Neurobiology of Intimate Relationships

The limbic brain appears to be the source of basic emotions and urges. In contrast the neocortex gives humans the ability to think in abstract and symbolic terms and to use language. Emotions by neural projections from the limbic system to neocortex influence all aspect of cognition, from perception to rational decision making. Although the cases whose intellectual and motor abilities appeared fully functional, decision making ability and emotional processing impaired together after a damage to the ventromedial prefrontal lobes suggest that the emotions had priority in the brain processing. The effectiveness of the psychotherapy is thought to be related to the left prefrontal cortex activity. The rational decisions are changing easily under the stressful moments and experiencing the same problems over and over again. This concept may explain why the couples under the stressful conditions may easily fall into radicalism, and decide that they are right but the others wrong. The specific kinds of conflict behaviors between couples like the criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling are correlated with the physical signs of the amygdala activation. For this reason, before the people to engage new forms of thought and behavior must notice and change the emotional processes. In the light of these concepts in addition the cognitive and behavioral approach, it would not be wrong to think that the therapy working with the emotional techniques will be more successful

Screening of the selected marine sponges from the coasts of Turkey for antimicrobial activity

1193-1198In the course of our program to search for bioactive compounds from the marine sources, the methanol extracts of 8 marine sponges were screened for their antimicrobial activity. Sponges were extracted with methanol and solved in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) at a final concentration of 512 µg mL-1 for preparing stock solutions. Antibacterial and antifungal activity tests were carried out against standard and clinical isolates with microdilution method as described in CLSI standards. The extracts of sponge species collected from coasts of Turkey have been shown to possess antibacterial and/or antifungal activity

Lise öğrencilerinde internet bağımlılığının DEHB ve tütün/alkol kullanma ile ilişkisi

Amaç: Çalışmamızda Zonguldak İlinde yaşayan lise öğrencilerinde internet bağımlılığı (İB) ile dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu (DEHB) ve tütün, alkol kullanma/deneme arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmaya üç lisede okuyan 771 öğrenci alınmıştır. Öğrenciler araştırmacıların hazırladığı sosyodemografik veri formu, Chen İnternet Bağımlılığı Ölçeği (CİBÖ), DSM-IV'e dayalı Erişkin Dikkat Eksikliği Bozukluğu/Dikkat Eksikliği Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu (DE/DEHB) Tanı ve Değerlendirme Envanteri ile değerlendirilmiştir.Bulgular: Olguların 61'inde (%7.9) İB, 90'ında (%11.7) DEHB saptandı. İB saptanan olguların 40'ı (%65.6) erkek, 21'i (%34.4) kızdı. Evde internet erişiminin olması (p<0.001), tütün (p<0.001) veya alkol (p<0.001) kullanma/deneme öyküsünün olması daha yüksek CİBÖ puanlarıyla ilişkili bulundu. İB olan olgularda DEHB oranı (%36.1) İB olmayan olgulara göre (%9.6) daha yüksek saptandı. DEHB ölçek puanları ile CİBÖ puanları arasında anlamlı ilişki saptandı (r=0.38, p<0.001).Sonuç: Çalışmamızın sonuçlarına göre İB ve DEHB, tütün-alkol kullanımı arasında ilişki saptanmıştır. DEHB, tütün veya alkol kullanımı ve İB arasındaki ilişkilerin nedenselliğini değerlendiren izlem çalışmalarına ihtiyaç vardırObjective: Our study aims at assessing the association between internet addiction (IA) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tobacco and alcohol use/experimentation in high school students living in the province of Zonguldak. Method: The study included 771 students enrolled in three high schools. They were assessed with a sociodemographic data form prepared by the researchers, the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), and the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Diagnostic and Assessment Inventory based on the DSM-IV.Results: In 61 cases (7.9%), IA was established, in 90 cases (11.7%) ADHD. Of the cases with IA, 40 (65.6%) were male, 21 (34.4%) female. Internet access from home (p<0.001) and tobacco (p<0.001) or alcohol (p<0.001) use/experimentation history were found to be associated with higher CIAS scores. The rate of ADHD was found to be higher among those with IA (36.1%) than those without IA (9.6%). There was a significant correlation between ADHD scale scores and CIAS scores (r=0.38, p<0.001).Conclusion: According to our results, IA is associated with ADHD and alcohol/tobacco use. There is a need for follow-up studies to assess the causality of the association between ADHD, tobacco or alcohol use, and I

Prevalence of female sexual problems and effecting factors in Zonguldak province

WOS: 000310132800006Objective: Although the sexual problems are commonly observed in Turkey, the community studies about the prevalence of sexual problems are rare. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of female sexual dysfunction in Turkish women population in Zonguldak province. Methods: The study group consisted of 517 married women 15 to 49 years old living in Zonguldak province. The participants were administered to GRISS and sociodemographical questionnaires for the evaluation of Female Sexual Dysfunction. Findings: The mean age of participants was 36.5 +/- 7.87. According to GRISS, 45.5% of women had female sexual dysfunction. The most frequent sexual dysfunctions were vaginismus (67.3%) and sexual frequency problems (60.3%). Sexual non-sensuality problem (54.5%), sexual non-communication (54.7%), sexual avoidance (54.5%) and anorgasmia (23.8%) were among other prevalent problems. Conclusion: As a result of our study, the inadequate sexual knowledge of women, restriction of sexual talk at home and information exchange with friends being the most common method of sexual knowledge indicated that sexuality is still a taboo in our community. Also, nearly all women lacked pre-marriage sexual experience, which showed the continuing significance of virginity. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2012; 13:191-197

Night eating behavior and psychiatric comorbidity in patients with morbid obesity

