A case control study investigating the methylation levels of GHRL and GHSR genes in alcohol use disorder.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a relapsing disease described as excessive use of alcohol. Evidence of the role of DNA methylation in addiction is accumulating. Ghrelin is an important peptide known as appetite hormone and its role in addictive behavior has been identified.

Effect of MAOA rs1465108 polymorphism on susceptibility to substance/alcohol use disorder: a novel PCR-RFLP assay for the detection of MAOA rs1465108.

Background: The health and social consequences of substance/alcohol use disorders are harmful. Most of the individuals cannot stop using them due to more likely their genetic background. The current study aimed both to develop a novel PCR-RFLP method for genotyping of MAOA rs1465108 and to analyze the effect of MAOA rs1465108 on the risk of alcohol (AUD), opioid (OUD) or methamphetamine (MUD) use disorders and on the depressive and anxiety symptoms in a Turkish population.

Effect of PDYN and OPRK1 polymorphisms on the risk of alcohol use disorder and the intensity of depressive symptoms.

Aims: The dynorphin (DYN)/Kappa Opioid Receptor (KOR) system has been suggested to be involved in both negative affective states and the action of alcohol. The present study was undertaken to explore whether the DYN/KOR system genes, PDYN and OPRK1, influence on individual differences in the intensity of depressive symptoms at admission as well as the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk in a sample of 101 individuals with AUD and 100 controls.

Methods: PDYN (rs2281285, rs2225749 and rs910080) and OPRK1 (rs6473797, rs963549 and rs997917) polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.

Association of PDYN 68-bp VNTR polymorphism with sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and with opioid or alcohol use disorder: Effect on craving, depression, anxiety and age onset of first use.

In this case-control study (423 Turkish subjects), the functional pro-dynorphin (PDYN) 68-bp VNTR polymorphism was genotyped in opioid users receiving sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone treatment (SBNT; n = 129, 119 males and 10 females), in opioid users (OUD; n = 99, 90 males and 9 females), in alcohol users (AUD; n = 75, 75 males) and in controls (n = 120, 109 males and 11 females) to determine the effect of this polymorphism on different treatment responses, heroin or alcohol dependence as well as age onset of first use. The PDYN 68-bp alleles were determined based on the number of repeats and genotypes were classified as "short/short (SS)", "short-long (SL)" and "long-long (LL)". The intensity of craving, withdrawal, depression and anxiety were measured by the Substance Craving Scale (SCS), the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively.

Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Addiction Severity Index in Male Alcohol Dependents.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Turkish translation of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) in 115 male alcohol-dependent patients.

Method: The reliability of the instrument was assessed by measuring test-retest, interrater and internal reliabilities. In the validity analysis, the correlation coefficients between corresponding severity ratings and composite scores of each subscale and concurrent validity were assessed.

Ways of problem solving as predictors of relapse in alcohol dependent male inpatients.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify how remitters and relapsers view their everyday problem solving strategies.

Method: A total of 128 male alcohol dependent male inpatients who were hospitalized at the Ankara University Psychiatry Clinic, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Unit were recruited for the study. Subjects demographic status and alcohol use histories were assessed by a self-report questionnaire.

[The validity and reliability of the general self-efficacy scale-Turkish form].

Objective: Self-efficacy, which is a basic construct in social cognitive theory, has been defined as one's belief in his/her ability to start, continue, and complete an action in a manner that has an impact on his/her environment. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the General Self-Efficacy Scale-Turkish Form.

Method: The General Self-Efficacy Scale-Turkish Form was administered to 895 individuals ?18 years of age that had at least 5 years of education.

Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of substance use in a university-student sample in Turkey.

Background: Limited data is available on substance use among university students in Turkey. This study aims to determine the prevalence of substance use among this target group.

Methods: A total of 1,720 students were surveyed to assess substance use, and relationships between sociodemographic variables and substance use were assessed using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Alcohol use prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of alcohol use in a university student sample in Turkey.

Background: This study is a survey to determine prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of drinking problems among students from five university centres in Turkey.

Method: Using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire and the CAGE Questionnaire for alcohol use problems, 1,720 students were surveyed.

Results: Of the whole student sample 63.

Psychosocial factors in alcohol use-related problems of working youth.

This study investigated the psychosocial correlates of alcohol use related problems in a sample of 581 working adolescents (N = 4405), recruited from five vocational schools in Ankara in June 2004 with the CAGE questionnaire, The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Spielberger State Anxiety Scale, and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Using a multivariate analysis, the anxiety and hopelessness scores, and the length of stay in Ankara were found to be related to alcohol-use problems of the working youth. The study's limitations were noted and future research was suggested.

Validation study of the Turkish version of the Yale - Brown obsessive compulsive scale for heavy drinking in a group of male patients.

Psychometric properties of Turkish version of the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for heavy drinking (YBOCS-hd) were examined in alcohol-dependent male patients. Factor structure, internal consistency and discriminant validity of the YBOCS-hd were analysed in a sample of 117 male patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence. To study its convergent validity, the YBOCS-hd was correlated with the Addiction Severity Index in 34 of the patients.

[A study on alcohol use among working youth who are continuing apprenticeship training].

Objective: Considering both burden of entering working life and engaging in adult roles in terms of being employed, working youth forms a specific group to be handled regarding alcohol use problems. In this study it was aimed to investigate prevalence and patterns of alcohol use among youth in apprenticeship schools in central Ankara.

Method: A survey was done to investigate presence of alcohol use problems among students of five apprenticeship schools in Ankara using CAGE Questionnaire and a questionnaire form including more detailed questions about alcohol use.

Alcoholic case of central pontine myelinolysis with mainly cerebellar signs.

The etiology of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is usually related to rapid correction of hyponatremia and alcoholism. Here a case with CPM predominated by cerebellar signs is described, and the neuropsychological assessment of the case is presented as well. Blood biochemistry revealed a normal sodium level and neuropsychological examination revealed impairment in attention and concentration, reduced immediate memory span, and impaired delayed recall.