Successful treatment of recurrent brief depression

Recurrent brief depressive disorder [RBD] is a well-defined and significantly prevalent affective disorder with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour and significant clinical impairment in the community and general practice. RBD is characterized by depressive episodes occurring at least once a month and lasting for only few days and the lack of a successful treatment represents one of the main challenges of this disorder. We report on a 21-years-old married woman who presented with a three years history of sudden depressive episode with a twenty days recurrences lasting 7-10 days of depressive symptoms such as psychomotor retardation and mutism. The patient was treated with imipramine and fluoxetine for a while and in spite of maintaining the treatment, recurrence of depressive episodes were continued but since sodium valporate therapy was added, she has remained euthymic without any recurrence of depressive symptoms.The absence of recurrence for a year since sodium valporate treatment was started, suggest a prophylactic effect of this agent on RBD

Post traumatics stress disorders symptoms after BAM earthquake

Iran is one of the top 10 countries where earthquake is one of the main problems. In devastating Barn earthquake of September 2003, more than four thousand people were killed and almost 100% of buildings were destroyed. This study is an evaluation of the traumatic effect of this disaster on survivors. Three month after the earthquake, two hundred twenty six survivors who were referred to health services centers were enrolled in completing a questionnaire which included demographic data, risk factors and SIP [Top-8] PTSD screening. Two hundred and one [89.2%] of respondents had PTSD symptoms, 62% had physical injury and 67.7% had a loss of close family member. There was a positive personal psychological history in 38.7% and positive family history of psychological problem in 42.8% of cases. PTSD symptoms were severe in 34%, moderate in 30% and mild in 28%. There is a higher incidence and severity of PTSD symptoms in survivors of earthquake who had lost close family member or has been using psychiatric help after or before earthquake

level of anxiety and depression among Iranian infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization or intra cytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

Approximately 10% of Iranian couples wishing to have a child experience some types of infertility which may impose a considerable psychological burden on them. The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the level of anxiety and depression among infertile couples undergoing IVF or ICSI treatment cycles in Iran. Fifty infertile couples that who undergoing IVF [n=25] or ICSI [n=25] cycles were considered for this descriptive cross-sectional study. Also, 25 married couples [18-40 years old] with history of fertility served as control subjects. All husbands and wives were examined by means of Beck Depression and Spielberger Anxiety Inventories. Comparing with controls, the highest rates of moderate and severe anxiety, were observed in women undergoing IVF [76% and 12%, respectively; P<0.05]. However, the rate of depression among women in IVF group was comparable to women undergoing ICSI. Also, the highest rates of severe depression and anxiety were demonstrated among housewives [23.9% and 11%, respectively]. The lowest rates of severe anxiety and depression were observed in husbands participated in either IVF or ICSI cycles. In addition, illiterates, compared with educated couples, undergoing IVF or ICSI program were shown to have the highest rates of both depression and anxiety. The results showed that the levels of anxiety and depression were higher in women, especially housewives, undergoing IVF or ICSI cycles than control subjects. Also, men showed lower rates of anxiety and depression than women undergoing IVF or ICSI. Therefore, this can provide useful information and guidance for health professionals working with infertile patients