Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support in Iran

Social support is a complex and multifaceted construct. Thus, It is important that a given social support scale be theoretically grounded and its purview clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability, validity and factor structure of the Iranian version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [MSPSS]. The sample study included 176 consecutive myocardial infarction [MI] patients admitted to the coronary care unit [CCU] ward of nine hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, and 71 consecutive subjects from the general population. They all filled out the final Iranian version of the MSPSS and also 71 participants filled out the MSPSS twice over a 2 month period. Factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Pearson's correlation coefficient correlation were used to analyze data. Factor analysis of the scores of the patient and healthy samples yielded a three factor structure, including family, friends and significant others. The percentage of variance explained by the three factors in the patient sample and healthy sample were 77.87% and 78.55%, respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficient has been found to be 0.84 for the scale and 0.90, 0.93 and 0.85, respectively, for the friends, significant others and family subscales from the patient sample, and 0.92 for the scale and 0.89, 0.92 and 0.87, respectively, for the friends, significant others and family subscales from the healthy sample. Test-retest stability over a 2 month period yielded 0.84 for the scale and 0.73, 0.78 and 0.84, respectively, for the friends, significant others and family subscales from the healthy sample. The findings proved the three factor structure of the Iranian version of the MSPSS and indicated that the Iranian version of the MSPSS is a reliable, valid and acceptable measure of perceived social support.

Evaluation of intima media thickness of carotid arteries in 40-60 years old persons with type D personality and its comparison with normal ones

In some studies, the involvement of dangerous psychological and behavioral factors in etiology and physiotherapy of vascular disturbances have been shown. In other studies, the relationship between the personality type and increase in cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated. The type D personality is defined as having two characteristics of negative affect and social inhibition. It is thought that individuals with type D personality are at increased risk of carotid artery intima-media thickening which predisposes them to vascular disease that is one of the most important factors for the stroke. In this study, we try to determine whether type D personality is a contributing factor to an increase in the intima-media of the carotid artery. This study was done in 2012 in the teaching hospital of Alzahra in Isfahan Iran. This is a case/control study which is done at Alzahra hospital in Isfahan in 2011-12. The statistical population in this study is composed of individuals who do not have any risk factors for stroke and are randomly selected among the hospital staff or the patient's family members who accompanied the patient at the hospital. They filled out a questioner that would assist in detecting type D personality. A carotid Doppler ultrasound that measures the intima media thickness in the selected individuals was performed. The information obtained from the study was evaluated by Statistical Product and Service Solutions [SPSS] software and the intima-media thicknesses were compared in two groups of patients. The average thickness of intima media in two groups, consist of placebo and patients, was 0.739 +/- 0.12 and 0.759 +/- 0.14 millimeter, respectively. There was no meaningful difference between the two groups based on t-test values [P = 0.19]. It is important to note that based on the results, 22.9% of placebos and 48.6% of individuals with type D personality presented with abnormal thickness. The difference between the two groups were meaningful based on Chi-Squared test [P = 0.001]. We conclude that type D personality increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases specially the stroke and myocardial infarction due to the higher prevalence of hormonal imbalances leading to arterial vasospasm and atherosclerotic disease. As a result, it is necessary to evaluate and treat these patients due to increased risk of atherosclerotic diseases, stoke, and myocardial infarction

Prediction of elders' general health based on positive and negative perfectionism and type-D personality

