[Estimating the depth of meditation using electroencephalogram and heart rate signals]

Meditation is commonly perceived as an alternative medicine management tool for psychological diseases such as depression and anxiety disorders. To our knowledge, there is no published study providing an index for estimating meditation's depth from biological signals. Estimating the depth of meditation can be useful in controlling its different levels, and it can be used as a biofeedback technique to help a person achieve the desired state of meditation. In this study, an index for meditation depth is offered using the features of electroencephalogram and heart rate signals. For this purpose, EEG signals in Fz, Cz, and Pz channels, and the heart rate time series of 25 healthy women were collected both before and during the meditations. The algorithm is suggested based on the rational alpha power of EEG signals and the time domain feature of the heart rate to estimate the depth of meditation. The analysis of biological signals using this method suggests that 22 of the 25 participants have experienced the deepest meditation state. Interestingly, 2 of the beginners as well as one expert-mediators could not reach the deepest state by following up the master mediator. These results were in line with the evaluation of the questionnaire. Conclusions: The suggested algorithm has some practical characteristics including: the option of being calibrated for each subject; not requiring high-volume calculations; and it does not take much time

[ frequency of depression and related factors among the medical and paramedical students of Mashhad Islamic Azad university during year 2007-2008]

Depression is an important issue among the university students. It affects their educational performances and decreases their progress in academic achievements. Thus, it is important to detect the causes and relating factors of depression among university students. In this study we intended to evaluate the frequency of depression and it's relating factors among medical and paramedical students of Mashhad Islamic Azad University. This research is a descriptive-analytic study that has been done on 780 medical and Paramedical students of Mashhad Islamic Azad University. The sampling method adopted for the study was a clustering probability method. As for the instruments, a questionnaire including two sections was used. Section one consisted of demographic information and section two was Beck Depression Inventory with 21 questions for determining the level of depression. The collected data were then analyzed using Maan Whitney, kruskal Wallis and Chi-Square methods. 28.6% of the subjects showed various degrees of depression. 14.6% had clinical depression. The most frequent rate of depression was observed among the students of the School of Hygiene while the students of Medicine rated the lowest [23.7%]. There were positive associations between depression and gender, field of study, satisfaction with the field of study, section of study, marital status, site of life and father's income [P=0.001]. The findings show high frequency of depression among medical and paramedical students of Mashhad Islamic Azad University. Also they reveal negative influences of some factors on depression. Thus, it seems crucial to develop some preventive programs and complementary researches on causes and relating factors of depression

[Prevalence of depression in vitiligo patients]

Vitiligo is a acquired skin disease with prevalence of 1% in the community. In spite of existing different options in its treatment, commonly the course is progressive and the prognosis is unpredictable. In our community with a negative attitude of people to the disease, great burdens of social and familial problems are caused to the patient and these may bring about Psychological disorders. The object of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and severity of depression in vitiligo patients and comparison with normal population according to Hamilton Rating Score for Depression. This is a cross-sectional descriptive Analytical study. 52 vitiligo patients presenting to dermatology clinic of Imam Reza Hospital agreed to participate in this study. The dissemination and extent of their skin disease was determined and their demographic identification recorded. Then, the 24 item questionnaire of HRSD completed. The same was performed for the control group, which were healthy in general and dermatology examination and the same as examination group in demographic identification. In the vitiligo patient group 24 patients [46.2%] and in the control group 3 [5.8%] were depressed. Mean depression score in the vitiligo patients was 17.48 and in the control 5.6. 7.6% of vitiligo patients had a history of suicidal attempt. Also, in vitiligo patients no significant statistical relationship was found between depression score and age, sex, marital state, extent of skin involvement with vitiligo, expose or non-expose skin lesions, and history of consullation with psychiatrist [P> 0.05]. High prevalence of depression in these patients is indicator of an insistent need to collaboration of psychiatrists with dermatologists in the management of this disease