Backgrounds : Although the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been investigated, there is no study comparing the effects between the peaks. This study aims to compare the levels of anxiety, depression, and stress of healthcare workers struggling with pandemic between the first and second peaks. Methods : A total of 2460 healthcare workers, 1051 from the first peak period and 1409 from the second peak period, were included in the study. The first peak measurements of the participants were made between 07.04.2020 and 05.05.2020 and the second peak measurements were made between 22.11.2020 and 20.12.2020 according to the peak period in Turkey. Depression-Anxiety-Stress-21(DASS-21) scale was applied to the participants online by the purpose of the study. Results : The mean age of the participants was 32.63±7.70, and 66.5% of them were female. A statistically significant difference was found between the income status (p<0.001), lifestyle (p<0.001) and COVID-19 test result (p<0.001), DASS-21 Depression (p<0.001, t=-5.311), Anxiety (p<0.001, t=-8.244), Stress (p<0.001, -10.056) and total(p<0.001, t=-8.719) scores of the two groups. Conclusion : The present study results showed that healthcare workers meticulously struggling with the pandemic had increased anxiety, depression, and stress levels at the second peak of the pandemic compared to the first peak.

BackgroundThe etiology of schizophrenia is not precisely known; however, mitochondrial function and cerebral energy metabolism abnormalities were determined to be possible factors associated with the etiology of schizophrenia. Impaired mitochondrial function negatively affects neuronal plasticity, and can cause cognitive deficits and behavioral abnormalities observed during the clinical course of schizophrenia. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the clinical features of schizophrenia, and mitochondrial complex activation, based on measurement of mRNA levels in the NDUFV1, NDUFV2, NDUFS1, and UQCR10 genes involved in the peripheral mitochondrial complex.MethodsThe study included 138 schizophrenia patients and 42 healthy controls. The schizophrenia group was divided into a chronic schizophrenia subgroup (n = 84) and a first-episode schizophrenia subgroup (n = 54). The symptoms profile and severity of disorder were evaluated using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).ResultsThe level of mRNA expression of NDUFV1, NDUFV2, and NDUFS1 was significantly higher in the schizophrenia group than in the control group. The mRNA level of NDUFV2 was positively correlated with BPRS and SAPS scores in the first-episode schizophrenia subgroup.ConclusionThe findings showed that there was a positive correlation between gene mRNA levels and psychotic symptomatology, especially positive symptoms. Our results suggest that mRNA levels of the NDUFV1, NUDFV2, and NDUFS1 genes of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain might become a possible peripheral marker for the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Objective: Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic skin diseases, which has a negative impact on the interpersonal relationship and psychosocial well-being. Therefore, psoriasis may lead to a decrease in the self-esteem of the patients. Increased level of anger often accompanies patients with psoriasis. Our aim is to investigate the relationship of anger, anger expression style and level of self-esteem in patients with psoriasis and to determine whether duration and severity of disease affects anger, anger expression style and level of self-esteem. In addition, we aimed to compare the level of self-esteem in patients with early and late onset of psoriasis. Methods: Eighty-five patients with psoriasis and 86 healthy controls were included in the study. Severity of disease was calculated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). The patients were classified as early-onset (age < 20 years) and late-onset psoriasis (age ≥ 20 years). Duration of disease and socio-demographic characteristics were recorded. State-Trait Expression Inventory for Anger (STAXI) and Roserberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) were used for determining anger, anger expression style and self-esteem. Results: Trait anger, state anger and anger-in scores were statistically significantly higher in patients with psoriasis (p < .05). Anger-out and anger-control scores were similar in both groups. RSES scores were statistically significantly higher in the psoriasis group (p < .05). There was a negative weak statistically significant correlation between RSES and angercontrol scores (r = −0.246, p = .027). A positive, weak, statistically significant correlation was found between RSES scores and anger-out scores (r = 0.224, p = .045). A positive, mild, statistically significant correlation between duration of the disease and anger-in scores (r = 0.277, p = .027) was detected in patients with psoriasis whereas no statistically significant correlation between the other parameters and duration and severity of the disease was detected. No significant difference was detected when patients with early-and late-onset psoriasis were compared in terms of self-esteem (p = .722). A positive, mild, statistically significant correlation between duration of the disease and anger-in scores (r = 0.277, p = .027) was detected in patients with psoriasis whereas no statistically significant correlation between the other parameters and duration and severity of the disease was detected. Conclusion: Reduced self-esteem and increased anger levels are remarkable in psoriasis patients. While evaluating and arranging treatment of psoriasis patients, it should be considered that psoriasis is not only a dermatological disease, but also a disease resulting in reduced self-esteem and increased anger level; therefore dermatologic and psychiatric approaches should be taken with the patients. ARTICLE HISTORY

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The ICDSC provides fast and effective evaluations of the patients for delirium. So, ICDSC may be easily integrated into routine nursing practice.