Firat, Meryem; Kanbay, Yalcin; Okanli, Ayse; Akçam, Aysun; Utkan, Mehmet

Objectives: To develop the “Utkan epidemic anxiety scale” for measuring the anxiety levels regarding an epidemic inthe general population. Methods: Trial survey forms comprising 20 linguistically and psychometrically verified statements were distributed to1037 people; the mean age of the participants was 28.6±9.9 years (age range, 15–68 years), and 72% of the participantswere women. Structural and internal validity of the scale was assessed to determine overall validity of the scale. Factoranalysis was performed to check the structural validity, and subgroup-super group comparisons were performed todetermine internal validity. The reliability of the scale was measuring by calculating the Cronbach’s alpha (α) reliabilitycoefficient and parallel form consistency. Results: The Utkan epidemic anxiety scale was one-dimensional, consisted of 9 items, and provided explanation re garding 70.8% of the variance related to epidemic anxiety. The scale consists of points ranging from 0–36, and higherpoints indicate a higher level of epidemic anxiety. The Cronbach α reliability coefficient was 0.94, which indicated ahigh reliability of the scale. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that the “Utkan epidemic anxiety scale” provided valid and reliable measure ments of epidemic anxiety among the general population.

Firat, Meryem; Gökmen, Burcu Demir; Cengiz, Mine

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between internalized stigmatization and social loneliness in psychiatric inpatients.Methods: The study population consisted of all inpatients treated in the psychiatric ward of a research hospital in a province in the east of Turkey. There was no sample selection from the group of the 77 patients who received inpatient treatment at the psychiatry clinic between March 2017 and February 2018 and complied with the inclusion criteria. The Personal Information Form, Internalized Stigma in Mental Illness Scale, and Loneliness Scale were used to collect data by a face-to-face interview technique; the data were evaluated using the SPSS 23 package program. Percentage, mean, standard deviation, t test, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results: In the correlation analysis of the scales, it was determined that there was a statistically negative relation-ship between the Stigma Resistance subdimension and loneliness, and a statistically significant positive correlation between the loneliness score, mean scores of Alienation, Approval of Stereotypes, Perceived Discrimination, Social Retraction and Resistance against Stigma.Conclusion: Psychiatric patients may have a more isolated life because of internalized stigmatization. In this study, it was concluded that the level of loneliness increased as the internalized stigmatization levels of the patients increased, but that loneliness decreased as patients resisted internalized stigmatization. By decreasing the stigma and increasing the resistance to internalized stigma, patients can increase their adaptation to active social life.

Özçelik, Ebru Karaagac; Yildirim, Arzu

Objectives: This descriptive study was performed to determine the family environment, internalized stigma and thequality of life of schizophrenia patients.Methods: This study was performed between December 2011 and February 2012 with 51 outpatients and 51 patientrelatives who were diagnosed with schizophrenia under DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) and whowere being monitored in clinical remission at the outpatient psychiatry clinic of Erzincan State Hospital. The study datawere collected using a descriptive questionnaire, the Family Environment Scale (FES), the Internalized Stigma of MentalIllness Scale and the Abbreviated Turkish Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire.Results: This study found no significant difference between the mean scores of the patients and their relatives’ interpersonal relationships (43.94±8.20, 27.10±5.59) and control (46.29±6.72, 26.57±4.30) in the family environment (p>0.05).The patients’ mean score on the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale was 76.12±17.15. On its subscales, theywere: alienation (15.63±4.41), stereotype endorsement (18.24±4.20), perceived discrimination (13.67±4.09), stigma resistance (12.35±3.6) and social withdrawal (16.24±5.21). and the patients’ perceptions of quality of life were: physical(12.00±2.75), mental (11.11±3.02), social (9.15±3.72), and environmental (11.56±2.61).Conclusion: This study found no difference between the patients and their relatives’ perceptions of interpersonal relationships and control. The patients perceived internalized stigma above the moderate level. Their quality of life evaluations were at a moderate level. As their perceived internalized stigma level went up, their quality of life areas significantlydecreased, and their perception of interpersonal relationships and control in the family environment increased significantly in the positive direction. It is important that psychiatric nurses assess the factors that affect patients’ relapses andtreatment such as family environment and internalized stigma. They should also develop and implement programs.

Sevinç, Ergün; Training, Sadi Konuk; Camcıoğlu, Tuba Hale; Yildirim, Arzu

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of alexithymia and determine the differences in structure in patients with depressive, anxiety, somatoform, and psychotic disorders.Methods: The study was performed between April and May 2013 with outpatients who were diagnosed with depressive (n=99), anxiety (n=76), somatoform (n=37), and psychotic (n=45) disorders under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (American Psychiatric Association 2000) and who were being monitored and treated at the outpatient psychiatry clinic of Erzincan State Hospital. The data were collected by two psychiatrists using the face-to-face interview method, which employed a questionnaire and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), in the outpatient clinic environment.Results: Alexithymic construct was found in 55.6% of the psychotic patients, 45.9% of those with somatoform disorders, 43.4% of those with anxiety, and 51.5% of the depressive patients. The TAS-20 average scores were significantly higher in psychotic patients. The Difficulty Identifying Feelings subscale average scores were found to be significantly lower in patients with somatoform disorders (p<0.01). Additionally, the TAS-20 average scores in men, young, those with low education were significantly higher (p<0.001).Conclusion: The study demonstrated that all patient groups had alexithymic construct; however, the prevalence of alexithymia was higher in depressive and psychotic patients. Psychiatric nurses can help in improving patients' quality of life through psychosocial interventions aiming at improved recognition, identification and description of feelings, communication skills and insight

