M. Kemal Kuscu

The association between individual attachment patterns, the perceived social support, and the psychological well-being of Turkish informal caregivers.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relations among the psychological well‐being (i.e. depression and state/trait anxiety levels), attachment patterns (i.e. secure, ambivalent, avoidant), and the perceived social support from family/friends/significant others of caregivers of cancer patients in Turkey.

Geriatric psychiatry consultations in a Turkish university hospital

OBJECTIVE The size of the elderly population is growing rapidly in Turkey. We aimed to characterize geriatric psychiatry consultations to obtain the characteristic pattern of these patients for further interventions. METHOD A retrospective chart review was undertaken for each patient. RESULTS One hundred and sixty-six patients with a mean age (+/- S.D.) of 75.5 +/- 6.6 years were included in this study. Most referrals came from the Department of Internal Medicine (42.2%), with sleep problems (42.1%), depression (29.5%) and anxiety (28.3%) being the most common reasons for referral. Hypertension was the most frequent medical diagnosis (53.6%). The mean number +/- S.D.) of medications used by each patient was 4.4 +/- 2.0. The leading psychiatric diagnosis at the end of the assessment was adjustment disorder (31.3%). CONCLUSION Turkish geriatric psychiatry consultation patients display similar characteristics to elderly patients from other western countries. The main difference comes from diagnosis of adjustment disorder, which may be related to hospital conditions and strong family ties in developing countries.

Psychosocial Coping with Neurosurgery: Children and Their Families

Pediatric cancer and related events pose a variety of challenges and stressors for children and their families. After the diagnosis of tumor, parents assume new roles in addition to their traditional parenting roles – to state the least, becoming advocates for their children and coordinators of their care. Throughout the demanding and long treatment regime, families’ lives revolve around disease-related stressors, such as management of the side effects of intervention, changes in the daily routines, and disruptions in previously existing social and family roles. Much is known about the medical effects of brain tumors; however, despite the vital and irrefutable role of families in the care of their children with pediatric cancer, only few studies examined the effects of disease-related processes on children’s and family members’ psychological well-being. A review of 31 studies on survivors of childhood brain tumors shows that such medical event has impact on survivors’ general psychological adjustment, social competence, internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, and quality of life.

Students Meeting with Caregivers of Cancer Patient: Results of an Experience-Based Learning Project

The communication between medical students and cancer caregivers, and the problems they have experienced as well as the outcomes for their professional development before starting clinical practice was assessed in the context of a student research project. Data were collected by questionnaires or by 20 to 40-min long interviews with cancer caregivers. Their communications with physicians, hearing the bad news, and health service satisfaction were questioned. Therefore, the caregivers trusted the professional approach of their physician. However, they expected more empathic communication in the process of diagnosis and therapy. Development of empathy and trust-based communication between patients and physicians and enhancement of the quality of devoted time to cancer patients and caregivers may have an effect on the course of disease. Interviewer students mentioned that they developed communication skills about difficult clinical tasks and in delivering bad news face to face to cancer caregivers before starting their clinical education.