ADVANCES IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Year:2004 | Volume:6 | Issue:1-2|Papers Count:22

Objective: This study aimed to assess the reliability of the Persian version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder according to DSM-IV and ICD-IO. Method: This project was conducted at three stages of translation of the instrument, reliability assessment and validation, and feasibility and diagnostic reliability assessments for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia using a test-retest methodology. Trained interviewers administered the instrument twice (at 3-7 days' interval) to lOO clients at four university centers (complete CIDI on 65 persons and psychosis/mania module on 35 persons). Results: Test-retest reliability of CIDI for bipolar disorder was moderate in DSMIV diagnostic system and poor in ICD-IO. Test-retest reliability of CIDI for schizophrenia was poor in both diagnostic systems. Conclusion: The results showed that the diagnostic reliability was good only for bipolar disorder in DSM-IV, otherwise it was not acceptable. However, since the samples were selected from the clinical population, the results cannot be generalized to the normal population. According to the results, adaptation of the key questions to the Persian culture must be considered.

Objective: In this study the Structured Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders (SCIDI) was translated into Persian using a cross-cultural methodology, and its reliability and feasibility was tested in a multi-center study. Method: The study had two phases: a) translation of the instrument and assessing the cross-cultural equivalence, including forward and backward translation, and face validity of the translated version in regard with cross-cultural characteristics; b) reliability and feasibility assessment of the Persian translation on an Iranian clinical population. This is part of a larger study on validation of the SCID on.299 subjects admitted to outpatient and inpatient services of three psychiatric centers (Roozbeh Hospital, Imam Hossein Hospital and Iran Hospital) in Tehran, Iran. For test-retest reliability assessment, two SCID interviews (3 to 7 days apart) were administered to 104 subjects and the level of diagnostic agreement was assessd. Feasibility for interviewees (n= 299) and interviewers was tested by questionnaires considering the length of interview, its being boring/tiring, comprehensibility and acceptance of the questions, and difficulty of administration. Results: Diagnostic agreement of SCID test and retest were fair to good for most diagnostic categories (kappas over 0.6). Overall weighted kappa equaled 0.52 for current diagnoses and 0.55 for lifetime diagnoses. Most interviewees and interviewers reported the administration of the Persian SCID as feasible. Conclusion: Acceptable reliability of diagnoses made by the Persian translation of SCID, and its feasibility suggest it as a useful diagnostic instrument in clinical, research, and educational settings.

Objective: This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44) among the Iranian population. The questionnaire is a self administrated instrument which was developed by the Obsessive Compulsive Cognition Working Group to diagnose and assess the level of obsessive beliefs. Method: This standardization involved a sample of 360 Tehran University medical students who volunteered to participate, and were test-retested at an interval of 5-14 days using OBQ-44-Persian, Maudsley Obsessive- Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), STAI [full form], and BAI [full form]. Eventually, data from 222 students were analyzed. Results: To calculate the concurrent reliability, internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha (0.92) and split half with corrected correlation (0.94) were computed; and the reliability coefficient for retest OBQ-44 (r= 0.82) was used for non-concurrent reliability. The results indicated an excellent internal consistency and consistency of the test scores at an interval of 5-14 days. To assess the reliability of OBQ-44-Persian, its correlation with OCI-R and MOCI was obtained that was 0.57 and 0.50 respectively and statistically significant. For construct validity, factor analysis was used. The values obtained by ML method showed that OBQ-44-Persian was saturated with 3 highly correlated factors that indicated convergence of these factors, which fulfilled the standardization purposes for OBQ-44. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results support the OBQ-44-Persian as a valid instrument to assess the level of obsessive beliefs in the Iranian population.

Objective: Research on speech characteristics of the persons with schizophrenia is a major topic in the field of clinical linguistics and speech therapy. Despite its relatively long history in the western literature, it has not been well recognized in Iran. This study sought to identify outstanding features of speech in persons with schizophrenia as compared to normal individuals, for enhanced clinical application. Method: In this cross-sectional analytical study two groups of 22 persons were selected as the schizophrenia (5 females, 17males) and control (5 females, 17 males) groups. Their speech samples were obtained using the spontaneous speech section of the Persian Disorganized Speech Scale, and linguistics analysis was done on five speech domains. Data were then analyzed statistically by independent t- and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Analyses revealed no weird phonological transformation or break of semantic- syntax filters in either of groups. The patient group had a significantly lower percentage of command morphemes and a significantly higher percentage of diction morphemes. Frequency of neologism and percentage of errors in the speech integrity and continuity were markedly higher in the patient group. Conclusion: The results revealed basic differences in the speech of persons with schizophrenia as compared to normal individuals in the domains of neologism, speech integrity and continuity, and frequency of using diction and command morphemes.

Objective: This cross-sectional analytical research studied the relationship between depressed mood and the content of metaphors. Method: Subjects consisted of 30 depressed patients and 30 normal volunteers. The depressed group were selected by a psychologist or psychiatrist, using a clinical interview based on DSM-IV and Beck's score (>15), and the normal group were also selected using a clinical interview and Beck's score (<15). Both groups were asked to do incomplete sentences test and metaphors inventory, and the relationship between mood and metaphors contents was worked out. Results: The results showed that there was a negative correlation between mood and metaphors contents; the more depressed was an individual, the, more negative was the content of metaphors. Conclusion: This study is in line with the theories and research on the congruency of mood and memory retrieval.

