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

Companson of personality beliefs between depressed patients and healthy controls

Introduction: According to the cognitive model, the common mechanism underlying all psychological disorders is distorted or dysfunctional thoughts that affect mood and behaviors. Dysfunctional thoughts predispose an individual to depression and are among the processes that form the basis of personality traits. Elucidating the personality beliefs associated with depression and dysfunctional thoughts is important to understanding and treating depression. The aim of the present study is to determine whether depressed patients exhibited pathological personality beliefs compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, we investigated which personality beliefs were more common among such depressed patients. Methods: A total of 70 patients who were admitted to the Department of Psychiatry at Ankara Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital (Ankara, Turkey) and diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria were included in the study. Additionally, 70 healthy controls matched for age, marital status, and education were included in the study. The Sociodemographic Data Form and Personality Belief Questionnaire-Short form (PBQ-SF) were administered to the participants. Results: A comparison of the depression group with the healthy controls revealed higher scores in dependent, passive aggressive, obsessive compulsive, antisocial, histrionic, paranoid, borderline, and avoidant personality subscales in the depressive group. Conclusions: These results suggest that personality beliefs at the pathological level are more common in depressive patients and that the detection of these beliefs would be useful for predicting the prognosis of the disease and determining appropriate treatment methods. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Dot plot of control and patients groups.

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

The Perceived Effectiveness of Supervision In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training

Psychotherapy is a general name for the problem solving techniques to address mental disorders or struggles through verbal interaction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the leading approaches in psychotherapy field. The first aim of this study; to evaluate the contribution of theoretical and supervision trainings perceived by mental health professionals to their CBT skills and personal development. The second one was to evaluate the CBT training process in psychotherapy training. To this end, 54 mental health professionals who agree to participate the study were given questionnaires each consisting of 18 items. This questionnaire was created by three supervisors who have been certified by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT). Mean duration of work as a mental health professional were 7.6 years. Mean duration of using psychotherapy in their clinical practice were 4,8 years. Mean duration of application of CBT as a psychotherapy modality were 3,2 years. Mean durations of theoretical and supervision trainings the participants had participated were 55,4 hours and 69,1 respectively. Seventy-nine point six of the participants reported that the theoretical training had contributed to their CBT practice at quite to too much levels. Fifty-nine point two of the participants reported that the same training contributed to their personal development at quiet to too much levels. For the supervision traning these perceived contributions were 92,6 % and 70,4% respectively. That the therapists reported high degree of satisfaction with the theoretical and supervision trainings they need to accomplish is promising about the psychotherapy training in Turkey. Besides, results of this study suggests that although theoretical training is of perceived value, supervision has been perceived as had given extra contribution. [JCBPR 2016; 5(3.000): 119-124

Inductive Reasoning in Patients with Paranoid Type Schizophrenia

The goal of our study is to evaluate the decision making and reasoning of the paranoid type schizophrenic patients, and their confidence in reasoning and perseverance in keeping to their decisions via using Reasoning with Inductive Argument Test (RIAT). Thirty-two delusional patients and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. After the diagnostic interview was conducted by SCID-I to the patients who were asked to participate in the study, RIAT test was applied by the interviewer in order to detect the inferential thinking patterns. Apart for the 3rd item out of 11 RIAT items the difference of initial scores are not statistically significant. After both delusional patient group and control groups RIAT items are read, according to ANOVA results of the difference between the belief levels in the result of their initial reasoning and belief level after seeing the alternatives (RIAT belief level before and after), no significant differences were detected for both groups in terms of changes between the belief levels to the RIAT items before and after. According to this study apart from the area of delusions, it can be say that the reasoning of the patients is normal. Our study indicates that when the delusional patients are compared to the control group in terms of jumping to conclusion and modifying their initial beliefs, they are not different when given similarly sufficient amount of data. [JCBPR 2017; 6(2.000): 67-74

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Group Psychotherapy For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) in the treatment of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Materials and Methods: The study included 82 patients diagnosed as OCD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). In all, 37 patients that had their diagnosis confirmed via the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and agreed to participate were provided group therapy as 14 weekly 90-120-min sessions. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale-Symptom Checklist (Y-BOCS-SC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to the patients prior to group therapy (baseline) and again after sessions 2, 5, 8, 12, and 14. Results: In all, 8 patients dropped out of the study for various reasons and 29 completed the group therapy. There were significant reductions in BAI, BDI, and Y-BOCS scores in the patients that completed the group therapy. Additionally, BM, BDI, and Y-BOCS score did not differ according to age, gender, or level of education. Conclusions: CBGT was associated with significant improvement in OCD symptoms. Neither demographic characteristics (age, gender, and education level), nor clinical characteristics (disease duration, type of obsession, compulsion type, treatment history, and comorbidity pattern) had an effect on treatment outcome. In light of these findings, we think CBGT is an effective option for the treatment of OCD