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In the study area with a high prevalence of T. gondii, no association between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia was detected. These findings showed that toxoplasmosis has no role in the risk of schizophrenia disease.

Background The effect of a variety of treatment modalities including psychopharmacological and cognitive behavioral therapy on the brain volumes and neurochemicals have not been investigated enough in the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on the volumes of the orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus regions which seem to be abnormal in the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. We hypothesized that there would be change in the volumes of the orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus. Methods Twelve patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and same number of healthy controls were included into the study. At the beginning of the study, the volumes of the orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus were compared by using magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, volumes of these regions were measured before and after the cognitive behavioral therapy treatment in the patient group. Results The patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder had greater left and right thalamus volumes and smaller left and right orbito-frontal cortex volumes compared to those of healthy control subjects at the beginning of the study. When we compared baseline volumes of the patients with posttreatment ones, we detected that thalamus volumes significantly decreased throughout the period for both sides and that the orbito-frontal cortex volumes significantly increased throughout the period for only left side. Conclusions In summary, we found that cognitive behavioral therapy might volumetrically affect the key brain regions involved in the neuroanatomy of obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, future studies with larger sample are required.

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OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of exercise on therapeutic response in depression treatment. METHODS: Thirty-three patients admitted to the Psychiatry Department of Firat University Hospital and diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV criteria and met the study criteria were included in the study. The patients in Group 1 were treated with antidepressant medication and were asked for brisk walking for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 4 days a week, for 12 weeks. Only antidepressant medication was given to the patients in Group 2. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale were applied to both groups at baseline and at the end of 6 weeks and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Anxiety and depression levels decreased in both groups. The decrease in anxiety and depression scores with antidepressant use is an expected outcome. However, there was a statistically more decrease in the average-scaled scores in the Group treated with antidepressant and exercise than the Group treated with only antidepressant. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise had a positive effect on the therapeutic response in depression treatment. However, long-term studies in larger sample groups are needed. ARTICLE HISTORY