We explored the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its relation to demographic characteristics and other risk factors for developing PTSD in a large sample (N = 910) of earthquake survivors living in tent city. Twenty-five percent of the sample met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD assessed with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Self Test (PTSD-S). Peritraumatic factors explained the most variance when the risk factors were grouped as demographics, pretraumatic, peritraumatic, and posttraumatic. The study emphasized that PTSD among the earthquake victims was as prevalent in Turkey as after disasters in other developing countries but higher than usually found after disasters in developed countries, and there was a relation between some factors-mostly peritraumatic-and PTSD.

Chronic hepatitis B and C patients presented a high rate of psychiatric disorder. HRQL was significantly decreased in patients with psychiatric morbidity.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate quetiapine as an adjunct to paroxetine in patients with comorbid depression and anxiety. METHOD Prospective, multicenter, single-blind trial of patients with DSM-IV major depression and associated anxiety, who were randomized to an 8-week treatment with paroxetine alone (n=54) or paroxetine+quetiapine (n=58). Quetiapine was dosed to 200 mg/day and paroxetine to 60 mg/day, as required. RESULTS Decrease in HAM-A scores was significantly greater in the combined therapy group than with paroxetine alone at weeks 2, 4, 6 and LOCF (P<0.008). Decrease in HAM-D scores was significantly greater in the combined therapy group than with paroxetine alone throughout the study period (P<0.008). Regarding adverse events, it was found that increases in anxiety and insomnia were more prevalent in the paroxetine only group, while increased appetite was more prevalent when quetiapine was added (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Quetiapine added to paroxetine is well tolerated and may speed up and improve response in patients with comorbid depression and anxiety.

Ecstasy use, while low in Turkey, appears to be on the increase and follows a pattern in terms of correlates that is similar to other illicit drugs. Whatever the causes behind the rise in Ecstasy use, creative, personalized and informative educational programmes should be conducted in all educational institutions to curb Ecstasy use.

Diagnostic performance of Brief PHQ-r was found to be quite good in the diagnosis of major/minor depressive disorder, panic disorder and somatoform disorder, in primary healthcare settings. We recommend its use in routine clinical practice in order to help primary healthcare physicians, and also infield surveys on psychiatric disorders. Qnt] Psych Clin Pract 2004; 8: 11-18).