Introduction This study aimed to assess the impact of a holistic combination of Occupational Therapy and Social Skills Training on occupational performance, social participation, and clinical symptoms in people with schizophrenia. Method 60 people with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received standardized Social Skills Training once a week for a total of 10 sessions, while the other group received a combination of Occupational Therapy and Social Skills Training once a week for a total of 16 sessions. Results A greater increase was determined in the scores of COPM total performance/satisfaction and the Community Integration Questionnaire in the Occupational Therapy and Social Skills Training group. Furthermore, these achievements were sustained in the Occupational Therapy and Social Skills Training group compared to the Social Skills Training group at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion The clients received the combination of Occupational Therapy and Social Skills Training showed a better improvement compared to the Social Skills Training group in terms of occupational performance, social participation, and severity of clinical symptoms. The use of Occupational Therapy in a holistic approach in psychosocial rehabilitation of people with schizophrenia can increase their functionality and social participation. Further studies are needed to assess long-term effects of Occupational Therapy in schizophrenia.

This study investigated the effectiveness of an occupation-based Healthy Nutrition and Wellness Program (HNWP) on dietary knowledge, dietary habits, metabolic values, and well-being of people with schizophrenia. Forty clients attended the HNWP once a week for 12 weeks in addition to routine treatment. Metabolic values, biochemical values, dietary habits, Healthy Nutrition Knowledge Form, and Well-being Questionnaire were measured before the HNWP, after the HNWP, and at 6-month follow-up. Repeated measures factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare each continuous variable and Cochran’s Q test was used to compare categorical variables before HNWP, after HNWP, and at follow-up. Findings showed that HNWP increased the healthy nutrition knowledge, improved some dietary habits, increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and promoted general well-being of the individuals with schizophrenia. There was no gender difference in all variables. Inclusion of occupation-based HNWPs into treatment of individuals with schizophrenia can increase awareness about healthy life and improve their dietary habits and well-being.

The aim of this study was to assess clinical correlates of the treatment adherence and insight in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: That cross-sectional study included 229 outpatients with schizophrenia who were admitted to the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Health Sciences University Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital. All participants were administered a socio-demographic form, Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire, Schedule for Assessing the three components of insight, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Symptoms Rating Scale, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Analysis, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Poor treatment adherence was associated with male gender, lower insight level, more severe psychotic symptoms, and lower functionality level. The insight score was negatively correlated with the severity of psychotic symptoms, duration of the disorder, and mean antipsychotic dose; but positively correlated with advanced age of onset, and higher functionality level. The logistic regression analysis revealed that functionality level was more predictive on poor medication adherence. Conclusion: Poor treatment adherence and lower insight level were closely associated with more severe clinical symptoms and lower functionality level. It was noteworthy that adherence and insight levels both showed a high predictivity for wellbeing of the patients. Therefore, psychotherapeutic interventions should be implemented to increase treatment adherence and insight in schizophrenia even if the psychotic symptoms show resistance. Further research is needed to clarify clinical associations of the treatment adherence and insight level in patients with schizophrenia.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor among women in the world, accounting for almost 30% of all cancers in the female sex, with nearly 1.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2012. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in United States, accounting for more than 40.000 female deaths each year (1, 2). Mammography is the gold standard to detect breast cancer at an early stage and, when followed up with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, reduces mortality from breast cancer (3). However, meta-analysis of studies has revealed contradicting results (4). Screening decisions should take into account an individual woman's risks of breast cancer and her values and preferences, weighing the potential benefits and harms of screening (5). The characteristics of each country is important to identify the initial screening time and frequency. The majority of breast cancers in the United States are diagnosed as a result of an abnormal screening study, although a significant number cases are first brought to attention by a patient (6). In Turkey, breast cancer awareness programs conducted by the Ministry of Health has been ongoing for almost 30 years and screening mammography for women 40-69 years of age, every two years, is recommended (7, 8). However, screening programs are far from perfect.

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