Disease awareness and educational materials on schizophrenia and depression were developed (or ad... more Disease awareness and educational materials on schizophrenia and depression were developed (or adapted): 2 posters, 2 leaflets, 2 comic books, 1 flip-chart. Dissemination of disease awareness and educational materials to 330 HCPs trained on schizophrenia and 159 GPs trained on depression to reach at least est. 310,500 people / year. Docket system developed and approved by MoH to assess number of patients identified by trained GPs and referred to psychiatrists is being implemented. Conclusions Despite significant delays due to political changes following the Armenian "Velvet Revolution", the training sessions conducted have already shown positive outcomes in terms of improvement in knowledge, attitudes and practices of GPs and nurses. However, the main challenge will be evaluating the number of patients identified by trained HCPs and referred to psychiatrists (only possible if docket system is being used).
As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical signifi... more As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical significance. Therefore, enormous efforts are made in getting deeper insights into its etiology and pathogenesis, which are still unknown to us. Owing to the fast technological development, neurosciences have started to develop intensively. Neuroimaging technologies and new sensitive laboratory tests enable the discovery of active molecules that take part in pathophysiological processes so that they can be considered as potential biomarkers. Although the biomarker which would be specific for depression has not been isolated yet, there are a lot of studies that confirm the existence of changes of the level of active substances in depressive patients with the regard to control ones. In this paper, we will take a look into potential biomarkers that ere in the centre of the research: the factors of growth, that is, brain-derived neurophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory and neuroendocrine biomarkers, as well as potential indicators of the oxidative and nitrosative stress. This kind of the possibility of the insight into biological bases of the depressive processes would enable new ranges in diagnostics, therapies and prognosis of this disorder and would contribute to the better quality of life of patients and their families.
European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Sep 28, 2018
We present a case which reports the occurrence of psychotic disorders after metronidazole and lev... more We present a case which reports the occurrence of psychotic disorders after metronidazole and levofloxacin therapy in a chronic kidney patient while being treated for enterocolitis and urinary infection. A 48-year-old female was admitted to a hospital for the placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter due to indicated peritoneal dialysis. During admission, symptoms of enterocolitis and urinary infection had occurred, so metronidazole and levofloxacin were introduced into therapy, respectively. After 4 days of metronidazole and 3 days of levofloxacin therapy, the patient became confused, disoriented, with signs of delirium. Since the diagnosis of psychoorganic disorder was made, the therapy with lorazepam and haloperidol was initiated, while metronidazole and levofloxacin were discontinued. Complete recovery 4 days after discontinuation indicates that the patient has experienced antibiotics-induced neurotoxicity. This is the first report of expressed neurotoxicity after the combination of metronidazole and levofloxacin in chronic kidney patients.
IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 is a virus with a multisystem effect, and it can cause numerous neuropsych... more IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 is a virus with a multisystem effect, and it can cause numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, both in the acute phase of infection and in the period after the disease has passed. According to Nalbandian et al. (2021), post-acute COVID-19 syndrome is a condition of persistent symptoms and/or delayed long-term complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection lasting longer than four weeks after the onset of symptoms.ObjectivesTo indicate the possible role of the SARS-COV 2 virus in the development of long-term neuropsychiatric and cognitive consequences of COVID-19.MethodsWe undertook a search of the available medical literature in the period after 2020 with the keywords COVID 19 and neuropsychiatric complicationsResults: Case report: Female patient, 40 years old, unemployed, married, mother of two children. She was admitted for the first hospital treatment at the Psychiatry Clinic of the UCC of Niš due to psychological disturbances in the form of experiencing her own...
