The characteristics and risk factors for common psychiatric disorders in patients with cancer seeking help for mental health.

Background: Although the adverse effects of cancer diagnoses and treatments on mental health are known, about less than 10% of patients are estimated to be referred to seek help. The primary purpose of this study was to obtain the baseline information on patients with cancer seeking help for mental health who presented for the first time to the psycho-oncology outpatient clinic, and to identify risk factors that may provide clues healthcare practitioners in recognizing those needing psychological help in oncology practice.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 566 patients with cancer who were referred to the psycho-oncology outpatient clinic over a two-year period.

Temporomandibular dysfunction and risk factors for anxiety and depression.

Background: Anxiety and depression may cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complaints or TMJ disorders may trigger some of psychiatric problems.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and the interactive role of anxiety and depression in patients with TMJ dysfunction.

Method: A total of 273 patients who presented to the multidisciplinary outpatient clinic of TMJ diseases that were followed up for temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), were included in this trial.

Oncology staff: burnout, job satisfaction and coping with stress.

Objective: The oncology staff is at high risk for developing psychological disorders and burnout. In this study, we aimed to evaluate their burnout levels, job satisfaction, psychological statement and ways of coping with stress and the relationship between these variables and their sociodemographic and occupational characteristics.

Methods: Among all health workers at the Istanbul University Institute, of Oncology, 159 were included in the study.

Evaluation of depression, quality of life and body image in patients with Cushing's disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with Cushing's disease (CD) who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery in terms of depression, quality of life (QoL), and perception of body image in comparison to healthy controls. Forty patients with CD and 40 healthy controls matched for demographic characteristics were included in the study. The subjects were evaluated with the Beck depression inventory (BDI), the health survey-short form (SF-36) and the multidimensional body-self relations questionnaire (MBSRQ).

Association of coping style, cognitive errors and cancer-related variables with depression in women treated for breast cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between depression levels with coping styles and cognitive errors in women treated for breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 110 breast cancer outpatients who had had surgery at least 6 months previously, had completed adjuvant cancer treatment and had not experienced metastasis or recurrent lesions were evaluated. The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, Cognitive Errors Questionnaire, Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were administered to all patients.

Cultural meaning of cancer suffering.

It is not possible to understand the cancer experience independent from the specific culture. The history, culture, related values, and traditions shape the experience of Turkish cancer patients. This article aims to review the current Turkish literature on the psychological and psychosocial effects of cancer and its related burden.

Psychiatric aspects of pain in cancer patients.

The goal of this review is to discuss the psychiatric aspects of pain in cancer patients from a biopsychosocial approach. Pain in cancer patients is considered as a complex reaction causing severe suffering and involves many psychological aspects. It has many dimensions such as personality, affect, cognition and social relations.

Self-management plans for asthma control and predictors of patient compliance.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of peak flow or symptom-based self-management plans on asthma control and patients' quality of life and to determine the main psychosocial factors that affect compliance with these plans.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 63 patients with persistent asthma outpatients. Data collection included demographics, pulmonary functions, symptom scores, and asthma control parameters recorded over the previous 2 consecutive years.

Psychiatric morbidity and quality of life in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Background: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a frequently occurring disease that has a great impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients and seems to be associated with a number of psychological factors.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in patients with CIU and to determine HRQL of CIU patients compared with controls.

Methods: A semistructured interview form, a generic form of the HRQL questionnaire (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]), and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis Disorders (SCID-I) were administered to CIU patients who presented to the Allergy Department of the University of Istanbul (from January 1 to April 30, 2005).

Predictors of psychosocial adjustment in people with physical disease.

Aims: The purpose of this paper was to examine the demographic, medical and psychosocial variables that result in the deterioration of psychosocial adjustment in patients with physical disease, the meaning their illness has for them and their coping style.

Methods: The study was carried out in inpatient clinics of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (n = 198). The following evaluation instruments were used: a semi-structured questionnaire, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report (PAIS-SR), the Meaning of Illness Questionnaire (MIQ), the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, the Multivariate Perceived Social Support Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Inventory (WCI).

Evaluation of the development of psychosomatic medicine in a large university hospital in Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the development of psychosomatic medicine at our university hospital in Istanbul, which has an inpatient capacity of 3,000. Changing patterns of utilization of psychiatric service were analyzed in two 1-year surveys five-year intervals (1998, n=888) - (2003, n=1609). Psychiatric referrals were analyzed with regard to rate of consultation, demographic characteristics, departments making referrals, reasons for referral, psychiatric diagnoses and patterns of psychiatric intervention.