Venlafaxine (VEN) is considered to be one of the most effective antidepressants. It belongs to the group of serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). NA and 5-HT have receptors on the surface of platelets and are involved in platelet aggregation. In this case study, we present the case of a patient treated for one of the types of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), essential thrombocythemia (ET), in whom VEN was added to pharmacotherapy during the treatment of a severe episode of depression with psychotic symptoms. We observed a gradual reduction in platelet count when increasing the dose of VEN. We also present a narrative review of literature about the effect of VEN on platelet counts and activity. We conclude that, in the group of patients taking VEN, attention should be paid to the rare adverse effect of a decrease in the number of platelets.

Community psychiatry is a modern and effective form of care for patients with mental disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a rehabilitation program at the Mental Health Support Centre in Tarnowskie Góry (Poland) on reducing severity of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as improving overall quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 35 patients, examined with an authors’ questionnaire on sociodemographic data, the Hospital Scale of Anxiety and Depression (HADS) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Data was obtained during the first national lockdown and compared to data gathered before the pandemic on the same study group. Imposed restrictions, negative emotional state during lockdown, subjectively assessed higher health risk and a low level of knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly correlate with a severity of depression and anxiety, as well as general quality of life. However, the comparison of the results obtained in HADS and SF-36 scales show a significant improvement in both categories. Rehabilitation activities, including physical training, cognitive exercise and social therapy, reduce the severity of the symptoms and have a positive effect on the overall quality of life in patients suffering from schizophrenia and affective disorders. Therefore, holistic mental health support services may positively affect building an individual resilience. The severity of anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic shows a negative correlation with the patient’s age.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the effect of aripiprazole on leptin, insulin, acute phase proteins, and selected cytokines levels in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Additionally, levels of leptin, insulin, acute phase proteins, and cytokines were compared with body mass and body composition indexes. Material and methods: Levels of leptin, insulin, serum amyloid A (SAA), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins 17A (IL-17A) and 18 (IL-18) in blood serum were measured for 17 patients before and after 28 days of administering aripiprazole by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Before and after the study, body mass and waist circumference (WC) were also measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) were estimated. The sex of each patient was taken into account. Results: After administration of aripiprazole the reduction of levels of leptin, insulin, SAA, and TNF-a were statistically significant, similarly to body mass reduction and decrease in WC, BMI, and BF%, which were also statistically significant. A positive correlation between leptin and BF% and negative correlation between insulin and body mass and body composition indexes were observed before and after the study. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and hsCRP/albumin positively correlated with BMI before the treatment. In the group of women a statistically significant positive correlation between TNF-α and IL-17A and body mass and body composition indexes was observed, and in the group of men a negative correlation between IL-18 and BMI, WC, and BF% was noted. Conclusions: The effect of aripiprazole is connected to its anti-inflammatory activity. A 28-day treatment resulted in reduction of adipose tissue, and in the group of women it returned their leptin sensitivity to normal levels. A change of psychotropic treatment and administration of aripiprazole reduces cardiometabolic risks. Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the effect of aripiprazole on leptin, insulin, acute phase proteins, and selected cytokines levels in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Additionally, levels of leptin, insulin, acute phase proteins, and cytokines were compared with body mass and body composition indexes. Material and methods: Levels of leptin, insulin, serum amyloid A (SAA), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins 17A (IL-17A) and 18 (IL-18) in blood serum were measured for 17 patients before and after 28 days of administering aripiprazole by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Before and after the study, body mass and waist circumference (WC) were also measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) were estimated. The sex of each patient was taken into account. Results: After administration of aripiprazole the reduction of levels of leptin, insulin, SAA, and TNF-a were statistically significant, similarly to body mass reduction and decrease in WC, BMI, and BF%, which were also statistically significant. A positive correlation between leptin and BF% and negative correlation between insulin and body mass and body composition indexes were observed before and after the study. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and hsCRP/albumin positively correlated with BMI before the treatment. In the group of women a statistically significant positive correlation between TNF-α and IL-17A and body mass and body composition indexes was observed, and in the group of men a negative correlation between IL-18 and BMI, WC, and BF% was noted. Conclusions: The effect of aripiprazole is connected to its anti-inflammatory activity. A 28-day treatment resulted in reduction of adipose tissue, and in the group of women it returned their leptin sensitivity to normal levels. A change of psychotropic treatment and administration of aripiprazole reduces cardiometabolic risks.