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a very complex medical, social and economic problem. Long duratio... more Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a very complex medical, social and economic problem. Long duration and variability of symptoms can be frustrating for patients and lead to various psychological and behavioral changes, which can be expressed as an over-powering fear of movement and lead to avoidance behavior. The aim of this study was to highlight the importance of individually designed exercises (IDE) and cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) in the treatment of patients with CLBP who have signs of fear-avoidance behavior and kinesiophobia. One hundred and thirty patients were included in a prospective randomized study. Group 1 (G1; n = 35) had a combined IDE and CBT program. Group 2 (G2; n = 35) had IDE, without CBT. Group 3 (G3; n = 30) had standard group exercises for CLBP. Group 4 (G4; n = 30) was a control, patients did not have IDE or CBT. Waddel's Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), were used for monitoring and evaluation. Pa...
Background/Aim. A type of personality and negative emotional reactions could be important for clu... more Background/Aim. A type of personality and negative emotional reactions could be important for clustering biological risk factors for a cardiovascular disease in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). This study investigated if the patients with AH and psychological characteristics of the Distressed Type of personality with elevated anxiety/depression/aggression, have a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) and explored value of the assessed parameters for MS occurrence. Methods. A total of 85 patients with AH were included in the cross-sectional observational study. Type D Scale-14 (DS-14) was used to detect Type D (Distressed) personality. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessed the levels of anxiety and depression and the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) was used for the assessment of aggression. The explored biological parameters included: blood pressure, lipid status, body mass index (BMI), the occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and MS. Results....
Introduction: About One third of patients suffering from schizophrenia are considered treatment r... more Introduction: About One third of patients suffering from schizophrenia are considered treatment resistant. Identification of the predictors of treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS)can allow not only to identify thiscourse of disease but also to examine the aetiology and pathogenesis of formation of this type of treatment.CYP450 isoenzymes are actively involved in the metabolism of various substances, including drugs. Whereas CYP2D6 is only 2% of all cytochromes P450, it is involved in the metabolism of about 20% of drugs and especially psychotropic drugs. There is evidence that certain variants of the CYP2D6 gene are responsible for poor tolerability of antipsychotic therapy. Aim of the study: To investigate a predictive role rs3892097 (* 4), andrs1065852 (* 10) SNP'sCYP2D6 as biomarkers treatment resistant schizophrenia. Methods: 130 patients were included into the study, male (65,4%) and female (34,6%),in age from 18 to 60, with a diagnosis from category F20 according to ICD-10. Patients were divided to 2 groups: 1) TRS 2) no TRS. The dividing of patients was carried out according to the following criteria: • patients with an inadequate response to 2 antipsychotics (at least one of which is an atypical antipsychotic; • patients with persistent suicidality. Both groups, TRS and non TRS, were comparable in age, age of onset of the disease, duration of untreated psychosis, duration of the disease. The psychotic state of patients was assessed by PANSS and CGI-S. DNA was isolated from blood samples. Method of genotyping: real-time PCR (Biorad CFX-96). Statistical processing was performed using SPSS Statistics 21.0. We used the Chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney test, because of the abnormal distribution of the values of the quantitative variables. Results: After determining the carrier of polymorphic variants of CYP2D6, it was found that 55.4% were homozygous for the CC allele, and 44.6% had of the CT genotype of polymorphic variant rs1065852. 66.9% were homozygous for the GG allele, and 33.1% had the GA genotype of the polymorph variant rs3892097. In both cases the distribution of these alleles did not comply with the Hardy-Weinberg principle (р < 0,05). CYP2D6 * 10. There were no significant differences between the carriers of СС and С T genotypes according to the number of hospitalizations (p = 0.745), the mean duration of remission (p = 0.876), the number of ineffective antipsychotic therapy courses (p = 0.393), and the PANSS total score (р = 0.436). However, patients with the CT genotype had a higher CGI-S score (p = 0.025). There was also no significant association of this polymorphic variant with TRS (р = 0.275). CYP2D6 * 4. Comparison between the genotypes GG and GA also showed no significant differences in the number of hospitalizations (p = 0.864), duration of remission (p = 0.315), the number of ineffective antipsychotic therapy courses (p = 0.672), PANSS (р = 0.483) and CGI-S (р = 0.297). This polymorphic variant also showed no significant association with TRS (р = 0.238).
urban Family Practice, over 3 years (2011-2014). History of hypertension was recognized by at lea... more urban Family Practice, over 3 years (2011-2014). History of hypertension was recognized by at least 1 year. Subjects were classifi ed by the number of antihypertensive classes (6) and a fi xed combination (sartan and calcium channel blocker in variable doses) used. Relationship between BP control and age, sex, education and area of origin was also studied.
