Nesim Kugu

Social Phobia Among University Students and Its Relation to Self-Esteem and Body Image.

Objective: To demonstrate the prevalence of social phobia and its relation to body image and self-esteem. Method: Study participants were 1003 students recruited from Cumhuriyet University as a randomized sample. Subjects were administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule-III-Revised (DIS-III-R) Social Phobia Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). We analyzed the data, using Fishers exact chi-square test. Results: Lifetime prevalence of social phobia among university students was 9.6% and past-year prevalence was 7.9%. Self-esteem was lower (P < 0.05) among those with social phobia than among those without social phobia. Students with social phobia had lower scores on the MBSRQ than did those without social phobia (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The results show that persons with social phobia have lower self-esteem and more distorted body image than do those without social phobia.

Prevalence of anxiety disorders among elderly people

The objectives of this study are to determine current and lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders and also to explore the relationship, if any, between possible risk factors and anxiety disorders, amongst elderly people living in the Sivas province of Turkey.

Test Anxiety Prevalance and Related Variables in The Students Who are Going to Take The University Entrance Examination

Objective: Test anxiety is common among students and has adverse effects on their exam performance. This study firstly focused on finding the prevalence of test anxiety. The second aim was to identify the predictors of test anxiety and its related variables among students who are going to take the university entrance exam. Method: Totally 436 students (girls=220, boys=216) who were randomly recruited from four different schools to represent all the students who will take the University Entrance Examination in Sivas city centre participated in the study. The students filled in the Socio-demographic Data Form sociodemographic form, Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Results: Test anxiety was detected in the 48.0% of students (n=208). Additionally, exam anxiety was found in 40.3% of the males (n=87) and in 55.8% of the girls (n=121) and the difference between them was statistically significant (p

Effects of the preoperative anxiety and depression on the postoperative pain in ear, nose and throat surgery

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders can be widespread among patients who are being treated in surgical clinics and they can affect operation outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of their anxiety and depression in the preoperative period and the pain level in the postoperative period, analgesic requirement, development of complications and the duration of hospital stay in patients followed up in an ENT clinic. Materials and Methods : One hundred and three ( n =103) subjects [male = 56 (%54), female = 47 (%45.6)] filled out the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, sociodemographic data evaluation form before the surgery. Postsurgical pain levels of the subjects were evaluated by the Visual Pain Scale. The analgesic requirements of the subjects were assessed and their duration of hospital stay was noted. Results: While the presence of preoperative anxiety was a predictor of postoperative pain, such a relationship was not found between depression and postoperative pain. On the Visual Pain Scale, it was observed that the anxiety levels were moderately correlated with the Visual Pain Scale assessments on the first day of postoperative period (r = 0.30, P P Conclusion: For elective conditions requiring short-term hospitalization in ENT surgery, presence of preoperative anxiety seems to be a significant predictor of postoperative pain.

Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and co-morbid disorders among students of Cumhuriyet University

Background and Objectives: Most of the previous studies investigated prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among university students with self report measures. Present study investigated actual prevalence of ADHD and comorbid disorders among university students in Cumhuriyet University of Sivas in Turkey. Methods: In the first stage, 980 university students filled in the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and socio-demographic form, 79 of whom were above the cut-off score of Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, considered as possible ADHD. They were evaluated in the second stage via structured interview SCID I, SCID II, Adult ADHD Module of MINI Plus. In addition, subjects filled in the self report Adult ADD/ADHD DSM IV-Based Diagnostic Screening and Rating Scale. Results: The self report ADHD prevalence rate was 10.1% and the actual prevalence rate of ADHD among the university students was calculated 6.1%. The prevalence of ADHD was greater among male than female (7.0% vs. 5.5%). Among the male students inattentive subtype was 1.6%, hyperactive-impulsive 0.24%, combined 5.1%. Female students were found to be inattentive by 1.45%, hyperactive-impulsive by 0.56% and combined type by 3.48%. Most of the students with ADHD had Axis I (especially depressive disorders) and Axis II disorders (especially cluster B personality disorders). ADHD diagnosis was associated with more cigarette and alcohol use, academic failure, legal problems, somatic complaints and suicide attempts. Students with ADHD were spending more time on the Internet than students without ADHD. Only one student diagnosed with ADHD reported to have had previous ADHD diagnosis. Conclusions: ADHD is common among university students. Having a diagnosis of ADHD in early adulthood seems to be associated with psychological, social, and academic problems. Received: 10 March 2011 Revised: 30 August 2011 Accepted: 18 November 2011 108 ONDER KAVAKCI ET AL.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and anger in migraine patients -

