JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTALS OF MENTAL HEALTH
Year:2007 | Volume:9 | Issue:33-34|Papers Count:16

Introduction: During the past decade, as depression was becoming increasingly evident at younger ages, a great deal of attention has been directed towards the diagnosis and treatment of depression in children and adolescents. A considerable amount of research has been focused on the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents in western societies, but researches conducted on non western samples are considerably scarce. The purposes of this study were to estimate the levels of self- reported depressive symptomatology in school children of Tehran and to assess its relationship to some characteristics of children's families.Methods and Materials: 1054 children 9-11 years of age (521 girls, 533 boys) were randomly selected frame the schools scatted in all five geographical areas of the city of Tehran. (Tow schools forereach area). Assessment of depression was undertaken as a classroom based activity with Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The CDI is a 27-item self- report inventory measuring depressed mood in children. All children were tested in their classrooms. Demographic and some Characteristics of their families were assessed with a questionnaire that was designed for parents of these children. With frequent contacts, 896 parents completed the questionnaires. The results of CDI and parents questionnaire were statistically 'analyzed.Results: Considering the standard cut point of CDI (CDI score≥ 20), 18% of the total sample had positive test (equal to or greater than 20). The means of the total CDI scores in boys and girls were not significantly different, but the percent of positive test were slightly higher in boys (19%) than that in girls (17%). The means of the total children's CDI scores were significantly related to the family function in terms of emotional atmosphere of home, the number of marital conflicts and marital satisfaction of parents.Conclusion: In this research, school children of Tehran reported higher levels of depression than children of many western countries (10%) and these levels were comparable to results of similar researches in Russia and Egypt. The scores equal to or above the cut point in the boys were slightly more than those in the girls, which were expected in this range of age. Clearly, it is not being suggested that all children in this sample who scored equal to or above the cut point of the CDI, would meet the DSM-IV criteria for depressive disorders in terms of symptom content and severity. However the high prevalence of self-reported depression in children and the relationship between symptoms of depression and some familial variables indicate the importance of implementing preventive procedures in which these factors should be considered.

Introduction: The birth of a child is a pleasant process for parents, although it is associated with a lot of trouble and discomforties. Despite the difficulties, the hope of the child being normal and healthy usually creates a sense of confidence in them and they accept their child. However, as soon as they become aware of their child's disability, all their wishes and hopes turn into disappointment and then problems begin. The purpose of the present study was to find an answer the question of whether there is a difference between the mental health of mothers with exception to children and those with normal children.Methods and Materials: The sample of this study was selected randomly and consisted of 90 mothers of exceptional children (30 mentally disabled educable children, 30 blind and 30 deaf children), and 30 mothers of normal children, attending elementary schools in Ardebil. The instrument utilized was the 90-item SCL-90R and a causal comparative design was employed.Results: Obtained revealed that on the whole, there is a significant difference between mothers of exceptional children and those of normal children (p<.05). In addition, in terms of mental health, that is, depression, anxiety and psychoticism (p<.05), aggression (p<.001) and pathological fear (p<.001) significant differences exist. But in terms of somatizations, compulsions, reciprocal relationship sensitivity and paranoid ideation, no significant differences were obtained. Pair-wise comparisons showed that having a mentally disabled child affects the mental health of a mother more adversely than having a blind or a deaf child.Discussion: The study revealed that the psychological well being of mothers of exceptional children is not as good as that of mothers of mentally normal but physically disabled children. Among the three groups of mothers studied, mothers of mentally disabled children enjoyed the lowest level of mental health.

Introduction: Human being’s mental health depends on the quality of personal communications. The first experience of this communication starts with mother infant interaction and increases mother’s attachment to their infants. Since mother infant skin to skin contact is one of the methods to increase attachment, this study was conducted to investigate mother – infant skin to skin contact on mother’s attachment.Methods and Materials: In this randomized control trial 79 cesarean-sectioned women were allocated. The first selection hospitals for group's assignment (40 women in case and 39 in control group) were random. The place of two groups changed during five days. Experimental group received skin to skin contact, 20-30 minutes daily. Mother’s attachment tool was used to define attachment and anxiety regarding children. Mother’s attachment was investigated on the first, third and tenth days post cesarean section. The data were analyzed by t-student paired and regression tests. Results: the findings showed a significant difference between mother’s attachment on the third and tenth days in both groups. The findings also showed that there was a significant difference between mother’s attachment in both groups on the first tenth and first-third days post cesarean-section. Regression test showed that only mother-infant skin to skin contact and mother’s attachment on the first day affected mother’s attachment on the third day.Conclusion: According to the findings, mother – infant skin to skin contact is an efficient method to increase mother's attachment and to lower their anxiety regarding children. Mother – infant skin to skin contact is suggested as a way to reach maternal health.

Introduction: There are some doubts about therapeutic effects of olanzapine and risperidone two antipsychotic drugs on behavioral disturbances in patients with Alzheimer's disease and concerns about safety have emerged. We assessed the effectiveness of these two atypical antipsychotic drugs in outpatients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods and Materials: In this double-blind trial, 69 outpatients with Alzheimer's disease and psychosis, aggression, or agitation were randomly assigned to receive olanzapine (dose, 2.5- 7.5 mg per day) or risperidone (dose, 0.5-4.5 mg per day). Patients were followed for up to 10 weeks. The main outcomes were the scores of the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI) scale and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).Results: There were no significant differences among treatments with regard to improvement in risperidone and olanzapine group on the CGI (3.2±4.3 vs. 3.5±5.8 & P Value=0.564) and BPRS scale (8.2±9.2.vs. 8.8±9.2 & P Value = 0.522) .Furthermore, although the number of patients who had left the study cause of side effects, was greater in risperidone group, sedation and headache are more common with olanzapine than risperidone.Conclusion: Both risperidone and olanzapine might be useful and reasonable treatment for patients who suffering from behavioral disturbances due to psychosis in Alzheimer disease.

