The Relationship between COVID-19 Protection Behaviors and Pandemic-Related Knowledge, Perceptions, Worry Content, and Public Trust in a Turkish Sample.

Background: This study aimed to explore the effect of knowledge, COVID-19-related perceptions, and public trust on protective behaviors in Turkish people. Methods: Data were collected from an online survey (Turkish COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring) conducted between July 2020 and January 2021. The recommended protective behaviors (hand cleaning, wearing a face mask, and physical distancing) to prevent COVID-19 were examined. The impacts of the following variables on protective behaviors were investigated using logistic regression analysis: knowledge, cognitive and affective risk perception, pandemic-related worry content, public trust, conspiracy thinking, and COVID-19 vaccine willingness. Results: Out of a total of 4210 adult respondents, 13.8% reported nonadherence to protection behavior, and 86.2% reported full adherence. Males and young (aged 18−30 years) people tend to show less adherence. Perceived self-efficacy, susceptibility, and correct knowledge were positively related to more adherence to protective behavior. Perceptual and emotional factors explaining protective behavior were perceived proximity, stress level, and worrying about the relatives who depended on them. Trust in health professionals and vaccine willingness were positive predictors, while conspiracy thinking and acquiring less information (<2, daily) were negative predictors. Unexpectedly, trust in the Ministry of Health showed a weak but negative association with protection behavior. Conclusions: Perceived stress, altruistic worries, and public trust seem to shape protection behaviors in addition to individuals' knowledge and cognitive risk perception in respondents. Males and young people may have a greater risk for nonadherence. Reliable, transparent, and culture-specific health communication that considers these issues is required.

Treatment Outcomes of Gamma-Knife Radio Surgery in Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disease that has negative effects on functionality, and 10% of the patients do not respond to first-line treatments. Gamma-knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been used in patients with treatment-resistant OCD, but the data on long-term outcomes are still unsatisfactory. Methods: In this study, 12 patients who underwent GKRS between 2005 and 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Anterior capsulotomy was performed using two 4-mm isocenters at the midputaminal point of the anterior limb of the internal capsule on each side with a maximum radiation dose of 140-180 Gy. Patients were followed up with the Yale-Brown Obsession and Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) on the first, third, and sixth months. Results: After the procedure, a 35% reduction was observed in the overall Y-BOCS scores, and full response rate was 50%. There was a 49.5% decrease in the MADRS scores and a 57.8% decrease in the BPRS. Conclusion: GKRS is an effective and non-invasive procedure with favorable side effects in treatment-resistant OCD with selected patients.