Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
Year:2003 | Volume:9 | Issue:2 (34)|Papers Count:11

Objectives: The objectives of this project were to conduct an epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders in people aged 18 or older residing in urban and rural areas of Tehran province. Method: 5311 residents of Tehran province were selected randomly and through systematic clustered sampling method as the subjects of the study. They were assessed by Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Questionnaire (SADS). The diagnosis of disorders was based on DSM-IV classification criteria. Findings: Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was at 14.29% in province of Tehran. The prevalence was 19.57% in women and 9.32% in men. Anxiety and mood disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric disorders with 6.83% and 4.46% respectively. The prevalence of psychotic disorders was 0.65%; neuro-cognitive disorders were at 2.11%; and dissociative disorders were at 0.26%. In the mood disorders, major depression had the highest rate of diagnosis (3.28%); in anxiety disorders, panic disorder had the highest rate (1.79%). Results: Psychiatric disorders are more prevalent in the 41-55 year age-group, widowers, illiterates, and residents of the other provinces towns than Tehran. The results of this research revealed more than ever the responsibility of the policy makers and health program planners in the province of Tehran in regard to compilation and execution of a practical mental health plan.

Objectives: This research was conducted to obtain a comprehensive picture of demographic characteristics and sexual behavioral pattern of men at a psychiatric clinic in Tehran. Method: In this descriptive-cross sectional study, 300 men who consulted the clinic between the 20th of Apnl, 2001 and the 20th of Jan, 2002 composed the subjects of the study. Data were collected via a demographic questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics. Findings: 76.2% of subjects suffered from erectile dysfunction and 35.6% had difficulties related to premature ejaculation. 44.6% of the subjects reported a history of psychiatric disorders and taking neuroleptic and anti-depressants medications. The onset of sexual disorders for 23.7% of the subjects was less than one year ago; it was between one to two years ago for 15% and more than three years ago for 53.3%. Results: erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation more than other sexual disorders were the reasons for consultation at the psychiatrists' office and sexual dysfunction clinics.

Objectives: The aim of present project was to determine the relation between sexual dysfunction and psychiatric disorders in women at a psychiatric clinic. Method: This research was a case-control one. The case study group was consisted of 165 subjects referred by a psychiatric outpatient clinic. They were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, phobia, aggression, and psychosomatic problems; there were 33 patients in each group.33 visitors and acquaintances of the patients composed the control group. They were selected through convenient sampling; none had a previous psychiatric history, nor did they consume any psychotropic medications. To collect data, interviews and questionnaires were used. The evaluative instruments included a demographic questionnaire, sexual dysfunction disorder questionnaire, and SCL-90-R. Findings: The results showed that there was a significant difference in distribution of cases of sexual dysfunction disorder between the case group and the control group. This difference was also noted between patients with depression and control group, and patients with somatic problems and control group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the case group and the control group in sexual desire and orgasm disorders. Results: Sexual disorder was found more in patients of psychiatric clinics than the normal population.

Objectives: This study examined the hypothesis of cognitive functioning deficiency in the frontal lobe of conduct-disordered adolescents. Method: Cognitive functioning of frontal lobe in 21 conducts disordered male adolescents was compared with that of a matched control group. Stroop Test, Continuous Performance Test, collected data and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. T-test, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficient were used for analysis of the data. Findings: The conduct disordered adolescents scored more poorly than the control group across most of the cognitive measures assessing frontal lobe functioning. They exhibited slower reaction time and greater false alarm errors on Stroop Test, executed more omission errors on Continuous Performance Test, and performed greater perseveration errors on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results: Conduct disordered adolescents have cognitive functioning deficiencies in frontal lobe.

Objectives: Over ten years has passed since the integration of Mental Health Program into the Nations Primary Health Care system (PHC) yet its management thus far has not been assessed. The objective of this project was to evaluate the management performance of Mental Health Program in the PHC of Khuzestan province based on four dimensions of planning organization administration and control. Method: This was a descriptive-comparative and a practical study. The instrument to collect data was the five point scale Likrette ranking the responses from very much to very little. The population sample was 108 managers at various levels of mental health program in PHC of Khuzestan province. 77 of these managers volunteered to take part in the research. 8 were the heads of health care districts; 13 were mental health care specialists and 56 were general practitioners in charge of the health treatment centers in rural areas under the auspices of Mental Health Program. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Fisher exact test. Findings: The managers performed at a medium level across all four abovementioned dimensions. Comparison of the mean scores indicated that control and supervision were the strongest and administration was the weakest dimensions. Planning and organization were ranked respectively the second and the third. A significant difference was noted on the dimension of organization between the participants in the study at different levels of management; such difference was not indicated on other dimensions. Results: There is a gap between the ideal and the actual conditions of mental health program management in PHC of Khuzestan province.

