Neurocognitive Deficits in Euthymic Bipolar Patients

Neurocognitive deficits detected in bipolar patients have a negative influence on clinical course and severity. We reviewed studies on neurocognitive deficits in euthymic bipolar subjects and their possible neuroanatomical correlates. We also examined studies suggesting deficits seen in euthymic patients may be endophenotypes of the disorder. Results of the studies in euthymic patients and their healthy relatives indicate that have cognitive dysfunctions especially of verbal memory, learning and executive domains, which were found to be related to prefrontal cortex and temporo-limbic circuitry. Longitudinal studies investigating heritability of cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder and its relation with brain connectivity and epigenetic mechanisms are needed

Atypical Antipsychotics Induced Metabolic Syndrome

The use of atypical antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia is tightly related to the metabolic abnormalities like weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia and/or hypertension. Beside of having unique receptor binding features, their heterogeneous receptor binding properties ara also involved in the occurence of the metabolic side effects caused by atypical antipsychotics. It is striking that atypical antipschotics related metabolic side effects have the potential to influence each other in a negative way. Metabolic abnormalities related to atypical antipschotics do not only lead to increase in mortality, but also worsen clinical course and functionality of patients with schizophrenia. Thus, patients treated with atypical antipsychotics should be evaluated routinely with respect to their metabolic states. In this article, metabolic side effects of atypical antipsychotics and their mechanisms were investigated on pharmacological basis. [Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry 2015; 7(1): 81-97

A case report of opposite sex twin pairs in which one had female to male gender dysphoria: the role of prenatal exposure to sex hormones in the etiology of gender dysphoria

The etiology of gender dysphoria (GD) is not fully known. In recent years, there are studies suggesting that the development of GD is related to some biological mechanisms. The hypothesis conveying that there is a biological background in the development of GD emphasize the importance of exposure to sex hormones in prenatal period. According to this hypothesis, while prenatal exposure to sex hormones causes development of male identity, nonexposure results with female identity. This hypothesis is supported with determination of the relationship between prenatal exposure to testosterone and masculine behaviors, in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome mostly development of female identity, and presence of near values of 2nd and 4th finger ratio in individuals with GD and the individuals with the sex they want to pass. In this article, one of the twins is male and the other one is female-to-male GD case was discussed in terms of the roles of prenatal exposure to sex hormones in the etiology of GD

Neurological soft signs in antisocial men and relation with psychopathy

Neurological soft signs (NSS) were studied in some axis-I disorders like schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, alcohol and substance abuse disorder. Aim of this study is detection of neurological soft signs in antisocial personality disorder and relation of these signs with psychopathy. The study was included 41 antisocial men and 41 healthy control subjects. Sociodemographic form, neurological evaluation scale and Hare psychopathy checklist was applied to the antisocial subjects, whereas sociodemographic form and neurological evaluation scale were applied to the controls. Antisocial men exhibited significiantly more NSS in total score and subgroups scales (p < 0.05). It was shown that there was a significant association with psychopathy scores and NSS sequencing complex motor tasks (r = 0.309; p = 0.049) and NSS other tests subgroup scores (r=0.328; p=0.037). Similar relation was also observed in comparison between psychopathy subgroups. NSS accepted as being endophenotypes in schizophrenia, were also detected in antisocial group significantly more than controls in our study. Significant relationship between psychopathy and NSS may also hint the role of genetic mechanisms in personality development, though new extended studies with larger sample size are needed for clarification of this relationship. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Relationship between temperament, character and the autistic trait in parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder

Objective. Previous studies have revealed distinct features of autism, with higher harm avoidance and lower reward dependence and novelty seeking. It is assumed that high harm avoidance, and low novelty seeking, reward dependence, cooperativeness, and self-directedness are related with the broad autism phenotype, as seen in autistic individuals. Method. This study examined the association between the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), in parents of children with ASD. Result. There was significant correlation between total AQ and total harm avoidance, cooperativeness, and self-directedness (p < 0.05). In the stepwise analysis, self-directedness and education emerged significantly (F(2,67) = 19.71, p < .005). This model modestly explained 35% of variance (Adjusted R-2 = .350). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that self-directedness may be an autistic trait

Recognition of emotional facial expressions and broad autism phenotype in parents of children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder

Objective: Research findings debate about features of broad autism phenotype. In this study, we tested whether parents of children with autism have problems recognizing emotional facial expression and the contribution of such an impairment to the broad phenotype of autism

A Multi-Dimensional Psychiatric Perspective on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) arose in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread worldwide rapidly, and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization as of March 2020. As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has spread worldwide, its impact is increasingly being recognized among vulnerable groups and also by the public in general. Recent findings indicate that patients with mental health disorders are among the groups most vulnerable to psychological stress and social hardships related to the current pandemic. Studies also indicate an increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 in subjects with psychiatric disorders. Patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 may present to the psychiatrist with delirium, psychotic symptoms, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia. Some patients will develop persistent somatic symptoms such as fatigue after the acute infection. In this article, we summarize the preliminary findings related to the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on patients with mental health disorders, as well as recent research on psychiatric presentations in patients affected by SARS-CoV-2

Malpractice Claims against Psychiatrists Related to Psychopharmacologic Agents: File series

Objective: Psychiatrists are considered to be the least frequently sued among other medical specialties. Of the 28 medical specialties, psychiatry ranked 22nd in terms of number of malpractice claims. We aimed to investigate psychopharmacotherapeutic malpractice claims against psychiatrists in Turkey

Total Tau and Phosphorylated Tau Protein Serum Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia Compared with Controls

Tau protein is located in the axons of neurons and in Alzheimer Disease, is abnormally phosphorylated and aggregates into paired helical filaments (neurofibrillary tangles) reflecting the degree of neurofibrillary pathology and neurodegeneration. Although tau and phosphorylated tau (p-Tau) pathology is a hallmark for dementia, few studies were performed in patients of schizophrenia. This preliminary serum study was designed to compare serum total tau and p-Tau levels of schizophrenia patients with healthy controls. The study was included 42 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 42 healthy control subjects. Sociodemographic form was applied to both groups and PANSS was applied to patient group. Serum total tau and p-Tau levels were measured by ELISA method. Total tau and p-Tau levels of patients were significantly lower than healthy controls. There was a positive correlation between amount of past electroconvulsive therapies and total tau level. However total tau and p-Tau levels were positively correlated. Our study results showed that serum total tau and p-Tau levels of patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than healthy controls