Browsing by Author "Karagol, Arda"

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Association of Body Mass Index with Depression and Alexithymia
(2014) Karagol, Arda; Ozcurumez, Gamze; Taskintuna, Nilgun; Nar, Asli; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3548-5517; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-8388; ABE-8882-2020; AAK-3556-2021; AAA-2743-2021
Objective: Association between body mass index (BMI) and mental disorders had long been investigated. Recent researches declare a relation between obesity and depressed mood as well as clinical depression. On the other hand mental disorders such as alexithymia are also found to be correlated with an increased risk of obesity. Therefore we aimed to evaluate depression and alexithymia together among normal, overweight and obese adults in order to assess what kind of an association is there between BMI, depression and alexithymia. Methods: We enrolled 100 adults, aged between 18 to 67 from department of endocrinology outpatient clinic whom had normal levels of TSH, fT3 and fT4 thyroid hormones and formed three groups according to their Body Mass Index (BMI). Individuals who had had BMI between 18.5 and 24.99 formed the normal, BMI between 25 and 29.99 formed the overweight and BMI 30 and above formed the obese groups. All three groups were evaluated by Composite International Diagnostic Interview for clinical diagnosis and also given Toronto Alexithymia Scale-26 item (TAS-26) as well as Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: There was a positive relation between BMI and current depressive episode and this finding was stronger in women. There was no such relation with lifelong depression. TAS-26 total and subscale scores revealed no difference between three groups. As BDI total scores got higher TAS-26 scores were higher. Hence there was a strong positive relation between depression and alexithymia. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that higher BMI increases current depressive episode. No association is found between BMI and lifelong depression. Depression and depression severity are strongly associated with alexithymia. Contradictive with literature, alexithymia and its severity are not found to be related with BMI. Following overweight and obese individuals is important to offset the adverse outcomes of depression.
CHARLES BONNET SYNDROME PREVALENCE IN A YOUNGER OPHTALMOLOGY OUTPATIENT POPULATION
(2021) Karagol, Arda; 34718287
Background: In the literature, most of the studies on Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) were performed on older populations. This study aims to determine the prevalence and epidemiology of CBS and the nature of the hallucinations of the younger group of patients from an ophthalmology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Subjects and methods: Twenty-eight patients were randomly chosen from the outpatient ophthalmology clinic of a university hospital, and those who agreed to participate in the study were included. First, the patients were asked if they had ever seen visions that other people cannot when they were fully awake. The patients who were experiencing this symptom were given sociodemographic questionnaire and Psychiatry Institute Visual Hallucination Questionnaire, and asked to explain their hallucinations in detail. To exclude a psychiatric disorder, the participants were made a psychiatric interview as well. Results: The study included 19 female (67.9%) and 9 male (32.1%) participants. Five patients (17.9%) were diagnosed with CBS. Average age of the patients diagnosed with CBS was 39.4 (min.31-max.48). Three of the 5 patients (60%) with CBS noted negative emotions (fear, wince and bewilderment) about their hallucinations. Conclusions: The prevalence of CBS (17.9%) we've found is compatible with the medical literature. CBS may also be accompanied by "relatively milder" ophthalmologic problems (myopia, astigmatism, etc.). The hallucinations which CBS patients experience could be quite distressing, and the individuals might have hard times to reveal their complaints because of the apprehension of stigmatization. To inquire this symptom during clinical examination may be the first step to help these individuals.
Comparison of obese and non-obese patients in terms of self-esteem, body perception, body weight perception and sociodemographic components
(2019) Engur, Sevgi; Karagol, Arda
Objective: The aim of the study is to compare the randomly selected obese patients from the endocrinology outpatient clinic of a university hospital and the randomly selected non-obese patients from the general internal diseases outpatient clinic of the same hospital in the sense of self-esteem, body perception, body weight perception and some other sociodemographic features. Methods: The study included a total of 350 patients, of whom 175 were obese (147 female patients, 84%) and 175 were non-obese (115 female patients, 65.7%). The body mass indexes of the patients who were included in the study were measured. While the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale was used to assess self-esteem, the body perception scale was used to assess the body perception of these patients. The consistency between the body mass index classifications and the self-body weight perceptions of the patients was also assessed. Results: The obese patients were found to have lower self-esteem and be less pleased about their bodies, and tend to perceive their body weights lower than their actual body weight when compared with the non-obese group. The non-obese patients in our study were found to be more pleased about their bodies whereas they showed higher levels of self-esteem and perceived their body weights more accurately. Discussion: In the light of these findings, obese patients should be evaluated in terms of psychiatry and get psychiatric help if needed. Eventually, obesity is an important issue which should be addressed multidisciplinary.
