Introduction and Aim: Sexual health of mentally ill women is of great importance due to personal and common health issues (both physically and mentally) mentally ill women faced to. The main purpose of the present study was to describe sexual health status among mentally ill women admitted to Razi psychiatric hospital, Tehran, during the years 2001-2003.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study with a sample of 580 adult mentally ill women with positive history of admission in psychiatric hospital. The researchers reviewed hospital charts of the participants and completed data sheets.Results: 28.7% of participants had multiple sexual partner, 3.4% had exchanged sex for money, goods or a place for living. Also, 6.7% had a history of rape and 5.3% of them had a positive history of homosexuality. 33% of the participants had at least one sexual risk factor for transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV.Conclusion: Considering high percentage of sexual risk factors associated with transmission of infections such as HIV among mentally ill women, health managers should pay particular attention for improvement of mentally ill women's sexual health care. The study of barriers to sexual health care in this population is suggested.

Background: Since the mental insanity has extended the legal territory, the role of psychiatrist in determining the mental status of criminals has received paramount importance. It will be possible to determine high risk groups for criminal activity by studying the factors which are effective in violent criminality of mentally ills, so that we will be able to propose measures of prevention.Materials and methods: 130 criminals suffering from mental illness, have been referred by the court in order to receive psychiatric consultation for criminal responsibility. A conformed interview was done and a questionnaire has been filled for each client including information about the type of psychiatric disorder, the type and severity of criminality, and demographic factors.Results: Personality disorders were by far the most prevalent form of mental illness in criminals, but the most violent crimes have been attempted by psychotic patients including schizophrenics and sufferers of delusional disorders. The prevalence of crime has been shown to be correlated with male gender, singleness; noncompliance and financial dependence to family, however, no association has been found with educational level, family socioeconomic status, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, family history of criminality and duration of illness. Furthermore, the severity of the crime was correlated with the type of mental illness. Conclusion: Screening programs for high risk patients and exerting the proper management, especially for noncompliance cases, could prevent criminal activities due to mental illness.

The family caregiver are regarded as backbone of the health care system and in most cases they themselves are considered as patients ,because of their commitment to look and care after mentally ill patients may lead to mental or moral exhaustion. This research study during Iranian caleuder yearof1379 was carried out on family of caregivers of mentally ill patients who used to present themselves to zahedan mental hospital to examine their mental and moral state experienced during that period. This descriptive - analytic research was carried out on 125 family caregivers in Zahedan mental hospital. Consider the criteria of each unit under investigation of this research, firstly each patients personal characteristic and psychiatries diagnosis was investigated and registered in prepared forms , secondly in a questionnair all information" about personal characteristics of caregivers and their experienced level of exhaustion and fatigue were collected. All data were presented by descriptive and analytic index. Amongst all family caregivers 27/4% were suffering from mild level burden 60/8% from moderate level and 12.8% erage from severe level of burden. However the mean even (median) experienced by caregivers of schizophrenia and psychotic disorder was more than those with mood disorder but there was not statistically significant difference. Nursing and caregiving of patients with mental disorder in long term causes enormous burden to caregivers. In this study, 73/6% of family caregivers experienced a moderate to severe level of burden. This burdens can endanger the healthy of caregiver and also has reduced the quality of caregiving and relationship between the patient and his/her caregiver. Furthermore it is suggested that intervention should be imposed to reduce such burdens.

Introduction: The family caregivers are regarded as backbone of the health care system and in most cases they, themselves are considered as patients, because their commitment to look after mentally ill patients may lead to mental or moral exhaustion. This research study during the year of 2000 was carried out on family caregivers of mentally ill patients who used to introduce themselves to zahedan mental hospital to examine their mental and moral burden level experienced during that period.Materials & Methods: This descriptive - analytic research was carried out on 125 family caregivers in zahedan mental hospital. To give a clear description of the criteria of each of under study, firstly each patient's personal characteristics and psychiatric diagnosis was investigated and registered in prepared forms, secondly in a questionair all information about personal criteria of caregivers and their experienced psychological burden were collected. All data were presented by descriptive and analytic index.Results: Amongst all family caregivers 27.4% were suffering from mild level of burden. Although the mean average of burden experienced by caregivers of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders was more than those with mood disorder but there was no statistically significant difference.Discursion: Nursing and caregiving of patients with mental disorder in long term cause enormous burden to caregivers. In this study, 73.6% of family caregivers experienced a moderate to severe level of burden. This burdens can endanger the health of caregiver and also reduce the quality of caregiving and relationship between patient and caregiver. Furthermore it is suggested that intervention should be applied to reduce such burdens.

