Aims:  The purpose of the present study was to examine the current prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, and factors related to mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method:  The study sample included 83 consecutive patients with RA who were admitted to a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Diagnoses of psychiatric disorders were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (SCID‐I). To assess physical disability and disease activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Disease Activity Score, respectively, were used. Results:  The prevalence of any mood or any anxiety disorder was 43.4%. The two most common psychiatric diagnoses were major depression (21.7%) and generalized anxiety disorder (16.9%). Mood and anxiety disorders were unrelated to sociodemographic features, disease‐related factors, and medications for RA except anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). These disorders, however, were identified less frequently in patients with RA receiving anti‐TNF‐α drugs compared to patients who did not receive such medications. Conclusion:  Patients with RA frequently have mood and anxiety disorders, and anti‐TNF‐α drugs may be useful for the mental status of these patients.

SUMMARY Aim:To compare the effects of exergames (EGs) using the Xbox KinectTM device and home exercise (HE) on balance, functional mobility, and quality of life of individuals aged 65 years or older.Method: One hundred participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to the EG or HE group. The EG group took part in a 6-week programme using the Xbox360Kinect TM device, and the HE group took part in a 6-week balance exercise programme at home 5 days a week. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to assess balance, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to evaluate functional walking, and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to assess quality of life.Results: Forty-eight participants in the EG group and 42 participants in the HE group completed the study. The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, and pretreatment values of BBS, TUG, and SF-36. Although the BBS scores of both groups improved significantly (all p < 0.05), the post-treatment scores of the EG group were better than those of the HE group. The TUG scores improved only in the EG group (p < 0.05). The increase in the BBS scores and decrease in the TUG test scores were significant only in the EG group (all p < 0.05). A significant improvement was also observed in the quality of life parameters of physical functioning, social role functioning, physical role restriction, general health perceptions, and physical component scores in the post-exercise evaluations of the EG group. The participants commented that they found the EG programme very entertaining.Conclusion: The EG can be considered a safe, entertaining and sustainable alternative to HE programmes, and it may have positive effects on balance, functional walking and quality of life in geriatric subjects.

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Summary:Background: Osteoporosis is a widespread metabolic bone disease representing a global public health problem currently affecting more than two hundred million people worldwide. The World Health Organization states that dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the best densitometric technique for assessing bone mineral density (BMD). DXA provides an accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis, a good estimation of fracture risk, and is a useful tool for monitoring patients undergoing treatment. Common mistakes in BMD testing can be divided into four principal categories: 1) indication errors, 2) lack of quality control and calibration, 3) analysis and interpretation errors, and 4) inappropriate acquisition techniques. The aim of this retrospective multicenter descriptive study is to identify the common errors in the application of the DXA technique in Turkey. Methods: All DXA scans performed during the observation period were included in the study if the measurements of both, the lumbar spine and proximal femur were recorded. Forearm measurement, total body measurements, and measurements performed on children were excluded. Each examination was surveyed by 30 consultants from 20 different centers each informed and trained in the principles of and the standards for DXA scanning before the study. Results: A total of 3,212 DXA scan results from 20 different centers in 15 different Turkish cities were collected. The percentage of the discovered erroneous measurements varied from 10.5% to 65.5% in the lumbar spine and from 21.3% to 74.2% in the proximal femur. The overall error rate was found to be 31.8% (n = 1021) for the lumbar spine and 49.0% (n = 1576) for the