Association of serum brain derived neurotropic factor with duration of drug-naive period and positive-negative symptom scores in drug naive schizophrenia

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>The aim of this study was to compare the serum brain derived neurotropic factor (BNDF) levels of patients with schizophrenia who had never received an antipsychotic treatment with those of a control group. Also, to analyze the relationship between the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) scores and BDNF levels of the patients during the period they were drug-naive.</p><p>Materials and methods</p><p>The sample of the study comprised patients who presentedto the Psychiatry Clinic and were admitted after a distinctive schizophrenia diagnosis was made in accordance with the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis classification and who were not using and never had any antipsychotic medicine. A total of 160 participants were included in the study, 80 of whom had schizophrenia patients and 80 constituted the age- and sex-matched healthy control group. Before the start of the treatment, the serum samples to be checked for the BDNF levels were collected from the patients.</p><p>Results</p><p>The difference between the average BDNF levels of the groups were statistically significant (t = -5.25; p˂.001). An analysis as to whether there was a relation between the BDNF levels and the drug-naïve duration indicated no correlations. An examination of the relationship between PANSS scores and BDNF levels of the patients yielded no correlations.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>Serum BDNF levels seem to be one of the indicators of schizophrenia and its progress; nevertheless, we still do not have sufficient information about this neurotropic factor. In light of our study, the neurodevelopmental changes that occur at disease onset of the illness prominently affect the progress of the illness, which highlights the importance of the treatment in the early stages.</p></div

The clinical features of the patients participating in the study.

<p>The clinical features of the patients participating in the study.</p

Comparison of BDNF and PANSS scores between the different drug-naïve duration groups.

<p>Comparison of BDNF and PANSS scores between the different drug-naïve duration groups.</p

Demographical features of the participating patients and control group.

<p>Demographical features of the participating patients and control group.</p

Dot plot of control and patients groups.

<p>Dot plot of control and patients groups.</p

Pregabalin abuse among patients with opioid use disorders may increase the severity of withdrawal symptoms: a single-center, case-control study

OBJECTIVE: Opioid addiction is a disease that is increasing in our country, Turkey, and around the world, which it is difficult to treat in medical, social, and economic terms. Pregabalin is a preparation used for the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders. In opioid users, pregabalin is increasingly being self-administered off-label due to its euphoria effect at high doses. We investigated the effects of pregabalin on addiction profile and opioid withdrawal severity by comparing patients with opioid addiction who were and were not using off-label pregabalin. METHODS: Between July and August 2016, a total of 120 patients (60 patients were pregabalin users and 60 patients were non-users) who presented to Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital Psychiatry Clinic Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Center and were diagnosed with opioid use disorder according to the DSM-5, were included in the study. Patients who were using other substances were excluded from the study. A sociodemographic data form, the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale, and Addiction Profile Index (API) were applied to the patients. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between pregabalin users and pregabalin non-users in terms of age, sex, age of onset, working status, and whether previous treatment had been received. In the pregabalin user group, the severity of opioid withdrawal, API substance use characteristics, diagnosis, effects on life, craving, motivation subscale scores, and API total score were found to be significantly higher than in the non-user group. CONCLUSION: Off-label pregabalin use among patients with opioid addiction is becoming more common. Off-label, high-dose pregabalin use may worsen existing opioid addiction, create a new area of ??addiction, and an illegal market

Relationship between somatization and psychiatric symptoms, especially anxiety, depression, alexithymia, and severity of addiction in male patients with alcohol and heroin addiction

ABSTRACT Objective: There are differences among studies examining comorbid somatization in alcohol and heroin addicts. The literature is unclear whether substance use disorders are related with somatization symptoms or with a high rate of alexithymia, depression, and anxiety associated with somatization. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to compare heroin and alcohol addicts with regard to comorbidity of somatization and other psychiatric symptoms. In addition, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between somatization, addiction severity, depression, anxiety and alexithymia levels. Method: A total of 170 male outpatients, of whom 79 had been diagnosed as alcohol dependent and 91 as opiate dependent, were included in the study. A Sociodemographic Data Form, Addiction Profile Index, Symptom Checklist 90, and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 were administered to the patients. Results: Somatization, depression, anger and hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, and psychoticism were significantly higher in heroin addicts than in alcohol addicts. In a stepwise linear regression model with somatization symptoms as the dependent variable and addiction severity, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive, anger and hostility, phobic anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism, paranoia, and alexithymia symptoms as independent variables, anxiety symptoms and alexithymia were found to be positive predictors of somatization symptoms. Conclusion: It needs to be considered that in addictions to different substances, different psychiatric comorbid symptoms may occur. In addition, it is recommended that heroin- or alcohol-addicted patients with high somatic symptoms should be screened for anxiety disorders and alexithymic personality traits

Comparison of the immunoassay method with the commercial and in-house LC-MS/MS methods for substance abuse in urine

The aim of this study was to compare the analytical performance of the KIMS (kinetic interaction of microparticles in solution) immunochemical method with a validated in-house and a commercial LC-MS/MS method

Comparison of sociodemographic features, psychopathy and aggression levels of criminal and non-criminal schizophrenia patients

Objective: The aim of our study is to examine factors associated with involvement in crime in schizophrenia patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty consecutive patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) were included in the study. Based on their history of crime, the sample was divided into criminal (n=60) and non-criminal (n=60) groups. Sociodemographic Data Form, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Psychopathy Checklist-revised (PCL-R) and Buss-Warren Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) were administered to each patient. Results: The criminal group was older than noncriminal group. It was observed that criminals tend to be more likely to be hospitalized. Smoking and self-harm were more common in criminal group. All PCL-R subscores were higher in criminals than non-criminals, however, PANSS and BWAQ scores were similar in both groups. In criminal group, substance abuse and self-harm were more common in patients involved in multiple crimes. Similarly, all PCL-R subscores and BWAQ-physical aggression subscore were higher in patients involved in multiple crimes. All BWAQ subscores have been shown to correlate positively with PANSS and PCL-R scores in criminal group. Conclusion: In schizophrenia patients, psychopathy, smoking, substance abuse, self-harm were associated with criminal behaviors. Therefore, these factors needs to be recognized as a formal and essential aspect of clinical management