[ relation between psychopathology and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease[COPD] is one of the most common lung diseases in which the chronic duration of disease and disability can cause COPD exacerbation. Since there is insufficient dataavailable for this caseinIran, we have investigatedthepsychopathological featuresof these patients. In a descriptive analytic study, from March to September 2008, amongpatients of respiratoryclinicat Ghaem Hospitalof Mashhad city, in northeastern part of Iran, 43 people who werediagnosedwith COPD were selected via a convenience sampling and a spirometry was performed. A clinicalpsychologistassessedthe mentalstatus ofthe patients with the Symptom Checklist-90-R [SCL-90-R] instrument,and theHamilton andBeck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using theSPSS-14software and tests such as t-test, ANOVA and Pearson. Mean score for Global Severity Index [GSI] was 0.56 for men and 0.98 for women, and 51.2% of patients had developedmorbid psychopathologicalstatus. 51.8% of the patients were clinicallydepressed and 46.5% of them had abnormalanxiety. Women are more prone to experiencing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, phobia and physical disorders [P<0.05]. Patients with severe COPD were more depressed in compare to patients with mild and moderate COPD [P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively]. Patients with COPD had high scores of psychopathological status. Depression is more prevalent among women diagnosed with COPD which is directly proportional to the severity of disease

Cognitive deficits and memory disturbances in patients with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder

Some studies have demonstrated high cognitive deficits in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. Considering the limited available information about this issue, we decided to assess the cognitive deficits and memory disturbances in these patients. The present study is a case control research conducted on 50 patients with post-traumatic stress disorder who were admitted to Ibn-e-Sina psychiatric hospital in Mashhad, in north-eastern part of Iran in 2008. The control group included 50 people of first degree relatives of these patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Case and control groups were selected by simple sampling method; and for all of them, a questionnaire of demographic information, Wechsler memory scale, and mini mental status examination [MMSE] were completed. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS 14th edition by chi square, t-test, and analyze of variance. The mean score of Wechsler memory scale in patients with PTSD [80.78 +/- 18.39] was significantly higher than control group [67.92 +/- 7.38] [p=0.001]. The mean score of MMSE was significantly lower in patients with PTSD compared to control group [p=0.001]. The determined disability level assessed by Iranian veterans' organization and also comorbidity of other psychiatric disorders with PTSD did not have a significant relationship with cognitive deficits, but the duration of PTSD and age of patients were significantly related to the level of cognitive deficits. Cognitive deficits and memory disturbances are higher in patients with PTSD than general population.

[Assessment the rules of demographic variables and body mass index in sleep quality among medical students]

This study aimed to assess the rules of demographic variables and body mass index in sleep quality among medical students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. In this descriptive study, in 2007-2008 the random sample of 310 medical students, including 222 male and 88 female, completed a researcher made demographic questionnaire and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] questionnaire. A total score of more than 5 were considered as the poor sleep quality. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and chi-square, exact Fischer and U Mann-Whitney tests. Based on data, 39.8% of the students had poor sleep quality. Gender [P=0.003] and body mass index [>/= 25 and <25] [P<0.19] had significant relationship and marital status [P=0.547] and age [P=0.500] had no significant relationship with sleep quality. Also, there was no significant relationship between sleep quality of students who live in university dormitories and those of nondormitory residents [P=0.109]. According to significant differences of BMI in men compare to women [P<0.00001], results showed that no significant differences of sleep quality in men and women with BMI >/= 25 [P=1.00]. On the other hand, in BMI<25, male students had poor sleep quality compare to female students [P=0.019]. Compared with the similar studies, the high prevalence of poor sleep quality among Mashhad medical students need special attention and further researches to are needed to identify factors associated with sleep quality of medical students

[ effect of family-centered problem solving teaching method upon the self esteem in drug-dependent clients]

