Concurrent and Discriminant Validity of the Farsi Translation of the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).

Objective: Early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can lead to earlier intervention and greater improvement of children's quality of life and performance; hence, the use of screening tools is essential to facilitate the diagnosis process. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical and differential validity of Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) in a group of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared to a normal developmental group. Method : The study was conducted in Roozbeh Hospital involving 52 children with ASD and 53 typically developing (TD) children, aged between 4-12 years. Their parents completed the SRS-2 and SCQ. These children were also interviewed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (CARS-2) and Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS). After completion, the results were analyzed using the SPSS Version 18 software and a significant level of 0.05. Results: The average age of children in the autism group was 7.5 ± 2.7 years, while in the typically developing (TD) children group, it was 7.7 ± 2.3 years (P = 0.656). A positive correlation coefficient was observed between the CARS questionnaire score, the SRS questionnaire score, the SCQ questionnaire score, and the ASDS (P < 0.01). In the SRS questionnaire, the area under the ROC curve was 0.976, and in the SCQ questionnaire it was 0.953, both of which had a good and significant diagnostic value (P < 0.001). A sensitivity of 0.942 and specificity of 0.811 for the cut-off point of 62.5 were obtained in the SRS questionnaire. Additionally, a sensitivity of 0.865 and specificity of 0.925 for the cut-off point of 15.5 were achieved in the SCQ questionnaire. Conclusion: The SRS-2 and the SCQ are sensitive and specific tools for identifying and discriminating children with autism spectrum disorder.

Effect of General Practitioner Training in a Collaborative Child Mental Health Care Program on Children's Mental Health Outcomes in a Low-Resource Setting: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Importance: Integrated care for children is rarely studied, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where generalists often provide mental health care. Objectives: To explore the effect of adding a child and youth component to an existing adult collaborative care program on mental health outcomes and receipt of care. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cluster randomized trial was conducted within an adult collaborative care program in Tehran, Iran. General practitioners (GPs), their 5- to 15-year-old patients, and patients' parents were included. Children and youths coming for routine medical visits who scored greater than the cutoff on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were followed up for 6 months. The study was conducted from May 2018 to October 2019, and analysis was conducted from March 2020 to August 2021. Interventions: GPs were randomized to either a 2.5-day training on managing common child mental health problems (intervention) or refresher training on identification and referral (control). Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcome was change in SDQ total problems score; secondary outcomes included discussion of psychosocial issues by the GPs and receipt of mental health care during the follow-up period. Results: Overall, 49 GPs cared for 389 children who scored greater than the cutoff on the SDQ (216 children in intervention group, 173 in control group). Patients' mean (SD) age was 8.9 (2.9) years (range, 5 to 15 years), and 182 (47%) were female patients. At 6 months, children in the intervention group had greater odds of receiving mental health care during the study (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1 to 7.7), parents were more likely to report that intervention GPs had discussed parent (OR, 2.1; 95% Cl, 1.1 to 3.8) and child (OR, 2.0; 95% Cl, 0.9 to 4.8) psychosocial issues, and intervention GPs were more likely to say they had provided counseling (OR, 1.8; 95% Cl, 1.02 to 3.3). However, there was no greater improvement in SDQ scores among children seen by intervention vs control GPs. Adjusted for clustering within GP, the variables used for balanced allocation (practice size, practice ownership, and study wave), and the other variables associated with change in SDQ scores over time, there was not a significant time-treatment interaction at either the 3- or 6-month follow-up points (linear combination of coefficients for intervention, 0.57 [95% CI, -1.07 to 2.22] and -0.08 [95%CI, -1.76 to 1.56], respectively). In a subgroup of GPs with practices composed of 50% or more children, children seen by intervention GPs improved to a significantly greater extent (-3.6 points; 95% CI, -6.7 to -0.46 points; effect size d = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.30 to 1.01) compared with those seen by control GPs. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cluster randomized trial, GP training on managing common child mental health problems did not demonstrate greater improvement in child SDQ scores. Child mental health training for GPs in collaborative care can improve children's access to mental health care, but prior experience working with children and their families may be required for GPs to use a brief training in a way that improves child outcomes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03144739.

ADHD in adults with major depressive or bipolar disorder: does it affect clinical features, comorbidity, quality of life, and global functioning?

