Lifetime prevalence, sociodemographic predictors, and comorbidities of oppositional defiant disorder: the National Epidemiology of Iranian Child and Adolescent Psychiatric disorders (IRCAP)

Objective: This was the first national epidemiological study on oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in Iran, which provided new information about the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic predictors of ODD. Methods: Data from a face-to-face household survey of 30,532 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were collected from across all 31 provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling design. The Persian version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children - Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) was used in this study. Results: The lifetime prevalence of ODD was found to be 3.9%. ODD was significantly more common in boys than girls and appeared in late adolescence more frequently than in childhood. A lower prevalence of ODD was found among participants who lived in rural areas. ODD is highly likely to co-occur with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorders. Conclusions: The findings of this national population-based study confirm and extend previous findings on the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic predictors of ODD.

Cognitive deficits and memory disturbances in patients with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder

Some studies have demonstrated high cognitive deficits in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. Considering the limited available information about this issue, we decided to assess the cognitive deficits and memory disturbances in these patients. The present study is a case control research conducted on 50 patients with post-traumatic stress disorder who were admitted to Ibn-e-Sina psychiatric hospital in Mashhad, in north-eastern part of Iran in 2008. The control group included 50 people of first degree relatives of these patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Case and control groups were selected by simple sampling method; and for all of them, a questionnaire of demographic information, Wechsler memory scale, and mini mental status examination [MMSE] were completed. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS 14th edition by chi square, t-test, and analyze of variance. The mean score of Wechsler memory scale in patients with PTSD [80.78 +/- 18.39] was significantly higher than control group [67.92 +/- 7.38] [p=0.001]. The mean score of MMSE was significantly lower in patients with PTSD compared to control group [p=0.001]. The determined disability level assessed by Iranian veterans' organization and also comorbidity of other psychiatric disorders with PTSD did not have a significant relationship with cognitive deficits, but the duration of PTSD and age of patients were significantly related to the level of cognitive deficits. Cognitive deficits and memory disturbances are higher in patients with PTSD than general population.