ABSTRACT
Background: Mass gathering has not received much attention of researches as one of the potentially traumatic events in the field of psychological studies. Mina [Mecca, Saudi Arabia] disaster during 2015 hajj occurred in this context. Individuals may be at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression and somatic symptoms following traumatic events. Narrative exposure therapy [NET [has been known as a therapeutic protocol for PTSD and trauma-related disorders. The present study was carried out aimed to investigate the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy on the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms and the co-morbid symptoms of Iranian survivors of Mina disaster
Materials and Methods: The present study is based on single-case experimental design [SCED] with baseline. Eight Survivors of Mina disaster who met the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder and completed inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups NET and control. The experimental group participant received twelve NET sessions individually. Data collection tool included PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 [PCL-5] and Beck depression inventory-II [BDI-II], patient health questionnaire 15 [PHQ-15]. Data was analyzed using the cut-off point, percentage improvement index, RCI and the Hedges'g effect size
Results: Total percentage improvement of participant receiving NET for PTSD, was 68.25 percent, depression 63.25 percent, and somatic symptoms was 53.75 percent. All changes in the participant receiving NET were clinically significant in severity of PTSD, depression and somatic symptoms [RCI>/=1.96]
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, NET has a significant effect on the reduction of PTSD symptoms and its co-morbid symptoms
ABSTRACT
Phantom limb pain [PLP] is approximately a common condition after limb amputation, which potentially affects the quality of life. We aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression in patients with amputated limbs suffering from PLP and to compare these psychological dysfunctions with that of patients with non-phantom chronic pain. A total number of 16 male amputees with PLP and 24 male age-matched patients with non-phantom chronic pain were recruited in this study, which was performed at Khatam-Al-Anbia Pain Clinic, Tehran, Iran. A validated Persian version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale [HADS] was used to compare two psychological dysfunctions - anxiety and depression - between the two groups of study. The mean of total anxiety score was significantly lower in patients with PLP [8.00 +/- 3.93 vs. 11.25 +/- 5.23; P = 0.041] and the prevalence of anxiety caseness [HADS-A score >/= 11] was also lower in the PLP group [25% vs. 58.3%; P = 0.112, power = 31.7%]. The mean of total depression score was 7.69 +/- 5.51 and 9.38 +/- 6.11 in patients of PLP and chronic pain groups, respectively [P = 0.340, power = 15%]. Consequently, the prevalence of depression caseness [HADS D score >/= 11] was lower in PLP patients [37.5% vs. 50%; P = 0.710, power = 8%]. Our results indicate that depression and anxiety are not more common in PLP patients, whereas they are more prevalent in subjects with non phantom chronic pain. These lower levels of anxiety and depression in PLP compared with chronic pain is a new finding that needs to be evaluated further, which may lead to new insights into the pathogenesis of phantom pain in further studies
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Depression , Anxiety , Chronic Pain , Amputation, SurgicalABSTRACT
Introduction: the addition of ribavirin [RIBA] to the standard treatment with interferon [IFN] alpha led to an improvement in sustained virologic response [SVR] from less than 20% with IFN monotherapy to 40-45% in combination therapy. The aim of this study is to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of IFN alpha [PDferon B®] in combination with RIBA on Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C [CHC]
Methods: 48 naive patients aged 18 years or more with CHC were enrolled and treated with 3 mega units [MU] IFN alpha-2b three times a week plus 800-1000 mg RIBA per day for 48 weeks. Follow-up after therapy was 6 months. The efficacy was evident at the end of treatment and at the end of follow-up in terms of sustained normalization of alanine aminotransferase and sustained serum HCV-RNA loss
Results: the rate of sustained biochemical and virologic response were 68.3% and 78%, respectively. Virologic response was 80.9% and 86.4% at weeks 12 and 48 as well. Any patient didn't have serious complication
Conclusion: although we had no control group who used standard IFN, our preliminary finding showed acceptable and promising response rate of PDferon. On the other hand, it seems that adverse events with PDferon are as like as other standard IFNs
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: pegylation of Interferon prolongs the medication half-life, which has resulted in introducing Pegylated Interferon [PEG-IFN] as the new modality for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. This clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of Peg-INF in combination with ribavirin in a number of Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C or cirrhosis
Methods: fifty-two patients with HCV RNA in serum, persistently elevated aminotransferase levels, and chronic hepatitis [n=45] or cirrhosis [n=7] on liver biopsy were enrolled to this study. The patients received PEG-IFN [40 kD] 180 micg per week plus ribavirin 10- 15 mg/kg per day. Treatment lasted 48 weeks and was followed by a 24-week follow up period to assess sustained virologic response [SVR]. The patients consisted of 46 males and 6 females with a mean age of 38.5 +/- 10.9 years
Results: in an intention-to-treat analysis HCV RNA was undetectable in 43 patients [83.7%] at week 48 and SVR was achieved in 28 patients [53.8%]. SVR was achieved in 62.9% of naïve patients, 35.3% of the patients who had a past failed treatment with IFN-based therapy, 60.0% of patients with chronic hepatitis and 14.3% of cirrhotic patients. In two patients [3.8%] adverse event led to treatment discontinuation and in eight patients [15.3%] dose modification of medication was required
Conclusion: this study showed that combination therapy with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin was associated with a promising SVR rate and acceptable tolerability in Iranian patients. This regimen may be effective for patients who failed prior IFN-based treatment