Prevalence, patterns, and socio-demographic correlates of nicotine use in a sample of Iranian university students

Diagnosis of nicotine dependence is a common psychiatric disorder. Use of tobacco products, particularly cigarette smoking, is the most widespread form of nicotine use. To determine the prevalence of cigarette, water-pipe, and oral tobacco use among students at Ferdowsi University in Iran and to evaluate the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and nicotine use. A cross-sectional survey of 1565 students was conducted in December 2009 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran. The survey included questions from the substance use section of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire. Three manners of prevalent nicotine use were evaluated: cigarette, water-pipe and oral tobacco use. Data were analyzed using chi [2] tests and logistic regression analysis. For cigarette use, 17.6% of respondents reported using cigarettes at least once, 3.7% reported using cigarettes occasionally, and 3.9% reported using cigarettes on a regular basis. For water-pipe use, the corresponding percentages were 30.5%, 6.4%, and 4.3%, respectively. Men were more likely than women to report using nicotine at least once [odds ratio 5.46; 95% confidence interval, 3.9-7.60] or regularly [odds ratio 11.267; 95% confidence interval, 6.64 - 19.11]. The odds of having used nicotine at least once were higher in students with poor academic performance, very good family income, and a history of cigarette smoking by family members. The prevalence of nicotine use among Ferdowsi University students is lower than the prevalence in the general population of Iran and the prevalence in other countries

[Effects of cognitive behavioral group therapy in male opioid dependent patients comorbid with major depressive disorder]

The main aim of this study was suggestion of a manual for group therapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy in opioid dependent patients co-morbid with major depressive disorder. In this semi-experimental research, 30 subjects were collected from some addiction treatment centers in Mashhad, north-eastern part of Iran. All of them gave opioid dependence and major depressive disorder via Structured Clinical Interview based on DSM-IV [SCID]. They were randomly allocated into control and experimental groups [each group included 15 subjects]. Beck Depression Inventory II and Morphine test were used at first and end of study. After 12 sessions in case group [control group did not receive cognitive-behavioral intervention] data were analyzed by%2 and U Mann-Whitney tests. The difference of relapse rate between experimental group and control group was statistically significant [P<0.001]. The depression rates in experimental and control groups showed significant decreases at the end of study [P<0.001]. Using group therapy with cognitive behavioral approach is effective in patients with co-morbidity of major depressive disorder and opioid dependency