[Prevalence of substance use among students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences [2005-2006]]

Regarding the high prevalence of substance use among youth, its destructive effects and consequent problems, this research was performed. to determine the prevalence of substance use among students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences [GUMS] This was a cross-sectional study carried out on a representative sample of 845 students of GUMS in 2006. The data such as demographic information and history of substance use were collected using a questionnaire which completed by every single student. Later, the data were analyzed by EPI 2002 software and chi-square and Fisher-Exact tests. Due to incomplete responses, 18 questionnaires were excluded. Out of a total of 827 students, 30.1% had a history of substance use at least once during their lives. The prevalence rate of each substance in use was: cigarette [26.36%], alcohol [17.04%], opium [3.86%], cannabis [2.78%], ecstasy [2.05%], heroin [1.08], crystal [0.84%], cocaine [0.84%], morphine [0.6%] and others [0.6%]. Substance use was significantly associated with male gender, higher age groups, living with friends or alone, and marital status. There were significant relationships between substance use during past 30 days and studying medicine and dentistry. In addition, a relationship between substance use; once or more during life and residency period, was observed. Our study demonstrated that the substance use among students of GUMS is considerably high and specific interventions seem to be necessary in preventing or reducing the rate of substance use in students

impact of postraumatic stress disorder on partner of Iranian veterans

Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] suffer from distressing and disabling symptoms. Many studies have shown that PTSD symptoms can negatively influence quality of life of their partners. This study was designed to assess general health, marital satisfaction and self-esteem levels of partners of Iranian veterans with PTSD. We performed a case-control study. Cases were comprised of 40 partners of veterans with PTSD. Controls were comprised of 40 married women referred to general health center in Rasht city. Three self report psychometric inventories including General Health Questionnaire [GHQ28], Evaluating and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness questionnaire [ENRICH] and Cooper-Smith inventory-adult form were applied assessing general health, marital satisfaction and self-esteem levels in our subjects. Mean score of GHQ28 questionnaire was 39.77 +/- 20.96 in case group and 17.12 +/- 9.08 in control group [P = 0.0001, t = 6.269]. Average scores of ENRICH questionnaire in case and control groups were 133.7 +/- 28.05 and 165.90 +/- 31.10 respectively [P = 0.0001, t = 4.861]. Mean score of Cooper-Smith test was 29.62 +/- 7.89 in cases while it was 39.92 +/- 6.36 between controls [P = 0.0001, t = 4.551]. We concluded that partners of veterans with PTSD significantly showed lower levels of general health, marital satisfaction and selfesteem than other women. In general, our results demonstrated that partners of veterans with PTSD had lower levels of quality of life comparing other women

[ frequency of drugs and substances use in opiate dependenents]

Introduction: Some of the opiate dependents use other drugs and substances that confront them with more economic, social and medical problems and poor therapeutic outcome

Objective: This study was performed to identify the frequency of drugs and other substances used in opiate dependents referring to the clinic of welfare organization in Rasht

Materials and Methods: In a descriptive study, 96 patients admitted to the clinic from January 2002, in a 4 months period, were studied by clinical interview. The screening methods were not used. They were questioned about their time and type of substances [Opiate, Cannabis, Alcohol] or drugs [Codeine, Benzodiazepins, Barbiturats, Dextrometorphan, . . .] used, withdrawal symptoms, pattern of obtaining drugs or substances and history of lapses and relapses. DSM IV criteria's for dependency or abuse were used

Results: From 96 patients studied 93 were male and 3 female, 31/3% unemployed, 81% lived in urban area, 44% with academic education lower than elementary, and 64% married. 12.5% had at least one year abstience, 30.2% without complete detoxification, 38.5% at least one month abstience and 21.4% two times and 9.4% three times of at least one month abstience. Opium in 63.5%, Heroin in 30.2% and Codein in 3.1% of subjects were the main opiates used. The most frequency of co morbidity was seen between opiates and benzodiazepins and between opiates and Alcohol. 21.8% of patients had multi substance dependency, 26% had co morbidity of opiate dependency and drug dependency, and 16.6% had co morbidity of multi substance dependency and drug dependency. The most common way of obtaining drugs were by prescription and pharmacy without prescription

Conclusion: The frequency of drugs and substances use and significant co morbidity between opiate dependency and dependency to other substances or drugs despite different geographical, cultural and economic backgrounds were similar to other countries. Greater emphasis on organizing drug policy, physicians' education and treatment of comorbide conditions and evaluation of the effects of these interventions on drugs and substance use patterns is recommended

