Knowledge of and attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health in adults in Shiraz: a need for further education

Sexual health influences general well-being and the overall quality of life of all men and women. This study in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran, aimed to assess the level of knowledge of and attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health among adults. In a cross-sectional study in 2010, 276 men and 281 women were recruited at pre-marital counselling courses and completed a 33-item anonymous questionnaire in private. The overall level of knowledge of men and women was low. Both men and women had low scores on knowledge of genital anatomy, sexually transmitted infections and contraceptive use. The majority of participants had positive attitudes towards implementing educational programmes on sexual and reproductive health issues for young adults and prior to marriage. Efficient educational programmes providing up-to-date information about sexual and reproductive health are needed in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Psychiatric problems and suicidal behaviour in incarcerated adolescents in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Data are lacking about the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour in incarcerated adolescents in Asia. This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the prediction of suicidal attempts in 100 incarcerated males aged 12-19 years in Shiraz. Data were collected in face-to-face interview using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [Farsi version]. The mean age was 16.8 [SD 1.3] years and mean age at first imprisonment was 16.0 [SD 1.5] years. Nearly 70% of the adolescents had at least one current psychiatric disorder, the commonest being: conduct disorder [55%], oppositional defiant disorder [48%] and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [33%]; 11% had major depressive disorder and 2% schizophrenia. In all, 20% had self-harmed without intent to kill themselves and 12% had attempted suicide, 50% of whom had tried more than once. In logistic regression analysis only self-harming behaviour and major depressive disorder were significant predictors of attempted suicide

[ prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in the children of veterans of Shiraz, Iran: a case control study]

This survey was conducted in order to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children of the war-wounded veterans, and to compare it with the general population of Shiraz. The present study was a cross-sectional survey on a random sample of children and adolescents of 223 veteran's [25%-70%] families between 12-20 years old. The control group consisted of students of 12-20 years of age. Diagnosis was made using semi-structured clinical interviews on the basis of DSM-IV, through K-SADS-PL. Out of 223 veteran's families interviewed, 123 families had at least one child with one psychiatric disorder. Those children, 52 boys [15%] and 71 girls [20%], suffered from at least one of the psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of depressive disorders such as dysthymia was 2.3%, major depressive disorder 8.4%, and minor depression 5.8%. The prevalence of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder was [10.1%], separation anxiety disorder [1.4%] obsessive compulsive disorder [4%], panic disorder [3.2%], post traumatic stress disorder [3.2%], social phobia [4.3%] specific phobia [2%] and agoraphobia was [1.4%]. Although the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders did not significantly differ from that of control group, but more studies, and more consultative, preventive and therapeutic actions seem to be necessary for children of veterans, due to a higher prevalence of some of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and some depression symptoms

Frequency of and barriers to utilization of mental health services in an Iranian population

This study in 2005 compared the need for mental health services, actual use of services and barriers to use by 3 groups in Shiraz city in the Islamic Republic of Iran: a sample of the general population, parents of children with mental illness and primary-school teachers. Among the general population, 76.0% reported that they had wanted help in the previous 6 months and, of these, 50.0% actually sought it. The rates for parents of children with mental problems were 81.3% and 55.4% and for teachers were 60.0% and 35.0% respectively. The most common barriers to service use were logistic, especially the cost of and inconvenient access to services. Barriers related to perceptions of mental health services were also important, such as lack of trust and perceptions of friends/family

Comparison of the efficacy of lidocaine patch and benzocaine gel reducing injection pain in children

