Ahmet Ataoglu

Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of the Internet Addiction Scale in a Sample of Turkish High School Students

The Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) is a self-report instrument based on the seven substance dependence criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and two additional criteria recommended by Griffiths. The IAS was administered to 300 high school students along with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Submissive Acts Scale (SAS). For test-retest reliability, the IAS was administered a second time 7 days after the first administration. An interitem reliability reduced the initial scale from 31 to 27 items (with Cronbachs alpha of 0.94). The factor analysis suggests the existence mainly of one factor in the IAS. Correlation analyses indicated that BDI and SAS were significantly correlated positively with the IAS. One-week test-retest correlation for the IAS was highly significant. According to these results, the psychometric properties of the IAS are promising.

The association between Internet addiction and dissociation among Turkish college students.

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate Internet use patterns and Internet addiction among young adult university students and to examine the correlation between excessive Internet use and dissociative symptoms. METHODS The study was conducted among 1034 students, aged between 18 and 27 years. Internet Addiction Scale, Dissociative Experiences Scale, and a sociodemographic query form were used in the collection of data. Pearson correlation analysis, the t test, and χ(2) test were used for data analysis. RESULTS According to the Internet Addiction Scale, 9.7% of the study sample was addicted to the Internet. The Pearson correlation analysis results revealed a significant positive correlation between dissociative experiences and Internet addiction (r = 0.220; P < .001) and weekly Internet use (r = 0.227; P < .001). Levels of Internet addiction were significantly higher among male students than female students (P < .001). The Internet use pattern also differed significantly between sexes. CONCLUSIONS According to the results of this study, Internet addiction is a relatively frequent phenomenon among young adult college students in Turkey. Excessive Internet use is associated with higher levels of dissociative symptoms.

Mean Platelet Volume in Patients With Major Depression: Effect of Escitalopram Treatment

Background: The relationship between major depression and increased platelet activity has been previously indicated by several studies. The aims of this study were to examine mean platelet volume (MPV), which is an indicator of platelet activity, in patients with depression and investigate whether escitalopram treatment would affect MPV. Methods: Fifteen patients (11 women and 4 men) meeting the criteria for a current episode of major depressive disorder were recruited to the study and 17 physically and mentally healthy comparison subjects (11 women and 6 men). Mean platelet volume and platelet count of the controls and patients were measured upon entry to the study. After 8 weeks of open-label treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram (10-20 mg/d), the patients with depression were readmitted and the measurements were repeated. Results: At baseline, in comparison with the control group, the group with depression exhibited greater platelet activity as detected by increased MPV. After escitalopram treatment, the patients with depression exhibited significant reduction in MPV. There was also a significant decline in platelet count. Conclusions: In this study, normalization of platelet activation is associated with escitalopram treatment for patients with depression. This finding may provide evidence for the use of escitalopram in patients with major depression and comorbid ischemic heart disease.

Childhood trauma and dissociation in women with pseudoseizure-type conversion disorder

Background: Conversion disorder is thought to be associated with psychological factors because of the presence of conflict and other stressors prior to the condition. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare adult patients with pseudoseizure-type conversion disorder with healthy control group in terms of childhood trauma, dissociative disorder and family history of psychiatric disorders. Method: 56 female patients were admitted to the general psychiatry hospital outpatient clinic between January and July 2005. All patients had a negative experience about their families just before having the conversion. Diagnosis was made according to the DSM-IV criteria. A control group consisting of similar patient demographics of the disease group has been selected. Socio-demographic information forms, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q), were completed on the patients. Results: CTQ total (t=12.12, P<0.001) and subscales, emotional abuse and emotional neglect (EA-EN) (t=12.74, P<0.001), physical abuse (PA) (t=10.05, P<0.001), and sexual abuse (SA) (t=7.69, P<0.001) were significantly high in the conversion group. DIS-Q mean points were statistically higher in the conversion group (t=11.05, P<0.001). Conclusions: The findings suggest that pseudoseizures (conversion disorder) should be included within dissociative disorders in DSM system as in ICD. It is usually uncommon for the patient to tell about childhood trauma without being specially questioned about this issue. Thus, it would be helpful to uncover these experiences by using related scales in conversion disorder patients.

