Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
Year:2005 | Volume:11 | Issue:2 (41)|Papers Count:15

Introduction: This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy (DIRT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) method in treatment of compulsive washing. Method: Six females with compulsive washing were selected to take part in a multiple-baseline type single-subject experimental trial, and were divided in 2 groups. Subjects of each group answered to the Maudseley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS) and Subjective United Discomfort Scale (SUD) at three stages of: baseline, fourth, and final sessions. Data were presented in charts. Results: This research indicated that both DIRT and ERP (especially DIRT) were effective in alleviating the symptoms of compulsive washing. Conclusion: DIRT is more effective than ERP for treatment of compulsive washing.

Introduction: The aim of this research was to investigate the efficacy of Beck's cognitive therapy versus Teasdale's in treatment of dysthymia. Method: Six subjects (two males and four females) were selected by convenient sampling and were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. The methodology was a multiple-baseline experimental single case study. Subjects completed Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS) at pre-treatment (baseline), treatment (4 and 8 sessions), post-treatment (twelfth session), and at follow-up (two months after treatment). Also, subjects completed the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), and the Internal-External Control Scale (IECS) at pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (twelfth session). Results: The results revealed that both Beck's and Teasdale cognitive therapies were effective in decreasing dysthymic symptoms that was more prominent with the latter method. Conclusion: Teasdale's cognitive therapy can be more effective than Beck's in reducing dysthymic symptoms.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the ideological and interpersonal identity statuses among adolescents in Tehran and to compare their identity styles and statuses. Method: The study was a post-hoc descriptive cross-sectional. Four hundred sixty-seven adolescents (235 girls and 232 boys) were selected from four schooling regions in Tehran by cluster sampling. The subjects were doing third grade high school or pre-university courses. They were assessed using the questionnaires 'Ego Identity Process' and 'Identity Style'. Data were processed by the chi-square test and ANOVA. Results: The findings of this study revealed that, regarding ideological and interpersonal identity status, Tehrani adolescents were mainly in the moratorium phase with smaller part of them being in the identity achievement phase. There was a significant difference in the identity statuses of boys and girls. There was also a significant relationship between the identity styles and identity statuses. The diffuse-avoidant style was highly associated to the undifferentiated status; the normative style was related to foreclosure; and the informational style was closely related to the identity achievement status. Conclusion: Tehrani adolescents were less at the identity achievement status or informational style.

Introduction: Social Skills Rating System (SSRS) is an important instrument for assessments in children. The purpose of this study was to standardize the SSRS for preschool children in Shiraz. Method: After the scale was translated and adapted into Persian, 700 boys and girls 3 to 6.5 years of age were rated by parents and teachers using the SSRS forms for preschool children. The scores were converted into standardized scores with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15 points. Tables were prepared for conversion of raw scores to standard scores. Validity of the scale was tested using different measures. Construct validity was confirmed by factor analysis. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and correlation coefficient. Results: No significant difference was found based on age and parents' education, i.e. the scaled was not biased towards any age or socioeconomic groups. Reliability of the scales was satisfactory using different methods. Factor analysis also proved its validity. The difference between mean scores of boys and girls in social skills and behavior problems was not significant. Conclusion: The standardized scores of this scale provide a comparison of social skills among different age groups of preschool children.

