Browsing by Author "Akin Sari, Burcu"

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How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic admissions? A single-center, retrospective study
(2022) Ayraler Taner, Hande; Akin Sari, Burcu; Kaba, Duygu; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4261-8509; 35465735; AAJ-8600-2021
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures for controlling the pandemic adversely affected child and adolescent mental health; however, studies that examined the effects of the pandemic on child and adolescent mental health services are limited. This study aimed to determine the changes in admission to a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic (CAPOC) in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year. Methods: In this study, the information regarding admissions to Baskent University Faculty of Medicine's CAPOC between March 2019 and March 2021 was examined. Information including age, sex, admission date, the form of admission (first admission/follow-up), and the diagnosis was obtained from the electronic medical record system and the differences between the pre-pandemic period and the pandemic period were assessed. Results: It was found that during the pandemic, there was a decrease in CAPOC admissions; however, both female admissions and median age increased compared with the previous year. Also, admissions due to obsessive-compulsive disorder and somatic symptom-related disorders increased. Conclusions: Although there were fewer CAPOC admissions during the pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period, there were differences between the age, sex, and diagnosis distributions of the patients between the pandemic and the pre-pandemic period. Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CAPOC admissions will help plan child and adolescent mental health protective measures.
Odor and Taste Sensitivity in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(2015) Akin Sari, Burcu; Taskintuna, Nilgun; 0000-0002-9730-7206; HJP-2418-2023; A-7296-2013
Objective: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, neuropsychological testing, examinations, and parent, teacher, and self-evaluation forms. Diagnosing of ADHD depends on clinical evaluation, others are auxilary methods. No biological, electrophysiological, or neuroimaging markers currently exist to diagnose ADHD. Many studies about the biological markers for diagnosing ADHD have been conducted. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions have not been well studied in ADHD for this purpose. For this reason this study aimed to evaluate both the olfactory and gustatory functions of children with ADHD. Methods: A total of 34 children with ADHD and a control group containing 31 children aged 6-15 years participated in the study. We used the Sniffin' Sticks odor tests and propylthiouracil (PROP) bitterness sensitivity test to examine odor and taste sensitivity, respectively. Results: We found no statistically significant differences between the ADHD and control groups in terms of odor sensitivity, odor discrimination, and odor identification. A statistically significant difference between groups was observed in PROP scores. Children in the ADHD group were less sensitive to bitterness than the control group. Conclusion: PROP bitterness test is in an advantageous state for being a marker in advanced years due to ease of use, independence of age and very short test period. As a result, in our study, it is concluded that PROP bitterness test may be a biological marker for ADHD diagnosis, however, further studies are needed.
Predictors of burnout and distress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19 home confinement
(2023) Kaba, Duygu; Hasanli, Jamal; Yavuz Colak, Meric; Akin Sari, Burcu; 0000-0002-4261-8509; 0000-0003-1364-625X; 0000-0002-0294-6874; AAJ-8113-2021; AAA-4360-2021
The study's purpose was to investigate the mental health and related variables of parents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child during COVID-19 home confinement. The study data is based on the evaluation of online self-report questionnaires that assess parental distress, burnout, and coping levels, as well as parent-proxy reports of autism severity and related behavioral issues, as described by the parents of 79 children with ASD and their 83 typically developing age- and sex-matched opponents. The burnout and adaptive coping levels of the parents with ASD children were greater than those of the controls. However, there was no significant difference in terms of general distress levels. Increased irritability was the most commonly reported symptom among children with ASD. However, behavioral issues in children were the strongest predictor of parental burnout, whereas maladaptive coping skills were linked to general distress. This study emphasizes the significance of treating the behavioral issues of children with ASD and the coping strategies of their parents for the mental well-being of this vulnerable population and their parents during home confinement.
Relationship between the Psychiatric Symptoms in Expecting Parents and Postpartum Depression and Infantile Colic: A Multicenter Follow up Study
(2015) Cak, H. Tuna; Karabekiroglu, Koray; Cengel Kultur, Ebru; Tarakcioglu, Mahmut Cem; Kaya, Rahime; Say, Gokce Nur; Gorker, Isik; Sapmaz, Dicle; Karabekiroglu, Aytul; Cakin Memik, Nursu; Yuce, Murat; Kose, Sezen; Ozbaran, Burcu; Foto Ozdemir, Dilsad; Akin Sari, Burcu; Ozkoc Erol, Serpil; Evinc, Gulin; Cengiz, Hakan; Varol, Fusun; 0000-0001-6631-9549; 0000-0002-0159-1864; 0000-0002-9077-8419; 0000-0001-9514-0855; 0000-0002-9730-7206; 0000-0002-2732-2873; 26111284; G-4424-2011; AAC-7008-2020; HJP-2418-2023; ABH-9832-2020; Y-9941-2018; V-6472-2017; HGB-6475-2022; ABC-1815-2020; I-9239-2013; A-7296-2013; HTL-2313-2023; I-9237-2013; ABB-4558-2021
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between postpartum depression (PPD), infantile colic (IC) and different psychosocial variables, psychiatric symptoms, attachment style and perceived social support in expecting parents. Method: Two hundred forty five expecting mothers and 150 expecting fathers were first interviewed between the 22-34 weeks of pregnancy Sociodemografic data form, Adult Attachment Style Scale (AASS), State Anxiety Inventory (SAT), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were filled out by each expecting parent. Second interview was conducted between the postpartum 4-24 weeks. Data form consisting health, nutrition, sleep and crying problems of the infant and EPDS and SAI were filled out by mothers and SAI by fathers. Results: One in every four mothers had PPD symptoms above the threshold on EPDS. Maternal and paternal insecure attachment style, maternal psychiatric symptoms and postpartum anxiety level were found to be the predictors of PPD. One in every five infants had IC and maternal education level, hostility score and PPD symptoms along with paternal insecure attachment style and psychiatric symptoms were the main predictors of IC. Conclusion: Results about PPD and IC regarding maternal variables are consistent with the literature. In addition, paternal insecure attachment style is found to be an important risk factor for both PPD and IC. Fathers should also be included in further studies exploring PPD or IC.