Browsing by Author "Agargun, Mehmet Yucel"

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Are Serum Lipid Levels Associated With Depression in Hemodialysis Patients
(Turk Nefroloji Diyaliz Transplantasyon dergisi, 2006) Sahin, Idris; Kiran, Umit Kemal; Sahin, Huseyin Avni; Ustun, Yusuf; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel; Erkoc, Reha
Background: Recent study suggested a relation between low levels of serum lipids and depression. The aim of this study was to assess the association between serum lipid levels and depression in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods: All the patients who were attending Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine Training Hospital Hemodialysis Unit, in Turkey, from August 2000 to July 2001, were prospectively studied. Serum TC, LDL-c, HDL-c, VLDL-c and triglyceride levels were measured and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered to all patients. Diabetic patients were excluded. Results: There were 46 patients (25 males and 21 females). Mean duration of hemodialysis was 28.1 +/- 30.2 months. Mean Kt/V was 1.2 +/- 0.4. The mean age of study group was 45.2 +/- 16.3 years and the age range was 15-73 years. Mean serum albumin concentration was 3.63 +/- 0.55 (2.5-4.7) g/dL. The patients' mean BDI was 15.9 +/- 6.2 (431). There was association between serum TC (total cholesterol), LDL-c (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), HDL-c (high density lipoprotein cholesterol) and depression but no association between serum VLDL-c (very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol) and triglyceride levels and depression in patients with ESRD. Conclusion: Depression is the most common psychological finding in patients with ESRD. Our study demonstrate that there were associations between low serum TC, LDL-c, HDL-c levels and depression but there was no association between depression and serum triglyceride and VLDL-c levels in patients with ESRD.
Childhood Traumatic Experiences, Dissociation and Thought Suppression in Patients With 'psychosomatic Skin Diseases
(Wiley, 2009) Besiroglu, Lutfullah; Akdeniz, Necmettin; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel; Calka, Omer; Ozdemir, Osman; Bilgili, Serap Genes
In this study, patients with what were considered 'psychosomatic' skin diseases were compared with patients with skin conditions that are thought to be 'non-psychosomatic' diseases in terms of their reported history of childhood traumatic experiences, dissociative experiences and thought suppression. Ninety-six patients with 'psychosomatic' skin disease were included in the study. The comparison subjects (n = 54) were patients with skin conditions believed to have a negligible psychosomatic component and the subjects without skin disease (n = 77). Subjects were administered with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI). While the 'emotional neglect' scores of the psychosomatic' group were significantly higher than that of both 'non-psychosomatic' and healthy subjects, there were no significant differences for the other subscales of the CTQ. The 'psychosomatic' group scored significantly higher on the DES absorption scale, DES total and WBSI scores than the other groups. Significantly more patients in the 'psychosomatic' group reported a stressful life event as related to the onset of skin complaints compared with the 'non-psychosomatic' group. Our results suggest that the effect of subjective perception of emotional neglect, mediated by stressful life events, increases the vulnerability to psychosomatic disease. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Correlates of Healthcare Seeking Behavior in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(Turkiye Sinir ve Ruh Sagligi dernegi, 2006) Besiroglu, Lutfullah; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, distressing, and disabling illness that influences the family, academic, occupational, and social functioning of patients. One of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide is OCD; however, despite the considerable distress and disability associated with the disorder and the availability of treatment options, many OCD sufferers usually are not inclined to seek healthcare. The factors that may be central to healthcare seek behavior in OCD has scarcely been described in the literature. It has been thought that the best predictor of healthcare seeking is severity of illness; however, individuals with OCD may have various barriers to seeking healthcare. Although non-disease and disease-related factors that may influence health care seeking are related in complex ways through reciprocal influences and feedback, each factor might be an independent predictor of use of healthcare services. This review aims to discuss the impact of the disease and general factors that impact healthcare seeking behavior in OCD. In this way, new information might be provided for the identification of targets to enhance the use of mental health services among OCD sufferers in the community.