WOS: 000490862500006Objective: The relationship between night eating syndrome (NES) and obesity resembles a vicious circle. The presence of NES facilitates the shift to obesity, whereas the NES is more common in obese individuals. In the literature, the frequency of NES is reported as 2-20% in individuals with morbid obesity. In addition to obesity, the presence of NES was associated with higher depression scores and lower self-esteem. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of NES and related factors in morbid obesity patients. Methods: In this study, 452 patients who applied for psychiatric evaluation before the bariatric surgery were evaluated. The presence of psychiatric disorder was assessed by a clinical interview conducted by a psychiatrist. Sociodemographic and clinical features such as age, gender, education level, body mass index were also recorded. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), and Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) were administered. Results: Fifty-nine (13%) of 452 morbid obesity patients were found to have NES. BDI, BAI, and RSES scores were significantly higher in the group with NES than without NES. In the group with NES, compared with non-NES; the rate of psychiatric disorder (44.1% and 26.2%, respectively) and depressive disorder (respecttively, 25.4% and 13%) were significantly higher. The risk of developing NES in smokers increased by 3.05 fold; and a 1 unit increase in the BDI increases the risk of developing NES by 1.05 fold in the morbid obez sample. Discussion: In our study, it was found that comorbidity of NES in morbid obesity patients increased the risk of psychiatric disease, especially depression, and self-esteem was worse in these patients. The fact that smoking is the highest predictor factor for the presence of NES is a finding that has been shown in other studies. The long-term follow-up studies are needed to investigate changes in depression, NES and eating patterns after bariatric surgery

Relationship of Internet addiction with cognitive style, personality, and, depression in university students

WOS: 000339779700008PubMed: 24889340Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of dysfunctional attitudes, self-esteem, personality, and depression with Internet addiction in university students. Methods: A total of 720 university students participated in the study in Bulent Ecevit University English Preparatory School which offers intensive English courses. Students were evaluated with a sociodemographic data form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale form A (DAS-A), Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised/Abbreviated Form (EPQR-A). Results: The results indicated that 52 (7.2%) of the students had Internet addiction. There were 37 (71.2%) men, 15 (28.8%) women in the addicted group. While the addicted groups' BDI, DAS-A perfectionistic attitude, need for approval, RSES, EPQR-A neuroticism, and psychoticism scores were significantly higher, EPQR-A lie scores were significantly lower than those of the non addicted group. According to the multiple binary logistic regression analysis, being male, duration of Internet usage, depression, and perfectionistic attitude have been found as predictors for Internet addiction. It has been found that perfectionistic attitude is a predictor for Internet addiction even when depression, sex, duration of Internet were controlled. Conclusions: To the knowledge of the researchers, this study is the first study to show the dysfunctional attitudes in Internet addiction. It can be important to evaluate dysfunctional attitudes, personality, self-esteem and depression in people with Internet addiction. These variables should be targeted for effective treatment of people with Internet addiction in cognitive behavioral therapy. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale among bariatric surgery patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine validity and reliability of Turkish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) among Turkish bariatric surgery patients. Methods: The YFAS scale was administered to obese patients (n=171) who were seeking or underwent bariatric surgery. Construct validity of the scale was evaluated with factor analysis and reliability was evaluated with item-total score correlation and repeatability were tested by intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis between test-retest results. Results: Internal concistency was found adequate Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 coefficient (KR-20) 0.822, and Cronbach's alpha 0.859 for the entire 25-item YFAS. As Bartlett's Test of Sphericity was significant, the factor model developed in the present study was decided appropriate. Factor analysis extracted six factor in Turkish YFAS that explained for 67.51% of the total variance. Item total correlation coefficients of scale ranged from 0.214-0.666. Conclusion: Our findings support the use of the Turkish YFAS as a reliable measure of food addiction among bariatric surgery patients

The reliability of the Turkish version of the Negative Act Questionnaire (NAQ-TR) for measuring to mobing at work

WOS: 000325901500013Objective: The exposure to negative acts at work is one of the main issues highlighted adverse health effects within the scope of work life's psychosocial dimension. Mobbing is defined as both the most common one among the causes of stress being at work, and also more devastating and damaging than the other stressors of the work. The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability of the Turkish version of the Negative Act Questionnaire (NAQ-TR). Methods: The questionnaire was first translated into Turkish and then back translated into English and the equivalence of both versions was determined. An expert group analyzed the formulation of the translated items and they redrafted some of them according to agreedon criteria. Subsequently, it was administered to 456 workers from 11 different workplaces. The factor structure and internal consistency of the NAQ-TR was examined. Result: The instrument showed satisfactory internal consistency with an overall Cronbach a of 0.912. The factor analysis, as opposed to the original scale, yielded four factor solution (Personal bullying and isolation, Work-related bullying, destabilization and excessive workload). We found that NAQ-TR has high internal consistency. Conclusions: The Turkish version of NAQ was found to be reliable for mobbing in workplace. It can be used in epidemylogic trials

Antipsychotic prescriptions in a university hospital outpatient population in Turkey: A retrospective database analysis, 2005-2006

Objective: The aim of this study is to document the sociodemographic and the clinical profile of patients who are on antipsychotic (AP) medication prescribed in outpatient mental health clinic of a university hospital

The comorbidity of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in bipolar disorder patients

Objective: High comorbidity ratio of bipolar mood disorder (BMD) with Axis I and Axis II diagnoses is reported in the literature. The possible relationship between BMD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in all age groups has been attracting more attention of researchers due to highly overlapping symptoms such as excessive talking, attention deficit, and increased motor activity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD cornorbidity in BMD patients and the clinical features of these patients