Comparison of Vitex agnus-castus Extracts with Placebo in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized Double-Blind Study / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Menopausal symptoms have remarkable negative effects on women's quality of life, justifying the need to assess various therapeutic options. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in alleviating menopausal symptoms in comparison with that of placebo. METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial with a study group of 52 women referred to a clinic in Kermanshah in 2017. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: Vitex group (26 subjects) and placebo group (26 subjects). Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Greene Scale before and 8 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, the mean scores for total menopausal disorder, anxiety, and vasomotor dysfunction were significantly lower in the Vitex group than in the placebo group (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration of Vitex agnus-castus extracts as a phytoestrogenic medicine can alleviate menopausal symptoms in women.

Characteristics and correlates of psychiatric problems in wives of men with substance-related disorders, kermanshah, iran

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the characteristics and correlates of psychiatric problems in the wives of men with substance-related disorders

Methods: Four-hundred and fifty women whose husbands had substance-related disorders were selected by purposive sampling for inclusion in the study

Results: The prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in our sample was 67.1% [n = 302]. Depression was the most prevalent symptom [n = 63] and the least was psychosis [n = 5]. The prevalence of psychiatric symptoms was highest [26.0%] among women with opiate-dependent spouses [n = 117], and those with hallucinogen-dependent spouses had the lowest prevalence [4.2%]. We found a significant relationship between the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and demographic factors including age, women's education, spouse's education, women's job, duration of marriage, number of children, monthly income, and history of psychiatric disorders with the exception of spouses' jobs

Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms among the wives of men with substance-related disorders and there is need to devise mechanism to reduce the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders

Attachment Style and Resiliency in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present study was to determine the relationships between attachment styles and resiliency in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. METHODS: A random sample of 260 subjects was obtained from the population of undergraduate students of the Nour Branch of Islamic Azad University, which is located in Mazandaran, and these subjects were enrolled in this descriptive and correlational study. The collected data included the subjects' responses to an adult attachment style questionnaire, resilience scale, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder questionnaire. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient indices and multiple regressions. RESULTS: The results of the data analysis showed a positive correlation (relationship) between ambivalent/avoidant attachment styles and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and a negative correlation between resilience and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Furthermore, these results demonstrated that attachment style and resiliency can predict obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. In addition, no significant relationships were found between the demographic variables (convertibles) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that attachment style and resiliency contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

risk of repetition of attempted suicide among Iranian women with psychiatric disorders as quantified by the suicide behaviors questionnaire

The factors associated with repetition of attempted suicide are poorly categorized in the Iranian population. In this study, the prevalence of different psychiatric disorders among women who attempted suicide and the risk of repetition were assessed. Participants were women admitted to the Poisoning Emergency Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences following failed suicide attempts. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-IV] symptom checklist. Risk of repetition was evaluated using the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised [SBQ-R]. About 72% of individuals had a SBQ-R score >8 and were considered to be at high risk for repeated attempted suicide. Adjustment disorders were the most common psychiatric disorders [40.8%]. However, the type of psychiatric disorder was not associated with the risk of repetition [p=0.320]. Marital status, educational level, employment, substance use, history of suicide among family members, and motivation were not determinant factors for repetition of suicide attempt [p=0.220, 0.880, 0.220, 0.290, 0.350 and 0.270, respectively]. Younger women were associated with violent methods of attempted suicide, such as self-cutting, whereas older individuals preferred consumption of poison [p<0.001]. Drug overdose was more common among single and married women whereas widows or divorcees preferred self-burning [p=0.004]. About 72% of patients with failed suicide attempts were at high risk for repeated attempts. Age, marital status, and type of psychiatric disorder were the only determinants of suicide method. Adjustment disorders were the most common psychiatric disorders among Iranian women. However, this did not predict the risk of further attempts

Post partum depression and thyroid function

Risk of depression is particularly high for women during the prenatal period. Various investigators have attempted to establish a link between thyroid function and post partum depression. This study aimed to investigate whether thyroid function differs in women with postpartum depression compared to a control group. In this case-control study, subjects were selected from Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatric clinics of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Forty eight patients suffering from postpartum depression according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition totally revised [DSM-IV-TR], and 65 normal controls underwent diagnostic evaluation by one trained psychiatrist using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. Then, the demographic questionnaire and the Persian version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] were completed by the participants. Finally, their thyroid functions were assessed. Data analyses were done using the SPSS program 13. No statistically significant differences were observed between thyroid function tests and postpartum depression. According to multiple regression analysis with stepwise method, subjects with lower serum TSH, T3RU, T3 levels, younger age and longer period after delivery tended to have higher EPDS scores [P-value=0.008]. The present study reports that those women with postpartum depression had a no greater prevalence of thyroid dysfunction than the control subjects. It seems that thyroid dysfunction should be considered in women with postpartum depression individually, but the role of thyroid as an important cause of this condition is not yet established. This suggests that future studies should concentrate on this concept in postpartum depression

