effect of neurofeedback therapy on reducing symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a case series study

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study without a control group. The study population included all children aged 5 to 12 years old affected with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders in Tehran, Iran who were referred to psychiatric clinics and given the diagnosis. The sample included 12 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who were selected based on their availability [non-random sampling]. They received 30 sessions of neurofeedback treatment, 2 times per week. Before and after neurofeedback training, the children were evaluated and compared with the use of cognitive assessment system test. Data were analyzed using dependent T-test

Results: The total mean score for pretest was 88.81 while the total mean score for the post test was 82.23. The mean in pretest for attention hyperactivity disorder was higher than the mean in the post test. Moreover, The difference of pretest and post test scores of children affected with learning disorder associated with ADHD was calculated that showed significant [P=0.003]

Conclusion: Neurofeedback is effective in the improvement of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Association of 757 C/T polymorphismin PRODH gene with Schizophrenia in Iranian population

Evidence is emerging for the association of polymorphisms in PRODH gene and increased risk of schizophrenia. In this project, peripheral blood sampling was obtained from 175 schizophrenia patients that their diseases were confirmed by psychiatrists. 185 healthy individuals were considered as control group. The related tests were administered on the basis of PCR-RFLP. In the continuation, statistical analysis was made on the basis of obtained genotypes from two groups of healthy and patient groups using SPSS16.0 software. The administration of this project aims at investigating the hypothesis that proline dehydrogenase gene, as one of the most important genes involved in schizophrenia incidence which is proved in various populations [outside Iran], may also be involved in incidence of schizophrenia in Iran. This study has analyzed one single nucleotide polymorphism in the PRODH gene, including 757C/T in the incidence of this disease in the given statistical population. According to our results, SNP 757 C/T may be effective in incidence of the disease since P value was < 0.01. Ultimately, our results suggest that outbreak of mutation in PRODH gene in our population can be one of causes of increasing risk of Schizophrenia in this population

[Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in patients referred to razi hospital cosmetic clinic with complaints of cosmetic disorders]

Body dysmorphic disorder [BDD] is characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined defect in ones appearance or an exaggeration of a slight physical anomaly. Any part of the appearance may be the focuse of BDD patients. Thus preoccupation with appearance leads to significant damages of social and job functioning. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of BDD in patients referred to cosmetic clinic of Razi hospital. Patients visiting cosmetic clinic of Razi hospital were selected if they agreed to participate in the study. They were evaluated by Yale brown obsessive compulsive scale modified for body dysmorphic disorder [YBOCS-BDD] as well as questionnaires containing demographic characteristics of patients including gender, educational status, marital status, history of reference to psychiatrist or psychologist, other medication, history of cosmetic surgery and rate of satisfaction of cosmetic surgery. YBOCS-BDD questionnaires then processed by educated specialist to determine BDD score of patients. Demographic questionnaires, also analysed to evaluate epidemiologic properties of patients visiting cosmetic clinic of Razi hospital. The prevalence of BDD in current sample was 33.3%.70.7% of BDD patients were female while 29.3% were male. The commonest age range was 21-50 years [82.8%].65.5% were educated to level of diploma or lower, while 34.5% had academic degrees.51.7% were married.20.7% had history of reference to psychiatrist or psychologist. 17.2% had history of cosmetic surgery with satisfaction ranging from unsatisfied [20%] to relative satisfaction [80%]. None were fully satisfied. BDD had high prevalence in patients visiting cosmetic clinic of Razi skin hospital. This high rate of prevalence show the necessity of diagnosis of BDD in skin patients and it is critical for them to refer to psychiatrists or psychologists.