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health the student population.... more Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health the student population. The study aimed to analyze the psychological response to the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of perceived stress and its related factors among university students in the southeastern Serbia. The study was conducted during the increasing rate of the coronavirus disease in Serbia. Method A total of 434 students from the public university in SouthEast Serbia enrolled in the study and completed the measures of socio-demographical data, the Perceived stress scale (PSS-10), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. Results Study ndings suggest that the mean perceived stress score was placed to 20.43 (±7.67), suggesting that the students showed high stress level during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our model showed that female gander, higher scores on anxiety/insomnia and depression subscales as well as the coping strategy avoidance predicted higher level of perceived stress, while higher scores on social dysfunction were related to the reduced perceived stress scores. Conclusion Besides limitation of the study, ndings provided authentic data of stress reactions of students in SouthEast Serbia during the COVID-19 outbreak. The ndings con rm the need to examine the experience of students in states of emergencies and crisis as well as introduce a plan for support programs aimed at preventing a decline in education e cacy in the long run, together with preventing the occurrence of mental disorders.
Introduction The upturn of neuroimaging techniques in the past 30 years has changed the study of ... more Introduction The upturn of neuroimaging techniques in the past 30 years has changed the study of the biology of psychiatric disorders with implications for psychiatric practice. Thrive in medical imaging technology has, in fact, truly reformed nearly every medical field. Objectives These advances include both improvements in image resolution and the development of novel imaging techniques all of which provide an unprecedented view, in detail, of anatomical structures and/or functions in the human body. Methods Nowadays, we are familiar with the role of some brain structures such as the amygdala, the thalamus, the hippocampus, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the insula in neuropsychiatric function. For example, lesions to the frontal cortex can disrupt judgment, motivation and social behavior. Results Currently, most imaging techniques have some sort of clinical application, but this is usually restricted to a limited number of cases. New techniques have provided invaluable i...
Background: The optimal duration of triple anti-platelet therapy (DTAP) remains unclear in patien... more Background: The optimal duration of triple anti-platelet therapy (DTAP) remains unclear in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 716 AMI patients who received TAP (aspirin, clopidogrel, and cilostazol) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation from November 2005 to May 2008. Mean age was 61.9 ± 11.70 years (male gender 74.1%) and mean duration of TAP was 98.1 ± 115.34 days. We compared the major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE, defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal AMI, stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization (TVR)] between the group of DTAP ≥3 months (n = 497) and those of <3 months (n = 219). Results: There were no significant differences in the incidences of cardiac death, non-fatal AMI, stent thrombosis, and TVR at 1-year follow-up between the two groups. However, the group of DTAP ≥3 months had lower incidence of MACE than those <3 months (5.9% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.044). The rate of bleeding complications was similar between the two groups. By Cox regression analysis with propensity score adjustment, Killip class IV and DTAP ≥3 months were
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health of the student populati... more Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health of the student population. The study aimed to analyze the psychological response to the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of perceived stress and its related factors among university students in south-east Serbia. The study was conducted during the increased incidence of COVID-19 in Serbia. Method A total of 434 students from the public university in south-east Serbia enrolled in the study and completed the measures of socio-demographic data, the perceived stress scale (PSS-10), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. Results Study findings suggest that the mean perceived stress score was placed to 20.43 (± 7.67). Our model showed that female gender, higher scores on anxiety/insomnia and depression subscale as well as the coping strategy avoidance predicted higher perceived stress, while higher scores on so...
