The Burden of Urinary Incontinence on Caregivers and Evaluation of Its Impact on Their Emotional Status.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate caregivers of children with urinary incontinence in terms of the caregiving burden and its associated manifestations.

Methods: Caregivers of children who are being treated for urinary incontinence secondary to neurogenic and non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) were evaluated for caregiver burden (Zarit score), depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI]). Additionally, children were evaluated for dysfunctional voiding score.

Can BDNF and IL-2 be indicators for the diagnosis in schizophrenic patients with depressive symptoms?

Objective: The aim of the current study is to determine whether serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) can be biological indicators for the diagnosis of schizophrenia in patients with depressive symptoms.

Method: Forty-seven patients (11 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 16 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and comorbid depression and 20 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used for assessment.

[The relationship between the duration of drug use and the bipolar disorder patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the duration of psychotropic drug use in the long-term follow-up of bipolar disorder (BD) patients. In addition, this study aimed to investigate their role in the daily clinical practice in association with patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The overarching goal for this study was to produce results that enlighten the development of new treatment strategies.

Increased plasma agmatine levels in patients with schizophrenia.

Agmatine is an endogenous substance, synthesized from l-arginine, and it is proposed to be a new neurotransmitter. Preclinical studies indicated that agmatine may have an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was organized to investigate plasma agmatine in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls.

Metabolic, endocrinologic and cardiac effects of amisulpride: a 24-week follow-up study.

Background: Amisulpride is a second-generation antipsychotic which has been proved to be effective in the control of both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In this study we aimed to determine metabolic, endocrinologic and cardiac effects of amisulpride commonly used in our clinical practice.

Methods: A total of 18 patients (11 males, 7 females) diagnosed with schizophrenia received amisulpride at the dosage of 800 mg/day and were followed up for 24 weeks.

Effects of long-term antidepressant treatment on oxidative status in major depressive disorder: a 24-week follow-up study.

Purpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a devastating disease that afflicts large populations and has also been accepted to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Oxidative stress seems to play an essential role in the relationship of MDD and CVD. We aimed to determine the level of oxidative stress in patients with MDD and to investigate the effects of long-term antidepressant (AD) treatment on the oxidative-antioxidative system parameters and CVD risk factors.

Reversible escitalopram-induced hypothyroidism.

Some drugs can cause alterations in the concentration of thyroid hormones in blood even without clinical signs of dysfunction or pathology of the thyroid gland. Apart from the well-known relationship between depression and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and the impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on thyroid indices, hypothyroidism is a very rare adverse effect of SSRI treatment. However, the case presented here demonstrates that escitalopram may have the potential to induce hypothyroidism without any significant clinical signs and symptoms.

Are there differences between serotonergic, noradrenergic and dual acting antidepressants in the treatment of depressed women?

Background: This study aims to investigate if there is a differential outcome of serotonergic and noradrenergic antidepressant treatment and if menopausal status has an impact on antidepressant response in depressed women.

Methods: Data of the 111 depressed women who were included and completed the previous four open-label studies where patients were evaluated six times during a 10-week period, were pooled in the current study. Each of the reboxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine groups consisted of 37 depressed women.

Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale in detection of poststroke minor depression.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) as a screening tool for minor depression in poststroke patients.

Method: Literate patients older than 18 years of age, diagnosed to have stroke, were eligible for the study. Standardized Mini Mental Status Examination (S-MMSE) and GDS were applied to all patients.

[Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale (SASS)].

Objective: SASS is a new self-evaluation scale that assesses the level of social functioning in depressed patients for clinical research purposes. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of SASS.

Method: Data were obtained from 2 different sample groups that had no physical disturbances that could impair social functioning; healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 65 years (n = 66) and patients (n = 227) diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Effects of various antidepressants on serum thyroid hormone levels in patients with major depressive disorder.

A total of 62 patients with major depressive disorder were analyzed in the study. Patients were evaluated for 11 weeks in an open label design to investigate the differential effects of reboxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine on thyroid hormones. Serum thyrotrophin (TSH), thyroxine (T4) and free (f)T4 levels were measured before and after treatment.

Retrospective database analysis on the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs in an outpatient clinic setting.

Objective: To report the outcomes of a retrospective database analysis to compare the effectiveness of atypical and typical antipsychotic drugs.

