[Knowledge and attitude toward AIDS in patients with gender identity disorder presenting to Tehran psychiatric institute]

The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of patients with gender identity disorder [GID], presenting to Tehran Psychiatric Institute, toward Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS]. 58 patients with gender identity disorder [41 female-to-male and 17 male-to-female] were selected using convenience sampling. The subjects completed the questionnaire proposed by Family Health Organization. Subsequent to determining the distribution by statistical methods, data were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests suitable for group comparison. About 70% of the subjects believed that an apparently healthy individual could be infected with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]. Only five subjects [8.6%] considered themselves to be at risk for HIV infection. With regard to routes of transmission, 70% believed anal sex carries lower risk than vaginal sex. Subjects had a low level of knowledge regarding sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, all individuals with GID should be provided with sufficient information about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases

Prevalence of cigarette smoking in Tehran: a household study

Cigarette smoking is a highly addictive behavior and nicotine dependence is a well known model for drug dependence. It also acts as a gateway drug for the use of other illicit substances. In 1999, Iran Ministry of health and the national research center carried out a study which revealed that 11.9% of Iranian population use cigarette. The present study is a cross-sectional household survey which was carried out in 2004.The target population of this study consisted of residents [age>15] of the sixth district of the municipality of Tehran. The sample was selected through multistage stratification and systematic randomization [n= 2705]. Data was gathered using face-to-face interviews. Our study showed that 540 [19.9%] subjects reported regular use of cigarette sometimes in their life. Three hundred and eighty one [14.1%] reported that they were current smokers. The Prevalence of smoking and the mean number of cigarette smoked daily were lower in women compared to men. About seventy four percent of the smokers reported that they smoked their first cigarette before the age of 25. Only 7.8% reported that they started smoking after the age of 35. The self-reported lifelong prevalence and the prevalence of current smoking are much lower in Iran compared to many other Middle East countries. Moreover, according to the findings of this study, the number of attempts to quit smoking in Iran is lower than the reported rate in other countries of the region

Non-compliance after first episode of manic or mixed mood state: a 17-month follow-up

This study aimed to evaluate the non-compliance rate in patients with bipolar I disorder. The patients admitted to Iran Psychiatric Hospital who were diagnosed as a case of the first episode mania of bipolar I disorder [DSM-IV-TR] by 2 psychiatrists followed by one of them in a longitudinal, prospective and naturalistic study. In the follow-up early non-compliance/irregular drugs use, drug discontinuation and good compliance [GC] in the patients were registered in addition to the recurrences of mood episodes. The term poor compliance [PC] was used for early non-compliance/irregular drugs use and drug discontinuation. The patients were 11 males and 11 females aged 19.6 to 59 [28.4 +/- 10.4]. The study lasted 32.5 months and the subjects were followed between 8 to 24 months [17 +/- 5.3]. Poor compliance [PC] was observed in 8 subjects [38.1%] with male to female ratio of 1.7. Six subjects in PC group [75%] and 3 subjects [23.1%] in GC group had a recurrence of mood episode. Eight subjects with poor compliance included 3 with non-compliance/irregular use and 5 with drug discontinuation. The poor compliance rate in BID cases admitted to this center is close to the previous studies. Repitition of the study with a larger sample size and in multi-center setting is proposed