2024 CiteScore: 3
pISSN: 1735-4587
eISSN: 2008-2215
Editor-in-Chief:
Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, MD.
This journal is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Vol 1 No 4 (2006)
Articles
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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validityof the Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 in a sample of opioidsubstance use disordered patients.
Methods: 321 substance dependent patients (287 male, 34 female)participated in this study. All of the participants were asked to complete theFarsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (FTAS-20), the EmotionalIntelligence Scale (EIS-41), and The Mental Health Inventory (MHI). In orderto examine the internal consistency of the FTAS-20, Cronbach's alphacoefficients were calculated for the entire sample. Pearson's correlationcoefficient was used to estimate the test-retest reliability of the alexithymiadimensions. To examine the concurrent validity of the FTAS-20, a series ofzero-order correlations were conducted between the FTAS-20 subscales,emotional intelligence and mental health variables. Confirmatory FactorAnalysis (CFA) was utilized to test the three-factor structure of the FTAS-20.
Results: The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity,and the three-factor structure of the Farsi version of the TAS-20 forsubstance users were supported by findings.
Conclusions: The factors found in the Farsi version of the TAS-20, aresimilar to the three factors found in a study conducted by Bagby, Parker andTaylor; the factors were accordingly labeled as Difficulty Identifying Feelings(DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) and Externally-Oriented Thinking(EOT). The results provide evidence for applicability of the TAS-20 and itscross-cultural validity. -
Objectivet: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression among women living in Zabol, a city in South-East of Iran.
Method: 2 to 8 weeks after delivery, 408 women were assessed for depression and some of its risk factors.
Results: The prevalence of postpartum depression was (40.4 %). Risk factors for the onset of post-partum depression included younger age, low income families, unemployment, history of depression, lack of family support, formula feeding, relationship difficulties with spouse, parents or parents-in-law. Type of delivery, number of pregnancy, number of delivery, satisfaction with sex of the baby, and number of children, were not associated with occurrence of PPD.
Conclusion: Depression occurs frequently after childbirth. The findings have implications for policies concerning maternal and childcare programs. -
Objective: Considering reports on the comorbidities of some psychiatric disorders with epilepsy and in view of some variability in results and lack of needed data in the Iranian population, this study aimed at a further systematic evaluation of various major psychiatric disorders in epileptic patients and compared the results with a control group.
Method: In this study, to assess mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders in patients with epilepsy, 60 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and 60 control individuals matched on age and sex were selected. The case group was conveniently selected from the patients referring to the Iranian Epilepsy Association and the clinic of neurology in Rasoul Akram Hospital, Tehran. A control group whose age and gender were matched with the case group was also selected. Both groups underwent the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I).
Results: Each group included 30 males and 30 females. The mean age was 31.08.97 in patients and 31.28.21 in controls. The lifetime prevalence of major psychiatric disorders including mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders, was 68.3% in individuals with epilepsy and 36.7% in controls (OR=0.28, 95%CI=0.12- 0.57, p<0.05). Among mood disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) (OR=2.57, 95%CI=1.1 to 5.9, p<0.05) and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) (p<0.05) prevailed significantly more in patients. Among anxiety disorders, only the frequency of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was statistically significant (OR=5.2, 95%CI=1.4 to 19, p<0.01).
Conclusions: MDD is the most prevalent comorbidity while OCD and depressive disorder NOS are in the second and third ranks. Therefore, in addition to the main psychiatric disorders, clinicians should pay enough attention to the significance of depressive disorder NOS. Further studies on community based samples, may result in more accurate findings concerning the target population. -
Objective: Marital adjustment has been regarded as an important issue in chronic illnesses. Some studies have addressed the effect of viral hepatitis on patients' spouses but there is still limited information on the topic. This study has compared marital adjustment in patients suffering from different stages of viral hepatitis with that of a healthy population.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 176 subjects were recruited and divided into three groups: group I (57 patients with chronic active hepatitis), group II (68 carriers with non-active viral hepatitis), and group III (51 healthy subjects). Patients and controls were selected through systematic sampling from Tehran Hepatitis Center and Tehran Blood Transfusion Organization respectively. The overall score and the scores of subscale items including Dyadic Consensus, Affection Expression, Dyadic Satisfaction and Dyadic Cohesion were compared in the groups using Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS).
