Browsing by Author "Kara, H"

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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.
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.
Hypnotizability, Pain Threshold, and Dissociative Experiences
(Elsevier Science inc, 1998) Agargün, MY; Tekeoglu, I; Kara, H; Adak, B; Ercan, M
Background: There may be all association between pain threshold, hypnotizability, and dissociative experiences. The purpose of the present study was to examine this association. Methods: Forty-one healthy subjects were included in the study, Pain thresholds M!ere determined using a manual algometer, The Dissociative Experiences Scale was administered to all subjects. Hypnotizability of the subjects was assessed by the eye roll sign of the Hypnotic Induction Profile. There were 14, 15, and 12 subjects in the Grade 1, 2, and 3 groups, respectively. Results: Highly hypnotizable subjects had lower pain thresholds and were more likely to report dissociative experiences than the less hypnotizable subjects. Conclusions: There is an association between pain threshold, hypnotizability, and dissociative experiences It may be suggested that dissociative and somatic symptoms may be integrally linked and related to hypnotic suggestibility. Biol Psychiatry 1998;44:69-71 (C) 1998 Society of Biological Psychiatry.
Low Cholesterol Level in Patients With Panic Disorder
(Elsevier Science Bv, 1998) Agargün, MY; Algün, E; Sekeroglu, R; Kara, H; Tarakçioglu, M
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine whether an association exists between low cholesterol level and major depression in patients with panic disorder. Methods: The subjects of the study were 16 patients panic disorder only, 16 panic disorder patients had also current major depressive episode, and 16 normal control subjects. An automated enzymatic colorimetric method was used for cholesterol determination. Results: Panic disorder patients had higher serum cholesterol than panic disorder patients with major depression and normal controls. Conclusion: There is an association between low cholesterol level and the presence of major depression in patients with panic disorder. Limitation: Future studies with large sample are needed to confirm this finding. Clinical Relevance: A low serum cholesterol level might serve as biological marker of major depression in patients panic disorder. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
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.
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.
Restless Legs Syndrome Induced by Mirtazapine
(Physicians Postgraduate Press, 2002) Agargün, MY; Kara, H; Özbek, H; Tombul, T; Ozer, OA
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 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.