Servet Aker

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Inpatients with Schizophrenia

Objective: Cardiovascular disease is one of the most prevalent factors responsible for excess mortality in schizophrenia. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with the development of coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus. The aim in this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of MetS in schizophrenic Turkish inpatients. Method: The study was conducted from January 2006 to June 2006, and included 231 patients with schizophrenia. All participants were enrolled from inpatients attending the Samsun Mental Health Hospital psychiatry clinic. All subjects were aged between 18 and 65 and met the DSM IV criteria for schizophrenia. MetS was taken as central obesity (defined as waist circumference: men ≥ 94 cm, women ≥ 80 cm) and meeting ≥ 2 of the following abnormalities described by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF): a serum triglyceride level > 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 40 mg/dL in men and < 50 mg/dL in women, blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mm Hg, and a fasting serum glucose level ≥ 100 mg/d/L. Results: The study group consisted of 174 male and 57 female patients. Mean age was 38.5 ± 10.5 and mean duration of illness was 15.76 ± 9.95 years. The overall prevalence of MetS diagnosed according to the IDF criteria was 32.0% (n=74) and was higher in females (61.4%) than in males (22.4%; p=0.0001). In logistic regression analysis the last step of the regression model was gender (B=1.70, p=0.0001, OR=5.50, 95% Cl=2.90–10.45). Conclusion: This study shows that the prevalence of MetS in Turkish patients with schizophrenia is similar to that of the general population, but lower than in other reports regarding the schizophrenia population.

The effects of temperament and character on the choice of contraceptive methods.

Objectives To identify the effects of temperament and character on the selection of contraceptive methods. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out in June 2005 at the Ondokuz Mayıs University Samsun Health College with the participation of 102 young women. The participants were asked to complete the Contraception Choice Questionnaire devised by the researchers, and the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory. Results The mean age of the participants was 22.30 ± 1.27 years; 39 participants (38.2%) mentioned Norplant®, 30 (29.4%) condoms, 17 (16.6%) intrauterine devices (IUDs) and 16 (15.7%) oral contraceptives (OCs) as the method they would consider using in the future. The mean scores of self-directedness and self-transcendence of the groups differed significantly (p < 0.05). Students who indicated they would choose OCs had higher average scores for self-directedness than those choosing IUDs; the mean self-transcendence scores of students choosing IUDs were significantly higher than the scores of those selecting condoms (p < 0.01). Subjects choosing Norplant® cited ease of use; those choosing condoms cited their eliciting fewer side effects; those choosing IUDs cited their high levels of safety; and those choosing OCs cited ease of use and high reliability as the reasons for their choices. Conclusions We think that identifying the roles of temperament and character in the selection process of a contraceptive method will help in achieving a wider application of contraception.

The relationship between migraine and right-to-left shunt in children.

Migraine is the most common headache in childhood, and there are some reports that suggest the relationship between migraine and right-to-left shunt. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of right-to-left shunt in children with migraine with aura and compare it with children with migraine without aura, and in healthy children. In a cross-sectional case–control study, we assessed 20 children with migraine with aura, 20 migraine without aura and 20 healthy age, and gender-matched control group. We determined the frequency of right-to-left shunt by transcranial doppler with contrast and transthoracic echocardiography without contrast. The dopplers and echocardiograms were performed blindly by the same examiners during headache-free periods. The presence of right-to-left shunt was found in 13/20 patients with migraine with aura compared with five of 20 migraine without aura and four of 20 control subjects. The frequency of right-to-left shunt in migraine with aura was statistically different from the other two groups (P < 0.005). There was no association between right-to-left shunt and frequency of attacks, duration and intensity of attacks, uni/bilateral occurence, familial occurrence, gender and age of patients. Conclusion: our findings suggest possible association of migraine with aura and right-to-left shunt. It seems that right-to-left shunt does not influence the clinical features of migraine.

Psychosocial Factors Affecting Smartphone Addiction in University Students

Abstract Smartphone addiction is a recent concern that has resulted from the dramatic increase in worldwide smartphone use. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate psychosocial factors affecting smartphone addiction in university students. The study was performed among students at the Ondokuz Mayis University Samsun School of Health (Samsun, Turkey) on October–December 2015. Four hundred ninety-four students possessing smartphones and agreeing to participate were included. A sociodemographic data form produced by the authors and consisting of 10 questions was administered together with a questionnaire involving the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), the Flourishing Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The questionnaires were applied in a class environment at face-to-face interviews. SAS-SV scores of 6.47% of students were “significantly higher” than the participating group mean SAS-SV score. Multiple regression analysis revealed that depression, anxiety and insomnia, and familial social support statistically, significantly predicted smartphone addiction. Further studies of smartphone addiction in different age groups and with different educational levels are now needed.

The Effect of Education on the Sexual Beliefs of Family Physicians

ABSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of education regarding a healthy sex life on family physicians’ ideas concerning sexuality. Methods: A 3-hour interactive education program was prepared for family physicians. Thirty-seven family physicians and 21 students specializing in family medicine volunteered to participate in the program. Results: The level of agreement expressed by participants with 25 of the 31 dysfunctional sexual beliefs in the study decreased after training. Only marital status played a significant role in predicting change percentages in sexual beliefs. Conclusions: We think that programs concerning a healthy sex life should be added to physicians’ training.

Can renaming schizophrenia reduce negative attitudes toward patients in Turkey

Aim: To determine the perception of the term schizophrenia among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in April 2015 with students from Canik Başarı University (Samsun/Turkey). A patient history was first established. We then investigated to what extent students agreed with 10 statements based on that patient history. Three separate questionnaire forms (versions A, B and C), differing only in terms of the diagnosis in the patient in the history, were prepared. The three diagnoses were ‘Schizophrenia’ (version A), ‘A psychiatric disease by the name of Bleuler’s syndrome’ (version B) and ‘Brain tumor’ (version C). The questionnaires were administered in a class environment. In all, 771 students participated. Results: Statistically significant differences between the forms were determined in only two statements (‘A.’s disease will represent a problem in A.’s future career’ and ‘A. will in all probability have problems with the law in the future’). While no difference was determined between versions A and B at two-way comparisons, a statistically significant difference was observed between versions A and B and version C. Conclusion: No difference was determined between students’ attitudes toward a diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’ and one of ‘a psychiatric disease known as Bleuler’s syndrome’. The focus in preventing stigmatization of schizophrenia should not concentrate on a name change alone. Changing the name schizophrenia may be of no use unless public ignorance and fear of psychiatric diseases can also be overcome.