Evaluating early maladaptive schemas and depression levels in living kidney and liver donors
(2021) Karagol, Arda; Kaya, Zulal Torenli; 0000-0003-1428-0739; 0000-0003-4865-0451; 34545761; AAK-7065-2021
Living organ donation is a stressful process, both in terms of physical and mental consequences after the operation. Studies have found that cumulative depression prevalence in 5-year follow-up after the organ donation is 4.2% in 1 year and 11.5% in 5 years. The aim of the present study was to find out early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and depression levels of living kidney and liver donors. Ninety-three patients who have become living kidney or liver donors in Baskent University Hospital between 2015 and 2019 and accepted to participate in the study are included. Interviews were conducted via telephone or face-to-face and socio-demographic information form, Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form-3 and Beck Depression Inventory were given to the participants. The first three schemas with the highest average scores in living donors were self-sacrifice, punitiveness and approval seeking. The Sschema domain with the highest score is 'other directedness' among living donors. The donors who had depression revealed higher scores in the schema domains of 'abandonment and rejection' and 'impaired autonomy' when compared to those who did not have depression. As the donors had higher scores in the 'other directedness' schema domain and 'self-sacrifice' and 'approval seeking' schemas, overthinking and acting accordingly for the others with the expectation of being praised is thought to be the underlying pattern (motivation) of being a living donor. Culture could have an important impact in this particular way of thinking and acting. There is a cultural and religious impact as well in the high scores of 'punitiveness' schema of the donors. Being adequately informed pre-operatively, feeling safe and independent during the decision process and getting enough social support post-operatively seem to be the important factors of tackling depression for living organ donors.
Healthcare workers' burn-out, hopelessness, fear of COVID-19 and perceived social support levels
(2022) Karagol, Arda; Kaya, Zulal Torenli; 0000-0003-4865-0451; 0000-0003-1428-0739; 35039704; AAK-7065-2021
Background and objectives: During the pandemic, all healthcare workers have tried to cope with mental challenges. This study evaluated the healthcare workers' levels of burn-out, hopelessness, fear of COVID-19 and perceived social support, the relation between these factors, and other possible related components. Methods: Four hundred and fifty-one HCW (healthcare workers) all across Turkey were included in the study. Sociodemographic information form, Maslach Burn-out Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale were given to the participants. This was a cross-sectional study via various online platforms. Results: The participants who were on duty in the COVID-19 clinic, complaining about the low salary or not having enough time for themselves or their own family, had significantly higher scores on three subscales of burn-out scale, and hopelessness scale. Working at governmental hospitals, working at departments containing a high risk of COVID-19 infection, and having a history of COVID-19 infection were found to be significantly associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and hopelessness. Feeling control of your profession and getting social support from others were the two factors that tackle burnout in HCW. Family support is the only support that tackles all 3 subscales of burn-out and hopelessness. Conclusion: The findings emphasized that to tackle the burn-out and hopelessness of HCW, it is important for HCW to receive financial compensation for their hard work, to work under improved conditions, and to receive adequate social support. (c) 2022 Asociacion Universitaria de Zaragoza para el Progreso de la Psiquiatria y la Salud Mental. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
Level, Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Alexithymia in A Physician Population in Ankara
(2017) Karagol, Arda; ABE-8882-2020
Objective: Alexithymia is a thinking style that emphasizes external stimuli rather than internal emotional experiences, it is characterized by externally oriented thinking (EOT). Alexithymia is associated with depression and many psychiatric disorders. It directly affects mental health but is rarely emphasized in clinical practice. Physicians are at risk of psychiatric disorders. Alexithymia and EOT may contribute to their psychiatric problems. Our aim was to examine alexithymia levels and their sociodemographic correlates in a physician population. Meth-ods: Participants were 83 physicians employed in five hospitals (three education and research hospitals, one state hospital and one university hospital) in Ankara. Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: The mean TAS-20 score was 44.1 +/- 6.3 and 13.25% of the participants were found to be alexithymic. Participants with a psychiatric patient in their family were statistically more likely to have difficulty describing their feelings. EOT was associated with female gender, greater age, seniority in the medical profession, being married, and being born and mostly living in the western region of Turkey. Discussion: EOT may be associated with depression, cultural values and stigmatization. Physicians must be encouraged to discuss and be aware of their EOT to maintain their mental health.
