Epidemiological study of youth mental health using strengths and difficulties questionnaire [SDQ]

Prevention and treatment of youths` mental disorders are important, not just for to diminish their present problems but to improve their functions in adulthood. This study was performed to evaluate the mental health status of 6-18 years old youths in a community-based sample using the strength and difficulties questionnaire [SDQ]. Parent of 2000 youths [6-18 years old] were selected from 250 clusters from different municipality areas of Isfahan, Iran and they responded to extended version of SDQ parent`s form. The mean score in each subscale and prevalence of symptom and relation with some demographic features were determined. The total score of SDQ was 26%, means that 26% of youth had psychiatric problems. By determining the sub-scale score, it reveals that conduct disorder [34.7%] was the most common problem in youth followed by peer relationship problems [25.4%], emotional problems [24.5%], hyperactivity [23%] and impairment of prosocial behavior [5.7%]. Our findings showed that mental health of youth population in Isfahan especially the conduct problem needs more attention

effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management training on glycemic control and depression in patients with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease with undesirable complications. In addition to physical complications, some psychological problems, especially stress and depression are prevalent among people with diabetes. The aim of present study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management training on glycemic control and depression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a randomized clinical trial, 40 members of the Isfahan Diabetes charity, with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected through voluntary accessible sampling. Participants were randomized to the cognitive-behavioral [n=20] and the control groups [n=20]. The case group participated in two-hour sessions of cognitive-behavior stress management training for 12 weeks. To evaluate the effects of intervention, the glycosylated hemoglobin [HbAlc] test was administered before and 3 months after interventions and the depression subscale of the DASS scale was administered before, after, and again 3 months following intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance. After intervention, the mean of HbA1c in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group [p< 0/001]. Also the mean for depression in the experimental group was significantly lower than in controls [p< 0/001], a finding that remained as such at the 3 month follow-up assessment. Stress management training can improve glycemic control and depression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is recommended that such trainings programs be intergrated into comprehensive treatment of diabetes mellitus

[Effect of stress managament skills training on the academic achievement of highschool girl students]

Stress has wall- known effects in the pathogenesis of many physical and mental disorders and training of stress management skills may help individuals to reduce the adverse psychological consequences of it in such conditions. This study was aimed to assess the effects of stress management skills training on the academic achievement of girl students. A semi-experimental study carried out in the girls' high schools of Tiran and Karvan city in the 2006-2007 academic year. A total number of 198 students were selected through randomized cluster sampling and randomly assigned to the case and the control groups. Their coping styles were assessed using the Checklist of Stress-Revised [CS-R].After performing Stress Management Skills Training for the case group, in an active mutual participation model, the final average academic scores of the first [pre-intervention] and the second [post-intervention] academic half-year examinations were compared between the two group using t-student and t-paired tests running SPSS-10 software. No significant difference was found between two groups regarding their use of problem-focused, emotion-focused, less effective and non-effective styles. Comparing the 18 coping strategy subscales, both groups showed a significant difference only in the impulsivity subscale [p < 0.05]. The means of the average academic scores of the groups were not significantly different in the pre-interventional half-year [p = 0.37] and were significantly different in the post- interventional half year [p < 0.05]. Training stress management skills exerts positive effects in the students' academic achievement

[Evaluation of family training effect on salivary cortisol and behavioral symptoms in children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorder]

Association between biological factors and disruptive behaviors in children and adolescents is important to investigate. Antisocial, aggressive and delinquent behaviors in adults often begin early in life. Basal cortisol is a valuable biological characteristic of children with disruptive behavior disorder [DBD]. In this study the effect of family training on basal salivary cortisol in children with DBD was investigated. This is a clinical trial study. Basal salivary cortisol levels were studied in 19 children between 8-13 years old with DBD, before and 2 months after treatment [family training]. The disruptive behavior of the child was assessed with child behavior checklist [CBCL]. Before and after treatment cortisol levels and score of behavior were compared. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired T test and pearson correlation. Salivary cortisol before family training was 7.9 +/- 4.6 nmol/L and after that was 10.46 +/- 3.84 nmol/L which was significantly different [p<0.001]. Behavior score before treatment was 72.05 +/- 10.10 and after that was 49.361 +/- 1.89 that was also significantly different [p<0.0001]. Children with lower basal salivary cortisol had a better response to intervention. Parent training is an effective method for behavioral modification in DBD. Salivary cortisol can be considered as a predictive factor for severity of disruptive behavior, also the response to parent training in children with DBD

[Serum lipids in patients with mixed anxiety depressive disorder]

