[Short-time outcome predictors of bipolar disorder type I in children and adolescents]

This study aimed to evaluate the three and six month clinical and demographic outcome predictors [recurrence rate, the rate of hospitalization, severity of illness and recovery rates] in a group of children and adolescents with type I bipolar disorders. The participants of this longitudinal and prospective study were 80 children and adolescents admitted in Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran with a diagnosis of type I bipolar disorder. Consecutive referrals were included in a prospective cohort. The participants were evaluated at admission, discharge, and follow-up at 3 and 6 months, using demographic questionnaire, Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Persian Version [K-SADS-PL-PV], Young Mania Rating Scale [Y-MRS], Children Depression Inventory [CDI], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], and Clinical Global Impression [CGI]. The Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regressions were used for data analysis. The 6-month follow-up showed that there was a positive correlation between the severity of mania with male gender [p=0.01] and the severity of mania at admission [p=0.04]. The rate of recurrence at the 6-month follow-up was correlated [p=0.05, r=0.22] with psychosis at admission. The duration of untreated disorder [p=0.03] had a positive correlation with the severity of global impairment at the 6 month follow-up. This study confirms the role of some demographic and clinical features in predicting the course of disease and response to treatment

Effect of cognitive processing therapy and holographic reprocessing on reduction of posttraumatic cognitions in students exposed to trauma

This research was conducted to examine the effect of cognitive processing therapy and holographic reprocessing on the reduction of posttraumatic cognitions in students exposed to trauma. This was an experimental study with spread pretest-posttest randomized groups design. Statistical society of this research consisted of male freshman, junior and senior high school students of Uremia [N=10286]. Utilizing Traumatic Events Screening Inventory, and SCL-90 R on 1000 randomly selected high school students, 129 students were recognized as having experienced traumatic events. Of the subjects, 60 were selected randomly. Then, clinical interview was conducted, and the selected sample was randomly assigned in to three groups of cognitive processing therapy, holographic reprocessing and control. These groups responded to Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory in pretest and post test. Differences of pre-post test scores were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Scheffe test. The results demonstrated significant differences between the three groups in total score of the Posttraumatic Cognition Inventory. Difference was also observed in negative cognitions on self and self-blame dimensions. Furthermore, these two therapeutic methods were equally effective in the reduction of posttraumatic cognitions. It appears that cognitive processing therapy and holographic reprocessing which had been originally developed and tested for sexually assaulted females, can also be applied for the victims of other traumatic events, particularly adolescents

On the relationship between coping strategies and mental health of diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common chronic illnesses which endanger mental health. The present study was planned to assess the relationship between mental health of diabetic patients and their coping strategies. In this cross-sectional study 193 patients who were referred to diabetes clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital were selected by available sampling method in Ardabil city [north western part of Iran] in 2006. Samples were assessed by General Health Questionnaire-28 and Folkman-Lazarus questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 software, using logistic regression analysis and independent t tests. Fifty four percents of diabetic patients were suspected to have a mental disorder and need more diagnostic assessments. Escape-avoidance [P<0.001], confronting [P<0.01] and plan-full problem solving coping strategies [P<0.01] could predict the mental health in diabetic patients. Inappropriate and emotion-based coping strategies throw patients in vicious cycle of medical and mental illnesses; for example, escape-avoidance method could predict the mental health in diabetic patients

[Efficacy of words list and illustrative pictures tests in diagnosis of personality disorders in comparison with clinical interview]

Diagnosis of personality disorders based on diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders [DSM] criteria has clinical limitation and is not considered as a clinical science. This survey is designed to investigate the efficacy of words list and illustrative pictures tests in personality disorders diagnosis and for propounding differential diagnosis of personality disorders. In this study, which was conducted during February 2004 to September 2005, 328 persons who seemed to be afflicted with different personality disorders were selected with random sampling from among those who had referred to therapeutic and consultation centers in Ardabil as well as Ardabil Jail prisoners. They responded to researcher-edited words and pictures tests. Out of the mentioned participants, 45 were normal ones. Obtained data were analyzed employing descriptive statistics and discriminative analysis. The findings showed that both words list and illustrative pictures tests can distinguish different personality disorders from normal persons in 96% and 100% of cases, respectively. Words list test can only diagnose borderline, paranoid, and schizotypal personality disorders in the selective executive method. Also, words list test, as a 7 degrees scale for diagnosis of personality disorders, is more useful than selection only words list. Words list and illustrative pictures tests are useful for diagnosis of personality disorders; it is also suggested that further studies be done with the mentioned tests employing more precision in choosing words and pictures