[ effect of agriculture activity on quality of life in chronic schizophrenic patients]

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric disorder with pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment. The present study aimed to determine the effect of agriculture activity on quality of life in chronic schizophrenic patients

Method: This survey was a quasi- experimental study in which 52 eligible patients with chronic schizophrenia were assigned randomly in intervention and control groups [n=26]. The study was conducted in Sina psychiatry Hospital. The intervention period was three months. The patients in control group received routine treatment. The patients in intervention group were participated in agricultural activity in addition to routine treatment. The demographic questionnaire and schizophrenia quality of life scale were completed at the beginning and the end of the study. The research data were analyzed by descriptive statistical indexes including mean, standard deviation and inferential statistical methods like Student t-test and Chi square

Results: The study groups were homogeneous in demographic variables and quality of life scores at the baseline. At the end of study, the agriculture activity group showed significant improvement by mean of quality of life [P<0.001], but there was no significant change in control group [P>0.05]

Conclusion: Regarding to the impact of agricultural activity on improving quality of life in patients with schizophrenia, it seems that this treatment method can be used as part of routine treatment for this patients

[ effect of life skills face to face meeting on mental health of children of divorce]

Children of divorce are exposed to so many problems such as: psychiatric disorders, failing to have social communication and personality disorders. The purpose of life skill program is to improve psycho-social skills in order to cope and interface with new and routine challenges and circumstances in life. This study was conducted to assess the effects of life skills training on mental health problems of children of divorce. In This interventional study, 60 children of divorce were randomly selected from Shahrekord city and divided into two groups of intervention and control, 30 in each group. After completing the pre-test SDQ questionnaire, the intervention group was trained for life skills with emphasis on the problems of divorce. Again after two months of study the SDQ questionnaires were completed. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, pair t-test and Chi square. In comparison between interventional group and control group, before training, there was not a significant difference between the mean scores of emotional symptoms, conduct disorder, hyperactivity, problems between peers and good social behavior and the total score [P>0.05]. After training the mean of, conduct disorder, peer problem and total score were significantly decreased in the intervention group [P<0.05]. Holding the group and face to face meeting on life skill training with stressing on the children of divorce is an important factor in increasing the mental health of children and their families

[Protective effects of Desmopressin acetate on retention of spatial memory deficits induced by post-traumatic stress disorder in Rats]

Post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] impairs spatial learning and memory. Desmopressin acetate ameliorates the cognitive deficits induced by electroconvulsive shock. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Desmopressin acetate on retention of spatial memory deficits induced by post-traumatic stress disorder in rats. In this experimental study twenty one male Wistar rats were used. Animals were trained for 5 consecutive days in Morris water maze and then were randomly assigned in three groups [Vehicle + Sham, Saline + PTSD and Desmopressin acetate + PTSD] and tested in a probe 60 sec in 24h after the last acquisition trial. The groups of PTSD+Desmopressin acetate rats and vehicle+sham, saline+PTSD were injected Desmopressin acetate [10 micro gr/kg body weight] and saline [IP], respectively. Injections performed ten minute prior to PTSD and spatial memory was tested ten minutes later. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, One-Way ANOVA and Tukey tests. The platform location latency of the Desmopressin acetate+PTSD group was significantly shorter [4.24 sec] than the control group [P<0.05] and also, had significantly smaller average proximity values [33.87 cm] compared to the saline+PTSD group [P<0.05]. Desmopressin acetate + PTSD spent significantly more time [21.65%] in the target zone [P<0.05]. This study indicated that Desmopressin acetate blocks the ability of PTSD to impair spatial memory retention

[Effect of Ginkgo biloba, risperidone and biperiden regimen in chronic schizophrenia]

Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by a chronic recurrent course. Despite the availability of an ever-expanding range of typical and atypical antipsychotics, a substantial proportion of patients with schizophrenia show a partial or total lack of response to antipsychotic monotherapy. This study was done to evaluate the clinical effects of Ginkgo biloba as an adjunct to the Risperidone and Biperiden in the treatment of chronic schizophrenic patients. This randomized clinical trial study was carried out on 60 chronic schizophrenic patients in Sina hospital Shahrekord, Iran during 2009-10. Schizophrenia was diagnosed by DSM-IV-TR criteria. Subjects were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Two groups were matched according to the age, sex, education, duration of illness. Patients in interventional group received Risperidone up to 6mg/day, Biperiden 4mg/day and Ginkgo biloba 240 mg/day for 12 weeks. The control group received Risperidone up to 6mg/day and Biperiden 4mg/day for 12 weeks. The scales for assessment of positive symptoms [SAPS] and assessment of negative symptoms [SANS] were recorded in prior, 6th and 12th weeks. Data analyzed by using SPSS-15 and student t-test. The mean score of positive symptoms were 55.7 +/- 2.1 and 74.4 +/- 2.3 in interventional and control groups, respectively [P<0.05] after 12 weeks. The mean score of negative symptoms were 63 +/- 1.3 and 69.3 +/- 1.8 in interventional and controls, respectivley [P<0.05] after 12 weeks. This study suggested that the use of Ginkgo biloba as an adjunct to Respridone and Biperiden was more effective than Risperidone with Biperiden regimen improving psychological condition of chronic schizophrenic patients

