Publications without Fulltext
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/3
Browse
20 results
Search Results
Publication Metadata only Subjective cognitive assessments and N-back are not correlated, and they are differentially affected by anxiety and depression(Routledge, 2023) Kılıç, Özge; Aydemir, Ömer; Eser, Hale Yapıcı; Küçüker, Mehmet Utku; Kılçıksız, Can Mişel; Yılmaz, Sezen Güçlü; Dinçer, Neris; Ercan, Alaattin Cenk; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); School of Medicine; Koç University HospitalCognitive function (CF) is a core feature related to all psychiatric disorders. However, self-report scales of CF (SRSC) may not always correlate with CF’s objective measures and may have different mediators. Tools to select for evaluating CF in diverse psychiatric populations and their determinants need to be studied. In this study, we aimed to assess the association of SRSC (Perceived Deficit Questionnaire-Depression (PDQ-D), and World Health Organization’s Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and its inattentiveness subscale) with Letter-N-back as an objective measure of CF, and to analyze their association with psychopathology. Two hundred nine (131 nonclinical, and 78 clinical with a psychiatric diagnosis of ICD10 F31-39 [mood disorders excluding Bipolar I] or F40-F49 [neurotic, stress-related or psychosomatic disorder] categories) participants were evaluated with PDQ-D, ASRS, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and N-back. Both groups’ data were included in the analysis. PDQ-D showed a small correlation with N-back scores, whereas ASRS showed no correlation. PDQ-D and ASRS showed a large correlation. Age and BAI scores significantly predicted both PDQ-D and ASRS, whereas the cognitive subscale of BDI predicted PDQ-D, but not ASRS. Only BAI scores predicted N-back results. The mediation model revealed that 2-back scores of N-back task directly affects PDQ-D scores, independent of BDI scores. However, the cognitive subscale of BDI moderated 2-back and PDQ-D association. On the contrary, BAI scores significantly mediated the association of 2-back scores with PDQ-D. The direct effect of 2-back scores in PDQ-D was insignificant in the mediation of BAI scores. Our study validates the discordance between SRSC and an objective measurement of CF. Anxiety may affect both self-report and objective measurement of CF, whereas depressive thought content may lead to higher cognitive dysfunction reports in nondemented participants. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Publication Metadata only Brain derived neurotrophic factor negatively responded to transcranial direct current stimulation: randomized controlled trial(Medicinska Naklada, 2022) Abd El-Hameed, Nema; Hamdy, Mohamed; N/A; Youssef, Hussein; PhD Student; School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; N/AIntroduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels could indicate synaptic plasticity, modulation of BDNF might be a part of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) mechanisms on synaptic connectivity [1]. BDNF associated with changes to chronic pain and stress [2]. The study aims to investigate BDNF level change in response to tDCS in subacute ischemic stroke patients. Clinical trial registration ID NCT04770363. Methods: 36 stroke survivors participated, randomly assigned to bihemispheric (Anodal over affected M1, and cathodal over healthy M1), or unihemispheric (Anodal over affected M1, and cathodal over supraorbital bone), or sham (No current). ActivaDose tDCS (USA), consisted of 20 minutes of 2 mA intensity; in each session for 12 sessions three per week. A 3ml blood was withdrawn in first and last sessions. BDNF determined using ELISA kits. Results: Statistically significant difference (Negative) within groups for bihemispheric (P = .011), unihemispheric stimulation (P = .003), but not for sham group (P = .492). Significant difference between groups (P = .005). Post-hoc test by pairwise revealed both bihemispheric & unihemisphericstimulation significantly decreased BDNF levels more than sham (P = .001), (P = .021), respectively and no significant difference between both experimental groups (P = .217). Discussion: Negative decrease in BDNF levels associated with positive improving of motor measures, and upper extremity pain relieving. Process Evaluation: Long-term effect of tDCS, electrode placements, and polarity change of electrodes should considered for future studies. Applying the same current intensity/dose for all participants was a critical limitation.Publication Metadata only Parental predictors of children’s math learning behaviours in different cultures(Springer, 2022) Selcuk, Bilge; N/A; Department of Psychology; Niehues, Wenke Ulrike; Sakarya, Yasemin Kisbu; PhD Student; Faculty Member; Department of Psychology; Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities; College of Social Sciences and Humanities; N/A; 219275Research indicates that parental schoolwork involvement is beneficial for students' academic functioning when parents facilitate their children's autonomy and refrain from psychological controlling practices. However, effects of the quality of parental involvement on child learning outcomes may vary due to cross-cultural differences in children's appraisal and reaction towards these practices. The current study aimed to investigate the link between the quality of parental schoolwork involvement and children's learning-related behaviours in math, and the mediating role of mother-child conflict around math schoolwork in this link in three cultural groups (i.e., German-Turkish, Turkish and German families). Data were collected from 107 German-Turkish, 426 Turkish and 140 German mothers with children in fifth to eighth grades. After testing measurement invariance of the scales across groups, multi-group structural equation modelling was used to examine the direct and indirect paths between the quality of parental involvement, mother-child conflict and child learning-related behaviours. Results showed that the level of mother-child conflict