Browsing by Author "Agargun, MY"

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Association of Parasomnias and Dyssomnias - Response To Dr. Ng Et Al
(Oxford Univ Press inc, 2004) Agargun, MY; Selvi, Y
Clinical Importance of Nightmare Disorder in Patients With Dissociative Disorders
(Wiley, 2003) Agargun, MY; Kara, H; Özer, ÖA; Selvi, Y; Kiran, Ü; Özer, B
In the present study the prevalence of nightmare disorder (ND) was examined in patients with dissociative disorders (DD), and comparison was made between those with ND and those without nightmares in terms of clinical characteristics. The 30 patients with DD (5 male and 25 female) were recruited over 12 months in the Yuzuncu Yil University Research Hospital Department of Psychiatry. The subjects were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) criteria for ND. The Dissociative Experiences Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and a semistructured interview schedule for childhood traumatic events were administered to the subjects. A 57% prevalence of ND was found among patients with DD. Among patients with DD, those with ND had a higher rate of self-mutilative behavior, a history of suicide attempt in the last year, and comorbidity with borderline personality disorder than those without ND. Nightmares or dreams should be considered in the therapy of DD patients.
A Discrimination Based on Autogenous Versus Reactive Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Clinical Manifestations
(M B L Communications, inc, 2006) Besiroglu, L; Agargun, MY; Ozbebit, Z; Aydin, A
Introduction: Although putative subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been gradually more recognized, there is no generally accepted subtype discrimination. It has been suggested that autogenous and reactive obsessions stem from different cognitive process. This study aimed to assess existence of gender, age at onset of illness, and comorbidity differences in OCD patients suffering from autogenous and reactive obsessions. Methods: The medical records of 177 OCD patients were evaluated retrospectively for gender, age at onset, comorbid diagnoses, and predisposing life events. Obsessions and compulsions were coded according to theYale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. All patients were grouped as the patients with autogenous (autogenous group [AG] n=32), reactive (reactive group [RG] n=77) and mixed obsessions (mixed group [MG] n=68). Results: AG patients were significantly more likely to be male, compared with the RG and MG patients. They also had significantly later onset of illness. Dissociative disorders were less common among AG patients compared with the other groups. Conclusion: Results suggest that the discrimination between autogenous and reactive obsessions are not only based on their development and maintenance mechanism through different cognitive process but that there also clinical manifestations of this discrimination.
The Efficacy of Fluoxetine in the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation: a Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study
(Williams & Wilkins, 1996) Kara, H; Aydin, S; Agargun, MY; Odabas, O; Yilmaz, Y
Purpose: The efficacy of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation was examined. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 17 patients with premature ejaculation who presented to the urology clinic of our medical school. In this double-blind study the patients were randomized into treatment groups receiving 20 mg. fluoxetine daily for 1 week and 40 mg. daily afterward (group 1) or 1 capsule placebo daily for 1 week and 2 capsules daily afterward (group 2). The groups were evaluated according to the latent period of intravaginal ejaculation. Results: The latent period of intravaginal ejaculation in group 1 was significantly longer than that in group 2. Nausea, headache and insomnia were reported side effects. Conclusions: Fluoxetine may be regarded as a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of premature ejaculation.
Efficacy of Testosterone, Trazodone and Hypnotic Suggestion in the Treatment of Non-Organic Male Sexual Dysfunction
(Blackwell Science Ltd, 1996) Aydin, S; Odabas, O; Ercan, M; Kara, H; Agargun, MY
Objective To examine the effects of hypnotic suggestions or the administration of testosterone or trazodone to impotent men with no detectable organic cause for the impotence. Patients and methods The study comprised 79 men in whom clinical and laboratory examinations revealed no organic cause for their impotence; 20 men (mean age 38.7 +/- 11.47 years) received testosterone. 21 men (mean age 39.5 +/- 10.73 years) received trazodone, 20 men (mean age 34.2 +/- 11.69 years) underwent hypnosis and 18 men (mean age 39.1 +/- 11.46 years) served as controls. They were assessed by interview 4, 6 and 8 weeks after starting treatment; the patient's reports were verified by interviewing their partners. Results Men who received a placebo had a 39% improvement in sexual function, while the rates of improvement in the treated groups were higher, but not significantly so. The success rates of testosterone and trazodone treatment and hypnotic suggestions were 60%, 67% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion Although the improvement was not statistically significant, treatment with testosterone and trazodone could be used as an adjuvant therapy in nonorganic male sexual dysfunction. The only treatment superior to placebo seemed to be hypnosis. A more effective treatment may be obtained by combining these therapeutic modalities, but this needs further study.