Multiple factors such as retirement, work disability, social rejection, physical illness and etc., have an impact on general health of the elders. One factor among others is the role of psychological variables. The study is intended to assess the effect of positive and negative perfectionism and Type-D personality [distressed] on general health of the elders. In this descriptive-correlation study, 80 people [47 male and 33 female] were selected from residents of Nursing Home in Hamadan and Malayer using non-probability [accessible] sampling method. They responded to the questionnaires of Type-D Personality, Goldberg and Hillier's General Health and Positive and Negative Perfectionism of Terry-Short et al. Positive perfectionism [r = 0.30] and type-D personality [r = 0.32] had significant correlation with general health. Multiple regression analysis revealed that positive perfectionism and type-D personality could explain at least 49% of the variance in general health. Concerning the variables of negative affectivity, social inhibition and social function, the females' mean was higher than that of males and considering the variables of positive perfectionism, and social functioning, the males' mean was higher than that of females. Positive perfectionism decreases mental disorder of the elders by creating optimistic attitudes and enhancing social functions. On the other hand, type-D personality, unlike positive perfectionism, makes elders susceptible to physical illness and mental disorder

Coping styles among post MI patients with depressive symptoms

Although the adverse impacts of depressive symptoms after myocardial infarction [MI] on prognosis of heart disease are known, the link between coping strategies and post MI depressive symptoms remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between coping styles and post-Mi depressive symptoms. In a cross sectional study, one hundred patients admitted to the CCU following MI in a hospital in Isfahan, were selected using convenience sampling according to inclusive and exclusive criteria. Data were gathered using Jalowiec Coping questionnaire. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Norbeck Social Support questionnaire. The findings indicated that 31% of patients had depressive symptoms. The results of MANCOVA showed significant difference between two groups with and without depressive symptoms in coping styles [F-2.185, P=0.05]. Also, the results of covariance indicated significant differences in coping styles including optimistic coping style [F=3.754, P=0.05] and support-seeking coping style [F=5.66, P=0.019]. However, there was no significant difference in other coping styles between two groups. The low tendency to use optimistic approaches in dealing with life events is one of the equivalents to hopelessness in Attribution theory in explaining depression. Study of path analysis for three dimensions including coping style, cognitive style and depressive symptoms is recommended in a prospective study

Effect of add-on [self management and behavior modification] education on severity of COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] is a chronic and plenty disease and one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in the world with restrict available medical treatments. The objective of this study was to assess whether psycho-educational plans [self management and behavior modification] administered in primary care have beneficial effects on symptoms of patients with COPD. Material and The study was a prospective, unblinded, randomized controlled trial of usual care vs. usual care plus structured education on the use of 8 sessions of "self management and behavior modification" group education: a simple educational package on life style modification and assumption of special behaviors in different situations of disease. The study was conducted in two educational hospitals [Khorshid and Alzahra] in Isfahan, Iran. Participants were 42 patients with COPD randomized into control or intervention groups. The primary outcome measure was change in severity of COPD symptoms that measured with "Clinical COPD Questionnaire" [CCQ]. The data were analyzed with SPSS software and statistic examination called Ancova- Repeated measure and Mancova-Repeated measure. Self management and behavior modification education were associated with significant higher decrease in mean score of CCQ in symptom, functional state and mental state domains but had no effect on change in mean score of CCQ-Total. Mean score of CCQ in symptom, functional state and mental state domains was lower in the intervention group but there was no difference in mean score of CCQ-Total due to "self-management and behavior modification" plans

[Cephalometric indices of schizophrenic patients]

Background and Aim: The growing evidence of neurodevelopmental basis to schizophrenia has focused attention on the prenatal development of individuals who later develop the illness. Some previous studies carried out about cephalometry of schizophrenic adult patients showed different findings. This study aimed to compare cephalometric indices of schizophrenic patients with normal population

Method and Materials: In the current case-control study, we compared cephalometric indices of 195 schizophrenic patients with those of 198 normal comparison people who were matched for age, sex, height, weight and social status

Findings: The results demonstrated a significant difference between the two groups. The frequency of hyperbrachycephaly in schizophrenic group was significantly higher than in the control group [P < 0.05, X2 = 17.65], but this difference existed only between schizophrenic males and control males[P < 0.05, X2 = 14.42]

Conclusion: Hyperbrachycephaly typically results from early closure of coronal suture. In general, the findings attract the attention toward the role of biologic and genetic factors in etiology of schizophrenia