Introduction: The Purpose of the present research was to validating the Padua Inventory for obsessive-compulsion in freshman students of Shahid Chamran University - Ahvaz.Methods and Materials: In this research 297 students were randomly selected from the freshman students of 1384-85 semesters, the participants completed the Padua Obsessive-Compulsion Inventory.Results: Factor analysis by principle components analysis (Varimax Rotation) indicated four factors (mental control-doubt, fear of impulses, checking, and contamination) that account for 43.37% of the variance. Data were indicative of high level of Coranbach's Alph and Split-half reliability coefficients of the Padua and extracted factors. Convergent validity coefficients POCI with Death Obsession Scale were significant. There were no significant differences between male and female (except for the second factor) and age groups with respect to obsession-compulsive degree. Conclusions: Results of factor analysis is consistent with prior findings. POCI can be used in research and clinical settings and in screening the normal among obsessional population.

Introduction: Opioid dependency is chronic disorder with high recurrence that predisposes patient to HIV infection, hepatitis and others complications. Most of patients with heroin dependency can not tolerate drug abstinence permanently and they continue to live through preparing and using drugs permanently if there is no method of maintenance treatment. One of treatment methods is Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) which not only prevents from recurring illegal drugs but also improves psychological and physical conditions of patients. Now, MMT is used as a maintenance method in Mashhad and we decided to evaluate this method in addicted patients in Hejazi hospital.Methods and Materials: This descriptive, cross–sectional study was done from Sep. 2005 to Aug. 2006. The study populations, was chosen by easy sampling from the patients whom have been referred for treatment to Hejazi hospital. The tools for searching were epidemiologic questionnaire, patients file and interview. Collected data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics, chi- square and fisher exact test. Results: 64 patients were abandoned the study. Data collected from 116 patients were analyzed. 112 patients were male (96.6%). 68.5% were married and 49/6% had regular work. Crystal was the most common illegal drug that was used and common age group was 18-30 years 49.1% of patients had high school diploma and higher. 81.9% had not any medical disease as a background but 90/5% had co morbid psychiatric disorders. 45.7% had positive familial drug abuse history and 52.6% had more than 5 years of drug abuse history.Conclusion: This study shows the most common age group in crystal users is 18-30 years .Early onset of crystal abuse shows the importance of preventive strategies in society.

Introduction: Mental health is one of the important factors that influence aptitude growth of the university students. The numerous Studies shown that students have types of emotional disorders similar to other human beings. The purpose of this exploring study is to study mental health of Lorestan University students in relation to some of academic and personal variables. Methods and Materials: The study used a descriptive method of research. The sample of this study consisted of 436 university students that who were selected randomly by the group sampling method. A questionnaire consisted mental health scale (MHS) as well as demographical characteristics employed for gathering the required data. The study was applied two groups independent t-test as well as One Way Analysis of Variance to study relationship between mental health scores of students and personal and academic variables. The data was analyzed by the statistical program for social sciences (SPSS).Results: The students’ mental health scores with an average of 164/19 (a little more than questionnaire average with an average of 150) showed that there are healthy students. Results indicated that there are significant relationships among mental health of students and their age, academic type of course and year as well. Results indicate that there aren’t relationships among student’s mental health and major field of study or faculty, academic achievement, residential and marital status as well.Conclusion: In general, can be saying that Lorestan University students have high mental health. Further, the sinior as well as third and evening students have low mental health as compare to other students.

Introduction: Warfare makes addition to adverse and psychosomatic disorders on combatants also it puts their families exposed to dangerous and problems. This study performed on object for omparison the effect of training conflict resolution and relaxation on quality of life’s spouses of veterans affected post traumatic stress disorder with major depression. Methods and Materials: This is a quazi experimental study of clinical trial type that carried out on 42 veterans spouse in Baqiyatallah hospital (a.s) and Sadr psychiatric center. They were taken by randomization into two intervention groups (conflict resolution and relaxation training) and control group. The education program was developed for interventional groups at three sessions in two hours a week. However, control group didn’t any training. The quality of life in three groups determined by SF 36 questionnaire at before, and after training (first six weeks after intervention i.e. follow up and second six weeks after intervention i.e. final phase). The data were analyzed by using spss with descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The results showed that there wasn’t significant difference in total mean rank of quality of life before intervention between conflict resolution and relaxation groups (p>0/05, independent T test) but There was a significant difference between conflict resolution and control groups; also relaxation and control groups before intervention (p=0/001). Whereas There wasn’t significant difference between mean rank of quality of life in control group at three phases. Also the Friedman ANOVA test showed that there was significant difference in total mean rank of quality of life in intervention groups at before intervention, follow up and final phases(p=0/0001). In addition to, it didn’t show significant difference in total mean rank of quality between conflict resolution and relaxation groups (p>0/05, independent T test). Discussion: Considering the results of this study which explanatory the influence two techniques of intervention on quality of life. Therefore it is recommended that be used the conflict resolution skill program to promotion the health level and quality of life’s individuals society especially veterans families.