JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTALS OF MENTAL HEALTH
Year:2009 | Volume:11 | Issue:2 (42)|Papers Count:12

Introduction: Risk full decision making (RDM) is a kind of cognitive process in which people choose the best option among unsafe and probably disadvantageous choices. Gambling task (GT) and delayed discounting task (DDT) are designed to objectively assess impulsivity and RDM. In this analytic cross sectional research, we compared the performance of patients with antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder on GT and DDT with normal population.Materials and Methods: Number of 24 males with antisocial personality disorder and 28 patients with borderline personality disorder (20 males, 8 females) were chosen by at hand sampling from patients referred to Roozbeh Hospital or a counseling center for ex-prisoners (2006-7) in Tehran. The participants were structurally interviewed in comparison with 25 normal samples from our data pool; this was based on the criteria of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, forth edition, text revised (DSM-IV-TR; SCID-II). Mean score of GT was calculated by the differences of choices from advantageous and disadvantageous cards. The hyperbolic delay discounting model was employed. The k parameter, representing rates of delay discounting, served as a parametric value operationalizing impulsivity. One way ANOVA was used to compare the three groups.Results: Personality disorder patients had significantly greater k parameter in delay discounting process in comparison with normal population. People with personality disorders chose more from disadvantageous cards in GT but no significant difference was found between groups. Conclusion: Choosing more from disadvantageous cards in persons with antisocial personality disorder is related to impaired risk full decision-making and may represent the dysfunction of ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Higher values of k parameter indicate that this group of patients can not tolerate the delayed rewards and they prefer more recent smaller ones.

Introduction: Externalizing disorders are seen in childhood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the behavior parent training on parenting styles and mental health of mothers of children with externalizing disorders.Materials and Methods: This quasi experimental trial study was down with pre and post test evaluation and control group. Samples of study were boy schools (7-10 years old) in Tabriz city, north-western part of Iran. Thirty two mothers whose children had externalizing disorders and also had insufficient parenting styles (16 mothers with authoritative parenting style, 16 mothers with permissive parenting style) with cut-point scores³23 in general health questionnaire were randomly selected and allocated to the experimental and control groups. Experimental group received behavior parent training and parenting style questionnaire and general health questionnaire was administered as a post-test to both groups of mothers. Data obtained from this study was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U procedure.Results: The results showed that authoritarian (P=0.02) and permissive (P=0.02) parenting styles decreased significantly in experimental group but authoritative parenting style increased significantly (P=0.04). Also general mental health score increased (P=0.000) and scores of subscales of physical symptoms (P=0.001), anxiety and sleep problems (P=0.02) and depression (P=0.01) decreased significantly after the training. No significant difference was shown between two groups in subscale of social malfunctioning after the training (P=0.14).Conclusion: The results of this research showed that behavior parent training is helpful for changing parenting styles and improving of mental health of mothers of children with externalizing disorders. Training of parenting style can decrease behavior problems of children with externalizing disorder and improve mental health of their mothers.

Introduction: This research was down to compare parenting stress in mothers' with ADHD sons and normal ones. Materials and Methods: This research is a causal-comparing study and the statistical universe was all mothers of 5 to 12 years old sons with ADHD who referred to child psychiatry clinics (Ibn-e-Sina and Dr Sheikh Hospitals) and all mothers of normal sons (5 to 12 years old) were selected in primary and preprimary school at 4th educational area of Mashhad city, north-eastern part of Iran. Fifty mothers with ADHD children by at reached sampling and 80 mothers with normal children were selected by cluster sampling. Parenting Stress Index (PSI) was used and data analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistical methods such as t-test in independent groups. Results: Results showed that there was a significant difference between parenting stress (parent's realm) and its branches in mothers of ADHD children and mothers of normal children (P<0.000). There was a significant difference between parenting stress (child's realm) and its branches in mothers of ADHD children and mothers of normal children (P<0.000) and difference between parenting stress (parent-child's realm) and its branches in mothers of ADHD children and mothers of normal children was significant too (P<0.000).Conclusion: Mothers with ADHD children had more stress compared with mothers of normal children which it is realized by parenting stress index.