Aims: Today, the prevalence of mental disorders is increasing. In Iran, more than 20% of people suffer from mental problems too. Despite all scientific developments in diagnosis and treatment of the mentally ill patients, presenting psychotherapy service is still facing some problems because of the negative attitudes which require more investigation. The current research aims to study the attitudes of Kashan city population about the mentally ill and the contributing factors. Materials And Methods: In this study, the samples were chosen randomly at two levels among health posts and their covered population in Kashan city (364 samples). Community Attitudes toward the mentally ill questionnaire was used for data collecting. The data were analyzed by SPSS software and statistical tests. Findings: Most of the participants had a positive attitude toward the mentally ill (with the mean of 3. 66 from 5 score and standard deviation of 0. 37). Attitude of women and higher‑ educated people were, respectively, better than men (PV < 0. 01) and lower‑ educated people (PV < 0. 01). There was no meaningful difference between attitude toward the mentally ill and employment, and there was no meaningful correlation between the attitude score and age either. Conclusion: The results confirm the role of education on the positive attitude of people toward the mentally ill. The positive attitude can show the appropriate awareness of people on these lines.

Background: Family caregiving for patients with chronic mental illness is influenced by various factors such as political, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts as well as related policies and health services. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges with which the family caregivers of patients with chronic mental illness have to contend. Materials and Methods: The research design was qualitative with a phenomenological approach. The research population consisted of 16 long-term carers expressing interest in participating in the project. The carers were the family members of mentally ill relatives who collected their monthly medications at Farshchian Psychiatry Hospital in Hamadan in 2012. Purposive sampling was used to draw the sample. Data were collected by individual in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were tape-recorded and analyzed via Colaizzi’ s phenomenological method. Rigor was assessed regarding credibility, dependability, conformability, and transferability. Results: Our findings highlighted 4 main themes, namely stress and emotional distress, need for education and information, socioeconomic effects and support, and physical strain. Conclusions: Families experience frustrations when providing support and care to their mentally ill relatives. They, therefore, need appropriate support and intervention by mental health services.

Objectives Mental health program in Iran has been approved since 1988 and has been integrated into the primary care system especially in rural areas, and has been developed greatly over the past few decades. Due to demographic changes in the country’, s population and the rapid expansion of cities, there is a need for a coherent plan to provide mental health services in urban areas. This study aims to provide a practical model for mental health services in patients with severe psychiatric disorders in urban areas. Methods This study was conducted based on reviewing literature, using the experiences of other countries, the model of the World Health Organization, the services available in Iran, description of the responsibilities of beneficiary organizations, collaboration between the Ministry of Health and various organizations responsible for providing mental health, and using the opinios of national and international experts. In this model, urban mental health services are estimated for a population of 100, 000 people. Results The developed model proposed to provide immediate psychiatric services with more coherence, increase the training and skills of the staff of 110, 115, 1480, and 123 hotlines, and determine a space for hospitalization of 3-5 emergency patients next to the public hospital. Depending on the number of patients per 100, 000 population, there would be a need for community-based health service providers, including 2-3 rehabilitation teams for home visits (each cover 80 patients), and 3 daycare centers to provide services to 40 patients. In case of providing community-based services, there would be a need for 12 beds for acute psychiatric patients and 5 beds for mid and long term rehabilitation. Moreover, vocational rehabilitation services should provide to 50 patients, and two apartments with an area of about 80 m would be needed to accommodate about 8 patients. The provision of above mentioned services would require equal participation of beneficiary organizations. The family physician would play an essential role in follow-up of patients under the constant supervision of specialists. Conclusion To achieve the desired model of urban mental health services so that it can provide comprehensive services to patients at different levels from prevention and care to treatment and rehabilitation, there is a need for collaboration between organizations providing these services. In this model, the use of existing services imposes lower financial burden on the country’, s mental health management system.

In Iran, the problem of psychiatric evaluation of mentally ill patients and the safe care of persons with serious mental disorders who have committed a crime is facing challenges. During recent efforts to review the Islamic Penal Code, the necessity of establishing a secure mental hospital for criminal patients has been considered. Finally, the legislator has noticed on the subject in footnote2, article 150 at new Penal Code. However, it is a positive progress but it seems there are some shortcomings and ambiguities in the text of the footnote there. With regard to the draft of mental health act and forecast stressed by the legislator in the new Penal Code, it seems that establishing a secure mental hospital which includes special protected wards for psychiatric care, treatment and reside for criminal patients is feasible by cooperation with the judiciary system and the Ministry of Health. For doing that, we need to do a survey on some samples in other countries around the world carefully at first.