International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2019
Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction o... more Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned. The aim of this study was to explore the variety of self-injury behaviors as well as the function of NSSI among adolescents in South-East Serbia. Methods: The study included 50 adolescents of both sexes, aged 13e18 years, who had deliberately engaged in self-injury at least once. A general socio-demographic questionnaire and the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) were used in the study. Results: The average age of the respondents was 15 (1.17); the most common NSSI methods were cutting (60%), followed by biting and severe scratching (14%); the average age of onset was 14.12 (0.77); the majority confirmed experiencing pain during self-injury (42%); the respondents more commonly performed NSSI when they were alone (68,0%); in 90% of the cases, the time elapsed between sensing the urge to self-injury and acting on it was less than 1 h; the majority of the respondents stated that they did not want to stop self-injuring (56%). In terms of the NSSI function, the obtained scores were the highest for affect regulation 3.36 (1.47), self-punishment 1.90 (1.39) and marking distress 1.72 (1.26). In terms of gender, there was a statistically significant difference for the antidissociation (P ¼ .043), interpersonal influence (P ¼ .004) and revenge (P ¼ .019). The results may have practical implications when it comes to taking preventive and therapeutic measures in the vulnerable adolescent population.
As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical signifi... more As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical significance. Therefore, enormous efforts are made in getting deeper insights into its etiology and pathogenesis, which are still unknown to us. Owing to the fast technological development, neurosciences have started to develop intensively. Neuroimaging technologies and new sensitive laboratory tests enable the discovery of active molecules that take part in pathophysiological processes so that they can be considered as potential biomarkers. Although the biomarker which would be specific for depression has not been isolated yet, there are a lot of studies that confirm the existence of changes of the level of active substances in depressive patients with the regard to control ones. In this paper, we will take a look into potential biomarkers that ere in the centre of the research: the factors of growth, that is, brain-derived neurophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory and neuroendocrine biomarkers, as well as potential indicators of the oxidative and nitrosative stress. This kind of the possibility of the insight into biological bases of the depressive processes would enable new ranges in diagnostics, therapies and prognosis of this disorder and would contribute to the better quality of life of patients and their families.
Individuals with serious mental illness are more affected by emotional reactions, including suici... more Individuals with serious mental illness are more affected by emotional reactions, including suicidal behavior due to COVID‐19 and psychosocial consequences of pandemic. The current cross-sectional study aimed to explore the possible association of COVID-19 and suicidal behavior (suicide ideation and attempt) before and during pandemic-associated lockdown in Serbia. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 104 adult psychiatric inpatients admitted at Psychiatric Clinic, University Clinic Center Niš, Serbia, after ending lockdown and compared the obtained results with 181 adult psychiatric inpatients admitted during the same period in 2019 and 2018. Suicide ideation were more frequent in 2020 comparing with 2019 and 2018 (25 vs 12.5%, vs 9.41%; p < 0.05). Around 28% of patients with suicide attempts were exposed daily to the information related to COVID-19 coming from social media, while this frequency was significantly lower, only 7.55% (p < 0.1), among patients with...
Violence risk assessment in adolescents is an emergent research area with great potential for cli... more Violence risk assessment in adolescents is an emergent research area with great potential for clinical application. The need for standardization of clinical approaches has led to the development of structured professional judgment tools for violence risk assessment in youth. The aim of the study was to present a structured evaluation of violence risk assessment in clinical work with two male patients aged 12 and 17 with a psychiatric diagnosis of conduct disorder, socialized type and acute psychotic disorder. The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) was used in the assessment to help estimate the patients' risk for future violence. Based on the systematic analysis and consideration of the SAVRY Historical, Socio-Contextual and Individual risk factors balanced against the Protective factors, both patients were rated as being at high risk for future violence. In order to control and reduce the risk of further violent behaviour, an intervention plan was designed. With the increasing recognition of the public health importance of violence, the violence risk assessment is the subject of considerable clinical and research interest. In this way, we are joining the global trend of opposing the social pathological emergence of violence among youth and violence in general.