Objectives: This study assessed correlation of negative life events and perceived level of social support with intensity of depression in depressed and non-depressed groups. Method: 153 participants composed two groups of subjects 91 in the depressed and 62 in the non depressed group. They all were evaluated by BDI LES and ISSB. The data were analyzed by Mest and correlation coefficient. Findings: In both groups there is a positive correlation between negative life events with depression and there is a negative correlation between perceived social support and depression. Furthermore the comparison of the mean scores of the occurred stressful events in both groups indicated that the depressed subjects experienced negative events more frequently. Additionally the mean score of perceived social support in the depressed subjects was significantly lower than that of the non-depressed group. Results: In general the results showed the impact of negative life events and the modulating influence of social support in affliction or intensity of depression.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral group therapy in reducing the level of depression and anxiety in patients with mood disorder. Method: 14 patients diagnosed with mood disorder were selected randomly from the psychiatric ward of Noor Hospital in Isfahan as the subjects of the research. They were assigned into a control and an experimental group. Prior to the treatment intervention subjects were assessed by Beck's Depression Inventory and Zung's Anxiety Index. Both the control and experimental groups remained on medication throughout the study but only the subjects in the experimental group were exposed to 10 sessions of cognitive-behavioral group therapy. The subjects in the control group received no interventions. Upon completion of the intervention both groups were assessed once again by the aforementioned tests. Data were analyzed and interpreted by dependent and independent t-tests. Findings: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy significantly reduced depression in patients diagnosed with mood disorder but this method did not have a substantial impact on reducing the patients anxiety. Results: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy may be effective in reducing depression in patients diagnosed with mood disorder.

Objectives: The basic essences in the puberty education of adolescent girls were studied in this research. Method: Using a qualitative method this project evaluated 10 girls along with their mothers and 10 middle school health instructors with at least 12 years of work experience in the adolescence health care field. The girls had to meet the conditions of having experienced the minimum of three menstrualtion periods living with their parents and attending one of Tehran's middle school. To collect data semi structured interviews were conducted and to analyze the findings constant comparative analysis was used. Findings: The significant variables were identified as shame and embarrassment by the adolescent girls as well as their mothers and the instructors regarding the process of puberty education negligence on the part of the mothers and instructors in the girls preparation and puberty education lack of puberty education and little awareness and insufficient understanding and knowledge of the girls their mothers and the instructors about the course of puberty. Results: This study showed the presence of shame and embarrassment in adolescent girls their mothers and the health care instructors along with lack of suitable educational program and awareness on the part of the mothers and instructors about the physical and psychological changes of puberty period. A more comprehensive evaluation is required for further generalization of the results.

Objectives: This research compared the efficacy of Phenobarbital and Amitriptyline in prevention of children migraine headache. Method: 28 children in two groups of 14 afflicted with migraine headache were matched by age gender and type of migraine. Treatment with the two medications ran for two months. To collect data in addition to clinical interviews by a specialist in neurology a daily form was used to register the frequency and intensity of the attacks. Analysis of data was implemented by t-test. Findings: Improvement was noted in 28.6% and 42.9% of children who took respectively Phenobarbital and Amitriptyline. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Furthermore the children taking Amitriptyline exhibited more side effects than the other group. Results: This evaluation revealed that both spoken medicines were effective in prevention of migraine attacks; however considering Phenobarbitals lesser side effects its prescription seems superior in prevention of children migraine.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of PRECEDE model in reducing anxiety of Tehran's firemen. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study. 118 firemen from Tehran were selected as the subjects of the study through a multistage sampling. A theoretical framework of PRECEDE model was compiled comprising self efficacy theory and adult education. Data were analyzed by t-test Paired t-test and x2. Findings: A significant difference was noted between the control and study groups on the level of trait anxiety and state anxiety after the training. Only in the study group a significant difference was found between trait anxiety and state anxiety before and after the intervention. Results: This evaluation illustrated the effectiveness of PRECEDE model in reducing trait anxiety and state anxiety in firemen.