Results: There was no significant difference between the overall RDAS score, and its subscales including Dyadic Satisfaction, Dyadic Consensus, Affection Expression and Dyadic Cohesion among the study groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions: It appears that marital adjustment in Iranian patients with chronic active hepatitis and carriers with non-active viral hepatitis are similar to healthy subjects. Thus, dyadic support may act as a buffer on the negative impact of the disease development on the familial lives of the patients. -
Objective: Substance misuse is a major public health threat in Iran. The total number of addicts in Iran is estimated to be between 700,000 and 4,000,000. A few limited household studies on the prevalence of substance misuse have been performed in Iran.
Method: The residents of the sixth district of the municipality of Tehran who were over the age of 15 were selected as the study population. The sample size was 2,705. The instrument of the study was face-to-face interviews.
Results: 184(6.8%) of the subjects had used at least one substance in their lives and 142(5.2%) used a substance during the month before the interviews. 132(4.88%), 10(0.37%), 3(0.11%), 5(0.19%) and 4(15%) of the subjects reported the use of alcohol, opium, opium residue, heroin, and cannabis respectively during the month before the interviews.
Conclusion: The estimate and profile of substance use are different from other methodologies. This household study indicated lower than expected prevalence of opioids and higher than expected alcohol use. Indirect estimation methods are probably more appropriate for the prevalence studies of substance misuse in Iran. -
Objective: Memory and concentration may be affected by hemodialysis in end-stage renal disease. In this study, changes in cognitive function parameters such as attention, impulsiveness, and reaction time were measured and evaluated in the Iranian hemodialysing patients.
Methods: In this analytic observational study, cognitive function of 38 hemodialysis patients was measured before and after hemodialysis sessions using Conners' continuous performance test.
Results: Mean age of patients was 37.97 12.58 years. There wasn't any significant difference between numbers of matches successfully recognized, number of Miss Faire and mean of reaction time of those matches successfully recognized before and after hemodialysis. There weren't any differences between history of hemodialysis and number of matches successfully, matches missed and mean reaction time of matches. Educational level of patients was significant effect on number of Miss Faire during hemodialysis.
Conclusions: It has been concluded that hemodialysis did not have any significant impact on the cognitive function. However, this hypothesis needs to be checked and confirmed by careful selection of patients and other cognitive function tests. -
Objective: To report the case of a 39- year old unmarried female with factitious edema of the right hand two weeks after being struck by her brother and following self injury of the right arm.
Method: A 39-year old unmarried female with severe edema of the right hand and forearm diagnosed as factitious lymphedema was admitted to Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital. After hospitalization, with elevation of affected limb, the edema had lessened. Thereafter, she was observed at ward rounds with a cloth bandage wrapped around her arm. The edema had recurred. Physical Examination as well as right upper extremity X ray was normal. In mental state examination, patient's mood was dysphonic, rather anxious, and denied tourniquet application; otherwise no prominent psychiatric symptoms were detected. Patient underwent psychotherapy and 20 my fluoxetetine on daily basis was administered.
Results: Patient's symptoms relieved within eight weeks and discharged while accepted to adjust herself with the situations.
Conclusion: Factitious etiology may be presuming in any patient with unilateral limb lymphedema when venous or lymphatic Pathology were missing. The patient may be suffering from emotional conflicts. -
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the metacognitive model in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
Method: In a single-subject experimental trial of multiple baseline type, the treatment process was carried out on an 18-year-old male subject. The patient satisfied the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and was assessed for pre-duration and post treatment. The scales used in this study included: Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Subjective Units Distress Scale (SUDs). In addition, all scales were again completed by the subject at 1-month, 3- month, and 6- month follow-ups.
Results: The treatment led to reductions in symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression and distress. Gains were maintained at follow-ups.
Conclusion: The treatment approach which is based on the metacognitive model, appears to be effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. -
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