D-serine and D-amino acid oxidase levels in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in the first episode and 6-month follow-up.

Background: D-serine and the D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) enzyme, which breaks down d-amino acids, may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia by affecting the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. The exact role of D-serine and DAO, as well as the consequences of increased DAO activity in patients with schizophrenia, remain unclear. We aimed to investigate D-serine and DAO levels in patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders before treatment and after six months of treatment.

Symptom Exacerbations of Patients Attending a Community Mental Health Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical conditions of the patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) in a community mental health center (CMHC).

Method: Symptom exacerbations, emergency service admissions, drug dose increases, additional medication prescriptions, and psychiatric hospitalizations of patients with BD and SSD in the CMHC were evaluated retrospectively. The data from the 1-year prior, 6-months prior, 6-months after the onset and 1-year after the onset of the pandemic were compared.

Training in neuropsychiatry: views of early career psychiatrists from across the world.

Background: Training and practice in neuropsychiatry varies across the world. However, little is known about the experiences and opinions of early career psychiatrists (ECPs) across different countries regarding neuropsychiatry.

Aims And Method: To investigate neuropsychiatry training experiences, practices and opinions among ECPs across different countries.

Personality Traits Interact With Sleep and Biological Rhythm in Patients With Bipolar Disorder.

Sleep disturbances and circadian rhythm changes in bipolar disorder (BD) may have behavioral components as well as biological components. This study aimed to examine the relationship between personality traits, sleep and circadian rhythm in BD. A total of 150 participants with BD, and 150 healthy controls completed the Big Five Personality Test-50 (B5PT-50-TR), Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Young Mania Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory.

Relationship of Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotics with Caregiver Burden, Quality of Life, Symptom Severity and Treatment Discontinuation in Schizophrenia.

Objective: Regarding the patients using long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic treatment; we aimed to investigate the effect of attitude towards drugs, antipsychotic type and side effects on quality of life, caregiver burden and continuation of treatment.

Method: Our study sample consisted of 110 patients in the age range of 18-65 using LAI antipsychotics for at least 12 weeks with the diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria. Sociodemographic and Clinical Data Form, Drug Attitude Inventory 10 (DAI-10), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), UKU Side Effect Rating Scale, Quality of Life for Schizophrenia Scale were used for evaluation of patients.

Effect of long acting injectable antipsychotics on course and hospitalizations in bipolar disorder - a naturalistic mirror image study.

Purpose: To determining whether the addition of a long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI-AP) has a positive effect on prognosis in bipolar disorder.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of patients with bipolar disorder who were using LAI-AP at least for one year in the community mental health center (CMHC) until March 2020 were investigated. Comparisons were made between the period of one year before and after the initiation of LAI-AP.

Relationship of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Attachment Styles with the Clinical Features of Bipolar Disorder in Remission.

Objective: The intolerance of uncertainty and attachment styles may predict the severity and clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder. In this study, we aimed to investigate these features in remitted bipolar patients.

Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 150 BPD patients who were followed up at the outpatient clinics of Bakırköy Prof.

Effects of Gender Reassignment on Quality of Life and Mental Health in People with Gender Dysphoria.

Objective: Our purpose was to compare the life style, family and social relationships (social adaptation) and the quality of life in people with gender dysphoria with and without history of sex reassignment surgery.

Method: Twenty  individuals (SR group) who were earlier followed   in Istanbul University Psychiatry Department Psychoneurosis and Psychotherapy Unit with gender dysphoria diagnosis in  order  to  have confirmative reports for the sex reassignment (SR) surgery were interviewed at least one year after the surgery. For comparison, 50 individuals with gender dysphoria (NSR group) who had recently applied to the same unit were interviewed.

The Burden of Care and Burnout in Individuals Caring for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease imposes a severe burden upon patients and their caregivers. We examined the relationship between the sociodemographic factors, burden of care and burnout level of 120 of 203 professional caregiving staff dealing with Alzheimer's disease patients in eight geriatric care centers in Istanbul/Turkey. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale was used to measure the level of burden of care, and the Maslach burnout inventory to measure the level of burnout.

[The Disease History, Sociodemographics, and Criminal Features of the Homicidal Forensic Psychiatric Patients].

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease history, treatment adherence, and the criminal history of individuals who committed a homicide offence, with no criminal responsibility due to their psychiatric illness METHODS: Of 197 who had been released from our forensic psychiatric clinic after one-year-mandatory inpatient treatment, we evaluated 160 patients whom we were able to contact. To determine the severity of the crimes, criminal violence rating scale was used. The sociodemographic characterictics and certain variables associated with the disease and the criminal acts of the individuals were documented.

[First Episode Psychosis: Relationship of Symptoms, Initial Treatment and Clinical Response].

Objective: It was aimed to explore the relationship of clinical psychopathology and treatment response with "duration of untreated psychosis" (DUP) and "duration of untreated illness"(DUI) in 15-20 years old (mean age: 17,34 ± 1.69) inpatients in Turkey.

Method: Mood disorders with psyhotic features were grouped as affective psychoses (18 patients, mean age: 17,28 ± 1,75); schizophrenia, schiozophreniform disorder and other psychotic disorders were grouped as non-affective psychoses (25 patients, mean age: 17,38 ± 1,68).

Illness perception of dropout patients followed up at bipolar outpatient clinic, Turkey.

Dropout is a common problem in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses including bipolar disorders (BD). The aim of the present study is to investigate illness perceptions of dropout patients with BD. A cross sectional study was done on the participants who attended the Mood Disorder Outpatient Clinic at least 3 times from January 2003 through June 2008, and then failed to attend clinic till to the last one year, 2009, determined as dropout.

Sociodemographic characteristics and drug abuse patterns of adolescents admitted for substance use disorder treatment in Istanbul.

Background: Adolescent substance use is an increasing major health problem in developing countries.

Objectives: To evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics and drug abuse patterns of children and youth seeking treatment in Turkey.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the demographic and clinical data of substance users who visited the substance addiction treatment clinic for children and youth in Bakırköy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery in Istanbul, between January 2011 and December 2012.