mediated the link between mothers' psychologically controlling practices and children's learning-related behaviours in math in all three groups. No mediation was found for the link between maternal autonomy support and children's learning-related behaviours in any group. However, the direct path from mothers' autonomy support to children's learning-related behaviours was significant in the Turkish and German-Turkish samples. These results suggest that the role of different forms of parental schoolwork involvement in children's academic functioning is more similar than different across cultural groups.Publication Metadata only Development of externalizing behaviors in the context of family and non-family relationships(Springer, 2016) N/A; Department of Psychology; Akçinar, Berna; Baydar, Nazlı; PhD Student; Faculty Member; Department of Psychology; Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities; College of Social Sciences and Humanities; 115675; 50769A longitudinal model was presented, that included reciprocal associations between physically harsh parenting by the mother, child externalizing problems, and support from the father, the extended family, and the neighbors. This transactional process was estimated for the years preceding school entry. The data were from a 4-years longitudinal and nationally representative study of 1009 children and their mothers in Turkey. The results indicated that concurrently, physically harsh parenting and child externalizing problems were strongly associated. Controlling for their within domain stability and cross-domain concurrent correlation, changes in harsh parenting and changes in child externalizing behaviors had significant reciprocal effects in early childhood, although these effects were small. These reciprocal effects were smaller for observer reported harsh parenting than maternal reports. There was a role of the mesosystem in this developmental process. Increases in the support from the father, and the extended family and the neighbors predicted declines in the child externalizing behaviors subsequently. Reciprocally, high child externalizing and maternal physically harsh parenting predicted subsequent declines in the support from these sources. These results were consistent with the hypotheses that negative mother-child relationships could spill over to the other relationships of the mothers, and that positive and supportive relationships of the mother could constitute positive role models for the child.Publication Metadata only Well-being of mothers of children with orthopedic disabilities in a disadvantaged context: findings from Turkey(Springer, 2015) Department of Psychology; N/A; N/A; Selçuk, Bilge; Müren, H. Melis Yavuz; Şen, Hilal Harma; Faculty Member; PhD Student; PhD Student; Department of Psychology; College of Social Sciences and Humanities; Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities; Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities; 52913; N/A; 308928Identifying the factors that are associated with well-being of mothers of children with special needs is the first step for developing and implementing relevant social policies. in this research, we focused on subjective well-being of mothers of 105 Turkish children with orthopedic disabilities who came from a disadvantaged background; and investigated its association with child's health, parental stress, social support, and socio-economic status. Results showed that well-being of mothers was not significantly linked with child's health; but was closely associated with economic and social factors and stress. the findings are discussed with regard to the challenges of having a child with special needs and the available support systems in developing countries.Publication Metadata only Investigation of generalized EEG paroxysms accompanying focal epilepsies(Sage Publications Inc, 2019) Atalar, Arife Çimen; Yılmaz, Ebru; Bebek, Nerses; Baykan, Betül; Vanlı-Yavuz, Ebru Nur; Doctor; School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; 251177Interictal focal EEG features were frequently observed in generalized, epilepsies, but there is limited information about interictal, epileptiform/nonepileptiform generalized paroxysms in focal epilepsies. We aimed to report the frequency and associated factors of generalized EEG discharges in focal epilepsy with unknown cause (FEUC) and mesial, temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). A total of 200 patients (FEUC in 90 patients; MTLE-HS in 110 patients) were included. Generalized epileptiform (spike/sharp waves simultaneously in all regions) and nonspecific generalized discharges (paroxysmal slow waves) were investigated. All clinical and laboratory findings of 2 groups were compared with each other and with remaining control group, without generalized paroxysms, statistically. Generalized EEG features were present in 22 (11%; 4 males) patients; 9 in the FEUC group (10%; 2) and 13 in the MTLE-HS group (11.8%). Female gender (P < .021), febrile seizure (P < .034), precipitant factors (P < .025), and parental consanguinity (P < .033) were significantly higher in the group with generalized EEG findings. Monotherapy rates were lower in the MTLE-HS group (P < .05). The relationship of generalized EEG features with female gender and parental consanguinity may point out to a genetic property among focal epilepsies, while the relationship with febrile seizures and precipitant factors may be a clue about mechanisms with more extensive involvement of the neuronal networks.Publication Metadata only Investigating the nutritional value of foods targeting children(Springer, 2020) Guzel, Sumeyye; Keser, Alev; N/A; Hatun, Şükrü; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; 153504Purpose This study aimed to investigate the nutritional values of some low-nutrition packaged foods widely sold in supermarkets and encouraged for consumption. Methods The study used 435 packaged foods from six hypermarkets with high sale capacities in Ankara to analyze their contents of energy/total fat/saturated fat/carbohydrate/sugar/salt based on label information. Results