Dissociative disorders and dissociative symptoms among veterans of the Iraq-Iran war suffering from chronic post-traumatic disorder

To evaluate any dissociative disorders in patients with post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and find any relationship between dissociation and related variables in these patients. A case controlled study carried out among 130 male patients with PTSD, and 130 matched individuals from the normal population. The study was carried out between January and September 2005, at Beheshti Psychiatric Hospital, Kerman, Iran, Demographic data and history of childhood physical abuse and self-harm in both groups were recorded. The severity of PTSD was measured by Davidson PTSD scale in the study group. Dissociative symptoms were evaluated with the dissociative experience scale [DES]. For evaluating dissociative disorders, the dissociative disorder interview schedule [DDIS] was used. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. The mean age [ +/- SD] of veterans was 41.46 [ +/- 5.09] years, and the mean age of going to the combat area was 29.4 [ +/- 5.015]. The mean duration of involvement in combat was 27.8 [ +/- 23.44] months. The mean DES score in the study group was 26.01 [ +/- 12.31] and was 9.58 [ +/- 7.23] in the control group [F=1.171, p<0.0001]. The mean score [ +/- SD] of Davidson PTSD scale was 54 +/- 96 in the study group. The most prevalent dissociative disorder in the study group was psychogenic amnesia. Many veterans with the impression of chronic PTSD may have an additional diagnosis of dissociative disorders

Nicotine and Opiumdependence in psychiatric patients

Many psychiatric patients have nicotine and other substance dependence. The goal of this research is examining the frequencies of nicotine and opium dependence among psychiatric inpatients in Kerman, Iran. Three groups of psychiatric inpatients, chronic medical patients and a sample from the local population, each including 400 subjects were selected. Psychiatric patients were evaluated in Kerman Psychiatric Hospital, Kerman, Iran in the year 2001. Nicotine dependence was evaluated via Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, score above 7 was considered positive for nicotine dependence. Opium dependence was evaluated by semi-structured interview based on The Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. One hundred and fifteen [28.75%] psychiatric patients had nicotine dependence which was higher than 2 other groups [X2=4, degrees of freedom [df]=4, p<0.0001]. One hundred and forty [35%] psychiatric patients had opium dependence which did not differ from chronic medical patients but was higher than the third group [X2=21.97, df=2, p<0.0001]. Frequencies of nicotine and opium dependence were higher among male subjects in all 3 groups. Highest frequencies of nicotine and opium dependence were seen among patients with post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. The highest coefficient of contingency between nicotine dependence and opium dependence was seen among psychiatric patients. Psychiatric patients are predisposed to substance dependence. One plausible reason for opium dependence in our patients is cultural factors. Substance dependence associated with other psychiatric disorders should be considered by treating physicians in any treatment plan