Relationship between alexithymia and chronic periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between alexithymia and chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study of 222 male and female subjects aged 21-63 years was conducted. The participants were divided into a chronic periodontitis group (n = 114) and a control group (n = 108) with no history of periodontitis. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to evaluate alexithymia status of the subjects. Clinical data were collected on parameters such as the plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and the clinical attachment level (CAL). Socioeconomic data on the patients were also recorded. RESULTS: Chronic periodontitis group showed higher frequency in alexithymic patients as compared to control group. The proportion of high dental anxiety did not differ between the groups. The total TAS-20 score was statistically significantly higher in male subjects than in female subjects (P < 0.05). The bivariate analyses of the psychometric measures and the periodontal parameters revealed positive correlations with the severity of periodontal disease/CAL and the total TAS-20 score (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the current study suggest that alexithymia is a possible risk factor for chronic periodontitis. Further research is needed to identify the underlying mechanism.

Evaluation of the temperament and character properties of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate temperament and character of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and to examine the association between these specific temperament and character properties and clinical variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study involved 73 AS patients. Temperament properties of patients were evaluated using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Association between clinical variables and specific temperament features were evaluated using correlation and regression analyses. RESULTS: Forty eight (65.8 %) of the study participants were men and the mean age was 42 ± 11.4 years. There was slight negative correlations between self directedness (S) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores (p = 0.01, r = - 0.30), and between the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and reward dependence (RD) scores (p = 0.03, r = - 0.26). Regression analysis showed that correlations between BASDAI and S, and between VAS and RD scores were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the dimensions temperament and character are related to disease activation, and disease course is more severe in patients who have low scores in these TCI dimensions. Therefore, we suggest that evaluating temperament and character properties of AS patients will help clinicians to predict treatment compliance and motivation of patients during disease course.

Quality of life among dually diagnosed and non-substance-using male schizophrenia outpatients

Objective. To assess the quality of life (QoL) in an outpatient setting among male patients dually diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder (SUD); and non-substance-using male schizophrenia patients. Methods. The study was conducted in an outpatient setting with 52 male schizophrenia patients and 49 male schizophrenia patients with SUD comorbidity; who were admitted to Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital between 1 May 2010 and 30 September 2010. The patients had been in remission for a minimum of 6 months. The subjects were re-evaluated for the persistence of the diagnosis by using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID I) socio-demographic data form; and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) were administered to detect the factors affecting diagnostic stability and clinical course. Results. Schizophrenia patients with no SUD comorbidity had a significantly earlier age of disease onset than the comorbid group. SUD comorbidity in schizophrenia patients leads to increased rates of unemployment and homicidality. WHOQOL-Bref psychological health scores were significantly lower among patients in the comorbidity group. No statistically significant difference was identified between the groups with regard to the PANSS scores. Conclusions. It is necessary to focus on the treatment challenges for schizophrenia patients with SUD comorbidity; such as the provision of treatment in criminal justice settings; in which a high proportion of such patients are found

The prevalence of temporomandibular disorder signs in people with mental retardation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs and tooth wear levels in a group of hospitalised patients with mental retardation (MR). A total of 118 patients with MR and 104 mentally healthy individuals (control) were included in this study. The groups consisted of equal numbers of male and female patients. TMD signs were evaluated according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria to assess the limitation in maximum mouth opening, the alterations in the mouth opening pathway and temporomandibular joint sounds. In addition, tooth wear was recorded. The frequency of at least one sign of TMD observed in patients with MR (79·7%) was significantly higher than in controls (69·2%) (P=0.03). In addition, 43.2% of the patients with MR had more than one sign of TMD compared with 28.8% of the control group (P = 0·02). Prevalence of each sign exhibited in the MR and control groups was as follows: limitation in mouth opening, 24·6% vs. 13·5% (P=0·02); deviation, 18·6% vs. 26·9% (P=0·001); deflection, 29·7% vs. 10·6% (P=0·001); TMJ sounds, 46·6% vs. 41·1% (P=0·43); bilateral joint sounds 28·8% vs. 16·3% (P=0·05) respectively. Prevalences of TMD signs were not different between genders in both groups (P>0·05). Severe tooth wear was evident in 43·2% of the patients with MR compared with 20·6% of the controls (P=0·001). In conclusion, patients with MR seem to be more prone to having TMD signs compared with the control population.