Disease awareness and educational materials on schizophrenia and depression were developed (or ad... more Disease awareness and educational materials on schizophrenia and depression were developed (or adapted): 2 posters, 2 leaflets, 2 comic books, 1 flip-chart. Dissemination of disease awareness and educational materials to 330 HCPs trained on schizophrenia and 159 GPs trained on depression to reach at least est. 310,500 people / year. Docket system developed and approved by MoH to assess number of patients identified by trained GPs and referred to psychiatrists is being implemented. Conclusions Despite significant delays due to political changes following the Armenian "Velvet Revolution", the training sessions conducted have already shown positive outcomes in terms of improvement in knowledge, attitudes and practices of GPs and nurses. However, the main challenge will be evaluating the number of patients identified by trained HCPs and referred to psychiatrists (only possible if docket system is being used).
As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical signifi... more As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical significance. Therefore, enormous efforts are made in getting deeper insights into its etiology and pathogenesis, which are still unknown to us. Owing to the fast technological development, neurosciences have started to develop intensively. Neuroimaging technologies and new sensitive laboratory tests enable the discovery of active molecules that take part in pathophysiological processes so that they can be considered as potential biomarkers. Although the biomarker which would be specific for depression has not been isolated yet, there are a lot of studies that confirm the existence of changes of the level of active substances in depressive patients with the regard to control ones. In this paper, we will take a look into potential biomarkers that ere in the centre of the research: the factors of growth, that is, brain-derived neurophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory and neuroendocrine biomarkers, as well as potential indicators of the oxidative and nitrosative stress. This kind of the possibility of the insight into biological bases of the depressive processes would enable new ranges in diagnostics, therapies and prognosis of this disorder and would contribute to the better quality of life of patients and their families.
European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Sep 28, 2018
We present a case which reports the occurrence of psychotic disorders after metronidazole and lev... more We present a case which reports the occurrence of psychotic disorders after metronidazole and levofloxacin therapy in a chronic kidney patient while being treated for enterocolitis and urinary infection. A 48-year-old female was admitted to a hospital for the placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter due to indicated peritoneal dialysis. During admission, symptoms of enterocolitis and urinary infection had occurred, so metronidazole and levofloxacin were introduced into therapy, respectively. After 4 days of metronidazole and 3 days of levofloxacin therapy, the patient became confused, disoriented, with signs of delirium. Since the diagnosis of psychoorganic disorder was made, the therapy with lorazepam and haloperidol was initiated, while metronidazole and levofloxacin were discontinued. Complete recovery 4 days after discontinuation indicates that the patient has experienced antibiotics-induced neurotoxicity. This is the first report of expressed neurotoxicity after the combination of metronidazole and levofloxacin in chronic kidney patients.
IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 is a virus with a multisystem effect, and it can cause numerous neuropsych... more IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 is a virus with a multisystem effect, and it can cause numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, both in the acute phase of infection and in the period after the disease has passed. According to Nalbandian et al. (2021), post-acute COVID-19 syndrome is a condition of persistent symptoms and/or delayed long-term complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection lasting longer than four weeks after the onset of symptoms.ObjectivesTo indicate the possible role of the SARS-COV 2 virus in the development of long-term neuropsychiatric and cognitive consequences of COVID-19.MethodsWe undertook a search of the available medical literature in the period after 2020 with the keywords COVID 19 and neuropsychiatric complicationsResults: Case report: Female patient, 40 years old, unemployed, married, mother of two children. She was admitted for the first hospital treatment at the Psychiatry Clinic of the UCC of Niš due to psychological disturbances in the form of experiencing her own...