The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Body Mass Index in Turkish Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to investigate Internet use patterns and Internet addiction among adolescents and to examine the correlation between Internet addiction and eating attitudes and body mass index (BMI). The study was conducted among 1,938 students, aged between 14 and 18 years. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and a sociodemographic query form were used to collect data. According to the IAT, 12.4% of the study sample met the criteria for Internet addiction. A significant positive correlation between BMI and the IAT (r=0.307; p<0.01) and weekly Internet use (r=0.215; p<0.01) was found. Nine students with Internet addiction (3.8%) and 90 with average Internet use (5.3%) were found to have a possible eating disorder (p>0.05). No relationship was found between the EAT and the IAT and duration of weekly Internet use. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant independent association of the IAT with BMI (r=0.235; p<0.001). These results indicate an association between Internet addiction and BMI. Further studies are needed to describe the causality of this association.

Lithium intoxication related multiple temporary ecg changes: A case report

Lithium is a widely used mood stabilizer, which may cause cardiac side effects. In this article, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman who had presented with pre-syncope and developed multiple ECG abnormalities that are caused by lithium intoxication and are disappeared after hemodialysis.

Memantine-Related Psychotic Symptoms in a Patient With Bipolar Disorder

Although memantine has been reported to be useful for psychotic symptoms (delusions and hallucinations) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, 2,3 a few anecdotal reports have noted that it may conversely cause hallucinations and delusions. 4,5 Herein, we report the case of a patient with bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s disease who developed delusions and auditory hallucinations as a result of memantine therapy. Significant resolution of these symptoms occurred once treatment was discontinued. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe psychotic symptoms in a patient with bipolar disorder and comorbid Alzheimer’s disease as a result of memantine treatment.

Effect of Escitalopram on White Blood Cells in Patients With Major Depression

Background Immunological dysfunctions in the course of depression are recently intensively investigated. Pharmacotherapy of depression is speculated to affect immune response. In this study, our objective was to investigate whether escitalopram treatment would affect white blood cells in patients with major depression. Methods Fifteen patients (11 women and 4 men), meeting the criteria for a current episode of major depressive disorder, were participated. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), lymphocyte (LYMPH), monocyte (MONO), eosinophyl (EO), and basophyl (BASO) levels were measured at the entry to the study. After 8 weeks of open-label treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram (10-20 mg/d), the patients were readmitted and the measurements were repeated. Results At the end of the study, LYMPH was found to be significantly decreased compared to the baseline value after 8 weeks treatment with escitalopram (p < 0.001). There was not a significant change in WBC, NEUT, MONO, EO, and BASO parameters. Conclusions The present study has shown that escitalopram increased LYMPH in patients with major depression according to these results, the possible treatment of depression with escitalopram must be carried out with caution, in patients with immunological disturbances. Keywords Escitalopram; Major depression; White blood cells

999 – The self-image of adolescents and its relationship to internet addiction

Introduction Self-image is developed by the way in which adolescents think, feel and behave and it arises from the persons body image during preadolescence. problematic A considerable amount of literature published so far on Internet addiction reveals that it is a worldwide phenomenon. Objectives Internet use involves an individuals inability to control his or her use of the Internet, negative consequences (e.g., failing in school, decreased productivity), and marked distress and/or functional impairment Until now, no studies were performed to investigate the relationship between Internet addiction and self-image. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate Internet addiction among adolescents and to examine the correlation between problematic Internet use and self-image. Methods We assessed 1912 high school students, aged between 14 and 18 years. Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Offer Self- Image Questionnaire (OSIQ), and a sociodemographic query form were used in the collection of data. Results According to the IAT, 201 students (10.5%) were found to be a ‘problematic Internet user’ or an ‘Internet addict’. The students with Internet addiction scored lower on all subscales of OSIQ (impulse control, emotional tone, body image, social Relations, vocational and educational goals, family relations, mastery of the external world, emotional health and superior adjustment), except sexual attitudes. A significant negative correlation between daily OSIQ subscales and IAT and weekly Internet use was found. Conclusions The results of this study showed that Internet addiction was related to the development of the self-image, which is a crucial psychological structure gained in adolescence.

691 – Internet addiction and sleep disturbance symptoms among adolescents

Introduction Sleep quality is a relevant dimension with regards to sleep-wake functioning, and poor sleep quality has been found to be associated with poor academic achievement and health. Objectives Internet use has been identified as having a detrimental effect on sleep patterns. Studies, however, on the relationship between Internet overuse and physical health or sleep problems have been rarely performed (5,6). Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate Internet addiction among adolescents and to examine the correlation between problematic Internet use and sleep disturbance symptoms. Methods The study was conducted among 1956 students, aged between 14 and 18 years. Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a sociodemographic query form were used in the collection of data. Results The students with Internet addiction were more likely to have difficulty in falling asleep (p Conclusions These results indicate an association between the Internet addiction and impaired sleep. Further studies are needed to describe the causality of this association.