Objective: This study assessed the effects of computer games and computer assisted-typing instructions on spelling scores of primary school children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: In this -single blind clinical trial, 37 primary school children with ADHD were. assigned to group 1.,(n=17) and group 2 (n=20). The children in group 1 played computer games in 8 one-hour sessions (three times a week), while the children in group 2 received 8 one-hour sessions of typing instructions (three times a week). Twelve school's spelling scores were obtained; pre-, intra-, and post-intervention, each four scores. Eight session's spelling scores were also recorded. Results: The two groups were matched for age, school grade, gender, IQ, medications, parents' and teachers' Conner's score, having a personal computer at home, experience of working with the computer, and average spelling scores. After taking sessions of computer games, intra-intervention school's spelling scores (17.93±0.03) showed a significant borderline increase in comparison to the pre-intervention scores (17.25±3.26). The typing instructions sessions made no difference. Conclusion: Improvement in the mean spelling scores of the primary school students with ADHD during sessions of computer games can be due to improvement of their attention. The interesting format of these games, fast feedback, absence of negative feedback, and their supporting the decision making in children can also explain this finding.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group therapy with cognitive behavior approach for anger management on institution adolescents. Methods: the study was a controlled clinical trial on orphan children who lived at institutions of the Welfare Organization. The subjects were assessed prior to the intervention as well as one week after the eighth session of therapy using the Adolescents Anger Rating Scale (AARS). Of 40 subjects, 16 were placed in the case group and 24 were the controls. Cases and controls matched in regard with age, gender, education, and pre- intervention AARS scores. Results: In the case group, anger management group therapy was associated with lower reactive anger (with borderline significance) and insignificant lower overall anger score and instrumental anger. The overall, instrumental, and reactive anger and anger management scores did not differ in cases and controls. In the case group, reactive anger was reduced significantly in girls as compared to boys. Conclusion: Most of the study variables showed improvement, although not statistically significant probably due to the small sample size. Since this study was the first of the kind, the researchers recommend that the results can be used for future studies.

Objective: This study sought the relationship between burnout syndrome of mothers in nursing professions and behavioral problems of their children. Method: Subjects of this cross-sectional analytical study were married female nurses (having children of 4-16 years of age) working in various wards of Rasoul-e-Akram hospital. The sampling method was convenience sampling. The data were' collected using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results: Of 29 nurses that participated, 16 (55%) had burnout syndrome and 13 (45%) did not. The children of mothers with burnout syndrome differed significantly regarding internalizing, externalizing, and total problems on CBCL. Personal accomplishment score was negatively associated to the child's externalizing problems on CBCL. Conclusion: In regard with the higher internalizing (depression, anxiety), externalizing (lying, fire setting, and truancy) and total behavioral problems in children of the mothers with burnout syndrome, special measures should be taken to reduce the impact of mother's burnout on their children, for mothers in nursing professios.

Objective: Attention - deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been increasingly recognized as a valid adult diagnosis. Yet, its prevalence and associated impairments in university students have received little attention. This descriptive study aimed to determine the rate of ADHD in a group of Iranian university students. Method: For this cross-sectional study, 409 university students living in Fatemeh-AI-Zahra dormitory (Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) were selected through convenience sampling, and after excluding 165 students (by exclusion criteria) the rest were assessed using the self-administrated Conner's Questionnaire for ADHD. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 3.7% in the study population (according to ADHD index); subscale B (hyperactivity/restlessness) had the most frequency (7.8%) and subscales D (problems with self concept) and A (attention/memory problem) were least common (2%). ADHD group had higher rates of positive history of psychiatric problems and medicationuse. Conclusion: It seems necessary that university students be screened for this disorder and be referred to psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment to improve their academic function and personal relations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and the related factors in high school students in Abdanan, Ilam province. Method: This crosssectional study enrolled 571 high school and pre-university students through multistage sampling in 2004, in Abdanan. Subjects were evaluated for suicidal ideation using Beck's Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and by a demographic questionnaire that collected study variables (history of suicidal attempt, substance use, smoking, death of relatives). Results: Frequencies of severe suicidal ideation was 122 persons (21.4%); moderate suicidal ideation, 109 (19.2%); and no suicidal ideation was 339 (59.4%). Distribution of the subjects with suicidal ideation differed significantly by gender, school grade, major, history of psychiatric disorders, death of a relative in the past year, physical illness, history of suicidal attempt, parents' separation, and use of substance and cigarette. Conclusion: Identifying. suicidal ideas and the related factors is the first step in interventional studies and it appears that future studies should consider designing an appropriate intervention in that regard.

Objective: Since the obsessive compulsive symptoms have cultural themes, understanding their frequency and variety in our society can help with more diagnosing it more precisely and setting clearer therapeutic goals. Method: In a cross-sectional research, 61 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (23 males, 38 females) were selected by convenience sampling, and diversity and severity of their symptoms were measured using Yale- Brown scale. Subjects were clients at Tohid psychiatry and counseling center, and a private office, and the diagnoses were made by a psychiatrist (based on DSM-IV-IR).Results: This study showed that the obsessive thought mostly included contamination and aggregation, and contamination was significantly different in men and women. Compulsions were mostly checking and washing, with marked difference between the genders. There was a significant association between level of education and of contamination and somatic obsessions. -Single and married patients were different only in contamination and counting significantly. Conclusion: Patients with obsessive –compulsive disorder have distinction symptomatologic and demographic features, but can be explained cultural varieties. This has major diagnostic and clinical implications in obsessive- compulsive disorder.