Impact of lipodystrophy on health-related quality of life: the QuaLip study.

Background: Lipodystrophy is a rare disease characterized by loss of adipose tissue. Natural history studies have demonstrated significant burden of disease; however, there is limited data on the impact of lipodystrophy on quality of life (QoL) and psychoemotional well-being. The QuaLip study is a prospective observational real-world study that aims to determine the impact of lipodystrophy on QoL and psychoemotional well-being and explore subjective burden of the disease.

Moving from serotonin to serotonin-norepinephrine enhancement with increasing venlafaxine dose: clinical implications and strategies for a successful outcome in major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Mental health disorders, especially depressive and anxiety disorders, are associated with substantial health-related burden. While the second-generation antidepressants are widely accepted as first-line pharmacological treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), patient response to such treatment is variable, with more than half failing to achieve complete remission, and residual symptoms are frequently present.

Areas Covered: Here, the pharmacodynamics of venlafaxine XR are reviewed in relation to its role as both a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a serotonin-norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), and we look at how these pharmacodynamic properties can be harnessed to guide clinical practice, asking the question 'is it possible to develop a symptom-cluster-based approach to the treatment of MDD with comorbid anxiety utilizing venlafaxine XR?.

Negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyle and management of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

• Patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) have increased cardiovascular risk. • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected healthy life behaviors and anxiety of patients with HoFH. • Fear of COVID-19 leads to avoidance of seeking medical care.

Testing an Internet-Based Turkish Obesity Behavioral Therapy Program: A Randomized Study.

Objective: Behavioral treatment is recommended as the first line intervention for the prevention of health problems pertaining to obesity. Internet-based programs are used to provide cognitive behavioral therapy for psychiatric disorders and systemic diseases to a large number of patients at low cost. The aim of this study is to develop the first internet based Turkish obesity behavioral therapy program and test its short-term effectiveness.

Mental status and physical activity in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: A subgroup analysis of a nationwide survey (A-HIT1 registry).

Background: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening disease due to high serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol-lowering interventions are fundamental for patients with HoFH.

Objective: It was aimed to investigate the association between the mental status of patients with HoFH and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Clinical management, psychosocial characteristics, and quality of life in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia undergoing LDL-apheresis in Turkey: Results of a nationwide survey (A-HIT1 registry).

Background: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening inherited disease leading to early-onset atherosclerosis and associated morbidity. Because of its rarity, longitudinal data on the management of HoFH in the real world are lacking, particularly on the impact the condition has on quality of life (QoL), including the impact of the extracorporeal lipid removal procedure apheresis (LA).

Methods: The A-HIT1 study included 88 patients with HoFH aged ≥12 years receiving regular LA in 19 centers in Turkey.

Evaluation of Heart Rate Variability in Drug Free Panic Disorder Patients.

Introduction: It is well-known that autonomic function is impaired in panic disorder (PD). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a reliable and noninvasive method to evaluate autonomic functions. The aim of this study is to evaluate 24-hour heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in drug-free panic disorder patients.

Quality of life in obstructive sleep apnea is related to female gender and comorbid insomnia.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder affecting health-related quality of life (QoL), and OSA severity is not a reliable indicator for QoL. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the impact of gender on QoL and (2) to identify the predictors of QoL in OSA patients.

Methods: World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale short form (WHOQOL-Bref) was used for evaluating QoL in OSA patients undergoing polysomnography in sleep laboratory of a university hospital.

Effects of atypical and typical antipsychotic treatments on sexual function in patients with schizophrenia: 12-month results from the Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (IC-SOHO) study.

Purpose: Sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia can reduce quality of life and treatment compliance. This report will compare the effects of selected atypical and typical antipsychotics on sexual function in a large, international population of outpatients with schizophrenia who were treated over 1 year.

Subjects And Methods: Outpatients with schizophrenia, who initiated or changed antipsychotic treatment, and entered this 3-year, prospective, observational study were classified according to the monotherapy prescribed at baseline: olanzapine (N=2638), risperidone (N=860), quetiapine (N=142) or haloperidol (N=188).

Serum nitric oxide metabolite levels and the effect of antipsychotic therapy in schizophrenia.

Background: Recently it was proposed that nitric oxide metabolites (NO) may have a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and major depressive disorders. The present study was performed to assess changes in serum nitric oxide metabolite levels in schizophrenic patients compared with healthy controls. Our secondary aim was to further evaluate the impact of psychopharmacologic treatment on circulating NO levels not assessed previously.

Low serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with schizophrenia do not elevate after antipsychotic treatment.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been suggested to be involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. There is a line of evidence that disruption of neurotrophins could play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia, and antipsychotics show their effect by altering levels of neurotrophins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antipsychotics on serum BDNF levels and their relationship with the symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Menstrually related symptom changes in women with treatment-responsive bipolar disorder.

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate menstrually related symptom changes in euthymic women with treatment-responsive bipolar disorder (BD) compared with healthy control subjects and investigate the presence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Methods: Thirty-four euthymic women with treatment-responsive BD on mood-stabilizers (lithium and/or valproate) for at least 6 months and 35 control subjects with no history of medical/mental disorder between ages of 18 and 35 years with regular menstrual cycles were prospectively followed up for at least two consecutive menstrual cycles using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems-Short Form (DRSP). Each subject was administered the retrospective self-report questionnaire, Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF), in the first postmenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.

Sexual function in ankylosing spondylitis: a study of 65 men.

Purpose: We evaluated sexual function in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using the validated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). We also assessed the frequency and association of erectile dysfunction with patient age, disease duration, morning stiffness, laboratory activity, disease severity, depression status and medication use in this patient group.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated sexual function, in particular erectile dysfunction (ED), using the IIEF in male patients with AS followed regularly at the outpatient clinic of rheumatology and compared results with those in healthy controls.

A preliminary open-label study of moclobemide treatment of pain disorder.

Antidepressants appear to be useful in the treatment of pain disorders, although the exact underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this preliminary study, we examined the utility of moclobemide, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, in the treatment of 14 patients with pain disorder. The drug was administered in doses up to 450 mg/day for 8 weeks.

Risk factors associated with childbearing-related episodes in women with bipolar disorder.

Objective: For the onset of illness and possible recurrence during the childbearing period, women with bipolar disorder (BD) are at a higher risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of clinical and psychosocial factors associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period on the course of BD.

Methods: The childbearing and illness history of 72 women with BD were assessed to determine mood episodes related to the childbearing period.

[Distinguishing depressive from nondepressive patients in schizophrenia in terms of symptomatology].

Objective: Schizophrenia is a syndrome with five dimensions and it contains positive symptoms, negative symptoms, disorganization, depression, and cognitive symptoms. Depression which is one of these dimensions can be seen with every dimension and in every phase of schizophrenia. In this study our aim was to examine the overlapping features and the discriminating symptoms of depression comorbid with schizophrenia.