Factors Associated With Major Depressive Disorder Occurring After the Onset of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(Elsevier, 2007) Besiroglu, Lutfullah; Uguz, Fairuk; Saglam, Mursel; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel; Cilli, Ali Savas
Background: We aimed to investigate the correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD) occurring after the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Forty-three OCD patients who developed MDD after the onset of OCD (OCD-MDD group) and 67 OCD patients without MDD (non-MDD, NMDD group) were compared with regard to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history, symptom severity, types of obsessions and compulsions, insight degree, comorbid axis I and axis 11 diagnosis and quality-of-life level. Results: The OCD-MDD group scored significantly higher on measures of obsessions, compulsions and depression severity than did the NMDD. Significantly more aggressive obsessions were identified in the OCD-MDD group than in the NMDD group. The OCD-MDD group was also significantly more likely than the NMDD group to have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), There was no significant difference in the rate of personality disorders between the groups. The OCD-MDD group reported significantly lower levels of quality of life (QOL) in the domains of physical health, psychological health and social relationships. Depression severity was associated with obsession but not with compulsion severity. In a logistic regression model, obsession severity, presence of GAD and aggressive obsessions emerged as the factors associated with the occurrence of MDD. Limitations: To exclude ineligible patients, we gathered the information about past mood episodes cross-sectionally. Conclusions: These results suggest that psychopathological processes mediated by specific obsessions as well as excessive anxiety and worries may render the neurocircuities more vulnerable to the development of MDD. The occurrence of MDD in OCD cannot sufficiently be explained as a secondary complication to the disability of OCD. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Mood Changes After Sleep Deprivation in Morningness-Eveningness Chronotypes in Healthy Individuals
(Blackwell Publishing, 2007) Selvi, Yavuz; Gulec, Mustafa; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel; Besiroglu, Lutfullah
Inconsistent results have been found in the studies evaluating the effect of both total and partial sleep deprivation (SD) on mood in healthy subjects and a few variables have been analyzed as possible predictors. In the present study, we examined whether circadian preference modifies the effect of SD on mood changes in healthy subjects. Sample consisted of 60 healthy volunteers (including 30 morningness and 30 eveningness subjects). Then, the two groups were again divided into two groups for two SD procedures. Fifteen morningness and 15 eveningness chronotypes were total sleep deprived and 15 morningness and 15 eveningness subjects were partial sleep deprived. The mood changes were evaluated before and after SD using Profile of Mood States. Two main results were obtained from our study: a significant increase in depression subscale in morningness chronotypes and a significant decrease in depression subscale score after total SD (TSD) in eveningness chronotypes. The changes in depression-dejection scores of eveningness chronotypes after total (P < 0.01) and partial SD (P < 0.01) were significantly different from changes in morningness chronotypes after TSD. Our results suggest that the effect of SID on mood in normal subjects is related to their circadian preferences. The morningness or eveningness characteristics of the shift workers have significant impact on their mood states. Therefore, adjusting the work schedule with the morningness and eveningness characteristics of the workers may improve their mood alterations.