[ efficacy of emotionality factor of HEXACO-PI-R on screening of depressive and anxiety disorder [mixed] in university students]

Background and aim: Regarding to rare psychological measurements in the country, preparing valid measurements is necessary for screening of depressive and anxiety [mixed] disorder. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of emotionality factor of HEXACO-PI-R on screening of depressive and anxiety disorder

Methods: In this study, 80 university students referred to the counseling center from Isfahan University and also from Isfahan Industrial University who had diagnosed as having depressive and anxiety disorder [Mixed] [based on ICD-10] and 80 normal university students were assessed using emotionality factor of HEXACO-PI-R

Results: The results showed that emotionality factor of HEXACO-PI-R is a valid inventory measurement for screening of depressive and anxiety disorder [mixed]. Cut - off point of inventory was 93.5%. There was significant difference in mean score in patients and non-patients [P=0.006]. Sensitivity and specificity of inventory was 93.7% and 77.5%, respectively

Conclusion: The results of discriminate analysis indicated that emotionality factor of HEXACO-PI-R was a valid screening questionnaire for depressive and anxiety disorder [mixed]. Moreover, using this measurement is important for early prevention and psychological health to predict the disorders incidence in adulthood

[ effect of maternal Ramadan fasting on growth parameters of their breast-fed infants]

Breast feeding is the best feeding pattern for infants. As a large number of mothers are fasting during the Ramadan, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of maternal Ramadan fasting on growth parameters of the infants whom fed only with maternal breast milk. This cohort study was performed from the beginning of Ramadan till the end of the following month in 1385. A total of 60 infants who fed only with maternal breast milk aged ranging from 15 days to 6 months were selected. Based on their mother fasting, they were divided in two groups of case [27 infants who their mothers were fasting] and control [33 infants who their mothers were not fasting]. The growth statue of the infants were evaluated using parameters weight, height, head circumference, during Ramadan and the following month. Using descriptive and analytical statistics, analysis of variance and independent t-tests data were analyzed. The mean age and sex of the infants was the same [P>0.05]. Weight, height and head circumference of the infants increased by 21, 7 and 6 percent, respectively during the study [P<0.05]. The repeated analysis variance showed that there was no significant difference in increasing of growth parameters between fasting and non-fasting mothers [P>0.05]. Ramadan fasting of mothers with exclusively breast-feeding infants did not adversely affect on the growth parameters of their infants

[ epidemiological study of psychological disorders in chaharmohal and bakhtiari province, 2001]

The objective of this survey was to carry out the epidemiological study of the psychiatric disorders among over 18 years old individuals in the urban and rural areas of Chaharmohal and Bakhtiari province. The sample consisted of 305 persons selected by randomized clustered and systematic sampling methods from the families of Chaharmohal and Bakhtiari province. For each person the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [SADS] questionnaire was completed by a clinical psychologist. The diagnosis of the disorders was based on DSM-IV classification criteria. The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province was 16.42%. It was 20% among women and 13.14% among men. The anxiety and neuro-cognitive disorders with 9.52% and 3.28% respectively were the most prevalent in the province. The prevalence of psychotic disorders in this study was 0.33%, mood disorders 2.63% and dissociative disorders 0.66%. In the group of mood disorders, major depression with 2.30% and in the group of anxiety disorders, phobic disorder with 2.62% had the highest prevalence. We found that 10.49% of the individuals suffered from at least one psychiatric disorder. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province among the age group of 56-65 with 30%, individuals whose spouses had passed away with 25%, urban residents with 15.53%, illiterates with 12.66% and unemployed persons with 21.74% were more than other groups. These findings emphasize the responsibility of the health policy makers for prevention, treatment and medical education for mental health

[Efficay of consoling guidelines on decreasing of psychological problems of newly arrived students of Shahrekord university of medical sciences]

Stress provokes unspecial responses and render necessary changes in life. Universities have many stressful conditions for newly arrived students such as being away from home, economical and communicational problems, etc. This study was performed to find the efficacy of consoling guidelines to decrease psychological problems in newly arrived students of Shahrekord university of medical sciences. The sample consisted of 40 persons out of 148 newly arrived students with a GHQ-28 questionnaire score of equal or more than 23. The sample was randomly divided into two groups of case and control. After 3 months [without any intervention] and 7 months [education of consoling guidelines] the psychological health was assessed by GHQ-28 questionnaire. The data was analyzed by ANOVA, t-test and Dunkan test. There was no significant relation between elapsed time, adaptation with university or being far away from family and psychological problems. But there was a significant correlation between education of life skills, relaxation or psychoanalysis and reduction of psychological problems. There was no reduction of disorders scale in the control group but there was a reduction in summarization scale, anxiety and social dysfunction in the case group. Consoling guidelines and psychological intervention such as education of life skills, psychoanalysis and relaxation could improve the life quality and reduce psychological problems of the students