[Levels of adenosine deaminase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in patients with panic disorder]. / Panik bozuklugunda adenozin deaminaz ve dipeptidil peptidaz IV enzim düzeyleri.

OBJECTIVE: Adenosine deaminase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV are enzymes connected to T cells that play an important role in immune system functioning. In this study, in order to understand the immune processes in panic disorder, we determined the serum levels of adenosine deaminase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in medication-free panic disorder patients and compared them to those of healthy controls. METHOD: Enzymes levels were determined in blood samples of 24 healthy controls and 33 panic disorder patients diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV that were medication free during the previous month and medically healthy. RESULTS: Levels of both enzymes were significantly higher in panic disorder patients than in the controls (P<0.001 for adenosine deaminase and P<0.05 for dipeptidyl peptidase IV). The levels of the enzymes did not correlate with sociodemographic variables, duration of the disorder, presence of agoraphobia, presence of stressors, number of panic attack symptoms, and Hamilton depression and anxiety rating scale scores. In addition, the 2 enzymes? levels did not correlate with each other. There was a correlation between Hamilton anxiety rating scale score and the number of panic attack symptoms (P<0.001); however, Hamilton anxiety rating scale scores were not correlated with the other variables. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there may be a primary or secondary impaired immune state in the course of panic disorder, as there is in many other psychiatric disorders, such as major depression. Future studies with larger samples are needed to clarify the relationship between the immune system and panic disorder.

[Social anxiety level in acne vulgaris patients and its relationship to clinical variables]. / Akne vulgaris hastalarinda sosyal kaygi düzeyi ve bunun klinik degiskenler ile iliskisi.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of social anxiety in acne vulgaris patients and to examine its relationship to the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of acne, as well as to depression, self-esteem, and negative automatic thoughts. METHOD: The study included 83 acne vulgaris patients from the dermatology outpatient unit of a university hospital and 58 healthy controls. Sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires, and the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Automatic Thoughts Scale (ATS) were administered to both groups. RESULTS: The degree of social anxiety, social avoidance/withdrawal, general anxiety, depression, and negative automatic thoughts were significantly higher, and self-esteem was significantly lower in the acne patients. Among the 83 patients, scoring above the scales' cut-off points was as follows: 25.6% on the LSAS, 32.9% on the LSAS-Anxiety Subscale, 27.7% on the LSAS-Avoidance Subscale, 36.1% on HADS, 30.1% on the HADS-Depression Subscale, and 50.6% on the HADS-Anxiety Subscale. Psychological symptoms were negatively correlated with age and level of education in the patient group; however no relationship was observed between the psychological symptoms, and gender, the severity of acne, or acne localization. The patients rated their symptoms more severely than did the clinicians; however, the subjective ratings of the patients were not correlated to their psychological symptoms. CONCLUSION: Acne vulgaris must be considered as an illness with the potential to negatively affect the psychological and emotional functioning of patients; therefore, routine psychiatric evaluation and psychological support should be part of the routine acne treatment plan.