale-Brown scores and gender of OCD patients. On the other hand, combined genotypes of SLC6A4 rs16965628 GG+GC were found to be risk factors for OCD development (p=0.02, OR=3.464; 95% CI 1.214-9.883) in logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender. Our findings suggest that subjects carrying the G allele of rs16965628 have genetic susceptibility to OCD. These data are the first to suggest that polymorphism in serotonin transporter (rs16965628) is associated with the development of OCD in the Turkish population

Genetic Polymorphism of the Serotonin Transporter Gene, SLC6A4

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive ideas and compulsive behaviors. Genetic studies have centered on candidate genes involved in OCD etiology related to serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. In this study, the relationship between cathechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) -287A/G (rs2097063), serotonin transporters 5-HTTLPR I/D, and SLC6A4 rs16965628 polymorphisms in 80 OCD patients and 100 healthy controls was determined. Patients and controls were genotyped for COMT rs2097063 and SLC6A4 rs16965628 polymorphisms by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 5-HTTLPR I/D polymorphism was genotyped using PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. Severity of symptoms was checked with a Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS). When the OCD group and controls were compared, no significant difference was found between COMT -287A/G (rs2097063), 5-HTTLPR I/D polymorphisms, and OCD. However, a significant difference was found between 5-HTT rs16965628 polymorphism and OCD (p=0.025, OR=3.43, 95% CI 1.41-10.35). In addition, the G allele frequency was found to be higher for rs16965628 in the OCD group. No significant difference was observed between COMT -287A/G (rs2097063), SLC6A4 rs16965628, and 5-HTTLPR I/D polymorphisms and Y-BOCS scores (p>0.05). There was also lack of correlation between Yale-Brown scores and gender of OCD patients. On the other hand, combined genotypes of SLC6A4 rs16965628 GG+GC were found to be risk factors for OCD development (p=0.02, OR=3.464; 95% CI 1.214-9.883) in logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender. Our findings suggest that subjects carrying the G allele of rs16965628 have genetic susceptibility to OCD. These data are the first to suggest that polymorphism in serotonin transporter (rs16965628) is associated with the development of OCD in the Turkish population

Psychodermatology

OBJECTIVE: Approximately, 1 in 3 patients in dermatology settings has psychiatric comorbidity. Thus, we conducted a survey in Turkey to explore the awareness, knowledge, practicing patterns, and attitudes of dermatologists toward psychocutaneous disorders. METHOD: The questionnaire-based study was performed from March 1, 2013, to May 20, 2013. Study participants included 115 dermatologists. The questionnaire consisted of 9 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-ended questions. RESULTS: Of the 115 dermatologists in the study, 38 were men and 77 were women. More than 85% of dermatologists indicated that they examine > 30 patients per week in their practice, while only 2% saw < 10 patients per week. The most frequent dermatologic condition associated with psychiatric involvement seen by dermatologists was acne (49.1%). The top 3 diagnoses referred by dermatologists to psychiatrists were psoriasis (42.6%), alopecia areata (38.2%), and pruritus (27.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A need for collaboration between primary care, psychiatry, and dermatology disciplines in handling patients with psychocutaneous conditions is widely accepted. Investigating the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of dermatologists about psychocutaneous disorders might contribute to the development of new educational strategies and elicit qualified biopsychosocial approaches

Psychodermatology: Knowledge, awareness, practicing patterns, and attitudes of dermatologists in Turkey

OBJECTIVE: Approximately, 1 in 3 patients in dermatology settings has psychiatric comorbidity. Thus, we conducted a survey in Turkey to explore the awareness, knowledge, practicing patterns, and attitudes of dermatologists toward psychocutaneous disorders. METHOD: The questionnaire-based study was performed from March 1, 2013, to May 20, 2013. Study participants included 115 dermatologists. The questionnaire consisted of 9 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-ended questions. RESULTS: Of the 115 dermatologists in the study, 38 were men and 77 were women. More than 85% of dermatologists indicated that they examine > 30 patients per week in their practice, while only 2% saw < 10 patients per week. The most frequent dermatologic condition associated with psychiatric involvement seen by dermatologists was acne (49.1%). The top 3 diagnoses referred by dermatologists to psychiatrists were psoriasis (42.6%), alopecia areata (38.2%), and pruritus (27.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A need for collaboration between primary care, psychiatry, and dermatology disciplines in handling patients with psychocutaneous conditions is widely accepted. Investigating the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of dermatologists about psychocutaneous disorders might contribute to the development of new educational strategies and elicit qualified biopsychosocial approaches

Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Transsexual Individuals who Applied to a Psychiatry Clinic for Sex Reassignment Surgery

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people with gender dysphoria and differences of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between female-to-male (FtM) and male-to-female (MtF) transsexual individuals

Evaluation of depression, anxiety, alexithymia, attachment, social support and somatization in functional dyspepsia

AIM: The psychiatric and psychosocial aetiology of Functional dyspepsia is not well known. In the present study, our aim is to determine the relative contributions of psychiatric predictors – i.e. depression, anxiety, somatization, alexithymia – in relation with socio-psychological factors, specifically their personal characteristics (i.e. emotional attachment) and perceived social support, in distinguishing FD from organic dyspepsia and healthy samples. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An estimated 30 functional dyspepsia, 29 organic dyspepsia patients who were admitted to our gastroenterology outpatient clinic and 27 healthy controls were enrolled to our study. Beck Depression Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Adult Attachment Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and somatization sub-scale of Symptom Checklist-90 were provided to all patients and healthy controls. All participants were examined by a gastroenterologist and a psychiatrist. RESULTS: Healthy controls were younger than organic dyspepsia group and women/men rate was lower in organic dyspepsia than other two groups. Depression score was higher in functional dyspepsia group than in healthy controls and functional dyspepsia group’s attachment syle was more secure than that of the healthy control group. Somatization rate was seen higher in functional dyspepsia group with psychiatric examination. There was no significant difference seen in anxiety, alexithymia and social support between the three groups. DISCUSSION: Anxious-avoidant attachment profile as well as the higher propensity to have depressive and anxiety symptoms might be critical psychiatric and psychosocial factors underlying FD’s aetiology. A multidisciplinary approach is needed in the follow up of functional dyspepsia patients. Psychological evaluation and treatment would increase the life quality of dyspepsia patients

Clinical and cognitive insight in patients with acute-phase psychosis: Association with treatment and neuropsychological functioning

Background: The severity of psychopathology cannot fully explain deficits in the multi-dimensional construct of insight.Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlates and associations of clinical and cognitive insight in patients in an acute phase of psychosis and to analyse the impact of acute treatment on these variables.Methods: This study examined 47 inpatients who were recently hospitalized with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. All subjects were assessed at both admission and discharge with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Schedule for the Assessment of Insight-Expanded Version (SAI-E), Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS), and a neurocognition battery.Results: Patients with schizophrenia gained clinical insight after treatment. Cognitive insight did not change significantly after treatment. Insight showed significant negative correlations with positive symptoms and general psychopathology, but not with negative symptoms. Clinical insight was not associated with neuropsychological functioning in this cohort.Conclusion: Gaining clinical insight in the acute phase of illness was associated with the remission of positive symptoms, but not with neuropsychological functioning. Some significant correlations between clinical and cognitive insights were detected, which suggests that cognitive insight contributes to clinical insight but is not treatment-dependent. Long-term treatment may be required to understand the contribution of insight to the outcome of patients with schizophrenia