Psychometric properties of the driving behavior survey among Iranian drivers

Objective: There are not enough good instruments for assessing driving behavior in Iran. This study aimed to investigate factor structure, convergent and divergent validity, and reliability of driving behavior survey [DBS]

Methods: The study method is descriptive and survey. Participants comprised 147 Sample selected by convenient method. Iranian drivers who completed DBS, Manchester driver behavior questionnaire, trait anxiety scale, and trait anger scale

Results: findings showed that 3 factors of DBS could explain 39% of total variance. Anxiety-based performance deficits, exaggerated safety and caution behaviors, and hostility/aggressive behaviors were 3 factors of DBS. There were convergent correlations between DBS subscales and common driving mistakes and traffic rules violations. Cronbach's alpha was estimated 0.77, 0.65 and 0.70 for subscales

Conclusion: Driving behavior survey has convincing psychometrical features. It could be used in general population and clinical settings for investigating anxious drivers

Impact of implantation on anxiety and depression in mothers of children under cochlear implant

The aim of our study is to determine the impact of cochlear implantation on anxiety and depression in mothers of children with cochlear implant. In a Cohort design, 35 mothers of deaf children with cochlear implantion admitted to the clinic of Baqiyatallah hospital during January 2008 - January 2010 were selected through systematic sampling. Information of demography, depression and anxiety are obtained from the parents by checklist and beck questionnaires, respectively. Mean depression and anxiety scores in cochlear implant candidates were more than cochlear implant recipients. The difference was significant in depression and anxiety [P=0.001]. It seems that cochlear implant use leads to decrease of depression and anxiety but still high prevalence of these complications than the normal population

Socioeconomic links to health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in kidney transplant recipients

The impact of socioeconomic status on the chance of being a candidate of kidney transplantation and its effect on graft survival has been documented. Our aim was to investigate the association of socioeconomic status with kidney allograft recipients' health-related quality of life and level of anxiety and depression. Two hundred and forty-two kidney transplant recipients were categorized according to their monthly family income into low-income, moderate-income, and high-income groups. These groups were compared in terms of health-related quality of life [short form-36] and level of anxiety and depression symptoms [hospital anxiety depression scale]. There was a trend of higher HRQOL scores in association with a higher income, which was significant for the total HRQOL score and its subdomains of physical function and role limitation due to physical and emotional problems. A slight increase in anxiety symptom scores was also seen in kidney recipients with lower incomes; however, the depression symptom scores were not significantly different between the income groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that the impact of income on the total HRQL and anxiety symptoms scores remained significant after controlling the effect of age, sex, and time interval from transplantation. A significant proportion of our kidney allograft recipients had a low income and had a poorer health-related quality of life and a greater load of anxiety according to their perception of their status, compared to those with higher incomes. Special consideration to kidney transplant recipients with a lower income may improve their wellbeing

Marital adjustment in patients on long-term hemodialysis. A case-control study

This study was conducted to compare marital adjustment between patients on long-term hemodialysis and healthy controls and to determine whether the psychological symptoms correlate with marital adjustment in these patients. In a case-control study, 40 patients on long-term hemodialysis and 40 healthy participants were compared for the quality of marital relationship. The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used for interviews of marital relationship, which includes total marital adjustment and its subscales of marital consensus, affection expression, marital satisfaction, and marital cohesion. Symptoms of anxiety and depression and the Ifudu comorbidity scale were also assessed in the patients group. Marital consensus, affection expression, marital satisfaction, marital cohesion, and the overall marital relationship were significantly poorer in the patients on hemodialysis than in the controls. Also, symptoms of anxiety were more severe among the patients on hemodialysis in comparison with that in the controls. However, this was not the case for symptoms of depression. In the patients on hemodialysis, the severity of anxiety slightly correlated reversely with the total marital relationship score and marital satisfaction subscale. Depression correlated reversely with total marital adjustment, affection expression, marital satisfaction, and marital cohesion. Finally, some marital relationship subscales showed poorer results in men on dialysis, younger patients, and those with higher educational levels. Marital adjustment in patients on hemodialysis, which is linked with depressive symptoms and anxiety, is poorer compared to the healthy controls. This finding shows the necessity of an appropriate family approach for patients on long-term dialysis

