Kılıçaslan, Aslı Kazgan; Yıldız, Sevler; Emir, Burcu Sırlıer; Kılıç, Faruk; Atmaca, Murad

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the serum levels of Klotho and fibroblast growth factor 23 in patients with schizophrenia, in whom etiopathogenesis inflammation plays an important role, with those of healthy control subjects and to investigate a possible correlation between these levels. Methods: Forty male patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy male control subjects who were followed up and/or treated at the High-Security Forensic Psychiatry Clinic participated in the study. Sociodemographic data form, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale were collected from all subjects, and participants’ fibroblast growth factor 23 and Klotho serum levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: The serum levels of Klotho and fibroblast growth factor 23 were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients than in healthy controls (P =.048 and P =.010, respectively). A significant positive correlation was observed between serum levels of Klotho and fibroblast growth factor 23 in subjects (r = 0.816; P <.001). Conclusion: Our study is the first to show significantly higher combined serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 and Klotho in patients with schizophrenia. The Klotho/fibroblast growth factor 23 pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The involvement of Klotho and fibroblast growth factor 23 in inflammatory processes has the potential to provide alternative approaches to elucidate the etiopathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia.

Firat, Meryem; Okanlı, Ayşe; Kanbay, Yalçin; Utkan, Mehmet; Demir Gökmen, Burcu

Background: This prevalence study involved participants from various cities in Turkey was conducted in April 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic in Turkey, with a view to evaluate the pandemic-related anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression in the society. Method: The study was conducted with 1267 people in more than 70 cities in Turkey. The study data were obtained by means of online data collection forms, due to the risks posed by the contagious COVID-19 disease in face to face interviews. The Demographic Properties Form, the Utkan Pandemic Anxiety (UPA) scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care (BDI-PC) were utilized as data collection tools. Results: The average value for the UPA scale for the sample was calculated as 10.5 ± 0.257 points, for the GAD-7 scale as 5.5 ± 0.153 points, and for the BDI-PC as 3.8 ± 0.095 points. The cut-off threshold for the UPA scale was exceeded by 34%, for the GAD-7 scale by 25.7%, and for the BDI-PC by 30.9% of the sample. Conclusion: It was concluded that the level of pandemic-related anxiety in the community was high, that the level of generalized anxiety and depression had increased in comparison to pre-pandemic times, and that women had a higher risk of pandemic-related anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression, because they were a group at risk, and also due to the effect of media surveillance and reports.