Nightmares and Dissociative Experiences
(Wiley, 2003) Agargun, MY; Kara, H; Özer, ÖA; Selvi, Y; Kiran, Ü; Kiran, S
In order to examine the co-occurrence of nightmares with dissociative experiences in the adolescent population and to demonstrate the impact of childhood traumatic events in this association, 292 undergraduate students were interviewed for childhood traumatic events. The Van Dream Anxiety Scale (VDAS) and Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) were also administered to the subjects. For nightmares a 7.5% prevalence of 'often' and a 58.2% prevalence of 'sometimes' was found for college students. Nightmare prevalence was higher in women than in men. The rate of childhood traumatic experiences was higher in nightmare sufferers than in those who did not have nightmares. The subjects who had undergone physical and sexual abuse had higher VDAS global scores and item scores. When the DES scores of the subjects with nightmares were compared with that of those who had never reported nightmares, the subjects with nightmares had significantly higher scores on DES. The DES scores were also negatively correlated with duration of nightmares in subjects who had childhood traumatic experiences. These findings suggest that the subjects with childhood traumatic events failed to psychologically integrate their traumatic experiences and used dissociation as a coping strategy.
Nightmares and Serum Cholesterol Level: a Preliminary Report
(Canadian Psychiatric Assoc, 2005) Agargun, MY; Gulec, M; Cilli, AS; Kara, H; Sekeroglu, R; Dulger, H; Inci, R
Objective: To examine whether there is a relation between nightmares and serum lipid levels. Methods: Fifteen subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for the diagnosis of nightmare disorder and 15 healthy control subjects participated in the study. We used an enzymatic colorimetric method for cholesterol and triglyceride determination. We measured high-density lipoprotien (HDL) cholesterol using the direct HDL-cliolesterot method. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated according to the Friedewald formula. Results: Patients with nightmare disorder had. lower serum triglyceride, lower total cholesterol, and lower LDL levels than healthy control Subjects. Conclusion: These findings suggest that nightmares are associated with low serum lipid levels.
Nightmares and Terminal Insomnia in Depressed Patients With and Without Melancholic Features
(Elsevier Ireland Ltd, 2005) Besiroglu, L; Agargun, MY; Inci, R
To investigate the relationship between nightmares and melancholic features (MF) in depression, we compared depressed patients with and without MF (n=82 and n=75, respectively) regarding the presence of nightmares. Nightmares were significantly more frequent in patients with ME Depressed mood in the morning may be related to negative dream content. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Panic Disorder: the Association With Major Depression
(Editions Scientifiques Elsevier, 1996) Agargun, MY; Kara, H; Alpkan, L; Ucisik, M
To examine the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, we evaluated 69 outpatients with panic disorder. We found a 30% prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms had an earlier onset of illness and were more likely to have current and past major depression than the other ones.
The Prevalence of Parasomnias in Preadolescent School-Aged Children: a Turkish Sample
(Oxford Univ Press inc, 2004) Agargun, MY; Cilli, AS; Sener, S; Bilici, M; Ozer, OA; Selvi, Y; Karacan, E
Study Objectives: To survey the prevalence of parasomnias in a population of children aged 7 to 11 years and to determine whether parasomnias are associated with medical and neurobehavioral properties. Design: Parents and children completed a pediatric sleep questionnaire that contains 27 items developed by the authors to assess parasomnias in children. Parents and children were also interviewed about the children's medical and sociofamilial history, schooling, psychological difficulties, medication intake, and the history of psychomotor and psychosocial development. Setting: NA Participants: 971 preadolescent school-aged children from 4 locations in Turkey participated in the study. Results: We found a 14.4% prevalence of parasomnia in preadolescent school-aged children. Almost every sixth child had about at least 1 parasomnia. When we examined parasomnias separately, bruxism, nocturnal enuresis, and night terrors were the most common parasomnias among both girls and boys. The prevalence of parasomnias was higher in the 9- and 10-year-old age groups than in the other age groups. Girls and boys did not differ. Children with parasomnias had higher rates of past physical illness, delays in toilet raining, behavior disturbances, adjustment problems, and learning difficulties. Conclusions: These results suggest that the prevalence of parasomnias was high in the 9- and 10-year-old age groups. Parasomnias are associated with a history of physical illness and neurobehavioral abnormalities.
