Aim. Recent research implicated place of an immune mechanism in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite increasing evidence involvement of cytokine release in OCD, results of the studies are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of the cytokines; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in OCD patients. Methods. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured in 31 drug-free outpatients with OCD, and 31-year age and sex-matched healthy controls. TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Both TNF-α and IL-6 levels showed statistically significant increases in OCD patients compared to controls (P < .000, P < .001, resp.). In addition, the age of onset was negatively correlated with TNF-α level (r = −.402, P = .025) and duration of illness was weakly correlated with IL-6 levels (r : .357; P : .048) in patients group. Conclusion. OCD patients showed increases in TNF-α and IL-6 levels compared to the healthy controls. This study provides evidence for alterations in the proinflamatory cytokines which suggest the involvement of the immune system in the pathophysiology of OCD.

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SUMMARYBehçetÕs disease, a systemic vasculitis, can cause varying degrees of activity limitation, fatigue and quality of life impairment. To date, there have been no studies regarding sleep disturbance and its relationship with fatigue and life quality in BehçetÕs disease. We aimed to evaluate sleep disorders and polysomnographic parameters, and to determine their relationship with fatigue and quality of life in BehçetÕs disease. Fiftyone patients with BehçetÕs disease without any neurological involvement were interviewed regarding sleep disorders. Twenty-one subjects with no sleep complaints were included as the control group. Sleep-related complaints were evaluated in a face-to-face interview. Sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, disease activity ⁄ severity, and quality of life questionnaires and an overnight polysomnography were performed. Prevalences of restless legs syndrome (35.3%) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with ⁄ without other sleep disorders (32.5%) were higher than in the control group and the general population. Fatigue was higher in patients with restless legs syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and in those with lower minimum oxygen saturation; hence, only patients with restless legs syndrome had quality of life impairment. Sleep efficiency index and sleep continuity index were lower, and wake after sleep onset, respiratory disturbance index and apnea-hypopnea index were higher than in controls (P < 0.01). Neither sleep disorders nor polysomnographic parameters were related to disease activity and severity. In conclusion, it is important to question sleep disorder followed by a polysomnography, if necessary, in order to improve quality of life and fatigue in BehçetÕs disease. INTRODUC TIONBehçetÕs disease (BD) was first described by Turkish dermatologist Hulusi Behçet in 1937 as a triad of recurrent oral aphthae, genital ulcerations and relapsing uveitis (Behçet, 1937). BD is a chronic, systemic vasculitis with an unknown etiology, which can affect blood vessels (mainly veins) of all sizes. The clinical picture of BD is widely variable. In addition to the mucocutaneous lesions, ocular, vascular, articular, gastrointestinal, urogenital, pulmonary and neurological involvements have been seen during its course, and are characterized by a heterogeneous severity. BD progresses with unpredictable flares alternating with remission periods (Harzallah et al., 2008).The complexity of signs and symptoms in BD can disturb an individualÕs lifestyle by causing limitation in activity. As a result, numerous psychological problems may arise. Furthermore, it was shown in some studies that in patients with BD with fatigue, there was a significant association with impaired quality of life (QoL;Bodur et al., 2006). It was reported that

ObjectiveOlder people seek not only a longer life, but also a better quality of life (QOL). Our aim was to find out the relationship between QOL and socio-demographic factors, social activities, cognitive status, depression and anxiety symptoms among medically ill and hospitalized elderly people in Turkey.MethodsTwo hundred forty three patients age 65 years or older were examined. The Socio-demographic Data Survey, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale-short form (GDS-15), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-OLD) were applied to participants. The independent samples t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze quantitative data. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis were performed.ResultsThe total score for QOL was significantly higher for those who saw their family members and relatives frequently rather than rarely (p=0.002), who were always busy with social activities rather than rarely or never (p<0.001), who had more years of education (p=0.003), and who were frequently exercising (p=0.023). According to linear regression analysis, the WHOQOL-OLD total score increased by 0.295 and −0.936 units, while MMSE and GDS-15 scale scores increased one unit respectively (β=0.295, t=1.979, p=0.04; β=−0.936, t=−4.881, p<0.001).ConclusionCognitive disabilities, depression, and other psychiatric problems along with medical disease negatively affect the QOL of elderly patients. While performing medical assessment regarding elders, detecting and treating cognitive disabilities and depression is very valuable in improving the QOL of elderly patients.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of Turkish Version of the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) in psychiatric outpatient population as a measure of severity of the night eating syndrome (NES). Methods: We examined the factor structure, internal consistency and validity of the NEQ in Turkish. First, we translated NEQ into Turkish and than back-translation into English; correction and semantic adaptation and assessment of the understanding of the questionnaire. We made the diagnosis of NES according to psychiatric examination. We administered the NEQ in 433 patients and the re-test in 141 participants two weeks later. Result: The instrument showed satisfactory internal consistency with an overall Cronbach α of 0.69. Intraclass correlation for the test re-test total score was 0.96. The ninety seven patients had NES with psychiatric examination. The area under ROC curve defined as 0,904. For cutt-of point of 18 in NEQ both sensitivity and spesificity were as 90.7% and 73.8%. The confirmatory factor analysis of the NEQ yielded a similar four factor solution as the original scale. Conclusions: We found that Turkish version of NEQ is valid and has good diagnos-_____________________________________________________________________________________________________