OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the effects of psychodrama group therapy on the level of stress, anxiety and depression of the group members, and the biological markers of stress. The aim of this study test cortisol level as a biological reflection of some mental characteristics gained by the psychodrama method in coping with stress. METHODS: Depressive patients aged between 18 and 65 years, who diagnosed with depression according to DSM-5, without psychiatric comorbidity, who do not use drugs and were available for psychodrama were enrolled into the study. These patients were evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. In order to observe the circadian rhythm of cortisol, samples were collected from the participants before lunch, before dinner and before going to sleep on the day before psychodrama and on the 0, 15th, and 30th minutes after awakening in the morning of the psychodrama day; as well as just before and after the psychodrama session. Saliva cortisol level just before the initial session of psychodrama group therapy was compared with the saliva cortisol level just after the last psychodrama session at the end of 16 weeks. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was determined between the scores of perceived stress scale, STAI-1, STAI-2, beck depression inventory and salivary cortisol level before and after psychodrama session. There was significant decrease in both the scale scores and salivary cortisol after vs. before psychodrama. CONCLUSION: This results is important as it shows the biological aspect of clinical improvement. Further studies would provide us with better understanding of the effects of psychodrama group psychotherapy on depressive mood and biological projections by means of short-term and long-term follow-up studies.
Anxiety ; Biomarkers ; Circadian Rhythm ; Comorbidity ; Depression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Lunch ; Meals ; Methods ; Psychodrama* ; Psychotherapy, Group ; Saliva*

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two different lung ultrasonography (LUS) methods that can be used in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to investigate their correlations with computed tomography (CT). Methods: In this prospective, randomized, and single-blind study, 60 patients with COVID-19 were included. The patients were randomized to either the 12-zone LUS group (n=30) or the 14-zone LUS group (n=30). The correlation between LUS and thoracic CT scores was evaluated. As a secondary outcome measure, the characteristic features of the findings of thoracic CT and LUS were examined. Results: The study was completed with a total of 59 patients. Moderate and high correlations were found between the total CT and LUS scores in the 12-zone and 14-zone study groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the lesion types detected in patients using LUS and CT (P>0.05). The left lung lower lobe CT scores were statistically significantly lower in the 14-zone study group than in the 12-zone group (P=0.019). The left lower lobe CT and LUS scores were highly correlated in the 14-zone group (P<0.001, r=0.902). Conclusion The results of our study indicated that the two different LUS examination methods performed in different patients had similar findings in terms of the diagnosis and their correlations with CT results.