The world witnesses addiction crisis along with atomic bomb, environmental degradation and poverty. One of the most common problems in most of the addict clients is low self-esteem. Self-esteem increases flexibility against changes and reinforces positive attitudes in order to improve sense of self-sufficiency. The researches about addiction and its non-drug treatment strategies, specially increasing. self-esteem, is a very important issue. The present study aimed to assess the effect of family-centered problem solving teaching method upon the self esteem in drug-dependent clients. This research was an experimental, two-group pretest-posttest design. After approval of research tools' validity and reliability, 60 addictive clients were randomly divided into 2 tests and one 30-person control group. The participants completed the questionnaires before and after the intervention. The test group received family-centered problem solving teaching method in 8 45-minute sessions for 2 months in additional to common treatment. Family-centered problem solving teaching method led to statistically significant increase in test group's self-esteem. Self-esteem scores rate in test group was 4.5 times more than control group. Applying the family-centered problem solving teaching method can be useful in improving and completing the treatment process of clients' addiction quitting in these clinics as a non-drug method

Depression in the Iranian health employees and its correlation with self-esteem and social support

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders that is characterized by depressed mood, anhedonia, hopelessness, lack of energy and concentration. These symptoms cause impairments in social, individual and occupational functioning. Health workers are among the most vulnerable groups to depression as a result of their exposure to patients' suffering and health problems. The present study was designed to explore the level of depression and its associated psychosocial and occupational factors in health workers in Mashhad, Iran. The present study is a descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional research that has been carried out in Mashhad, the second largest city in Iran that is located in the north-east of the country with more than 3 million populations. The statistical population included the health workers in 31 heath care centers of Mashhad and hoome. The sample was 279 health workers who completed the questionnaires. The instruments of research were a demographic and personal questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Cassidy social support scale, and Eysenk self-esteem scale. Collected data were entered to SPSS and were analyzed by appropriate descriptive and analytic statistical tests including chi-square. Results indicated that 67% of workers did not have depression and 23.9% had some degrees of depression. In this study, the rate of depression did not have a significant relation with sex and marital status of workers. There was a significant relation between levels of depression and quality of personal relationships with supervisors, colleagues and family members. Satisfaction from work environment, transportation and attitude of official workers also had a significant relation with depression. Results showed that depression has a high rate in health workers. High levels of social support and self-esteem were associated with lower degrees of depression. Therefore improving these factors could be used for decreasing depression

Patterns and correlates of substance use among university students in Iran

Substance use, especially among young generation, is a public health concern. The aim of the current study was to explore the interrelation between certain variables including demographic characteristics and family history of drug abuse and history of depression among Iranian University students. In a cross-sectional study, 843 college students of the Azad University of Torbat Jaam [Khorasan province] completed a questionnaire containing data on demographic characteristics, lifelong and past month history of substance use, family history of substance use and different types of substance used by students. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Fifty seven point five percent of those who took part in the study were male. About thirty one percent of the participants revealed a lifetime history of substance use [209 males and 55 females]. Use of alcohol, cigarette, cannabis, and opium was significantly higher among men. About fifteen percent of participants had used substances in the past month and 15.1% in the last year. Cigarette was the most commonly used substance [19.2%]. The second and third most commonly used substances were opium [15.4%] and alcohol [10.8%]. Beck Depression Inventory score was significantly higher among students with a history of substance use [p=0.000]. Substance use was commonly reported by the university students. This was significantly associated with a diagnosis of depression

Comparing the efficacy of add-on nortryptiline with triiodothyronine in the management of citalopram-resistant depression

To manage a treatment resistant depression, clinicians may add a second medication to the first antidepressant drug. The aim of the current research was to study the outcome of augmentation of citalopram with nortryptiline or triiodothyronine in a randomized clinical trial. We selected 48 adult outpatients with a diagnosis of non-psychotic major depressive disorder who had not responded to 12 weeks citalopram therapy [40 mg per day]. They were randomly allocated to two groups. One group received nortryiptiline [at a dose of up to 150 mg per day] and the other triiodothyronine [T3] [at a dose of up to 50 micro g per day]. The remission of depression was defined as a score of 7 or less on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD-17]. After 8 weeks, the nortriptyline group had a higher remission rate [33.33%] than the triiodothyronine group [17.64%]. The nortriptyline group, however, had a higher drop out rate due to experiencing more side effects. Augmentation of citalopram with nortryptiline seems to be effective in the management of treatment resistant depression. However, one should strike a balance between the efficacy and the tolerability of this approach, as there is a higher chance of experiencing side effects by the patients