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a very complex medical, social and economic problem. Long duratio... more Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a very complex medical, social and economic problem. Long duration and variability of symptoms can be frustrating for patients and lead to various psychological and behavioral changes, which can be expressed as an over-powering fear of movement and lead to avoidance behavior. The aim of this study was to highlight the importance of individually designed exercises (IDE) and cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) in the treatment of patients with CLBP who have signs of fear-avoidance behavior and kinesiophobia. One hundred and thirty patients were included in a prospective randomized study. Group 1 (G1; n = 35) had a combined IDE and CBT program. Group 2 (G2; n = 35) had IDE, without CBT. Group 3 (G3; n = 30) had standard group exercises for CLBP. Group 4 (G4; n = 30) was a control, patients did not have IDE or CBT. Waddel's Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), were used for monitoring and evaluation. Pa...
Background/Aim. A type of personality and negative emotional reactions could be important for clu... more Background/Aim. A type of personality and negative emotional reactions could be important for clustering biological risk factors for a cardiovascular disease in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). This study investigated if the patients with AH and psychological characteristics of the Distressed Type of personality with elevated anxiety/depression/aggression, have a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) and explored value of the assessed parameters for MS occurrence. Methods. A total of 85 patients with AH were included in the cross-sectional observational study. Type D Scale-14 (DS-14) was used to detect Type D (Distressed) personality. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessed the levels of anxiety and depression and the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) was used for the assessment of aggression. The explored biological parameters included: blood pressure, lipid status, body mass index (BMI), the occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and MS. Results....
Introduction: About One third of patients suffering from schizophrenia are considered treatment r... more Introduction: About One third of patients suffering from schizophrenia are considered treatment resistant. Identification of the predictors of treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS)can allow not only to identify thiscourse of disease but also to examine the aetiology and pathogenesis of formation of this type of treatment.CYP450 isoenzymes are actively involved in the metabolism of various substances, including drugs. Whereas CYP2D6 is only 2% of all cytochromes P450, it is involved in the metabolism of about 20% of drugs and especially psychotropic drugs. There is evidence that certain variants of the CYP2D6 gene are responsible for poor tolerability of antipsychotic therapy. Aim of the study: To investigate a predictive role rs3892097 (* 4), andrs1065852 (* 10) SNP'sCYP2D6 as biomarkers treatment resistant schizophrenia. Methods: 130 patients were included into the study, male (65,4%) and female (34,6%),in age from 18 to 60, with a diagnosis from category F20 according to ICD-10. Patients were divided to 2 groups: 1) TRS 2) no TRS. The dividing of patients was carried out according to the following criteria: • patients with an inadequate response to 2 antipsychotics (at least one of which is an atypical antipsychotic; • patients with persistent suicidality. Both groups, TRS and non TRS, were comparable in age, age of onset of the disease, duration of untreated psychosis, duration of the disease. The psychotic state of patients was assessed by PANSS and CGI-S. DNA was isolated from blood samples. Method of genotyping: real-time PCR (Biorad CFX-96). Statistical processing was performed using SPSS Statistics 21.0. We used the Chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney test, because of the abnormal distribution of the values of the quantitative variables. Results: After determining the carrier of polymorphic variants of CYP2D6, it was found that 55.4% were homozygous for the CC allele, and 44.6% had of the CT genotype of polymorphic variant rs1065852. 66.9% were homozygous for the GG allele, and 33.1% had the GA genotype of the polymorph variant rs3892097. In both cases the distribution of these alleles did not comply with the Hardy-Weinberg principle (р < 0,05). CYP2D6 * 10. There were no significant differences between the carriers of СС and С T genotypes according to the number of hospitalizations (p = 0.745), the mean duration of remission (p = 0.876), the number of ineffective antipsychotic therapy courses (p = 0.393), and the PANSS total score (р = 0.436). However, patients with the CT genotype had a higher CGI-S score (p = 0.025). There was also no significant association of this polymorphic variant with TRS (р = 0.275). CYP2D6 * 4. Comparison between the genotypes GG and GA also showed no significant differences in the number of hospitalizations (p = 0.864), duration of remission (p = 0.315), the number of ineffective antipsychotic therapy courses (p = 0.672), PANSS (р = 0.483) and CGI-S (р = 0.297). This polymorphic variant also showed no significant association with TRS (р = 0.238).
urban Family Practice, over 3 years (2011-2014). History of hypertension was recognized by at lea... more urban Family Practice, over 3 years (2011-2014). History of hypertension was recognized by at least 1 year. Subjects were classifi ed by the number of antihypertensive classes (6) and a fi xed combination (sartan and calcium channel blocker in variable doses) used. Relationship between BP control and age, sex, education and area of origin was also studied.
