Advances in Cognitive Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:12 | Issue:1 (45)|Papers Count:9

Objective: Evaluation of the validity of the factor structure of Persian Padua Inventory (PPI) (a measure of obsessive-compulsive phenomena) on a sample of 348 non-clinical students of Tehran University, School of Medicine. Method: Subsequent to translating the questionnaire to Persian and its back translation to original language and final control by the author of the inventory (Burns), a pilot study based on cultural differences was carried out on twenty students. The total subjects participating in this study comprised of 348 individuals in the age range of 18-44 years. The subjects completed PPI, OCI-R, MOCI, BAI, STAI, BDI-II and demographic inventory. Results: The factor analysis of the PPI exhibited eight factors similar but not identical to previous studies: contamination obsessions, washing compulsions, ordering compulsions, checking compulsions, obsessive thoughts about harm to self/others, obsessive thoughts about violence, obsessive impulses to harm self/others, and obsessive impulses to theft. The results of the present study indicate reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.92), Spearman splite test (0.95) and test- retest (r=0.77). We assessed the concurrent validity of the PPI in relation to the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), and the Maudsley Obsessive- Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and the results were 0.69 and 0.58 respectively. Conclusion: In correlation with its original version, the PPI is a relatively reliable and valid questionnaire in Iran.

Objective: To compare the memory of children with learning disabilities in dictation, mathematics and reading skills with normal children in fourth grade primary schools in Isfahan. Method: For this purpose, 60 students in 4 groups (15 normal students, 15 students with writing disorder, 15 students with dyscalculia, and 15 students with dyslexia) were selected randomly. The memory subscale of Wechsler Intelligence Scale was administered to the subjects to measure their memory. Data were analyzed using Tukey’s test and analysis of variance.Results: The results showed that there is significant difference between the memory of normal children and that of children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and writing disorder.Conclusion: The memory of children with learning disabilities is significantly problematic; and schoolchildren with writing disorder have weaker memories compared to the other two groups.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess risk taking in opioid dependents and to analyze the effect of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on the improvement of cognitive structure of possible disorders, using computational modeling methods. Method: In this research the decision making processes of five groups of participants (male controls, female controls, opioid dependents before treatment, dependents after three months of MMT and dependents after six months of MMT) were analyzed using Persian computer based version of balloon analogue risk task. Results: Results obtained from the test scores showed that the function of male and female controls do not differ significantly, however riskful decision making in dependents before treatment, is higher than that of male controls. Also, the degree of risk taking of dependents after six months of treatment, was lower in comparison with other groups of dependents. Therefore, MMT could affect the amelioration of the imbalance in risk taking behavior. In this study, we used cognitive modeling in order to describe different decision making processes to explore the causes of differential functioning among groups. Conclusion: Analysis of estimated parameters demonstrate that imbalance in reward dependence generates risk taking behaviors in the drug abuser group. In addition, this group pays less attention to their evaluation of choices; hence, a more haphazard behavior. On the other hand, the control group chooses the alternatives that considers more valuable based on the evaluation of gains and losses.

Objective: To assess the effects of the cannabinoid receptor agonist, WIN55, 212-2 on scopolamine induced state-dependent memory. Method: The step-down passive avoidance paradigm was used in the present study, which is an accepted model to examine long-term memory in mice.Results: Post-training intra-CA1 administration of scopolamine (2 and 4 µg/mouse) decreased the memory retrieval. Pre-test scopolamine administration restored the retrieval to the control level in the test day. This phenomenon is known as scopolamine state-dependent memory. Administration of WIN55, 212-2 (1 µg/mouse, intra-CA1) 5 min before test by itself decreased the memory retrieval. On the other hand, the animals in which memory retrieval was impaired due to scopolamine (2 µg/mouse) post-training administration, pre-test administration of WIN55, 212-2 (1 µg/mouse, intra-CA1) 24 hr after training on the day of the test restored memory. Moreover, pre-test co-administration of non-effective dose of scopolamine with ineffective dose of WIN55, 212-2 increased the restoration of memory by scopolamine.Conclusion: These results suggest that cannabinoid receptors of the dorsal hippocampal CA1 regions may play an important role in scopolamine-induced amnesia and scopolamine state-dependent memory.

Objective: The aim of investigation was to examine the The efficacy of executive functions training on the decrease of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Method: 40, elementary students (10 students in attention deficit group, 10 students in hyperactive group, 10 students in attention deficit control group, 10 students in hyperactive control group) with attention deficit hyperactive disorder utilizing a random selection sampling. The instrument included DSM-IV ADHD Symptom on the ADHD Checklist. Result: The efficacy of training on the symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity student is significant.Conclusion: executive functions training along with other treatment can be affective in decreasing the symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity.

Objective: To compare “Early Maladaptive Schemas” and their parental origins in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and non-clinical sample. Method: The present research is a post-hoc (causal-comparative) cross-sectional study that was carried out on a sample of 45 subjects (including 15 patients with OCD and 15 patients with OCPD and 15 non-clinical individuals) who were selected using convenience sampling. The subjects were assessed using Young Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire and Young Parenting Inventory. Data were analyzed using MANOVA and descriptive statistics.Results: The study demonstrated significant differences among OCD and the non-clinical sample in all schemas. The group with OCPD had significant differences with the non-clinical group in most schemas except for dedication, defeat and emotional deprivation. The two clinical groups (OCD and OCPD) had significant difference only in emotional deprivation. In parental origins, the difference between OCD and non-clinical groups was higher than that of the OCPD and non-clinical groups. The two clinical groups were also different based on emotional deprivation, handicap/shame, neglect/instability and suspicion/bad behavior in parental origins.Conclusion: In total, results showed significant difference among clinical groups and the non-clinical sample in early maladaptive schemas. The results of the current study also suggest that the two clinical groups are similar in deep cognitive constructs. Therefore, the current study supports relationship between these disorders (OCD and OCPD).

Objective: The dichotic auditory-verbal memory test (DAVMT) is one of the tests available to assess the function of auditory-verbal memory. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of gender on the results of the Farsi version of this test. Method: In this cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, the Farsi version of DAVMT was administered to 110 (55 female and 55 male) right-handed young individuals with the mean age of 21.3±1.7 years (ranging from eighteen to twenty-five), and the scores of the two groups were compared in independent samples using t-test. In addition, the ability to recall words as a function of their position in the list was compared between males and females using multivariate ANOVA.Results: The mean score of "DAVMT" was 6.73±1.0 in females and 6.30±0.98 in males. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the scores of the two groups in DAVMT (P=0.025). Analysis of serial effect showed no significant difference between males and females in the recall of words from the primacy and recency regions of the list (primacy, p=0.188; recency, p=0.551). However, the ability to recall words from the middle portion of the list was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.005).Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the Persian version of "DAVMT" indicates difference in memory function between the two genders, which is in line with the findings of most studies on this type of memory.