Evaluation of systemic immune inflammation index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies consistently report on the frequent presence of low-grade systemic inflammation in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), and depression. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and a recently established marker, systemic immune inflammation index (SII), are markers used to assess systemic inflammation and immune response. In this study, NLR and SII index values were examined and compared across patients diagnosed with major psychiatric disorders and healthy controls. METHODS: The study included, totaling 129 patients, encompassed individuals who were diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission or BD in the euthymic period, and those undergoing treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). The control group consisted of 62 healthy individuals. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, and monocyte counts obtained retrospectively from complete blood profiles served as the basis for calculating NLR and SII values. RESULTS: In this study, higher WBC, neutrophil counts, NLR, and SII values were observed in schizophrenia and BD patients compared to the control group. In patients with MDD, no significant difference was found in terms of inflammatory blood cell markers compared to healthy controls. Higher NLR and SII values were found in patients with schizophrenia and BD compared to patients with MDD. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that the significant difference in NLR and SII values persists after treatment in patients with schizophrenia and BD, and that the abnormal inflammatory response continues during the treatment process (Tab. 2, Ref. 41).

Predictors of Major Depressive Disorder: The Need for Social Approval and Self-Esteem.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate self-esteem and the need for social approval as predictors of depression in patients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). It also aimed to compare depression, self-esteem, and the need for social approval in relation to some variables. Methods: The Beck Depression Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the need for social approval scale (NSAS) were administered to 117 patients diagnosed with MDD and who applied to the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic in Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Training and Research Hospital of Amasya University, Turkey. In the analysis of the collected data, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's moment-product correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: Self-esteem and NSAS subdimensions were found to explain 33% of the total variance in depression. Self-esteem was found to be the variable making the greatest contribution. Two of the subdimensions of the NSAS-sensitivity to others' judgments and leaving a positive impression-were found to have no contribution to the model. The mean score taken by the male participants from leaving a positive impression subdimension of the NSAS was found to be significantly higher than that taken by the female participants. The patients with depression who are single were found to have a significantly higher mean score from leaving a positive impression subdimension than the married patients. No significant difference was found between the variables depending on the age and education level variables. Conclusion: As a result, it should be noted that while evaluating patients diagnosed with MDD, the need for social approval in male patients and patients who are single can be higher than leaving a positive impression and that culture may cause people to hide the symptoms of depression. Given that there are fewer male patients applying to psychiatry clinics than female patients, it would be appropriate to refer male patients to individual counseling activities to reduce their need for approval in relation to leaving a positive impression. It is also suggested that research on anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and somatization as well as to investigate the intermediate models that address various variables between depression and the need for social approval be conducted.

Health Anxiety and Emotion Regulation during the Period of COVID-19 Outbreak in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The process of COVID-19 outbreak has affected Turkey as it has affected the whole world. The purpose of the current study is to investigate individuals' health anxiety and emotion regulation during the period of COVID-19 outbreak in Turkey in relation to some variables. The study also aims to explore the relationship between emotion regulation and health anxiety. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 874 individuals reached online through the google e-forms. The participants were administered the "Health Anxiety Scale and Emotion Regulation Scale" to collect data. In the analysis of the collected data, Mann- Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis-H Test, Spearman Correlation Coefficient were used. RESULTS: In the current study, healthy anxiety scores of the participants were analyzed depending on some variables. Health anxiety was found to be higher in women, 18-30 age group, singles, students, and groups with physical and mental health problems. The research also found that there is a low and negative relationship between health anxiety and cognitive reappraisal. It is understood that men's suppression scores are higher than women. There is no significant difference between suppressing emotions and health anxiety. It was found that educators received the highest scores in terms of cognitive reappraisal. The cognitive reappraisal level of the group without mental disorder was found to be higher than the other group. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the research, more supportive services should be provided for the groups with the higher health anxiety. Considering that especially students and young people are affected more, it can be said that mental health preventive services should be included more in these groups. At the same time, the fact that men have higher emotion suppression scores than women shows that this situation should also be taken into consideration in mental health services.

Psychological Resilience and Depression during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Turkey is one of the countries affected during the period of COVID-19 outbreak. The purpose of the current study is to investigate psychological resilience and depression in individuals during the period of COVID-19 outbreak in Turkey in relation to different variables. The study also aims to explore the relationship between psychological resilience and depression. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The current study was conducted on a total of 518 people over the social media through the Google e-forms. In the study, the "Short Psychological Resilience Scale" and the "Beck Depression Scale" were used to collect data. In the analysis of the collected data, t-test, One Way Anova, Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis-H Test, Pearson Correlation Coefficient were used. RESULTS: In the current study, psychological resilience and depression were investigated in relation to different variables. Psychological resilience was found to be higher male participants, educators,university graduates and groups with not mental health problems. Depression was found to be higher females, university students, high school and lower graduates,with mental health problems. When the relationship between psychological resilience and depression was investigated, it was found that there is a medium and negative correlation between them. Moreover, the cut-off point for the depression score was set to be 17 and the rate of the people having 17 points or higher scores was found to be 16.6%. CONCLUSION: In light of the findings of the current study, it can be suggested to offer more mental health care services to those having higher levels of depression. Studies can be conducted to improve online psychological support services. A medium and negative correlation was found between psychological resilience and depression in the current study, which shows that more importance should be attached to activities to improve psychological resilience.

Magical ideation associated social cognition in adolescents: signs of a negative facial affect recognition deficit.

BACKGROUND: Studies provide evidence for impaired social cognition in schizotypy and its association with negative symptoms. Cognitive features related to magical ideation - a component of the positive dimension of schizotypy - have been less investigated. We aimed to assess social cognitive functioning among adolescents with high magical ideation scores, mainly focusing on face and emotion recognition. METHODS: 22 subjects with magical ideation scale scores above the cut off level and 22 controls with lowest scores from among 250 students screened with this scale were included in the study. A face and emotion recognition n-back test, the empathy quotient, theory of mind tests and the Physical Anhedonia Scale were applied to both magical ideation and control groups. RESULTS: The magical ideation group performed significantly worse than controls on both face and emotion recognition tests. Emotion recognition performance was found to be affected by memory load, with sadness, among emotions, revealing a difference between the two groups. Empathy and theory of mind tests did not distinguish the magical ideation group from controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence for a deficit in negative emotion recognition affected by memory load associated with magical ideation in adolescents.