Objective Findings about inflammatory processes in schizophrenia are increasing day by day. Inflammatory processes in schizophrenia are associated with both its etiology and clinical symptoms. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is also one of these inflammatory processes. Particularly, it is thought to be closely related to clinical findings of patients with schizophrenia. Methods In this study, the relationship between clinical findings of hsCRP levels of patients with drug-naïve first-episode psychosis (FEP) and patients with schizophrenia in acute exacerbation phase is investigated. Clinical findings, psychometric properties (the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale), and hsCRP levels of patients were compared. Results Forty-eight patients with FEP, 74 patients with schizophrenia in acute exacerbation phase and 54 healthy controlled volunteers are included in the study. The most substantial finding in the study is that there is a positive correlation between hsCRP levels and severity of positive symptoms of both patient groups, with FEP and with schizophrenia. The second most substantial finding is there is no significant difference between patients with FEP and schizophrenia, in terms of hsCRP. Conclusion The relationship between hsCRP and positive symptom severity in two groups of patients supports the inflammatory hypothesis in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia. This finding is supportive of close relation between inflammatory processes and clinical findings of patient with schizophrenia.

Divalproex sodium/valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug which is frequently prescribed in neurology and psychiatric clinics. Common side effects of VPA are side effects of the digestive system, weight gain, tremor, sedation, hematologic side effects and hair loss. Valproate-induced hyperammonemia is almost seen in 50% of patients treated with VPA, some of which may develop encephalopathy. Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (NE) is a well-known subject and there are numerous publications in the current literature. Although there is substantial evidence for this side effect in patients with neurological disorders, the data in the psychiatric area are limited. When we look at publications, it seems that VHE is seen more often because it starts earlier in psychiatric patients, but we think that it is often missed. Here, we presented five cases in which we followed up and treated with VHE diagnosis in our clinic within one year and other reports published previously in a table.

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