[Prevalence of postpartum depression in Alzahra hospital in Rasht in 2004]

Introduction: Postpartum depression is a prevalent disorder that has undesirable effects on mother and child's health. Its prevalence is reported different in various studies

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression in mothers who delivered at Alzahra hospital in Rasht in 2004

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study 335 women who delivered at Alzahra hospital after signing informed consent were assessed with a demographic questionnaire including variables [age, live child number, home living, delivery type, wanted or unwanted pregnancy, history of abortion or dead child, delivery number, educational level, employment status after delivery]. Samples were screened with Beck depression inventory [a standard self questionnaire and independent of any cultural bias] 2-3 weeks after delivery. For mothers who scored 16 or higher, a structural clinical interview for major depressive disease was done. The interview results were evaluated according to DSMIV-TR criteria and the results were analyzed and statistically significant difference was determined [alpha=0/05]

Results: According to the screening examination, 61 patients had mild depression [scoring 16-230] and 6 patients suffered moderate depression [scoring 31-46]. From 59 patients who referred for clinical interview, 48 had essential depression disorder based on DSMIV-TR and 43 had mild depression. There was a significant relationship between mothers' occupation and depression [P=0.02] and between history of still birth and infant death in past with depression [P=0.02]

Conclusion: The prevalence of mild depression in our study was notable. In addition to the limitations of this study, more studies with more specific screening assessment and more subjects are recommended

[Compare the quality of life of spouses of addicted men with a control group]

Introduction: Substance abuse is the most common psychological disorders. Its side effects are not only related to the user but also effect their spouses and other family members

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the self- esteem, general well being and marital satisfaction of women having spouses who are substance abusers

Materials and Methods: This research is a cross sectional study. The experimental group included spouses of substance abusing men who voluntarily referred to addiction control centers in Rasht and the Control group consisted of married women referring to health care centers in Rasht. For data collection, three standard psychological questionnaires including GHQ 28 [general well being score]; Enrich [Marital satisfaction score], Cooper Smith [Self esteem score] and also a personal demographic questionnaire were used. From all qualified individuals, 18 wives of addicted men in experimental group and 24 wives of non-addicted men in control group were chosen through simple sampling, Information was collected by the psychologist or educated general physician by referring to addiction control centers and health care centers. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software and T test

Result: Demographic characteristics such as family income, occupation, housing condition, place of living and presence of disease were the same in both groups. The wives of addicted men showed significantly higher level of somatic symptoms [t=2.25, P=0.03], anxiety and insomnia[t=3.73, P=0.001] and depression [t=4.04, P=0.0001] than the control group. Partners of addicted men also had significantly lower levels of self- esteem [t=-3.61, P=0.0001] and marital satisfaction [t=-4/71, P=0.0001]

Conclusion: It seems that addicted men and their spouses affect each other and addicts significantly effect general areas of life. Based on the results of this study alike other western studies indicate that having an addicted husband significantly decrease his wife's quality of life. Therefore, it's necessary to pay more attention to the results of these studies so that authorities better understand and decrease the life difficulties of the families of addicted men

[Frequency of cannabis use in patients admitted to psychiatry emergency ward]

Introduction: Cannabis use is frequently found in patients suffering psychiatric disorders and studies show that it results in recurrence, need for rehospitalization, diminished efficacy of drugs and worsening of prognosis

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect the relative frequency of cannabis users in patients admitted to psychiatry emergency ward of Shafa psychiatry hospital in Rasht ,Iran, during 2004-2005

Materials and Methods: In a cross- sectional study, urinary test by RIA search for urinary metabolite of cannabis [THC…] and also an interview with pt their families was done for all pts having BPRS equal or more than 4, were tested through urinary test for Tetrahydrocannabinol[THC],the urinary metabolite of cannabis ,via Rapid immunoassay[RIA] and interview with patients and their families was done. Each patient was physically examined as well. Variables such as sex, age group, marital and educational status, place of residence and history of psychiatric problems were included in our assessment. Collected data were and analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher exact test [a = 0.05]

Results: From 404 patients admitted to the emergency ward within 4 months, 20 were excluded for different reasons [such as discharge with own satisfactim, refusal inability to give urine sample]. 384 were included in the study. Urine test for cannabis use was positive in 77[20.1%] cases who were all men [THC

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, a considerable fraction of patients admitted to psychiatric emergency ward are cannabis users in our hospital. Preventive ways are commended for lowering this frequency