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health the student population.... more Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health the student population. The study aimed to analyze the psychological response to the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of perceived stress and its related factors among university students in the southeastern Serbia. The study was conducted during the increasing rate of the coronavirus disease in Serbia. Method A total of 434 students from the public university in SouthEast Serbia enrolled in the study and completed the measures of socio-demographical data, the Perceived stress scale (PSS-10), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. Results Study ndings suggest that the mean perceived stress score was placed to 20.43 (±7.67), suggesting that the students showed high stress level during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our model showed that female gander, higher scores on anxiety/insomnia and depression subscales as well as the coping strategy avoidance predicted higher level of perceived stress, while higher scores on social dysfunction were related to the reduced perceived stress scores. Conclusion Besides limitation of the study, ndings provided authentic data of stress reactions of students in SouthEast Serbia during the COVID-19 outbreak. The ndings con rm the need to examine the experience of students in states of emergencies and crisis as well as introduce a plan for support programs aimed at preventing a decline in education e cacy in the long run, together with preventing the occurrence of mental disorders.
Introduction The upturn of neuroimaging techniques in the past 30 years has changed the study of ... more Introduction The upturn of neuroimaging techniques in the past 30 years has changed the study of the biology of psychiatric disorders with implications for psychiatric practice. Thrive in medical imaging technology has, in fact, truly reformed nearly every medical field. Objectives These advances include both improvements in image resolution and the development of novel imaging techniques all of which provide an unprecedented view, in detail, of anatomical structures and/or functions in the human body. Methods Nowadays, we are familiar with the role of some brain structures such as the amygdala, the thalamus, the hippocampus, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the insula in neuropsychiatric function. For example, lesions to the frontal cortex can disrupt judgment, motivation and social behavior. Results Currently, most imaging techniques have some sort of clinical application, but this is usually restricted to a limited number of cases. New techniques have provided invaluable i...
Background: The optimal duration of triple anti-platelet therapy (DTAP) remains unclear in patien... more Background: The optimal duration of triple anti-platelet therapy (DTAP) remains unclear in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 716 AMI patients who received TAP (aspirin, clopidogrel, and cilostazol) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation from November 2005 to May 2008. Mean age was 61.9 ± 11.70 years (male gender 74.1%) and mean duration of TAP was 98.1 ± 115.34 days. We compared the major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE, defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal AMI, stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization (TVR)] between the group of DTAP ≥3 months (n = 497) and those of <3 months (n = 219). Results: There were no significant differences in the incidences of cardiac death, non-fatal AMI, stent thrombosis, and TVR at 1-year follow-up between the two groups. However, the group of DTAP ≥3 months had lower incidence of MACE than those <3 months (5.9% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.044). The rate of bleeding complications was similar between the two groups. By Cox regression analysis with propensity score adjustment, Killip class IV and DTAP ≥3 months were
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health of the student populati... more Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health of the student population. The study aimed to analyze the psychological response to the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of perceived stress and its related factors among university students in south-east Serbia. The study was conducted during the increased incidence of COVID-19 in Serbia. Method A total of 434 students from the public university in south-east Serbia enrolled in the study and completed the measures of socio-demographic data, the perceived stress scale (PSS-10), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. Results Study findings suggest that the mean perceived stress score was placed to 20.43 (± 7.67). Our model showed that female gender, higher scores on anxiety/insomnia and depression subscale as well as the coping strategy avoidance predicted higher perceived stress, while higher scores on so...
