[Application of recurrent events model in determining the risk factors of recurrence of Schizophrenia]

Identifying the risk factors of recurrence of a disease is important both for physicians and patients. Analyzing the first recurrence may lead to an inaccurate evaluation of risk factors as it may not reflect the history of disease completely and may result in the loss of some valuable information. This study was aimed to analyze the time up to the recurrent relapses of schizophrenia as well as determining the risk factors that lead to the recurrence of the disease. In this study 159 registered schizophrenia patients at Razi hospital were selected from a longitudinal study. The effect of age, sex, marriage, start of disease, and history of head trauma variables on recurrence of disease was assessed by a frailty model. Data analysis was made on by R 2.14.1. Mean of patients' age was 21.5 +/- 6.6 year. Based on the Gamma frailty model, sex of patients [p=0.045] and history of head trauma [p=0.028] had significant effect on the hazard of recurrent relapses of Schizophrenia. In addition, the correlation of first, second and third times of recurrence was significant [p<0.001]. Based on the dependency between relapses, treatment and follow-up actions are suggested within the first recurrence time

Comparison the effect of simultaneous sensory stimulation and current occupational therapy approaches on motor development of the infants with Down syndrome

Neuromuscular characteristics in Down syndrome result in generalized muscular hypotonia, developmental delays and sensory integration deficits. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of simultaneous sensory stimulations and current occupational therapy approaches on motor functions development of infants with Down syndrome. Eighteen infants with Down syndrome, aged 6 -18 months, were evaluated in two groups: intervention group [simultaneous sensory stimulation and occupational therapy] and control group [occupational therapy alone]. They attended the program 3 times a week for 6 months and each session lasted 45 minutes. Motor functions were assessed before, during, and after intervention in the two groups, using GMFM test. Mean motor function increased in both groups according to the GMFM test [P= 0.000]. Comparison of the changes showed that although the mean difference of this variable was higher in the intervention group, the difference was not statistically significant [P = 0.576]. Mean motor deficit reduced in both groups during the period of the study, which was statistically significant [P< 0.05]. Comparison of the difference in mean motor deficit in the first and last evaluations showed that this difference was more in the intervention group but statistically insignificant [P = 0.617]. Early use of simultaneous sensory stimulations can improve the quality of motor skill in Down syndrome infants. It is suggested that it may be used as an early intervention in association with other methods in the rehabilitation of these patients. However, more studies in this regard are warranted