The most important aspect of behavior management in children is pain. control. The most recent topical material used for reducing injection pain is Dentipatch. No study has been performed on the efficacy of this material in Iran. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Dentipatch with 20% Benzocain gel. For this clinical trial study, sixty children in need of bilateral posterior infiltration of maxillary buccal mucosa were selected. All children completed the General and Dental Anxiety Scale tests, and then received bilateral buccal infiltration either following 10 minutes application of Dentipatch or 2 minutes application of Benzocaine gel. For measuring pain, children were asked to complete a Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] after each injection, and to report which injection was more painful. The tests were performed by two trained observers. For comparison of pain reduction, the data were statistically analyzed using Paired t.test and Wilcoxan Sign Rank test. According to VAS, in children without dental anxiety, the scores of the gel and patch were 66.85 and 29.92 respectively p < 0.001. The dental anxious children reports were 70.85 for the gel and 25.91 for the patch [p < 0.001]. According to child's report, in children without dental anxiety, the gel score was 2.31 and the patch score was 0.54, whereas in dental anxious children the scores changed to 2.81 and 0.66 with a statistically significant difference [p < 0.001]. The effect of Dentipatch in reducing pain was more pronounced than Benzocaine gel. Further investigations are necessary in order to decrease the Dentipatch application time

case of shared psychotic disorder with deadly outcome

thought to occur in persons who live close together, so that delusions of the primarily ill patient are transferred to the partner. A case of shared paranoid psychotic disorder, with primary diagnosis of persecutory delusional disorder in the husband is described. The delusion and its consequent safety behaviors were so strong that led to the family complete isolation, ceasing their relationship with the external world, gradual starvation and death of the daughter. This case showed how one's mind can act so badly against itself to the extend of starvation and dying. We think it is the most tragedy case report of shared psychotic disorder

Knowledge and attitude of medical students and lecturers toward evidence-based medicine: evidence from Shiraz

The application of diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic evidence in day-to-day management of patients has been in constant focus during the last two decades. This study is an attempt to investigate attitude and knowledge of post-graduated medical students and lecturers towards evidence-based medicine [EBM] and assess their preferences to clinical practice guidelines. The designed questionnaire was posted to the randomly selected post-graduated medical students and lecturers of medical department at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. There were one hundred sixty subjects [60%] who answered the questionnaire. Sixty nine percent were male, 46.3% were lecturers, and 53.2% were post-graduated medical students. About 66% of the respondents have heard of the term of EBM. Only 7.8% of the respondents have already attended to a course to learn the skills of EBM and one hundred twenty five [78.1%] like to attend a course to learn the skills of EBM. The most common perceived reason for use of EBM was lack of enough motivation. They have not yet integrated the use of EBM into their practices widely. Their knowledge is at a high risk of becoming out of data. Education of EBM should be a hot topic among educational planning programmers until it becomes apart of university educational curriculum in Iran

Shiraz University students' attitude towards drugs: an exploratory study

Using a self-reported questionnaire, 213 Shiraz University students were surveyed about their attitudes towards drug use [cigarettes, alcohol, opium, heroin, cannabis] and their use of drugs [ever or during the 6 months prior to the study]. About 52% had smoked cigarettes, 25% had tried alcohol, 21% opium and 12% cannabis; only one student had used heroin. Those who had used drugs obtained them from and used them with friends or acquaintances. The majority of students wanted more information on drugs, and considered television and films the best medium for providing information. Drug use among Shiraz University students is still lower than that reported in the West [except opium]. Drug prevention programmes relevant to Iranian culture should be devised

Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in Iranian treatment-seeking opioid addicts

Many studies from the West have documented the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders among patients with substance use disorder but, little has been published on this subject from Iran. To investigate the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders among substance use disorders in two central and southern provinces of Iran. Method: Psychiatric and substance use disorder comorbidity was assessed by means of the Research Version of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders [SCID-I] during the admission process of 89 treatment-seeking opioid addicts. All psychiatric disorders comorbidity [excluding substance use disorder] during lifetime and current time frames were 78.7% and 74.8%, respectively. Mood disorder was found to be the most frequent, although most of this rate is accounted for by substance-induced mood disorder [57.3% of the subjects]. Psychiatric disorders comorbidity, especially substance-induced mood disorder, was common among the subjects, and Axis I psychiatric disorder does not seem to precede opioid dependency in the majority of opioid addicts seeking treatment