Nightmares, Suicide Attempts, and Melancholic Features in Patients With Unipolar Major Depression
(Elsevier, 2007) Agargun, Mehmet Yucel; Besiroglu, Lutfullah; Cilli, Ali Savas; Gulec, Mustafa; Aydin, Adem; Incl, Rifat; Selvi, Yavuz
Objectives: Recently, there has been a growing interest in the relationship between sleep disturbances and suicidality in major depression. Sleep disturbances are one of the 'modifiable risks' for suicide in major depression. The present study examines whether there is a relationship among nightmares, suicide attempts, and melancholic features in unipolar major depressed patients. Methods: One hundred (49 males and 51 females) depressed patients with melancholic features and 49 (23 males and 26 females) patients without melancholic features were included in the study. All patients were classified as those who attempted suicide at least once during current depressive episode and as those who never attempted. Results: Melancholic attempters had higher rates of nightmares, middle, and terminal insomnia than melancholic non-attempters. There was no significant difference between non-melancholic patients with and without suicidal attempts in terms of the frequency of all types of insomnia and nightmares. Limitations: This study does not have polysomnographic records for steep variables. Conclusions: Feeling worse in the morning than later in the day may be related to the intervening dream content and affect and predict suicidal tendency. Melancholia may be associated with increased risk of suicide attempts due to repetitive and frightening dreams. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ongoing or Re-Emerging Subjective Insomnia Symptoms After Full/Partial Remission or Recovery of Major Depressive Disorder Mainly With the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Risk of Relapse or Recurrence: a 52-Week Follow-Up Study
(Elsevier, 2011) Gulec, Mustafa; Selvi, Yavuz; Boysan, Murat; Aydin, Adem; Besiroglu, Lutfullah; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel
Background: Many patients who remit fully/partially or recover from an episode of major depression continue to suffer from sleep problems, mainly insomnia. Our study assesses the frequency and types of ongoing or re-emerging subjective insomnia symptoms and their relationship to subsequent depressive relapse or recurrence in a group of full/partial remitters or recoverers. Method: Sixty patients, 18 to 65 years of age, with current MDD defined using DSM-IV-TR criteria were participated in the study. They began a 24-week course of open-label acute plus continuation phase treatment mainly with SSRIs. Maintenance treatment was not planned for not affecting natural relapse or recurrence rates. All participants were evaluated by CGI-S, BDI, HAMD-17, PSQI, and ISI at weeks 0. 4, 12, 24, and 52. Results: Majority of the participants (83.33%) had subjective sleep disturbance, insomnia prior to relapse or recurrence. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate changes in scores of depression and sleep scales over time between recurred (N =12) and non-recurred groups (N = 48). Differences between means were calculated with post hoc Bonferroni comparison test. The changes in scores of entire clinical scales over time between recurred and non-recurred groups were statistically significant Limitations: The limitations of this study include the use of a relatively small, mostly young female sample and the lack of an objective sleep measure to corroborate self-report scales. Conclusions: Early recognition and treatment of disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle may be important for treatment and prevention of recurrence of depression. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Serum Lipid Concentrations in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients With and Without Panic Attacks
(Canadian Psychiatric Assoc, 2004) Agargun, Mehmet Yucel; Dulger, Haluk; Inci, Rifat; Kara, Hayrettin; Ozer, Omer Akil; Sekeroglu, Mehmet Ramazan; Besiroglu, Lutfullah
Objective: To examine serum lipid levels in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and to test whether panic symptoms affect lipid concentrations in OCD patients. Methods: We assessed 33 OCD patients and 33 healthy control subjects matched for sex and age. Results: OCD patients had higher low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, and tryglyceride levels, but lower high-density lipoprotein levels, than normal control subjects. We also found that only OCD patients with panic attacks had higher serum lipid concentrations, compared with normal control subjects. Serum lipid levels of pure OCD patients did not differ from control values. Conclusion: These findings suggest that high serum lipid concentrations are related to panic anxiety rather than other symptoms of the illness. (Can J Psychiatry 2004;49:776-778)
Sociodemographic Factors That Affect Self-Esteem in Two Culturally Diverse Cities of a Country
(Slovak Acad Sciences, Ctr Social & Psychological Sciences, Iep, 2008) Ersoy, Mehmet Akif; Ozcan, Dilek Yoruk; Agargun, Mehmet Yucel
The aim of this study was to investigate sociodemographic factors that affect self-esteem in two culturally diverse cities of Turkey. A total of 860 subjects selected by stratified random sampling method were included. Sociodemogruphic characteristics, self-esteem, depression levels, perceived loneliness, support levels and anxiety levels were investigated. Self-esteem was found to be negatively related to depression. Situational and continuous anxiety levels were found to be positively related to perceived social and family support levels. Only education level was found to have a direct effect on self-esteem. The level of income, family structure, number of siblings and the province of residence were found to have an indirect effect on self-esteem. The self-esteem of inhabitants of the western city of Izmir was higher and determined mainly by education and financial levels.