Stress, Anxiety, and Postpartum Depression in Parents with Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

AIM: This study aimed to determine stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression in parents with premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 15 and November 31, 2021. The research involved 120 premature infants and their parents (120 mothers and 120 fathers). This research was carried out in Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, third level neonatal intensive care unit. Introductory Information Form, Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale were used as data collection tools. RESULTS: Stress, anxiety, and depression were high in parents. Stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression mean scores of mothers were significantly higher than that of fathers. A positive correlation was found between stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression in parents. Simple regression analysis revealed that stress in mothers predicted depression by 5% and stress in fathers predicted anxiety by 30%. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes that stress, anxiety, and depression are seen at high rates in parents with premature infants, and stress increases anxiety in fathers and depression in mothers.

Effects of anxiety and depression symptoms on oxidative stress in patients with alopecia areata.

INTRODUCTION: Increased oxidative stress (OXS) and a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders are seen in alopecia areata (AA). However, OXS and psychiatric disorders have been studied separately in AA patients. AIM: To determine the effects of anxiety and depression symptoms on OXS in AA patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The anxiety and depression levels of 33 AA patients and 33 normal controls (NC) were determined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated by measuring serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in AA patients and NC. RESULTS: The AA patients had higher anxiety and depression scores than NC (p < 0.001 for both). Total oxidant status (p = 0.002) and OSI (p < 0.001) values were higher, and TAS (p < 0.001) levels were lower, in patients with AA compared to NC. However, patients' anxiety and depression scores were not correlated with the TAS, TOS, or OSI values (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in TAS, TOS, or OSI values between patients with high and low anxiety or depression scores (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that OXS, anxiety, and depression scores were higher in patients with AA compared to NC. However, anxiety and depression scores were not associated with OXS in AA patients. More extensive studies should be performed to investigate the relationship between psychological status and OXS in patients with AA.

Oxidative markers of Myeloperoxidase and Catalase and their diagnostic performance in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Recent researches suggest oxidative stress and generalized inflammatory state to be associated with bipolar I disorder (BID). Our aim is to evaluate Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Catalase (CAT) activities in BID. METHODS: 73 BID patients and 73 healthy controls were enrolled. Patients were classified into manic, depressive and euthymic state. Serum MPO and CAT were measured in both patients and controls. RESULTS: CAT activity was significantly lower in controls than manic, depressive and euthymics (p<0.001). MPO activity was significantly higher in controls compared to euthymics (p=0.007) and it was significantly higher in depressives compared to euthymics (p=0.023). CAT was negatively and MPO was positively correlated with disease duration in overall the patients. Positive Predictive Value was 94.5% and Negative Predictive Value was 100% above the cutoff point for CAT activity. CONCLUSION: MPO and CAT activities are impaired in BID, which may be associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Prolidase activity and its diagnostic performance in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Proline has an important role in the brain. Prolidase, a proline splitting enzyme, which is also involved in oxidative stress is not investigated in bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: 66 BD type I patients and 66 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum prolidase activity was measured in both groups via venous sampling. We have compared patients and controls as well as 3 subgroups of patients (24 euthymic, 22 manic, and 20 depressive patients). RESULTS: Prolidase activity was significantly higher in patients (p<0.001, t=14.517). There wasn't any significant difference among euthymic, manic and depressives (p=0.305, f=1.211). Positive predictive value was 98.5% and negative predictive value was 92.4% above the cutoff point 502.9375U/L of prolidase activity. CONCLUSION: Prolidase activity is impaired in BD, which may be associated with oxidative stress. Prolidase activity may be a trait marker for diagnosing bipolar disorder.