LEVELS OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS
(2021) Karagol, Arda; 34718310
Background: Medical education is amongst the educational processes with the highest stress load. This study was conducted to determine levels of depression, anxiety and quality of life of medical students in a university hospital. Subjects and methods: Third year and sixth year medical students which accepted to be participate to the study and sign informed consent form are included in the study. Data was evaluated by descriptive statistics. Results: Totally 81 students of which 41 are third year, and 40 are sixth year students are included to the study. 79% of participants are women and 100% are unmarried. Accordingly, Beck Depression Inventory, ratio of those who have (any level of) depression are 58.5% in third year students and 55% in sixth year students. Ratio of those who have moderate to severe anxiety is 34.1% in third year students and 25% in sixth year students. Differences between them are not statistically significant. Regarding subscales of life quality; sixth year students have higher scores on general health perception then third year students. Medical students have lower scores in; difficulty in physical role, difficulty in emotional role, energy, mental health, social functioning and perception on general health when compared to the average scores of general public. Conclusions: In this study medical students are having a lower quality of life regarding most of the subscales when compared to normal population and both third year and sixth year students are found to be having high depression and anxiety levels. As medical training is a hard and long road to go, it is important to encourage medical students to get Psychiatric support when needed. This is important for them to maintain their mental health.
Levels of depression, anxiety and quality-of-life of kidney and liver donors in a university hospital in Ankara
(2019) Karagol, Arda; ABE-8882-2020
Objective: The psychosocial assessments of live kidney and liver donor candidates constitutes an important issue whereas many studies has drawn attention to the donation's correlation with anxiety and depression as well as the unwanted psychosocial outcomes. There are studies that find psychiatric disorders that appear in the post-operative period after donation lower or higher compared to the normal population. Altruism is considered as a concept that ensures vital stress management and is defined as 'the degree of obligation felt in situations where you are supposed to help others'. It is believed that altruistic behavior is a mature defense mechanism, which prevents the development of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder and depression and protects the individual against those psychiatric disorders. Methods: Our study included 51 participants who were donors of kidney and liver at Ankara Hospital of Baskent University between the years 2016 and 2017, and who accepted to participate in the study. The participants were given the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, SF-36 Quality-of-Life Scale and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire. Results: When the donors who participated in the study were compared with the Turkish society standards, the patient group was found to obtain significantly higher scores than the society average in the quality-of-life subscales 'physical function', 'difficulty in physical role', 'mental health' and 'pain', therefore, they were found to have a higher quality-of-life. Among the donors who participated in our study, the rate of those with moderate to severe depression was found to be 3.9% and of those with moderate to severe anxiety was found to be 'zero'. Discussion: Organ donation may be an altruistic behavior acting as a defensive mechanism that protects the individual against mental disorders such as depression and anxiety and increasing the quality-of-life.
The Prevalence and Recognition Rate of Delirium in Hospitalized Elderly Patients in Turkey
(2014) Aki, Ozlem Erden; Derle, Eda; Karagol, Arda; Turkyilmaz, Canan; Taskintuna, Nilgun; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2122-1016; 24236908; AAI-8830-2021
Objective. Delirium is frequently observed, but generally under recognized in elderly hospitalized patients. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of delirium in elderly patients hospitalized at a university hospital, and to determine the recognition rate by hospital staff during hospitalization. Methods. The study included 108 consecutive patients aged >= 65 years that were hospitalized in the medical and surgical inpatient departments at Baskent University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. All the patients were evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) upon admission and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) on a daily basis during hospitalization. Written documents and consultation requests from psychiatry and/or neurology departments were reviewed for recognition of delirium by hospital staff. Results. Among the 108 patients in the study, delirium was noted in 18 (16.7%) during their hospital stay. Consultation from psychiatry or neurology departments was requested for 5 of the 18 patients, only 1 with a delirium diagnosis, indicating that 17 of the cases (94.4%) were not recognized by their primary physicians. Conclusions. The delirium non-recognition rate in elderly hospitalized patients was very high. We think that hospital staff must be trained to recognize the symptoms of delirium and identify high-risk patients.