Psychiatric disorders especially depression has known association with coronary artery disease but the relationship with other psychological conditions still obscure. To evaluate the lipids profile in patients with anxiety and depressive disorder. This cross-sectional study was performed on 100 patients arranged in four groups using random sampling. Group 1 [25 patients] with major depressive disorder; group 2 [25 patients] with generalized anxiety disorder; group 3 [25 patients] with mixed anxiety and depression; and group 4 [25 patients] as control group. Data was collected using a questionnaire including demographic information, past history of patient, and also Beck and Kettel questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to measure total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL-C. The data were analyzed using SPSS10 and t-test, X[2], and ANOVA tests. Out of 100 patients, 75% were females. Means of TC [226.75 +/- 45.35], TG [189.37 +/- 69.84], HDL-C [45.51 +/- 10/48] and LDL-C [150.35 +/- 36.65] were higher in mixed anxiety depressive disorder. Regarding the data obtained in our study, high lipid levels were found in mixed anxiety depressive disorder. To reduce the chance of atherosclerosis, measurement of lipids level in such patients is recommended

Post-traumatic stress disorder in children witnessing a public hanging in the Islamic Republic of Iran

A study was made of post-traumatic stress disorder in 200 children aged 7-11 years who had witnessed a public hanging next to their school in Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran. A standard checklist was completed through interviews with the children's parents 3 months after the event. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were identified in 104 children [52%], with 88 suffering re-experiences, 24 avoidance and 62 hyperarousal. The mean stress severity according to the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index was 39.1, indicating a moderate to severe severity of stress. The study highlights the serious emotional effects on children who witness traumatic events

Comparison of effecacy of fluoxetine with nortriptyline in treatment of major depression in children and adolescents: a double-bind study

The incidence of depression is 0.9% in preschoolers, 1.9% in school age children, and 4.7% in adolescents. Current antidepressant treatment of mood disorders in children and adolescents is still in the early phases of being validated with double-blind efficacy studies. In this study the efficacy of nortriptyline has been compared with fluoxetine in the treatment of major depression in children and adolescents. This was a double.blind clinical trial for 8 weeks, undertaken in the Isfahan Child and Adolescent Guidance outpatient Clinic, Isfahan, Iran. Subjects were 40 outpatients children and adolescents [20 boys and 20 girls] aged 7-16 years of old who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Forth Edition, for Major Depression. To determine the scores of two groups [Baseline and after treatment], we used Children Depression Inventory [CDI]. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive nortriptyline 2mg/kg/day for 8 weeks [group A] or fluoxetine 1mg/kg/day for 8 weeks, [group B]. Paired t-test was used to compare the mean of CDI score of each group before and after treatment. To compare the reduction in the Children Depression Inventory score, an unpaired t-test was used. The mean depression score was 28.9 [SD +/- 8.46] before intervention in fluoxetine group while that was 28.4 [SD +/- 8.76] in nortriptyline group. Independent t-test showed a significant difference between after treatment mean depression scores in both groups [t=2.97, df=38, P=0.004]. The changes at the endpoint compared with baseline were -10.95 +/- 2.61 and 2.6 +/- 0.8 for fluoxetine and nortriptyline, respectively. t- Paired test showed a significant decrease in mean depression score in fluoxetine group [P

[Effect of massage therapy on the level of blood glucose in diabetic children]

Introduction: Since the recognition of diabetes, different management methods have been found of which the most important ones are insulin and regimen therapies as well as exercise. Besides these types of management and treatment, complementary treatments such as massage therapy also can be practiced in this study. The goal of this study is assessment of the effect of massage therapy on the level of blood glucose in diabetic children

Methods: This is a quasi-experimental, two group, two step, pre Post design. Samples included 15 diabetic children, 7-15 years old, all having including criteria of the study, in two groups of control and massage. Sampling was done with convenience method and groups were divided randomly by the investigator. In massage group, parents had to massage their children's body 6 times everyday for 15 minutes at bedtime, for a period of two months. After completing education, one glycated hemoglobin test was done as well as a retest after two months. The data were analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive inferential statistical method

Results: Paired t_test showed that glycated hemoglobin had been significantly decreased after study in massage group compared with pre-study period [P<0/05]. Analysis of variance showed a mere significant difference between pre and post study mean of glycated hemoglobin between massage and control groups [P<0/05]

Discussions: Results showed the positive effect of massage on decrease of blood glucose resulting in the decrease of glycated hemoglobin in diabetic children. Therefore, this method can be suggested as a complement method in addition to the routine treatment of diabetes to decrease blood glucose in diabetic children

Comparison of memory quotient state between NIDDM patients with glycemic control and nondiabetics

In order to test the memory state in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] after glycemic control, one-hundred patients referring to Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center were simply randomized. They were compared in point of memory state with one hundred cases as the control group. The Wechsler Memory Scale test was utilized to evaluate the memory status of both groups. The average duration of diabetes was 6 years and the lower limit was 2 years. The mean of memory scores was 72.6 in the diabetic group and 96.4 in the control group [p<0.05]. The mean value of fasting blood sugar in diabetic patients after glycemic control was 121 mg/dL and was 97mg/ dL in the control group [p<0.05]. No significant difference was found between hypertensive and normotensive diabetic patients. Also, there was no significant relation between Body Mass Index [BMI] and HbA[1c] with memory in diabetic patients. However, there was a significant association between serum cholesterol level and memory scale [p<0.05]. The mean memory score in the diabetic group was lower than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. In this study, controlling hyperglycemia in NIDDM patients did not prevent or ameliorate memory disturbances