Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is an inflammatory and metabolic disease. The disease and the drugs used to treat it may affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The aim of this study is to investigate arterial stiffness in patients with BD and compare them with healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with BD type I in remission and 39 healthy control subjects were included in the study.Carotid and femoral artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial thickness parameters were measured by Doppler ultrasonography. Results: The elastic modulus value of the carotid artery was significantly higher in the patients than in the control group (p = 0.015). Although the IMT of both carotid and femoral artery was thicker in patients than in healthy control subjects, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.105; p = 0.391). There was a significant positive correlation between chlorpromazine equivalent dose and femoral elastic modulus value (p = 0.021, r = 0.539). There was a positive correlation between lithium equivalent dose and carotid compliance; a significant negative correlation between lithium equivalent dose and carotid elastic modulus was also determined (both p = 0.007, r = 0.466; p = 0.027, r = −0.391, respectively). No predictor was observed between drug dose and arterial stiffness parameters. Conclusion Arterial stiffness might be investigated for its potential to reduce CVD risk in patients with BD. Given the established CVD complications in this patient population, further studies are needed to determine whether the results are specific to antipsychotic treatment or BD and to clarify the potential arterial protective effects of mood stabilizers.

Objective: Technology addiction is an increasingly important public health problem all over the world that negatively affects people’s mental and physical health. In this study, we examined technology addiction and social connectedness levels of psychiatric patients who admitted to clinics in different geographical regions of Turkey. Methods: A total of 642 people with a diagnosis of psychiatric illness who applied to psychiatry clinics in İstanbul, Elaziğ, Malatya, Yozgat, Adıyaman, and Bingöl provinces were included. Sociodemographic data form, Technology Addiction Scale (TAS), and Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) were applied to all participants. Results: The total score of the TAS in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder and somatoform disorder was significantly higher than the other patient groups (p<0.001). Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder showed a significant difference from other patient groups in terms of SCS score (p<0.001). Anxiety disorder was found to be the highest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the lowest in SCS score, while major depressive disorder was found to be the lowest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the highest in SCS score. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the total score of the TAS was predicted by the SCS score (β=-1.857, p<0.001) and the SCS score was predicted by age (β=0.046, p=0.049) and the total score of the TAS (β=-0.316, p<0.001). Conclusion As a result of this study, we can say that psychiatric patients have a moderate level of technology addiction, these people have high levels of social connectedness, and psychiatric patients with technology addiction have a high level of social belonging.

Objective: Technology addiction is an increasingly important public health problem all over the world that negatively affects people’s mental and physical health. In this study, we examined technology addiction and social connectedness levels of psychiatric patients who admitted to clinics in different geographical regions of Turkey. Methods: A total of 642 people with a diagnosis of psychiatric illness who applied to psychiatry clinics in İstanbul, Elaziğ, Malatya, Yozgat, Adıyaman, and Bingöl provinces were included. Sociodemographic data form, Technology Addiction Scale (TAS), and Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) were applied to all participants. Results: The total score of the TAS in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder and somatoform disorder was significantly higher than the other patient groups (p<0.001). Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder showed a significant difference from other patient groups in terms of SCS score (p<0.001). Anxiety disorder was found to be the highest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the lowest in SCS score, while major depressive disorder was found to be the lowest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the highest in SCS score. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the total score of the TAS was predicted by the SCS score (β=-1.857, p<0.001) and the SCS score was predicted by age (β=0.046, p=0.049) and the total score of the TAS (β=-0.316, p<0.001). Conclusion As a result of this study, we can say that psychiatric patients have a moderate level of technology addiction, these people have high levels of social connectedness, and psychiatric patients with technology addiction have a high level of social belonging.

Objective: Technology addiction is an increasingly important public health problem all over the world that negatively affects people’s mental and physical health. In this study, we examined technology addiction and social connectedness levels of psychiatric patients who admitted to clinics in different geographical regions of Turkey. Methods: A total of 642 people with a diagnosis of psychiatric illness who applied to psychiatry clinics in İstanbul, Elaziğ, Malatya, Yozgat, Adıyaman, and Bingöl provinces were included. Sociodemographic data form, Technology Addiction Scale (TAS), and Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) were applied to all participants. Results: The total score of the TAS in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder and somatoform disorder was significantly higher than the other patient groups (p<0.001). Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder showed a significant difference from other patient groups in terms of SCS score (p<0.001). Anxiety disorder was found to be the highest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the lowest in SCS score, while major depressive disorder was found to be the lowest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the highest in SCS score. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the total score of the TAS was predicted by the SCS score (β=-1.857, p<0.001) and the SCS score was predicted by age (β=0.046, p=0.049) and the total score of the TAS (β=-0.316, p<0.001). Conclusion As a result of this study, we can say that psychiatric patients have a moderate level of technology addiction, these people have high levels of social connectedness, and psychiatric patients with technology addiction have a high level of social belonging.

Objective: Technology addiction is an increasingly important public health problem all over the world that negatively affects people’s mental and physical health. In this study, we examined technology addiction and social connectedness levels of psychiatric patients who admitted to clinics in different geographical regions of Turkey. Methods: A total of 642 people with a diagnosis of psychiatric illness who applied to psychiatry clinics in İstanbul, Elaziğ, Malatya, Yozgat, Adıyaman, and Bingöl provinces were included. Sociodemographic data form, Technology Addiction Scale (TAS), and Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) were applied to all participants. Results: The total score of the TAS in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder and somatoform disorder was significantly higher than the other patient groups (p<0.001). Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder showed a significant difference from other patient groups in terms of SCS score (p<0.001). Anxiety disorder was found to be the highest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the lowest in SCS score, while major depressive disorder was found to be the lowest in TAS total score and sub-dimensions and the highest in SCS score. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the total score of the TAS was predicted by the SCS score (β=-1.857, p<0.001) and the SCS score was predicted by age (β=0.046, p=0.049) and the total score of the TAS (β=-0.316, p<0.001). Conclusion As a result of this study, we can say that psychiatric patients have a moderate level of technology addiction, these people have high levels of social connectedness, and psychiatric patients with technology addiction have a high level of social belonging.