Introduction: The present research aimed to determine the epidemiology of enuresis and the related factors in primary school students in the city of Semnan. Method: In this research 1200 students of 7-11 years of age were selected from 26 schools using randomized cluster sampling, and their parents were asked to fill in the questionnaire of enuresis. Study data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Hest, and the chi-square. Results: This study estimated the overall prevalence of enuresis was 15.5% (18.4% in boys and 13.1% for girls). The peak age was 8 years of age (25.3%) and the figure decreased at older age. Factors such as socio-economic level, parents' education and occupation, size of family, breast feeding, history of stress in prior 6 months, frequency of voiding, waking disorder and prior year's school performance were significantly related to enuresis. Of 186 students with enuresis, 30 (16.1%) had diurnal enuresis, 52 (21%) had day wetting, and 3 (1.6%) had encopresis. Conclusion: The prevalence of enuresis in primary school students in Semnan seems higher than the results of other similar studies.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the impact of seasonal changes and weather conditions on the mood of people in Tehran. Method: One-hundred and fifteen subjects were tested every season for one year, using UWIST, Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). Data were analyzed by MANOV A with repeated measures. Results: The results showed that the pattern of positive mood changes was: spring, winter, autumn, and summer (decreasing order). An inverse pattern was found for negative moods: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. Regarding weather conditions, spring rain accompanied more positive and less negative moods. In the rainy weather, the study subjects had the best mental state. Other circumstances that would probably have some effects on people's mood were also discussed. Gender factor had no main or contributing effect. Conclusion: Seasons and weather conditions can affect people's mood.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the semantic representation of depressed patients and also the efficacy of semantic differentiation technique for this kind of assessment. Method: Subjects (30 depressed and 30 non- depressed persons) were selected through convenient sampling. The instruments used included a modified version of a semantic differentiation task, which embodied four stimulus concepts of me, past, life and future, and Beck's Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods, Hest, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. Results: There was a significant difference in the total semantic differentiation scores between depressed and normal subjects. There was a positive correlation between the severity of depression and negative semantic representation. Negative representation of the concept "me" was the strongest predictor of depression. Conclusion: Depressed patients have a negative meaning representation of life, past, future, and in particular self that must be addressed by the therapists. The semantic differentiation technique is effective for clinical assessments.

Introduction: This study was performed to assess the effect of hypnotherapy on withdrawal symptoms and the relapse rates of substance use. Method: In a clinical trial, 22 subjects at the detoxification stage who were eligible for the study were randomly assigned to the case and control groups. Each group similarly took part in the cognitive therapy sessions. Additionally, the case group took five sessions of hypnotherapy. After six months of follow-up, relapse rates of the two groups were compared. Also, in the case group, the effect of autohypnosis on symptoms of withdrawal was evaluated. Results: By the end of the study, there were 40% and 73% relapse in the case and control groups, respectively. Subjective reports on positive effects of autohypnosis were 88% on insomnia, 80% on restlessness, 60% on pain, and 33% on autonomic symptoms. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, autohypnosis has no significant effect on the relapse rates in opium users, but the effect was clinically prominent.

Introduction: To evaluate blood glucose and body weight in patients treated with clozapine and conventional antipsychotic. Method: Forty-three patients with schizophrenia (36 males and 7 females) on clozapine were compared with 41 patients (33 males and 8 females) treated with conventional antipsychotics, regarding their fasting blood glucose (FBS), 2 hours post-prandial glucose (2HPPG) and body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using Hest and the chi-square. Results: Of the patients on clozapine, 2 had high FBS, 6 had high 2HPPG, and 5 were diagnosed with diabetes, which was significantly different from the group on conventional antipsychotic. Moreover, comparing the BMIs, the patients on clozapine had higher weights than the conventional treatment group. Conclusion: Clozapine may play a role in high blood glucose of some of the patients.

Introduction: This study aimed at exploring the association of religion and sense of well-being in an Iranian adult population of Muslims. Method: The subjects were 50 clients (31 females and 19 males, average age of 61.36 years) at a cultural and art center in a park in Shiraz. Data were collected using the Scale of Religious Activities and Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale. Data were analysed using descriptive methods, correlation coefficient, multivariate regression analysis, and t-test. Results: Results showed that saying the main prayers is a powerful predictor of subjective well being. Also, having religious friends and religious spouse, paying Islamic taxes, inviting others to be religious, and religious speculations were good predictors of subjective well-being. Conclusion: These results are in accordance with religious instructions and especially Holy Quran verses, and the previous studies that considered religion as a factor of subjective well-being.