Revised dyadic adjustment scale as a reliable tool for assessment of quality of marital relationship in patients on long-term hemodialysis

Although the revised dyadic adjustment scale [RDAS] has been widely used as an indicator of the quality of marital relationship, no report is available on the reliability of this measure in patients on hemodialysis. We examined the internal consistency of the RDAS in a group of Iranian patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. A translated Persian version of the RDAS was self-administered to 135 patients. The internal consistency of the RDAS was tested using the Chronbach a coefficient which was 0.898, 0.683, 0.779, 0.827, and 0.836 for the RDAS total score and the dyadic consensus, affective expression, dyadic satisfaction, and dyadic cohesion subdomains, respectively. All of the Chronbach a scores were higher in patients with higher income and education level. Using the RDAS to examine marital relationship quality in patients on hemodialysis, the total score and almost all subscores except for dyadic consensus had adequate internal consistency

Evaluation of the severity of depression and anxiety in hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients: a case control study

Although several studies have reported the poor mental health of patients with chronic viral hepatitis, few reports exists over the correlation of mental health and virus type. Current study was conducted to compare the severity of anxiety and depression in chronic hepatitis C, B and healthy subjects. This case control study was conducted in Tehran Hepatitis Center [THC] in 2006. Group I [chronic hepatitis C, n=14], group II [chronic hepatitis B, n=65] and group III [healthy subjects, n=65] were matched for age, sex and educational level and were compared by means of the severity of anxiety and depression measured by Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale [HADS]. The correlation between clinical or para-clinical findings of the patients with viral hepatitis and severity of anxiety and depression was also assessed. Group I in comparison to other groups reported a higher anxiety [9.57 +/- 3.86 vs. 7.45 +/- 4.52 vs. 4.81 +/- 4.80, p=0.001] and depression [6.43 +/- 3.76 vs. 5.23 +/- 3.74 vs. 4.76 +/- 4.40, p=0.05]. Anxiety and depression score were also both correlated with total serum bilirubin level, but were not correlated with other para-clinical findings. However the patients who had received interferon reported higher depressive symptoms but the difference did not reach statistically significant level. According to the higher severity of anxiety and depression in the case of chronic HCV infection in comparison to HBV infection or healthy subjects and the importance of mental health issues in viral hepatitis, we recommend a more close mental health observation in patients affected with HCV infection. Psychiatrist and psychologist visits and consultations can help in this approach

Association of depression with body mass index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

There are several reports on the association between body mass index [BMI] and depression in the general population and in patients with some chronic diseases. However, despite the established effects of weight changes and depression on the outcomes of patients suffering from respiratory disorders, little data exists on the topic in relation to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]. This study assessed the relationship between BMI and depression in patients with COPD. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 148 COPD patients admitted to the chest clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital from October 2006 to February 2007. Patients were selected by systematic sampling. Demographic data [gender, age, marital status, monthly income and level of education], clinical data [symptoms, and medications], spirometric findings [VC, FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MMEF, predicted VC, predicted FVC, and predicted FEV1], depressive symptoms assessed by "Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale" [HADS], and body mass index [BMI] were recorded for each patient. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I had [GOLD] stage I; FEV1 > /= 80%, group II had GOLD stage II, 50% < /= FEV1 < 80% and group III had GOLD stage III, FEV1 < 50%. The two-by-two correlations between BMI, depressive symptoms and pulmonary function indices were evaluated separately. A significant association was found between BMI and depressive symptoms [r=0.429, P < 0.001], but not between pulmonary indices and BMI or the severity of depressive symptoms. There was a significant correlation between BMI and depressive symptoms indicating the important effect of mental health on weight in COPD patients. A multidisciplinary approach by a team of specialists from different disciplines is mandatory to address these factors in COPD patients