Introduction: Use of ergogenic substances by athletes is an associated problem to sport. The purpose of this research was to examine the prevalence of ergogenic substances use and knowledge level by Lorestan province athletes about such drugs and their side effects.Materials and Methods: In a descriptive- survey study, 1120 male and female athletes in 21 athletic field (17 athletic field between males and 15 athletic field between females) in five city of Lorestan province (Khoramabad, Boroujerd, Azna, Aleshtar and Koohdasht) who were available to participate in this research by cluster sampling. The measuring instrument was a researcher-centered questionnaire which included of rate of incidence, knowledge and attitude about doping, supplement, ergogenic substances, drugs and their side effects. Numbers of 878 questionnaires were filled and they were analyzed using analysis of variance, regression, chi-square, analysis of factor and correlation coefficient.Results: Number of 285 (32.5%) of athletes in Lorestan province have taken one ergogenic substance at least, 176 (20%) from these athletes had used doping and banned drugs and also 231 (26.3%) from sport supplements. Also, the average score of knowledge about ergogenic substances was 18.20±14.73 from 44 ergogenic substances. The average score of attitude was 4.06±1.11 from 6 and the average score of awareness of doping was 5.79±2.72 from 12. Also, the results showed that mentioned athletes have low awareness about the side effects of ergogenic substances. The awareness about doping, the attitude toward doping, the championship field, the record of athletic, the knowledge of ergogenic substance and the record of other athletic field were the most important factors for predicting the use of ergogenic substances.Conclusion: Our achievements show the use of ergogenic substances was higher than other compared with other countries and the use of supplements were lower than other countries. The results of this research indicate the low awareness about the side effects of ergogenic substances among athletes and emphasize the importance of predictive programs.

Introduction: Howard Gardner’s proposal of multiple intelligences in 1980s encouraged many scholars in the field of second language learning and teaching to investigate the relationship between learner’s achievement in second or foreign language learning and their various intelligences. The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between multiple intelligences and Iranian EFL learners’ scores in reading section of IELTS.Materials and Methods: Out of 290 authentic IELTS candidates (2007) in Mashhad city, north-eastern part of Iran. 130 candidates received multiple intelligences scale questionnaire, 98 participants, including 53 males and 45 females, filled out the multiple intelligences scale questionnaire. Sixty two and thirty six candidates participated in academic and general ILETS test respectively. Participants’ performance in the reading and comprehension section of IELTS and their distinctive profiles of multiple intelligences abilities and skills were compared. In this research data analyzed by descriptive analysis methods and Pearson’s correlation.Results: The results revealed no significant relationship between multiple intelligences profiles and reading and comprehension section of IELTS, except for logical-mathematical intelligence which showed a positive relation with reading scores (P<0.05).Conclusion: Reading comprehension section in IELTS is related to Iranian learners’ logical mathematical intelligence; it seems reading section contains logical tasks which could be due to the similar nature of this type of intelligence and the operations needed while reading.

Introduction: The present study investigates the effect of parental education level on social skills and behavior problems of students with Down syndrome.Materials and Methods: This post causal study was conducted at special schools of Tehran and the subjects were 129 students in range of 7 to 12 year with Down syndrome and their parents in 2006-8, that chosen from specials schools of north, south, west, east and center of Tehran by multiphase random cluster sampling method and questionnaires were given to their parents. For data analysis one way analysis of variance was used.Results: The results of this research showed that there is a significant difference between maternal education level and the social skills of students with Down syndrome (P<0.001). On the contrary, there is no significant difference between paternal education level and social skills of mentioned students (P=0.06). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between parental education level and students’ behavior problems (mothers: P=0.52 and fathers: P= 0.46).Conclusion: It is concluded that there is a direct and positive relation between maternal education level and social skills of students with Down syndrome.

Introduction: Internet addiction points to kind of behavior dependency which person applies it confront with problems. The personality traits are consistent trait in length of time that unchanged in one situation to another situation. Researches showed that personality traits have important effect on internet addiction therefore this research had designed to explore this relationship in adolescents in Tehran.Materials and Methods: Sample of the study that has done in spring 2008, include 361 high school students that chosen by cluster sampling method and evaluated by Young internet addiction (20 questions) and NEO PI – R questionnaires. Students were empowered to response in this research and their information was saving confidentially. The statistic manner that used in this research includes Pearson’s correlation coefficient and step by step regression analysis.Results: Results of the research indicated that relationship between neuroticism and internet addiction in female adolescents (P<0.01, r=0.4) and both males and females (all) was significant (P<0.01, r=0.25). Relationship between agreeableness (P<0.05, r=0.17) and conscientiousness (P<0.05, r=0.17) with internet addiction in males reached statistical significance, too.Conclusion: Internet addiction has relationship with some personality traits in adolescents such as neuroticism, agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Introduction: The purpose of the present research was to examine the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among emergency ward nurses and their relation with psychopathology and some psychological problems compare to nurses of other wards of Ahvaz hospitals. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and post causal research was done 9 months during 2007. The sample consisted of 110 emergency nurses that were selected randomly from Ahvaz hospitals. The control group consisted of 50 nurses. Impact event scale and symptom checklist-90-R used for evaluation of post trauma stress and psychopathology and psychological signs, respectively. The data analyzed by descriptive methods, t test, coefficient correlation and multiple regressions between variables. Results: Results indicated that avoidance was important sign among emergency nurses and the relationship between PTSD and psychological problems was significant (P<0.001). Multiple regressions showed that somatization and interpersonal sensitivity were the best predictors of PTSD. Conclusion: Avoidance is a common sign in PTSD that it can impress in conditions such as interpersonal problems or psychosomatic disorders. Emergency nurses avoid from stress events but post traumatic stress affects their psychological aspects and it can cause reactions such as somatic pains and interpersonal problems.