Relation Between Depression, Some Laboratory Parameters and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients
(Oxford Univ Press, 2005) Dogan, E; Erkoc, R; Eryonucu, B; Sayarlioglu, H; Agargun, MY
Rem Sleep, Dream Variables and Suicidality in Depressed Patients
(Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd, 2003) Agargun, MY; Cartwright, R
To examine the relationship between the emotional quality of dreams, REM sleep variables and suicidal tendency in depressed individuals, 26 depressed volunteers (10 males and 16 females) were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and underwent 3 nights of polysomnography. There was a significant negative correlation between suicidality scores and REM latency and a positive correlation between suicidality and REM percent. Suicidal subjects had a significantly shorter mean REM latency and a higher mean REM percentage than the non-suicidal subjects. As expected in normal subjects, 20 subjects had an increase in dream-like quality (DLQ) of REM reports between the first and second halves of the night. The six subjects with a negative DLQ difference also scored as suicidal. A reduction in dream-like quality of the REM content reports between the first and second halves of the night was found to be associated with suicidal tendency. The findings may indicate that these subjects fail to self-regulate mood and integrate affect into long-term memory networks during sleep. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings in depression are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Serum Lipid Levels in Patients With Dissociative Disorder
(Amer Psychiatric Publishing, inc, 2004) Agargun, MY; Özer, OA; Kara, F; Sekeroglu, R; Selvi, Y; Eryonucu, B
Objective: There may be an association between a low serum cholesterol level and dissociative disorders. Method: The subjects of the study were 16 patients with dissociative disorder and 16 normal comparison subjects (two men and 14 women in each group). Total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein levels were compared. Results: Patients with dissociative disorders had lower serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein levels than normal comparison subjects. Conclusions: Low serum lipid concentrations may be related to a high incidence of self-injurious behaviors and borderline features in patients with dissociative disorders.
Serum Lipid Levels, Suicidality, and Panic Disorder
(W B Saunders Co, 2004) Özer, ÖA; Kutanis, R; Agargun, MY; Besiroglu, L; Bal, AC; Selvi, Y; Kara, H
Although the effects of serum total cholesterol and other lipids have been implicated as a predictor of suicidal behavior in major depression, the role of cholesterol level on suicide risk for panic disorder patients is not considered as a biological marker in the literature. In this study, we examined the relationship of suicidality with serum cholesterol concentration in panic disorder. The subjects of the study were 10 suicidal panic disorder patients, 19 nonsuicidal panic disorder patients, and 15 normal control subjects. The suicidal patients with panic disorder had lower serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels than normal control subjects. These findings suggest that there may be an association between suicidality and low serum cholesterol levels in panic disorder. We also discuss the possible role of serotonin in the brain in the relationship of suicidal behavior or ideation with low cholesterol concentration in panic disorder patients, and 15 normal control subjects. Thesuicidal patients with panic disorder had lower serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels than normal control subjects. These findings suggest that there may be an association between suicidality and low serum cholesterol levels in panic disorder. We also discuss the possible role of serotonin in the brain in the relationship of suicidal behavior or ideation with low cholesterol concentration in panic disorder. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Sleep and Suicidality
(Oxford Univ Press inc, 2005) Agargun, MY; Besiroglu, L
Sleep Panic Attacks in Patients With Panic Disorder: the Association With Major Depression
(Editions Scientifiques Medicales Elsevier, 1997) Agargun, MY; Kara, H
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of sleep panic to major depression in patients with panic disorder. We found that the patients with sleep panic had a higher prevalence of major depression than subjects of other panic disorders.
Sleep-Related Violence and Low Serum Cholesterol
(Blackwell Publishing Asia, 2002) Agargun, MY; Sekeroglu, MR; Kara, H; Özer, ÖA; Tombul, T; Kiran, Ü; Selvi, Y
To examine whether there is a relationship between serum cholesterol level and sleep-related violence, we evaluated 15 patients with violent behavior during sleep (VBS) and 15 normal control subjects. The patient and control groups were matched for sex, age, and weight. There were 13 women and two men in each group. The patients with VBS had lower serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels than the healthy subjects. Low cholesterol may effect serotonergic neuronal activity and some types of 5-HT receptors, then may be related to violent behavior during sleep.
Subjective Sleep Quality and Suicidality in Patients With Major Depression
(Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, 1997) Agargun, MY; Kara, H; Solmaz, M
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sleep duality and suicidality in major depressive disorder. We evaluated 41 patients with major depression by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) suicide subscale. We found that suicidal depressive patients had significantly higher scores of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency and PSQI global scores than nonsuicidal patients. We also found significant correlations between the SADS suicide subscale scores and most measures of the PSQI. These data suggest that there is an association between poor subjective sleep quality and suicidal behavior in patients with major depressive disorder. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Suicidality in Patients With Panic Disorder: the Association With Comorbidity
(Editions Scientifiques Elsevier, 1996) Agargun, MY; Kara, H
To examine the relationship between suicidality and panic disorder, we evaluated 91 patients with panic disorder. Patients with comorbid diagnosis were more suicidal than patients with pure panic disorder. These data suggest that among patients with panic disorder, suicidal behavior is associated with comorbid diagnosis.