Mini mental state examination [MMSE] in first episode of psychosis

Neurocognitive deficits are now recognized as part of the fundamental disturbances and are a major determinant of functional outcome in psychosis. A cross-sectional association between cognitive deficits and poor social and occupational outcomes has been demonstrated; and treatment of cognitive impairment at the time of the first episode may have the potential to change functional outcomes of the illness. We conducted this study to evaluate cognitive function in first episode of psychosis by the Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]. Sixty two patients with first episode of psychosis were selected and underwent psychiatric interview and took MMSE test. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-18 software. According to MMSE scale, 47 patients [75.8%] showed definite cognitive impairment, 8 [12.9%] showed possible impairment, and 7[11.3%] showed no cognitive impairment. According to MMSE subscale, registration [69.4%] and recall [77.3%] were the most impaired cognitive areas. The results of the current study indicate significant cognitive impairment in patients with first episode of psychosis. We recommend future studies with larger sample size and control group for further evaluation of cognitive function as early treatment of cognitive impairments may have important implications in the course of illness

Trazodone in methandone induced erectile dysfunction

Based on findings of previous studies, those men on Methadone Maintenance Therapy [MMT] have a high prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction[ED], related to hypogonadism and depression. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of Trazodone [an antidepressant which can improve sexual function] on this sexual dysfunction. A structured interview was administered by the clinical staff. The interview contained questions about the subjects' socio-demographic characteristics, their drug use and sexual behavior. In addition to the socio-demographic survey, erectile function was assessed using erectile dysfunction [ED] intensity scale. Of the 157 subjects, 95 suffered from ED. The subjects were informed about the study. Then, seventy five patients voluntarily received 50mg of Trazodone for four days, and the dosage was increased to100 mg and maintained for 6 weeks. Fifty five patients who completed the treatment course were assessed by ED questionnaire again at the end of study. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 8 software. The prevalence of ED was 60.5% in our sample. The mean erectile dysfunction [ED] intensity scale was 12.21, and 16.78 before and after the treatment course respectively. [P<0.05] ED severity had no significant relation with age and type of substance dependency [P>0.05]; but it had a significant relation with duration of Methadone therapy and Methadone daily dosage. [p<0.05]. Trazodone may be effective in the treatment of methadone induced ED. Further studies with control groups and greater sample sizes are warranted

Effects of herbal vigRX on premature ejaculation: a randomized, double-blind study

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the efficacy of an herbal sexual supplement [vigRX] on premature ejaculation [PE]. A randomized double blind study was conducted on a fixed dose of herbal vigRX at Roozbeh Psychiatry Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The sample consisted of 85 married patients diagnosed with primary PE according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Each patient underwent diagnostic evaluation by one trained psychiatrist, using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. Each patient was evaluated by researchers to exclude the organic sexual dysfunctions. The patients were randomly assigned in to two groups: group 1 consisting of 42 patients receiving placebo, and group 2 consisting of 43 patients receiving 540 mg herbal vigRX for a 4-week treatment course. The effects of the drug on the ejaculatory function in each group were assessed by the intravaginal ejaculation latency time [IELT], and the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation [CIPE] before and at the end of the treatment course. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software [15th version]. The mean IELT increased 22.4 and 32.0 seconds in the placebo and the vigRX group respectively after the treatment course. The mean IELT differences between the two groups was not significant. The mean CIPE score increased 2.40 and 4.37 in the placebo and the vigRX group respectively .The mean CIPE score differences between the two groups was not significant.No side effect was reported by the subjects in neither groups during the treatment course. Although the improvement in IELT and CIPE scores in the herbal vigRX group was more than the placebo group, this difference was not statistically significant. The increasing of IELT and CIPE score in the placebo group may be due to the placebo effects. Further studies with higher vigRX doses, greater sample size and longer treatment courses are warranted