Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
Year:2006 | Volume:12 | Issue:3 (46)|Papers Count:19

Objectives: To assess the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder (BPD) in hospitalized children and adolescents. Method: Clinical characteristics of twenty 6-18 years old children and adolescents with BPD was assessed and compared in two groups of patients with or without ADHD, using K-SADS clinical interview and the clinical diagnosis of two child and adolescent psychiatrists. Results: 35% of patients had a history of ADHD. The onset of BPD in the BPD+ADHD group was earlier. Comorbidity rates of other disorders were also higher in this group than in the group with pure ADHD. Conclusion: It is likely that subjects with BPD+ADHD comprise a particular subgroup of bipolar patients. In this subgroup there is a higher rate of comorbidity and a lower age of mania onset; the onset of the disorder is also usually of subacute type. Therefore, ADHD may be a harbinger of bipolar disorder in these children and adolescents

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of gender on familial transmission of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: 997 first degree relatives (554 parents, 443 siblings) of 277 probands with ADHD (aged 5-17 yrs) who were selected using con-venience sampling from among patients referred to the clinic of child psychiatry at Dr. Sheikh Hospital in the city of Mashad, were studied. The diagnosis of ADHD for patients was made by clinical interview by a psychiatrist and Kiddie-Scheduale for Affective Disorders & Schizo- phrenia (K-SADS), and screening for the presence of ADHD in the family members of the probands was done by psychiatric clinical interview as well as K-SADS and Wender diagnostic tests. Results: Our findings showed no gender differences in the prevalence of ADHD in the relatives of girls and boys with ADHD. Conclusion: This study showed that gender is not a genetic-familial risk factor for developing ADHD and the familial aggregation of ADHD.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: Forty patients (18 males and 22 females) were evaluated via clinician-administered Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). The cutoff points of these scales were used as diagnostic criteria for OCD and depressive disorder. T-test, Fisher's exact test and chi-square were used to analyze data. Results: 17.5% of patients had OCD and 69.2% had depressive dis-order. In all cases of OCD, the patients described the onset of symptoms to have begun before the clinical presentations of MS. Educational level of OCD cases was significantly higher than the non-OCD group (p<0.05). The frequency of obsession was significantly higher than compulsion (p<0.0001), and the most common obsession was “doubt”. The frequency of OCD was not significantly different between depressed and non-depressed patients. Conclusion: The frequency of OCD in MS patients is significant and it cannot be accounted for by a high rate of comorbidity of depressive disorder.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between craving and attentional bias in opioid dependent, relapsed and abstinent individual. Method: In this retrospective study, 30 opioid dependent and 30 abs-tinent males with the age range of 18-60, who were matched on the basis of age, education and the abused substance, were assessed using Craving Beliefs Questionnaire and Probe Dot Task. Results: Craving had negative and significant (p<0.01) correlation with reaction time for drug related words, which is evidence of relation between craving and attentional bias. In addition, the results showed significant difference among the three groups with regard to craving (p<0.001). Conclusion: There is a correlation between craving and attentional bias among opioid  dependent people.

Objectives:  The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity of Clark and Watson’s tripartite theory of anxiety and depression and to assess the differences between the two genders with regard to social anxiety, general anxiety, and depression in a sample of adolescents.  Method: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 403 secondary students (225 girls, 178 boys) who were selected using randomized cluster sampl- ing, completed the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, and the Children Depression In-ventory. The convergent and divergent validity of the tripartite model of anxiety and depression was first assessed via correlation matrix. Next, t-test was used to compare depressive and anxiety disorder between the two groups. Results: The results of the convergent and divergent validity supported Clark and Watson's tripartite theory of anxiety and depression. In comparison with males, females reported higher levels of social anxiety (p<0.01), general anxiety (p<0.01) and depression (p<0.001). Conclusion: Clark and Watson's tripartite theory of anxiety and dep-ression is confirmed despite the limitations of the model.

Objectives: The aim of this research was to validate Measuring Attitude Toward Smoking Scale among university students. Method: From 250 Shahid Chamran University students that were selected using a multi-phase random method, 233 students (113 female, 120 males) completed the Measuring Attitude Toward Smoking Scale. To assess the validity of this measure, principal components analysis (Varimax rotation) was used. Results: Cronbach,s and split-half reliability coefficients (internal consistency) were satisfactory for the whole scale and in extracted four factors. In the factor analysis of this scale using the principal components analysis (Varimax rotation) four factors were extracted: relationship with smokers, smoking restrictions and laws, health and non-smoke settings, and non-name. Conclusion: Measuring Attitude Toward Smoking Scale can be used as a reliable and valid instrument in educational and research settings, particularly in assessing the attitudes of smokers and non-smokers toward smoking.