Cel pracy: Celem badania była ocena częstości występowania i nasilenia zaburzeń lękowych i depresyjnych wśród pacjentów z pierwotną nadczynnością przytarczyc (PNP), ustalenie związku nasilenia zaburzeń ze stężeniami jonów wapnia i parathormonu w surowicy oraz oceny przydatności skal samooceny w przesiewowej ocenie zaburzeń depresyjnych wśród chorych z PNP.Metoda: Badaniu przy użyciu 17-punktowej Skali Depresji Hamiltona (HAM-D), Inwentarza Samooceny Becka-II (BDI-II) oraz Szpitalnej Skali Leku i Depresji (HADS) poddano 101 pacjentów z PNP. Grupę kontrolną stanowiło 50 chorych z rozpoznaniem wola obojętnego tarczycy.Wyniki: Analiza wyników badania przy użyciu skali HAM-D wykazała częstsze występowanie i większe nasilenie objawów depresyjnych w całej populacji pacjentów oraz wśród kobiet z PNP. Nie uwidoczniono takiej zależności wśród badanych mężczyzn. W badaniu przy użyciu BDI-II wykazano częstsze występowanie i większe nasilenie objawów depresyjnych w całej populacji pacjentów oraz wśród kobiet z PNP. Nie uwidoczniono takiej zależności wśród badanych mężczyzn. Badanie przy użyciu HADS nie wykazało istotnych różnic między częstością występowania objawów depresyjnych i lękowych pomiędzy grupą badaną i kontrolną w całej populacji oraz po uwzględnieniu podziału na płeć.Wnioski: Badanie uwidoczniło związek między PNP a występowaniem zaburzeń depresyjnych. Związku takiego nie wykazano dla zaburzeń lękowych. Nie wykazano zależności nasilenia zaburzeń depresyjnych od stężenia jonów wapnia i parathormonu w surowicy. Wykazano istotną statystycznie niewielką ujemną korelację nasilenia zaburzeń lękowych ze stężeniem jonów wapnia w surowicy w całej badanej grupie, w grupie kobiet ponadto dodatnią korelację stężenia parathormonu w surowicy z nasileniem zaburzeń lękowych. Badanie wykazało, że testy samooceny nie są wystarczającym narzędziem do przesiewowej diagnostyki zaburzeń depresyjnych wśród pacjentów z PNP.

Background: The sense of coherence is lower in patients with somatic diseases and psychiatric disorders. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intensity of depression and anxiety symptoms and their relationship with the sense of coherence and to try to determine the relationship between the strength of sense of coherence and symptoms of depression and anxiety with the presence of symptoms of carotid atherosclerosis in a group of patients undergoing carotid artery stenting. Methods: 35 patients, including 13 with symptomatic atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, completed self-report tests: Hospital Scale of Depression and Anxiety (HADS) and the SOC-29 Life Orientation Questionnaire (SOC-29), 22 of whom also rated their subjective feelings of anxiety and depression on a scale included in the author’s questionnaire. Results: Both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients did not differ significantly in the severity of depression, but they differed in anxiety levels as assessed by the HADS scale. There were no differences in the overall strength of sense of coherence and its individual components. Nearly 12% of those undergoing carotid artery stenting have pronounced anxiety symptoms, and just over 14% have pronounced depression symptoms. A higher overall sense of coherence and its components are associated with lower severity of depression symptoms. Lower severity of anxiety correlates negatively with a higher sense of understanding, meaningfulness, and holistic Sense of Coherence (SOC). Manageability appeared higher in men. Conclusions: SOC is an important health-promoting factor that is preferably related to mental health parameters of patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

Cel: Celem pracy była analiza zależności różnych wymiarów temperamentu a stężeniami wybranych cytokin i PTSD u mężczyzn po urazach mechanicznych kończyn dolnych.Metoda: Do oceny PTSD wykorzystano Kwestionariusz PTSD wersja czynnikowa (1, 2). Cechy temperamentu badano za pomocą Formalnej Charakterystyki Zachowania-Kwestionariusz Temperamentu (FCZ-KT) (3). Stężenia wybranych cytokin oznaczono metodą ELISA. Cała populacja osób biorących udział w badaniu została wyselekcjonowana z większej populacji liczącej 80 osób. Wyeliminowano z badań 15 osób u których wystąpiły cechy stanu zapalnego. Grupa z PTSD liczyła 33 osoby, grupa kontrolna 32.Wyniki: Z PTSD dodatnio statystycznie istotnie korelowały: persewerwtywność i reaktywność emocjonalna, ujemnie: żwawość, wytrzymałość i aktywność. Nie wykazano korelacji statystycznie istotnych między stężeniami wybranych cytokin: rozpuszczalny receptor interleukiny-2 (sIL-2), interleukina-6 (IL-6), interleukna-10 (IL-10),czynnik martwicy nowotworów-alfa (TNF-alfa) i interferonem-gamma (IFN-gamma) a cechami temperamentu. Omówiono także zależności między cechami temperamentu, PTSD a różnymi wymiarami osobowości.Wnioski: 1. U pacjentów z cechami temperamentu takimi jak perseweratywność i reaktywność emocjonalna istniało większe ryzyko wystąpienia PTSD. 2. U pacjentów z cechami temperamentu takimi jak żwawość, aktywność i wytrzymałość ryzyko wystąpienia PTSD było mniejsze. 3. Stężenie badanych cytokin (sIL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alfa, IFN-gamma) nie było zależne od cech temperamentu.