PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Year:2007 | Volume:10 | Issue:1-2 (19)|Papers Count:7

The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the Addiction Acknowledgment Scale (AAS), Addiction Potential Scale (APS), and MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised (MAC-R), and to determine optimal cutoff scores for these scales.140 students from university of Tehran and 81 addicted persons seeking rehabilitation (matched for age) were selected for this study.Since these scales were derived from the MMPI-2, which is used to diagnose psychological disorders, a pilot study was conducted to examine their diagnostic accuracy in order to identify psychiatric patients (n=78) and addicted persons (n=81). The AAS had good diagnostic accuracy and the MAC-R was relatively accurate. After the pilot study, we examined the diagnostic accuracy of these Scales. The AAS was the only scale having internal consistency at a satisfactory level. The mean differences of the 3 scales were statically meaningful for the two groups (students and addicted persons). Results of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis and sensitivity analysis showed that the AAS was the most accurate among the scales and appeared to offer considerable promise as a substance abuse screening tool. In contrast, the APS had the lowest diagnostic accuracy among the three scales, yielding results that would be of minimal clinical use.

Abstract: The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationship of Visual Backward Masking performance with positive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. To do so, 32 schizophrenic patients (15 acute patients and 17 chronic patients), and 32 normal individuals, all ranging from 19 to 51 years were chosen. The two groups were matched for age, sex and education level and were assessed by the Visual Backward Masking Task. Moreover, in order to study the multivariate correlation between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia with Visual Backward Masking performance on schizophrenic patients, the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) were both carried out. Results indicated that schizophrenic patients had significantly poorer performance in comparison to normal individuals in the entire Interstimulus Intervals (ISI) (20, 40, 60, 80, & 100 Milliseconds) of the Visual Backward Masking Task and no mask condition. Regression analysis showed that among positive symptoms, Formal thought disorder component was a negative and significant predictor of Visual Backward Masking performance, and among negative symptoms, attention deficit, the affective flattening and the volition - apathy components were negative and significant predictors of visual backward masking performance.

This paper presents an account of the development, reliability, and validity of the Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale.Five hundred students from the University of Tehran (300 females, 200 males) were included in this study. All participants were asked to complete the Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (TMPS), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP), the Mental Health Inventory (MHI), and Neuroticism and Extraversion subscales of the NEOPI-R. Test retest reliability and internal consistency of the IIP were examined at satisfactory levels.Concurrent validity of the TMPS was calculated according to correlation coefficients of the scores on the TMPS and scores of the IIP, MHI, and NEOPI-R. All correlations were statistically significant.

The purpose of this research was to compare symptoms of mental disorders in child abuser parents with non abuser parents. Six cities were singled out from Azarbaijan provinces in Iran and from these cities 612 children were selected from kindergartens and day care centers through the cluster sampling method. For each child, three inventories: 1- Child abuse inventory 2- SCL-90-R (for parents) and 3- Behavioral Disorders Inventory were administered. Results indicated that the average scores from the 9 scales of SCL-90-R were significantly different in the two parental groups. Only in the somatization scale (for physical abuse), the scores of emotional abuser and non-abuser fathers were not significantly different. Ultimately, it became apparent that there was a significantly positive correlation between abuse in children and their behavioral disorders.

Values are the basis of a healthy personality. Therefore, this research attempted to investigate the relationship between the hierarchy of values and general health at an overall level, as well as, focusing on subscales.Based on the number of variables in this study and the analytical model's presuppositions, a sample of 800 men and women in the age range 18 to 30 years, were matched according to their marital status. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Value Survey Test (A.V.L.) were administered. Results of the multiple regression analysis showed that values at the overall level can roughly predict anxiety and sleeplessness, depression and general health in a meaningful manner. Among the values, however, the aesthetics value had the only significant relationship with these variables.

This study deals with acculturation of Iranian parents in particular mothers immigrated to Toronto and the well being of their children in terms of their social skills and behavior problems. A 21-item Acculturation Scale was developed for this purpose. The Iranian Acculturation Scale was shown to have sufficient internal consistency, construct and factorial validity for application in a group of 119 (43 male and 76 female) Iranian immigrants living in Toronto. The scale tapped different acculturation domains, such as ethnic identity, language, family values, and ethnic media. Fifty Iranian immigrant mothers living in Toronto participated in the study. They completed the Acculturation Scale and the Social Skills Rating System for their 86 school age children. Results revealed that social skills of Iranian immigrant children in Toronto were related to the level of acculturation of their mothers but behavior problems were not related to their mothers' level of acculturation.