Hippocampus and amygdala volumes are reduced in patients with schizoaffective disorder.

We aimed to examine the hippocampus and amygdala volumes in patients with schizoaffective disorder with the notion that schizoaffective disorder has strong resemblance of clinical presentation with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and that there have been studies on regions of interest volumes in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but not in patients with schizoaffective disorder. Eighteen patients with schizoaffective disorder and nineteen healthy controls were included into the study. Hippocampus and amygdala volumes were examined by using the MRI. Both hippocampus and amygdala volumes were statistically significantly reduced in patients with schizoaffective disorder compared to those of the healthy control comparisons (p<0.001 for the hippocampus and p<0.001 for the amygdala). In summary, our findings of the present study suggest that patients with schizoaffective disorder seem to have smaller volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala regions and that our results were in accordance with those obtained both in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, considering that schizoaffective disorder might have neuroanatomic similarities with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Beacuse of some limitations aforementioned especially age, it is required to replicate our present results in this patient group.

Effects of Detached Mindfulness on Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of detached mindfulness (DM) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Seventeen adult patients with OCD, who were receiving psychotropic medication, were included in the study. M.A., a qualified metacognitive therapist at the Metacognitive Therapy Institute in Manchester, conducted DM therapy. The Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to monitor clinical progress. Results: The mean Y-BOCS scores at baseline and the end of the study were 25.29 ± 5.70 and 13.53 ± 3.41, respectively, and a paired t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between baseline and end-of-treatment scores (P<.001). The homework practices were also assessed in sessions 2, 3, and 4. The mean homework scores at the second, third, and fourth homework sessions were 8.70 ± 1.10, 8.00 ± 0.79 and 8.20 ± 1.1, respectively. The DM homework completion rate was at an acceptable level. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study has shown that the DM technique, one of the main techniques used in metacognitive therapy, is significantly beneficial in patients with a certain degree of severity. We are of the opinion that supportive studies with larger sample sizes are necessary for the demonstration of efficacy in patients with significant treatment resistance.

Pituitary volumes in patients with adjustment disorder.

The pituitary gland plays an important role in the stress response mechanism. Given the direct link between adjustment disorder and stress, we hypothesized that there might be changes in the pituitary gland in these patients. The study comprised a patient group of 19 individuals with adjustment disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, and 18 healthy controls. The mean pituitary gland volumes of the patient group were not statistically significantly different from those of the healthy control group (80.81 ± 1.82 mm3 in patients with adjustment disorder vs. 81.10 ± 7.04 mm3 in healthy controls, with a statistically nonsignificant difference of P > 0.05). This finding is contrary to our previous findings in anxiety-related disorders. In this regard, adjustment disorder is not similar to anxiety-related disorders in terms of pituitary gland volumes. We should also clearly state that our study is a pioneering study and that studies with large samples are needed to support our findings. The limitations of our study can be attributed to the small sample size, the utilization of a cross-sectional design, and the inclusion of patients using psychotropic drugs.

Second and fourth (2D:4D) digit ratio in heroin and cannabis addicted patients.

The etiology of addiction has not yet been fully elucidated. The ratio between the length of the second and fourth fingers (2D:4D ratio) has been linked with prenatal androgen concentrations, but also with addictive behvaiors. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the differences of 2D:4D ratio of individuals with cannabis and heroin addiction by examining them together with the control group. A total of sixty two male patients (33 opiate use disorder and 29 cannabis use disorder) with substance use disorder and the twenty-nine healthy controls were included in the present investigation. We obtained the lengths of 2D and 4D of the subjects by using sensitive calipers and calculated the 2D:4D. Heroin-addicted patients had lower 2D:4D ratio in in the right hand (significant difference between control group) (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference found between heroin-cannabis (p = 0.242) and control-cannabis 2D:4D ratios (p < 0.06). In the left hand, it was significant between the heroin-control groups (p < 0.037) and the cannabis-control groups (p < 0.023), while it was not significant between the heroin-cannabis groups (p = 1). In conclusion, we suggest that heroin-and cannabis addicted patients seem to have a lower ratio of 2D:4D compared to healthy control subjects. Our findings can be considered promising as to whether prenatal hormonal factors are important in the etiopathogenesis of addiction.

Retinal changes in generalized anxiety disorder patients.

OBJECTIVE: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a method that allows high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of biological tissues. It was suggested that changes in the cranial structure or functions would be reflected in the retina. OCT has been an important method in the diagnosis and follow-up of diseases via morphometric or quantitative retinal measurements. Free radicals, inflammatory processes, and neurotransmission disorders play a role in the etiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The study aimed to demonstrate the retinal changes in GAD patients due to neurodegeneration based on the comparison of the OCT data of the GAD patients and controls, and the differences between OCT findings of GAD patients and those of controls. METHODS: The study group included 21 GAD patients. The control group included 21 individuals without any known psychiatric or organic disease, including eye diseases. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the macular volumes (MV) of the GAD and control groups, the macular volume was lower in the GAD group. There were positive correlations between BDI scores and MV, GCLT, RNFLT-i, RNFLT-n, between BAE scores and (RNFLT-n), and between the CGI severity scale scores and MV, RNFLT-n, and RNFLT-t. CONCLUSION: OCT analysis of the GAD patients demonstrated that MV values were lower when compared to the control group. Patients with GAD should be screened for these retinal changes. OCT, a simple, non-invasive, and relatively inexpensive method could be employed as a supplementary method in the follow-up of GAD patients.