International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2019
Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction o... more Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned. The aim of this study was to explore the variety of self-injury behaviors as well as the function of NSSI among adolescents in South-East Serbia. Methods: The study included 50 adolescents of both sexes, aged 13e18 years, who had deliberately engaged in self-injury at least once. A general socio-demographic questionnaire and the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) were used in the study. Results: The average age of the respondents was 15 (1.17); the most common NSSI methods were cutting (60%), followed by biting and severe scratching (14%); the average age of onset was 14.12 (0.77); the majority confirmed experiencing pain during self-injury (42%); the respondents more commonly performed NSSI when they were alone (68,0%); in 90% of the cases, the time elapsed between sensing the urge to self-injury and acting on it was less than 1 h; the majority of the respondents stated that they did not want to stop self-injuring (56%). In terms of the NSSI function, the obtained scores were the highest for affect regulation 3.36 (1.47), self-punishment 1.90 (1.39) and marking distress 1.72 (1.26). In terms of gender, there was a statistically significant difference for the antidissociation (P ¼ .043), interpersonal influence (P ¼ .004) and revenge (P ¼ .019). The results may have practical implications when it comes to taking preventive and therapeutic measures in the vulnerable adolescent population.
As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical signifi... more As one of the most widespread illnesses today, depression has a big social and economical significance. Therefore, enormous efforts are made in getting deeper insights into its etiology and pathogenesis, which are still unknown to us. Owing to the fast technological development, neurosciences have started to develop intensively. Neuroimaging technologies and new sensitive laboratory tests enable the discovery of active molecules that take part in pathophysiological processes so that they can be considered as potential biomarkers. Although the biomarker which would be specific for depression has not been isolated yet, there are a lot of studies that confirm the existence of changes of the level of active substances in depressive patients with the regard to control ones. In this paper, we will take a look into potential biomarkers that ere in the centre of the research: the factors of growth, that is, brain-derived neurophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory and neuroendocrine biomarkers, as well as potential indicators of the oxidative and nitrosative stress. This kind of the possibility of the insight into biological bases of the depressive processes would enable new ranges in diagnostics, therapies and prognosis of this disorder and would contribute to the better quality of life of patients and their families.
Individuals with serious mental illness are more affected by emotional reactions, including suici... more Individuals with serious mental illness are more affected by emotional reactions, including suicidal behavior due to COVID‐19 and psychosocial consequences of pandemic. The current cross-sectional study aimed to explore the possible association of COVID-19 and suicidal behavior (suicide ideation and attempt) before and during pandemic-associated lockdown in Serbia. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 104 adult psychiatric inpatients admitted at Psychiatric Clinic, University Clinic Center Niš, Serbia, after ending lockdown and compared the obtained results with 181 adult psychiatric inpatients admitted during the same period in 2019 and 2018. Suicide ideation were more frequent in 2020 comparing with 2019 and 2018 (25 vs 12.5%, vs 9.41%; p < 0.05). Around 28% of patients with suicide attempts were exposed daily to the information related to COVID-19 coming from social media, while this frequency was significantly lower, only 7.55% (p < 0.1), among patients with...
Violence risk assessment in adolescents is an emergent research area with great potential for cli... more Violence risk assessment in adolescents is an emergent research area with great potential for clinical application. The need for standardization of clinical approaches has led to the development of structured professional judgment tools for violence risk assessment in youth. The aim of the study was to present a structured evaluation of violence risk assessment in clinical work with two male patients aged 12 and 17 with a psychiatric diagnosis of conduct disorder, socialized type and acute psychotic disorder. The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) was used in the assessment to help estimate the patients' risk for future violence. Based on the systematic analysis and consideration of the SAVRY Historical, Socio-Contextual and Individual risk factors balanced against the Protective factors, both patients were rated as being at high risk for future violence. In order to control and reduce the risk of further violent behaviour, an intervention plan was designed. With the increasing recognition of the public health importance of violence, the violence risk assessment is the subject of considerable clinical and research interest. In this way, we are joining the global trend of opposing the social pathological emergence of violence among youth and violence in general.
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Papers by Olivera Zikic