Post-traumatic stress disorder and anger in migraine patients Objective: In recent studies, a relationship between migraine headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been suggested. The clinicians in most of these studies have not diagnosed PTSD; the evaluation has been carried out using screening scales. It has also been asserted that there is a relation between anger and migraine and other chronic painful disorders. This study aimed to search the prevalence of clinically diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among migraine patients and the relationship with anger. Method: Sixty consecutive migraine patients directed from neurology clinic and 60 healthy controls having similar features constituted the sample of this study. SCID-I/CV PTSD module and clinician administered posttraumatic stress disorder scale (CAPS) implemented by the clinician were administered to the sample. The sample also filled in the socio-demographic data form and Spielberg’s State-Trait Anger-Anger Expression Scale (STAXI). Results: Seventeen persons (28%) in the migraine group and 5 persons (8.3%) in the control group were diagnosed with PTSD. In the migraine group, PTSD was found at a statistically significantly higher level. The trait anger and anger in subscale scores in the migraine group were found statistically significantly higher compared to the control group. In the migraine group, the anger out subscale mean score was statistically significantly higher in the ones with PSTD than the ones without it. A positive correlation was detected between the scores of trait anger and CAPS and a negative correlation between the scores of anger control and CAPS. Conclusion: In migraine patients, PTSD, trait anger and internal anger are higher compared to the healthy ones. In migraine patients diagnosed with PTSD, the external anger has increased. It may be suggested to seek for the trauma experiences in migraine patients and search the efficiency of trauma and anger directed therapies.

Increased expressed emotion in patients with psoriasis

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with psoriasis are affected by expressed emotion in their family environment. Material and methods: Participants included 62 patients with psoriasis and 83 healthy controls and their biological parent, wife or husband, or adult child as a key relative. Sociodemographic data were recorded. Psoriasis area severity index was used to evaluate psoriasis severity. Hamilton depression and anxiety scales and the Expressed Emotion Questionnaire form were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and expressed emotion. Results: The levels of expressed emotion and its subgroups in the patient group were higher than in the group of healthy controls (p < 0.05). Gender, disease duration, disease severity, and key relatives did not affect the levels of expressed emotion (LEEtotal) in the patients with psoriasis (p > 0.05). The LEEtotal of those with low educational level in the patient group was statistically significantly higher than those with higher educational level (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the presence depression or anxiety and expressed emotion (p > 0.05). There was a negative correlation between age and the levels of expressed emotion in the patient group (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between age and intrusiveness in healthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although decreasing with age, expression of emotion in patients with psoriasis is high, and psychosocial support should be provided to these patients.

Childhood trauma and general cognitive ability: Roles of minimization/denial and gender

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of minimization and gender on the interaction between childhood trauma and general cognitive ability. The study included 345 students. The data were obtained via an information form, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Ravens standard progressive matrices (RSPM). The mean CTQ total score and the mean sexual abuse, physical, and emotional neglect subscale scores of the male students were significantly higher than those of the female students (p<0.05). The mean minimization score of the female students was greater than that of the male students (p<0.05). However, among the female students with minimization scores of 3, there was a moderate and significant negative correlation between the CTQ and RSPM scores (r=-0.533, p<0.05). This study found that general cognitive ability was influenced by childhood trauma among female students with higher minimization/neglect scores. The results of the current study suggest that ignoring the effects of minimization may be a misleading factor for determining the gender ratio of childhood trauma and evaluating its effect on long-term cognitive functions.