A questionnaire consisting of items about abuse, neglect, self-mutilation and suicide attempt and the Turkish Version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale were given to 862 high school students. The rates of suicide attempt and self-mutilative behaviors were 10.1% and 21.4%, respectively. Abused or neglected groups (34.3%) had 7.6-fold higher suicide attempts and 2.7-fold higher selfmutilation behaviours. The logistic regression model showed that each type of trauma and dissociation contributed to suicide attempts and self-mutilation, but dissociation was the most powerful. Suicidal and self-destructive adolescents should precisely be evaluated for abuse, neglect and dissociation in clinical practice.

There is great evidence in recent years that oxygen free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study was performed to assess the changes in red blood cells thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities in patients with autism (n = 27) compared to age- and sex-matched normal controls (n = 26). In the autistic group, increased TBARS levels (p < 0.001) and XO (p < 0.001) and SOD (p < 0.001) activity, decreased CAT (p < 0.001) activity and unchanged ADA activity were detected. It is proposed that antioxidant status may be changed in autism and this new situation may induce lipid peroxidation. These findings indicated a possible role of increased oxidative stress and altered enzymatic antioxidants, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of autism.

Aim:To investigate prevalence and patterns of psychiatric disorders in young subjects with Internet addiction (IA).Methods: Subjects were taken from a sample of patients, aged 10-18 years old, referred to Istanbul Medical Faculty, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department due to a variety of behavioral and emotional problems alongside problematic Internet use. Inclusion criteria included IQ Ն70 and score Ն80 on Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS). Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed using the Turkish version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version.Results: Subjects were 45 boys (75%) and 15 girls (25%) with an age range of 10-18 years old (mean age, 13.38 Ϯ 1.79 years). A total of 60% (n = 36) had been using Internet for Ն5 years. Mean hours/week spent on the Internet was 53.7 (range, 30-105 h) and the average YIAS score was 85. All subjects (100%) had at least one and 88.3% (n = 53) had at least two comorbid psychiatric disorders. The frequency of diagnostic groups were as follows: behavioral disorder, n = 52 (86.7%); anxiety disorder, n = 43 (71.7%); mood disorder, n = 23 (38.3%); elimination disorder, n = 16 (26.7%); tic disorder, n = 10 (16.7%); and substance use disorder, n = 4 (6.7%). The most common psychiatric disorders were attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 53; 83.3%), social phobia (n = 21; 35.0%) and major depressive disorder (n = 18; 30.0%). Conclusion:High rates of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly behavioral, anxiety and mood disorders were found in young subjects with IA. Because the presence of psychiatric disorders may affect the management /prognosis of IA, assessment should include that for other psychiatric disorders.

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Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of many neuropsychiatric disorders. NO level was found high in acute manic inpatients. In this study, we aimed to assess NO level and activity of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), in euthymic bipolar patients. Twenty-seven patients with bipolar disorder (BD) in euthymic phase, and 20 healthy volunteers were included in this study. A semi-structured form was used to note social, demographic and clinical parameters of the patients. NO level and SOD activity were studied in the serum samples obtained from the patients and controls. The mean serum NO level in BD was significantly higher than in controls. Mean serum SOD activity was found to be elevated in patients with BD compared to controls. Total number of the manic episodes correlated with NO levels, but not with SOD activity. In conclusion, the number of manic episodes is positively associated with NO levels. NO and SOD appear to have a pathophysiological role in BD, especially in Type I euthymic phase, and may be considered an available trait marker for BD.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and polymorphism of the two regions of the 5-HTT gene [variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and 5-HTTLRR] in a sample of Turkish children. Using the PCR technique, these polymorphisms were assessed in 71 patients with ADHD and 128 healthy controls. The 5-HTTLPR S/S genotype was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.018). Homozygous and heterozygous L variant predominated in the ADHD group. But the VNTR STin2.12/12 genotype was significantly less found in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the frequency of the short (S), long, 10, and 12 alleles of both groups. The lack of an S/S variant of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the STin2.12/12 variant of VNTR polymorphism appears to be associated with an increased risk of ADHD.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Adrenomedullin (AM) induces vasorelaxation by activating adenylate cyclase and also by stimulating the release of NO. AM immune reactivity is present in the brain, consistent with a role as neurotransmitter. Therefore, it is suggested that these two molecules may play a role together in the brain. We aimed to examine AM and NO in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Forty-four patients with BPAD and 21 healthy control subjects were included in this study. DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (type I, manic episodes) was independently established by two psychiatrists and the Turkish version of the Bech-Rafaelson Mania Scale was administered. Also, a semistructured form was used to ascertain several sociodemographic and clinical variables of the patients. AM and NO were studied in plasma. The mean value of plasma NO levels in the BPAD group of 46.58 ± 13.97 µmol/l was significantly higher than that of controls (31.81 ± 8.14 µmol/l) (z = –4.15, p = 0.000). Mean plasma AM levels were found to be increased in patients with BPAD (35.13 ± 5.26 pmol/l) compared to controls (16.22 ± 3.02 pmol/l) (z = –6.16, p = 0.000). AM levels of BPAD patients were approximately 2-fold higher than controls. AM levels were positively correlated with the duration of hospitalization for the current episode and negatively correlated with the total duration of illness. Both NO and AM may have a pathophysiological role in BPAD (type I, manic episodes) and the clinical symptomatology and prognosis of BPAD.

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