Effect of Maternal Depression on Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Fetal Cord Blood

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the association between cord blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration and maternal depression during pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 48 pregnant women, admitted for elective caesarean section to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Konya Research and Training Hospital and Konya Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty, were included in this study. The study group included 23 women diagnosed as having depression during pregnancy and the control group included 25 pregnant women who did not experience depression during pregnancy. RESULTS: The groups had similar sociodemographic characteristics. Cord blood BDNF concentration was significantly lower in babies born to mothers with major depression as compared with those in the control group. We didn't find any correlation between the umbilical cord blood BDNF levels and BDI scores. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the existence of major depression in pregnant women may negatively affect fetal circulating BDNF levels.

Bilateral Pretibial Edema Associated with Paliperidone Palmitate Long-acting Injectable: A Case Report

Peripheral edema is observed as an adverse effect of the usage of antipsychotics in the literature. This case report describes a 36-year-old female patient with the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia who presented with pretibial edema following initiation of long-acting injectable paliperidone palmitate. Pretibial edema developed within the second week of treatment and completely disappeared after its discontinuation.

Personality disorders in pateints with multiple sclerosis: Prevalence and association with depressive and anxiety disorders and clinical features

Objective: This study examines the current prevalence of mood, anxiety and personality disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the impact of personality disorders on clinical features of MS and the existence of depressive and anxiety disorders. Methods: The study sample comprised of 55 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 56 control subjects. Axis I diagnoses including mood and anxiety disorders and personality disorders were ascertained by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition / Clinical Version and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM, Revised Third Edition Personality Disorders, respectively. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to determine degree of disability due to MS. Results: The prevalence of any mood, any anxiety and any personality disorders in patients with MS were 40.0%, 38.2% and 45.5%, respectively, which are significantly higher than the control subjects. Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder and obsessivecompulsive personality disorder were more frequent in patients with MS compared to the controls. In comparison to MS patients without personality disorders, MS patients with personality disorders had a more frequent occurence of any mood disorder, any anxiety disorder, major depression, posttraumatic stress disorders and MS attacks, and higher scoresof EDSS. Conclusions: Mood, anxiety and personality disorders are frequently seen in patients with MS. The results also suggest that personality disorders may negatively affect the existence of mood and anxiety disorders as well as the clinical course of MS in the patients.