Yildirim, Arzu; Hacihasanoglu Asilar, Rabia; Camcioglu, Tuba Hale; Sevinç, Ergun

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of alexithymia and determine the differences in structure in patients with depressive, anxiety, somatoform, and psychotic disorders. Methods: The study was performed between April and May 2013 with outpatients who were diagnosed with depressive (n=99), anxiety (n=76), somatoform (n=37), and psychotic (n=45) disorders under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (American Psychiatric Association 2000) and who were being monitored and treated at the outpatient psychiatry clinic of Erzincan State Hospital. The data were collected by two psychiatrists using the face-to-face interview method, which employed a questionnaire and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), in the outpatient clinic environment. Results: Alexithymic construct was found in 55.6% of the psychotic patients, 45.9% of those with somatoform disorders, 43.4% of those with anxiety, and 51.5% of the depressive patients. The TAS-20 average scores were significantly higher in psychotic patients. The Difficulty Identifying Feelings subscale average scores were found to be significantly lower in patients with somatoform disorders (p<0.01). Additionally, the TAS-20 average scores in men, young, those with low education were significantly higher (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that all patient groups had alexithymic construct; however, the prevalence of alexithymia was higher in depressive and psychotic patients. Psychiatric nurses can help in improving patients' quality of life through psychosocial interventions aiming at improved recognition, identification and description of feelings, communication skills and insight.

Hacıhasanoğlu, Rabia; Yildirim, Arzu

Amaç: Bu araştırma, sağlık çalışanlarında tükenmişlik, depresyon, sosyodemografik ve mesleki özelliklerin yaşam kalitesi üzerine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yapıldı. Gereç ve Yöntem: İlişki arayıcı kesitsel nitelikte olan araştırma Erzincan Devlet Hastanesi ve merkezde bulunan 5 aile sağlığı merkezlerinde çalışan 311 sağlık çalışanı ile Mayıs-Haziran 2010 tarihleri arasında yapıldı. Veriler soru formu, Maslach Tükenmişlik Ölçeği (MTÖ), Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE) ve Dünya Sağlık Örgütü Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği-Kısa Formu Türkçe Versiyonu (WHOQOL-BREF-TR) ile toplandı. Veriler tek değişkenli analiz, Pearson korelasyon ve çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Çalışmada BDE ile MTÖ arasında zayıf pozitif (p<0.001), WHOQOL-BREF-TR ile BDE arasında orta, MTÖ arasında zayıf negatif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki saptandı (p<0.001). Yapılan regresyon analizi sonucunda BDE, Kişisel Başarı Eksikliği (KBE) ve ekonomik sorunların bedensel alt boyut için; BDE, KBE, çalışma yılı, iş yaşamından memnuniyetsizlik ve kurumdaki başarıyı algılamanın ruhsal alt boyut için; BDE, KBE, Duygusal Tükenmişlik (DT), medeni durum, eğitim düzeyi, çalışılan kurum ve iletişim sorunlarının sosyal alt boyut için; BDE, KBE, medeni durum ve cinsiyetin çevre alt boyutu için önemli yordayıcı değişkenler olduğu belirlendi. Sonuç: Bu çalışmada, sağlık çalışanlarının tükenmişlik ve depresyon düzeyinin düşük, yaşam kalitesinin orta düzeyde olduğu, depresyon, tükenmişlik ve bazı değişkenlerin yaşam kalitesini olumsuz yönde etkilediği belirlenmiştir.

Yildirim, Arzu; Hacihasanoglu, Rabia

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of burnout, depression, and sociodemographic and occupational characteristics on quality of life among health care professionals. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 311 health care professionals employed at five Family Health Centers and Erzincan State Hospital in central Erzincan between May and June 2010. Data were collected using a questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Turkish version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF-TR). For analysis of the data, univariate analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used. Results: In this study, there was a weak-positive statistically significant relationship between the BDI and MBI (p<0.001), a moderate-negative relationship between the WHOQOL-BREF-TR and BDI, and a weak-negative relationship between the WHOQOL-BREF-TR and MBI (p<0.001). Results of the regression analysis revealed that BDI, Diminished Personal Accomplishment (DPA) and economic problems were significant predictor variables for the physical sub-domain; BDI, DPA, work-years, dissatisfaction with work life, and perception of success in the institution for psychological sub-domain; BDI, DPA, emotional exhaustion (EE), marital status, educational status, place of work, and communication problems for social sub-domain; and BDI, DPA, marital status, and gender for environmental sub-domain. Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that depression and burnout levels of health care professionals were low and quality of life was medium. It was also determined that depression, burnout and some of the variables have a negative impact on the quality of life.