[Effect of family education program on depression, anxiety and stress of family caregivers of elderly individuals with dementia]

Due to rising elderly population and the subsequent increase in chronic disorders such as dementia, the expected number of family caregivers and health care complications, especially psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, etc are on the rise. Therefore, present study aimed to investigate the effect of family education program on depression, anxiety and stress in family caregivers of elderly individuals with dementia. This study was a clinical trial investigating the effect of a family education program on 50 family caregivers in referral centers for elderly with dementia located in Isfahan. Convenience sampling and random assignment were used in our study. Data collection tools were mini mental status examination [MMSE] and DASS [42 items]. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and chi-square, independent t-test, and analysis of variance with repeated measures. Demographic characteristics did not show any statistically significant different. Compared with control group, mean score for depression, anxiety and stress of experimental group in caregivers decreased significantly [P<0.01]. Implementation of this program could improve psychological status of family-caregivers of elderly individual with dementia, it is suggested that some programs be standardized and developed after evaluation of different research designs

effect of occupational therapy on negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Nowadays, schizophrenia is one of the most important disabling mental disorders in the world. Regarding to occupational therapy as one of the most essential treatment for this disorder, the main aim of this study is to determine the effect of it on negative symptoms of schizophrenias patients. This study is a clinical trials research and the samples were 84 schizophrenia patients of psychiatric ward of Farabi hospital in Isfahan. Sampling method was convenient and the samples were divided in to two interventional and control group randomly. The data collecting tool was scale for assessment of negative symptoms [SANS] and analyzing was performed by T-test, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test. Findings showed that occupational therapy activities decrease the mean of significant differences of negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as flat affect, mutism, apathy, dissocial, loss of attention and the mean of significant difference in two groups, revealed a significant statistics difference in both at the beginning and the end of this study. Because occupational therapy and its related activities has an effective role on the symptoms of schizophrenia patients, rehabilitation is suggested in different field of treatment so that patients can get appropriate self respect and as well as a good level of social interactions.

[Depression in athlete and non- athlete university students]

Background and Aim: Depression is a common mood impairment with mild to severe range of severity and has been called as mind common cold. It is important to identify the prevalence of this disorder in young university students because mental health of this group is critical for the future community health. Exercise, while maintaninig physical health and developing body mastery, has known positive effects on mental health. This study was conducted to assess and compare the rate of depression among athlete and non athlete university students

Method and Materials: This was a cross-sectional comparative study to investigate and compare the rate of depression in two 50- person groups of athlete and nonathlete students. Participants were students of Isfahan medical sciences university who were selected through stratified randomized sampling in 2006. Data were collected by a two-section questionnaire including demographic data and Zung's Standard Scale for Depression. Data were analyzed and presented by descriptive [Mean, standard deviation, frequency distribution] and analytical [T- test, ANOVA, Spearman- Pearson] measures and tests

Findings: Mood status was found normal in 96% of athlete and 66% of non athlete students. The rest 4% of athlete students were just mildly depressed. The mean depression score of athletic students [32.24 +/- 7.94] was less than that of non athletic students [47.2 +/- 9.58] and the difference was statistically significant [t=7.93, p < 0. 001]

Conclusion: To improve community mental health, healthy life styles including daily physical activities should be encouraged and supported in university students

[Association between body image satisfaction and depression in teenagers]

Introduction: Teenagers have body image changes due to physical changes occurring at the teenaging period. At this age, self-confidence is influenced due to physical changes possibly resulting in mental disorders and depression in teenagers. For this reason, this study has targeted at the association between body image satisfaction and depression in teenagers and the association between body image satisfaction and depression in adolescent boys and girls

Methods: This is a descriptive correlational one-group one step design on 400 female and male students of grade 5 and 6 of governmental secondary schools in Isfahan [in IRAN] in school year 2002 to 2003. The subjects were selected by stratified random sampling. The data, collected by questionnaires, were analyzed by descriptive inferential statistics in SPSS software

Results: The findings, based on Pearson correlation test [r 0.667, P< 0.001], showed a significant association between body image and depression in students. The findings also showed body image satisfaction as well as depression less among girls than boys

Discussion: Although body image dissatisfaction and depression were seen more among teenage girls than boys but in both groups, there was a significant association between body image and depression. It can well be claimed that teenage boys are also at risk of depression like teenage girls. So more care should be paid to these two groups of teenagers