Methods: Medical records of patients admitted to the psychiatry outpatient clinic between January 1998 and October 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Data obtained from patient records were noted on a special form assessing four aspects of the treatment history: socio-demographic features, disease characteristics, initial treatment at the time of admission, and course of treatment.

Coronary artery disease risk factors in patients with schizophrenia: effects of short term antipsychotic treatment.

The aim of the present study was to investigate serum paraoxonase/arylesterase activities and oxidation/oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and several coronary artery disease risk factors, including homocysteine, high sensitive C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, leptin and adiponectin in patients with schizophrenia. Oxidation of lipoproteins plays an important role in atherogenesis, and the enzyme paraoxonase has been shown to prevent lipoprotein oxidation. Furthermore, low paraoxonase activity has been suggested to predict coronary artery disease.

Oxidative-antioxidative systems and their relation with serum S100 B levels in patients with schizophrenia: effects of short term antipsychotic treatment.

Oxidative stress may be a contributing factor in the etiopathophysiology of schizophrenia, which may be exacerbated by the treatment with antipsychotics with pro-oxidant properties. Increased levels of S100 B are associated with neurodegenerative disorders, including schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of oxidative cell damage in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Urticaria and angio-oedema due to ziprasidone.

Antipsychotic medications are commonLy associated with adverse cutaneous reactions (ACRs) in approximately 5% of patients. Angio-oedema accompanying urticaria is one of the most serious ACRs. The 36-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with ;Paranoid schizophrenia' 6 years ago, was commenced on ziprasidone 120 mg/day.

Major depressive disorder is accompanied with oxidative stress: short-term antidepressant treatment does not alter oxidative-antioxidative systems.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the oxidative-antioxidative systems and effects of different antidepressants on these systems in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: Ninety-six patients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of MDD and 54 healthy controls were included in the study. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and susceptibility of red blood cells (RBCs) to oxidation were determined to investigate the oxidative status, plasma vitamin E, vitamin C, serum total carotenoid levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), RBC superoxide dismutase (SOD) and whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured to investigate the antioxidative defence before and after 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment.

Reboxetine induced erectile dysfunction and spontaneous ejaculation during defecation and micturition.

This is a case report of reboxetine induced erectile dysfunction, seminal emission and ejaculation during defecation and micturition. A 44 year old male who had been suffering from depression without any sexual dysfunction was put on venlafaxine XR treatment. Due to delayed ejaculation and occasional episodes of absence of ejaculation he was switched to reboxetine.

Comparison of efficacy and tolerability of reboxetine and venlafaxine XR in major depression and major depression with anxiety features: an open label study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of reboxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and MDD with anxiety features to venlafaxine XR.

Method: Patients with MDD, aging 18 between 65 years, were randomly allocated to two groups receiving either open-label venlafaxine XR capsules (n = 50) or reboxetine tablets (n = 43). Subjects were administered Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) at baseline and 2, 4, 7, 10 weeks after the baseline visit.

A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of reboxetine and sertraline versus venlafaxine in major depressive disorder: a randomized, open-labeled clinical trial.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of reboxetine and sertraline to venlafaxine XR (extended release) in major depressive disorder (MDD). The study consisted of 40 patients with MDD, aged 18-65 years. Patients were evaluated six times during a 10-week period.

A patient using ziprasidone with polydipsia, seizure, hyponatremia and rhabdomyolysis.

We aimed to report a case with rhabdomyolysis related to hyponatremia and/or its correction. A 32-year-old male schizophrenic patient on ziprasidone treatment was admitted to the hospital following a seizure. Patient had primary polydipsia and secondarily developed hyponatremia.

Oxidation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase activities in major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is blaimed to play a role in the onset of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to investigate serum paraoxonase/arylesterase activities and oxidation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in patients with MDD. Oxidation of lipoproteins plays an important role in atherogenesis and the enzyme paraoxonase, has been shown to prevent lipoprotein oxidation.

[Comparison of reboxetine and sertraline in terms of efficacy and safety in major depressive disorder].

Objective: To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of reboxetine and sertraline in major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: The study subjects consisted of 41 patients who met the DSM-IV MDD diagnostic criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either reboxetine or sertraline.