Significant Effects of Body Image on Sexual Functions and Satisfaction in Psoriasis Patients.

Negative body image appraisals may effect the sexual functions, avoidance, and level of finding oneself sexually attractive. The aim of the study is to assess the levels of sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction in patients with psoriasis and the effect of the body image appraisal on sexual functions and satisfaction. In all, 216 individuals were included in the study, and 112 of them had psoriasis; 104 individuals who never experienced any skin problems participated in the study and answered questions that assess depression and anxiety levels, sexual problems and satisfaction, as well as body image appraisal. Psoriasis patients showed significantly higher levels of sexual impairments and less satisfaction with sexual life compared to controls. The psoriasis group had lower body image satisfaction compared to the controls. Depression and anxiety levels in the psoriasis group were higher than in the control group. The cognitive meaning of skin involvement as body image satisfaction was found to be the most significant risk factor that affected sexual functions in psoriasis patients. It also predicted sexual satisfaction in the patient group. However, the objective measure of the severity of the disease as Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was not a determinant of sexual dysfunctions and satisfaction.

A comparison of DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 definitions for sexual dysfunctions: critiques and challenges.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnostic criteria of sexual dysfunctions (SDs) are paramount for the development of sexual medicine as reliable diagnoses are essential to guide treatment plans. Prior Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classifications based definitions of SD mostly on expert opinions and included imprecise terms. The validity of diagnoses of SD has only recently been challenged, and efforts are made to make more operational definitions. AIM: This paper aims to compare and contrast the recently released Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria of SD with that of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) and explains the rationale for making changes in the new DSM-5. It also aims to address some issues to be considered further for the future. METHODS: Online proposed American Psychiatric Association website DSM-5, the new released DSM-5, and DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for SD were thoroughly inspected, and an extensive literature search was performed for comparative reasons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 were detected, and DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for SD were compared and contrasted. RESULTS: Diagnostic criteria were more operationalized, and explicit duration and frequency criteria were set up in DSM-5 for purposes of good clinical research. Classifications based on simple linear sexual response were abandoned, and diagnostic classifications were separately made for males and females. Desire and arousal disorders in women were merged. CONCLUSIONS: Drifting apart from linear sexual response cycle may be an advancement in establishing specific diagnostic criteria for different genders. However, it is still a question of debate whether there is enough evidence to lump sexual interest and arousal disorders in females. Making more precise definitions is important to differentiate disorders from other transient conditions. However, there is still room to improve our definitions and find a way to include gay and lesbian individuals. Further discussions and debates are expected to be continued in the future.

Coping Strategies in Patients Who Had Suicide Attempts.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate coping strategies suggested to be a determinant of suicide attempt and to compare them with coping strategies of healthy volunteers. METHODS: This study was conducted on 50 patients who had suicide attempts within the past two months and 52 healthy volunteers who did not have any suicide attempt. They were evaluated with the Turkish version of COPE inventory. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 for Windows. RESULTS: In the suicide attempt group, 'active coping', 'planning', 'positive reinterpretation and growth' scores were found to be lower than that in the control group. On the other hand, 'restraint coping', 'acceptance', 'focus on and venting of emotions', 'behavioral disengagement', 'substance use' and nonfunctional coping total points were significantly higher in the suicide attempt group. The patients with depression in the suicide group were found less of the 'positive reinterpretation and growth' but more of the 'substance use' compared to the healthy group. Subjects who attempted suicide more than once tended to 'substance use' rather than 'active coping'. 'Focus on and venting of emotions' scores in suicide attempters were higher in women than in males. CONCLUSION: We observed that individuals who attempted suicide have fewer functional coping strategies and more nonfunctional coping strategies than who do not attempt suicide. It was determined that under stressful situations, individuals with depression tended to alcohol and substance abuse instead of positive reinterpretation and growth. In subjects who had recurrent suicidal attempts, alcohol and substance abuse was more common than active coping. Women were using focusing on and venting of emotions techniques much more than men. We assume that to monitor, and in case of necessity, to change the coping strategies in suicide attempters are vitally important for preventing suicide attempts.

Optimal treatment project for schizophrenia: results from a randomized, controlled, longitudinal study.

This study aimed to compare the clinical and social benefits associated with Optimal Case Management (OCM) treatment that employ cognitive-behavioural strategies to those associated with Routine Case Management (RCM) that is widely used in community health services. Hundred patients with schizophrenia were randomly allocated to OCM and RCM treatment conditions. Patients in the OCM condition showed significantly more improvement on all measures compared to patients in RCM condition. Improvement on clinical symptoms and social functioning achieved by OCM tended to show a regular and continuous pattern throughout the course of the study. The results of this study suggest that every optimal treatment should aim improvement in social functioning and therefore quality of life of the patients.