Epidemiology of mental disorders in high- school students in Rafsanjan

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of mental disorders among high school students in the city of Rafsanjan in the academic year 2001-2002, and to assess the related demographic factors. 830 students were selected through multistage cluster sampling and their mental health status was assessed by SCL-90-R and for suspicious cases of psychiatric disorders, the symptoms were recorded by a psychiatrist in a questionnaire according to DSM-IV. To determine the cut off point, 120 students [3 clusters, 40 students each] were evaluated and interviewed by a psychiatrist. Regarding the cut off point of 63, 176 students scored above the cut off point; 17 were healthy according to clinical interview and 21 students dropped out regardless of several follow-ups. Thus, finally 138 students were interviewed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist. The overall prevalence of mental disorders was 16.6% [females 21.6%, males 10.6%]. The most common mental disorders were anxiety and mood disorders [8.4% and 4.1%, respectively]. Mental disorders were common among high school students in Rafsanjan and there was a significant correlation between the prevalence of mental disorders and some demographic variables such as gender, family history of mental disorders, family history of divorce and drug abuse and type of residence

Memory problem in checking type obsessive- compulsive disorder

The objective of this research was to determine memory problems [episodic memory, memory bias and memory confidence] in checking type obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD]. Sixty individuals with OCD [30 checking and 30 washing types] were selected, together with 60 control individuals[30 with generalized anxiety disorder and 30 normal]. The groups matched the checking OCD group in demographic features and were assessed for obsession and compulsion by the Maudsly Obsessive - Compulsive Inventory [MOCI] and diagnostic interview. Memory was assessed by two computer-based word lists [recalling list and recognition/confidence list]. This study revealed no difference in the amount of recalling words among the groups. Checking OCD, washing OCD and generalized anxiety groups showed memory bias in recalling danger associated words. The checkers had significantly less memory confidence than any other groups. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings were also considered. The memory problem in the checking type OCD could be described in the framework of psychological theories, particularly, with a cognitive-behavioral approach

Introducing semantic differentiation technique and its application in assessment of semantic representation of depressed patients

The aim of this study was to assess the semantic representation of depressed patients and also the efficacy of semantic differentiation technique for this kind of assessment. Subjects [30 depressed and 30 non- depressed persons] were selected through convenient sampling. The instruments used included a modified version of a semantic differentiation task, which embodied four stimulus concepts of me, past, life and future, and Beck's Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods, Hest, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. There was a significant difference in the total semantic differentiation scores between depressed and normal subjects. There was a positive correlation between the severity of depression and negative semantic representation. Negative representation of the concept "me" was the strongest predictor of depression. Depressed patients have a negative meaning representation of life, past, future, and in particular self that must be addressed by the therapists. The semantic differentiation technique is effective for clinical assessments

Identity status of adolescents in Tehran

The aim of this study was to explore the ideological and interpersonal identity statuses among adolescents in Tehran and to compare their identity styles and statuses. The study was a post-hoc descriptive cross-sectional. Four hundred sixty-seven adolescents [235 girls and 232 boys] were selected from four schooling regions in Tehran by cluster sampling. The subjects were doing third grade high school or pre-university courses. They were assessed using the questionnaires 'Ego Identity Process' and 'Identity Style'. Data were processed by the chi-square test and ANOVA. The findings of this study revealed that, regarding ideological and interpersonal identity status, Tehrani adolescents were mainly in the moratorium phase with smaller part of them being in the identity achievement phase. There was a significant difference in the identity statuses of boys and girls. There was also a significant relationship between the identity styles and identity statuses. The diffuse-avoidant style was highly associated to the undifferentiated status; the normative style was related to foreclosure; and the informational style was closely related to the identity achievement status. Tehrani adolescents were less at the identity achievement status or informational style