Inflammation Markers in Patients with Bipolar Disorder Who Have Committed Offenses and Their Relationship with Criminal Behavior.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the function of various inflammation parameters and their interactions in the pathology of Bipolar disorder (BD) and to assess whether they could be biomarkers in the relationship between criminal behavior and BD. Materials and Methods: Overall, 1029 participants, including 343 patients with BD who have committed offenses, 343 nonoffending patients with BD, and 343 healthy controls, were included in this retrospective study. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts; high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) levels; systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR), lymphocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (LHR), monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), platelet to high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) were measured. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of SII, SIRI, NHR, LHR, MHR, PHR, neutrophil, and monocyte values (p < 0.001). The lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the patients with BD who committed offenses (p = 0.04). The platelet counts were significantly lower in the patients with BD who committed offenses compared to nonoffending patients with BD (p = 0.015). The HDL-c levels were significantly lower in the patients with BD who have committed offenses than those of nonoffending patients with BD (p < 0.001). Bipolar disorder, not receiving active psychiatric treatment, having a diagnosis of bipolar manic episodes, and having low platelet and HDL values constitute a risk of involvement in crime. Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the role of systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of patients with BD with and without criminal offenses and the relationship between inflammation and criminal behavior.

Cortical Thickness of the Orbitofrontal Cortex in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.

AIMS: In the present study, it was hypothesised that compared to healthy control subjects, significant differences in the cortical thickness of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) region of the brain, which is relevant to both impulsivity and decision making, would be identified. METHODS: The subject groups included in the study were composed of 15 individuals who met the criteria for alcohol use disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM 5) diagnostic criteria based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM 5 (SCID), and were admitted to the Firat University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry or were hospitalised, and 17 healthy control comparisons were made. The volumes of and cortical thickness of the OFC were measured in the subjects. RESULTS: It was found that patients with alcohol use disorder had reduced volumes of the OFC bilaterally and a thinner cortical thickness of the same region bilaterally compared to those of the healthy control comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, it is suggested that the OFC region of the brain appears to be statistically significantly smaller in patients with alcohol use disorder, both in terms of cortical thickness and volume, compared to healthy controls. Future research should focus on the status of these relationships longitudinally and should assess the causality of the association with the treatment response.

Retinal Changes in Panic Disorder Patients.

AIM: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel method that allows high resolution cross-sectional imaging of biological tissues. It was suggested that changes in the cranial structure or functions would be reflected in the retina. OCT has been an important method in the diagnosis and follow-up of diseases via morphometric or quantitative retinal measurements. Panic disorder (PD) is an anxiety disorder, where free radicals, inflammatory processes and neurotransmitter transmission disorders play a role in the etiology. The present study aimed to demonstrate neurodegeneration in PD by the comparison of PD patient and control OCT data. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study group included 21 PD patients who met the study criteria. The control group included 21 healthy individuals without any known psychiatric or organic disease, including eye disease, and gender-matched to the patient group. All participants underwent detailed psychiatric and eye examinations. Central macular thickness (CMT), macular volume (MV), mean and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), ganglion cell layer thickness (GCLT), and central choroidal thickness (CCT) were measured in both eyes of all participants with OCT. A sociodemographic data form, Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGIS), and Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) were administered to the participants. RESULTS: In the study, it was determined that the CMT values of the PD patients were lower when compared to the controls in the OCT examination. There was a statistically significant difference between the CMT of the PD patient group and the control group; the CMT was lower in the patient group. There were no significant differences between the groups based on GCLT, RNFL superior, RNFL inferior, RNFL nasal, RNFL temporal, and CCT. There was no significant correlation between CGIS, PDSS scores and OCT measurements. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in the literature where patients with a PD diagnosis were analyzed based on the OCT method. OCT, which is a simple, noninvasive and relatively inexpensive method that the patient could easily adapt to during imaging, could be employed as a supplementary method in the diagnosis and follow-up of PD patients.

Volumetric MRI study of orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is currently thought to bear a close relationship with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other compulsive disorders such as eating disorder and autistic spectrum disorder, as well as with the personality disorders, focusing on some important dimensions like phenomenology, heritability, environmental risk factors, comorbidity, course of illness, neurocognitive endophenotypes, and treatment response. In the present study, when we have taken into consideration the knowledge aforementioned, we aimed to examine OFC and thalamus volumes in patients with OCPD. METHODS: We comparatively measured orbito-frontal cortex (OFC) and thalamus volumes of patients with OCPD and healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Patients with OCPD had considerably smaller left and right OFC volumes compared to those of healthy control subjects. We also found that thalamus volumes of patients were statistically significantly greater than those of healthy comparisons for both sides of region of interest. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that volumetric alterations determined in the present study may be involved in the pathophysiology of the OCPD, considering that OCPD might be related to OCD spectrum disorders neuroanatomically.