Among the products in the scope of the study, the highest values were found in chocolates for fat (33.0 +/- 4.28/100 g) and sugar (45.6 +/- 5.95/100 g), wafers for saturated fat (19.2 +/- 3.89/100 g), and crackers for sodium (0.9 +/- 0.23/100 g). Among the 435 packaged foods investigated in the study, the products exceeded the limits designated in the health codes declared by the Turkish Food Codex Labeling Directive in 83.4% of the instances in terms of sugar, 93.7% of the instances in terms of total fat, 92.4% of the instances in terms of saturated fat, and 70.3% of the instances in terms of sodium. Conclusion Energy/fat/sugar/salt contents were high in the packaged products that are especially targeted for children for higher consumption. Children's frequent and excessive consumption of these products contribute to the prevalence of childhood obesity and increase in related health risks.Publication Metadata only Relations among sociocognitive abilities and prosocial behavior(Springer, 2014) Department of Psychology; Selçuk, Bilge; Faculty Member; Department of Psychology; College of Social Sciences and Humanities; 52913To further the understanding of the relations among sociocognitive abilities and social behavior, the current study examined theory of mind (ToM), social information processing (SIP), and prosocial behavior in 116 preschoolers (M age = 58.88 months) in Turkey. False belief tasks were utilized to test ToM and cartoons were used to assess SIP patterns. Prosocial behavior was measured with mother-reports and individual assessments. ToM was not related with the attribution of intent and was the only sociocognitive predictor of prosocial behavior, but just in boys. Results also pointed at sex differences in levels of sociocognitive development; girls showed greater ToM and more non-hostile attribution. Findings imply that SIP patterns might be less closely related to positive than antisocial behaviors, and understanding others' minds might be less needed for positive acts in Turkish girls, who may learn to engage in such behavior as part of their gender role more strongly.Publication Metadata only Impact of abstract vs. concrete processing on state rumination: an exploration of the role of cognitive flexibility(Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, 2022) Kaya-Kiziloz, Burcu; Ilkmen, Yasemin Sohtorik; Kozol, Eylul; Department of Psychology; Atalay, Ayşe Altan; Teaching Faculty; Department of Psychology; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); College of Social Sciences and Humanities; 205807Background and objectives: Abstract and concrete modes of rumination may be associated with different mental health outcomes; whereby concrete rumination strategies increase the individual's tendency to seek solutions to problems and thus leading to significant improvements in the mood state as well as reductions in the intensity of ruminative thoughts. However, related studies also are suggestive of other variables that are potentially effective in the outcome of abstract and concrete processing. The current study aimed to examine how abstract and concrete processing are associated with state rumination and explore the role of cognitive flexibility in this relationship. Method: A total of 111 (78 female) participants were assessed for state rumination prior and post induction of abstract versus concrete processing. Results: Although all participants reported higher levels of state rumination following both processing inductions, participants that were instructed to engage in abstract processing reported higher levels of state rumination as opposed to concrete processing group. Moreover, participants with lower levels of cognitive flexibility reported significant increases in state rumination following the manipulation, independent of type of processing induction. Limitations: The impact of the manipulation was assessed only via the BSRI and lacks physiological assessment of arousal levels of participants. Conclusions: Clinical implications that involve concrete processing and CF ability trainings may be beneficial for the management of state rumination.Publication Metadata only The psychometric properties of the children's social understanding scale among atypically developing children and adolescents(Springer, 2022) Beşiroglu, Burcu; Alaylı, Ayça; Tahiroğlu, Deniz; Department of Psychology; Selçuk, Bilge; Faculty Member; Department of Psychology; College of Social Sciences and Humanities; 52913Theory of mind (ToM) has been frequently assessed via behavioral assessments. Recently, Tahiroglu and colleagues developed the parent-report Children's Social Understanding Scale (CSUS) to assess individual differences in ToM. They found it reliable and valid in assessing ToM of typically developing preschoolers. In the present study, we examined the psychometric properties of the CSUS in ToM assessment of children and adolescents with atypical development, who are known to have difficulties in understanding others' mental states. In two studies, we collected data from 106 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; M-age = 12.06 years, SD = 2.91) and 70 children and adolescents with hearing impairment (HI; M-age = 7.3 years, SD = 2.3). The children's social understanding was assessed via the CSUS (short form in the ASD and full form in the HI samples) and behavioral ToM tasks (tasks with low-verbal demands and standard ToM tasks). Receptive language in both samples and nonverbal intelligence in ASD sample were also assessed. Analyses revealed high internal consistency for the CSUS in both samples. As expected, the CSUS correlated with performance on behavioral ToM tasks, receptive language, and nonverbal intelligence. The CSUS continued to be significantly associated with performance on behavioral ToM tasks after controlling for receptive language and nonverbal intelligence in ASD sample, and controlling for age and receptive language in HI sample. These results demonstrate that the CSUS is a reliable and valid tool in measuring ToM among children and adolescents with ASD and those with HI in Turkey.