Objectives: This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the effect of musical activities on the memory and attention of patients with schizophrenia. Method: 28 men with schizophrenia took part in this research and were studied in two experimental and control groups. The experimental group took part in music therapy sessions. Data were gathered using Weshsler Digit Span Scale, Lezak Letter Cancellation Test and Andreason Scale in the pretest and post-test stages. Results: Music therapy was effective in elevating memory scores (p<0.05, t=-2.18) and attention scores (p<0.01, t=2.5), and its effects were not different in patients with negative and positive symptoms. Conclusion: Adjusted musical stimuli could reduce lack of attention and absent -mindedness in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: This research was carried out to assess the personality traits, psychosocial stress, strategies of coping with stress, and religious attitudes of subjects who had attempted suicide and were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in the city of Kermanshah, and to compare them with the control group. Method: The present study is a case-control study in which 120 subjects who had attempted suicide (75 females, 45 males) were compared with 120 subjects of the control group who were selected using con-venience sampling and were also demographically matched. Data were gathered using a demographic questionnaire, clinical interview, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Life Incidence Questionnaire, Coping Skills Questionnaire, and Religious Attitudes Questionnaire. The data were ana- lyzed via descriptive statistic methods, t-test, and c2.  Results: Results indicated that in comparison with the control group, the subjects who had attempted suicide had more personally traits of introversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, had experienced more stress- ful events before the suicide attempt, had a cognitively higher assess-ment of stressful life events, had used problem-centered coping less, and had less religious attitudes. Conclusion: Suicide is caused by the interaction of some background and revealing factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of emotional regulation on happiness and rumination in female students at Isfahan University. Method: This is a quasi-experimental study. The sample consisted of 75 female students residing at Isfahan University dormitory, who were randomly assigned to three 25-person groups of emotional suppression, reappraisal, and control. All the participants filled in the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire before watching the film. After watching the film, the subjects filled in the questionnaire again. They then answered questions that were aimed at distracting them from the film and finally answered another questionnaire, which was designed to assess their rumination about the story of the film. Results: There was a significant difference among the emotional suppression group and the two other groups regarding their rumination and happiness. Their rumination was higher than the two groups and their happiness was lower. Conclusion: The appraisal of emotion before its development, not only prevents severe emotions at encountering a negatively charged emo-tional situation, but also prevents a significant decrease in happiness after an emotionally charged event. In addition, it lessens the mental ruminations that develop subsequent to the emotion.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare runaway girls and normal girls regarding family cohesion and emotional autonomy. Method: 35 runaway girls and 35 normal girls filled out the Family Cohesion Scale and Emotional Autonomy Scale. Data were analyzed using discriminant analysis and t-test. Results: The comparison of the runaway girls and the normal group indicated a significant difference in four out of five dimensions of Family Cohesion Scale (cohesion with father, marital relationship, place of interaction, and parent-adolescent relationship). Also, the results of discriminant analysis showed that marital relationship and parent-adolescent relationship are two factors that can discriminate %77 of runaway girls from normal girls. Conclusion: Style of familial relationships is an important factor in the difference between runaway girls and normal girls.

Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the subjective sleep quality of a group of chemical warfare veterans and a sample of healthy controls. Method: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality of 78 chemical warfare veterans as well as 65 controls. Results: 73 subjects (93%) in the case group and 39 subjects (60%) in the control group were poor sleepers (p<0.001). According to the sub- scales of the questionnaire, the relative frequency of the abnormality of the subjects’ description of sleep, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction was higher in cases than controls (p<0.05). Mean interval of going to bed until falling asleep was longer in cases (46±31 min.) than in controls (32.30±32.17 min.) (p<0.01). Although the duration of effective sleep was reported to be lower in veterans (5.32±1.53 h) than controls (5.61±1.53 h), this difference was not significant statistically. Conclusion:  Impairment of sleep quality in chemical warfare veterans in comparison with the control group may be due to psychiatric dis-orders such as depression and anxiety, as well as chronic pulmonary disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Beck’s cognitive therapy, face to face counseling, and bibliotherapy on the treatment of patients with mild to moderate depression. Method: The subjects consisted of 30 clients referred to the Isfahan University Center for Counseling, who were diagnosed with mild to moderate depression via Beck’s Depression Questionnaire and were randomly divided into three 10-person groups (two treatment groups and one control group). Subjects in the face to face treatment group took part in six 45-minutes weekly sessions of cognitive counseling. Also, the bibliography group read the book “Psychology of dep-ression” by Burns over a six week period and had weekly 15 to 20 minutes discussions with the psychologist about the methods of carrying out the assignments as well as the contents of the book. Descriptive analysis and covariance analysis were used for data analysis. Results: Cognitive counseling and bibliography were independently effective in Reducing depressive symptoms (p<0.001). No significant difference was seen between the two therapeutic methods with regard to Reducing depressive symptoms in patients. Conclusion: If cognitive counseling and bibliography are carried out in an organized way and on an appropriate theoretical basis, they will be effective.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of expectations, thoughts, and health locus of control on quality of life, health behaviors, and health enhancement. Method: The subjects consisted of 360 female high school students in the city of Sari that were selected using randomized sampling method. Data were gathered using Health Locus of Control Questionnaire and Health Behavior Questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and t-test were used to analyze data. Results: Data showed a significant relationship between health locus of control and health protective behavior in the fields of personal hygiene (p<0.05), nutrition (p<0.05), exercise (p<0.05), sleep and rest (p<0.05), and anxiety control (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between health protective behavior of students and internal and external health locus of control. Conclusion: Thoughts and health locus of control are effective in the quality of life and health protective behaviors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore coping with breast cancer in Iranian women. Method: In this qualitative study, 19 patients with breast cancer were interviewed about their coping with receiving the diagnosis of their illness. The interviews were analyzed through content thematic method. Results: The main themes obtained in this study include coping with the disease using a religious approach (acceptance of the disease as God’s willing, seeking spiritual help), thinking about the disease (positive think- ing: hope, positive suggestion, curability of the disease, intentional forget- fulness; negative thinking: hopelessness, fear, impaired mental image), accepting the fact of disease (active acceptance: fighting the disease, patience; passive acceptance), social and cultural factors effective for coping (reactions of society to the disease, presence of same groups) and support of loved ones. Conclusion: Most strategies for coping with breast cancer in newly diagnosed women is positive and based on fighting with the disease and not to give in. Religious beliefs play a major role.