BACKGROUND: This study compared clinical characteristics, concurrent disorders, level of function, and quality of life in adults with bipolar (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) in those with/without adult attention defici1t hyperactivity disorder (AADHD). METHODS: The participants were recruited among adult inpatients and outpatients with MDD or BD in their current partial remission in a psychiatric hospital. They were evaluated using the interview for adults with ADHD (DIVA-5), Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales-Self-Report-Screening Version (CAARS-SR-SV), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V (SCID-5), Beck Depression Inventory-II and Young Mania Rating Scale, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQoL-BREF). RESULTS: In those with MDD (n = 105) and BD (n = 103), AADHD was detected as 13.3% and 16.5%, respectively. The inattentive presentation was the most prevalent type among patients with AADHD. Compared to the patients without AADHD, the results regarding the prevalence of comorbidities, suicidal attempts, severity of affective episodes, the early emergence of the affective disorders, and level of quality of life and global functioning were poorer in the group with AADHD (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS: The participants were individuals with major depressive or bipolar type I disorder with a mostly manic episode, chosen among the referrals to a tertiary psychiatric hospital with high comorbidity and more severe psychopathology. This may limit the generalizability of the findings. CONCLUSION: ADHD was common in adults with MDD and BD, along with high psychiatric comorbidity and negative consequences. Clinicians are suggested to screen adults with mood disorders for the symptoms of ADHD for a more precise and comprehensive diagnosis and to provide a more appropriate therapeutic intervention.

Children and adolescents' mental health in Iran's primary care: Perspectives of general practitioners, school staff and help seekers.

BACKGROUND: Iran has well-established networks for primary care staffed by general practitioners who provide services to patients across the lifespan. Iran recently established collaborative care networks to build general practitioners' capacity to provide adult mental health services. In an NIH-funded study, we are designing and evaluating a training program for general practitioners (GPs) to extend this collaboration to include services for children and adolescents. In the formative phase of this project, we conducted a qualitative study to obtain information relevant to the design of the training program. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 28 stakeholders; including 15 GPs working in a collaborative care network, 6 parents and 4 adolescents who had received child mental health care from a GP, and 3 policymakers. We also held a focus group discussion with 8 school teachers and counselors. All interviews were transcribed during the interviews' sessions and then were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: GPs reported seeing a range of child emotional and behavioral problems but felt the need for additional training in diagnosis and management, especially in skills for interviewing and communicating with children. GPs also expressed the need to understand legal issues involved in treating children, including cases of possible child abuse. School staff agreed that GPs could help with children's educational and emotional problems but also believed GPs would need extra training. Parents indicated a preference for GPs over psychiatrists (as did adolescents) as a source of mental health care, and for psychological over pharmacological interventions. Adolescents expressed a preference not to speak about private issues in the presence of their parents, and expressed concern that the GPs did not respect their preference. They also desired a more active role during visits. CONCLUSIONS: Before expanding the scope of practice of Iranian GPs to provide management of common emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents, the concerns and specific needs of these practitioners need to be addressed. Parents and youth in the study expressed a preference for mental health care from a GP rather than a specialist. However, they also commented on the need for restructuring the current GP visits to facilitate youth participation. These findings provide directions for expanding the scope of practice of adult collaborative care networks to meet the mental health care needs of children and adolescents more expeditiously and effectively.

Alteration of TRIM33 Expression at Transcriptional and Translational Levels is Correlated with Autism Symptoms.

As a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, autism affects children in three major cognitive domains including social interactions, language learning and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. Abnormal regulation of cell proliferation in the brain during the embryonic period via the TGF-ß signaling pathway and TRIM33 gene that encodes a protein with a corepressor and regulatory role in this pathway has been considered as an etiology for autism. Here, we investigated the association of a variation of TRIM33 with autism symptoms at levels of mRNA and protein expression. We used Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) as behavioral diagnostic tools. Normal and autistic children were genotyped for a TRIM33 polymorphism (rs11102807), and then expression was assessed at transcriptional and translational levels. Results demonstrated that the frequency of the homozygous A allele (AA genotype of rs11102807) was significantly higher in children with autism (P < 0.001), whereas carriers of the G allele were mostly among healthy individuals. Children homozygous for the rs11102807 A allele were associated with an increase in CARS and ADI-R scores, indicating a significant correlation with autism symptoms. TRIM33 gene expression at both mRNA (P < 0.01) and protein (P < 0.001) levels was significantly higher in controls compared to autistic children. A remarkable association between higher TRIM33 gene expression at the transcriptional level and lower scores for both CARS and ADI-R was observed in non-autistic children. It seems that rs11102807 modulates the function and expression of the TRIM33 gene, implying that the A allele may increase the risk of autism in children by reducing gene expression and altering the TGF-ß signaling pathway.

Reliability, Criterion and Concurrent Validity of the Farsi Translation of DIVA-5: A Semi-Structured Diagnostic Interview for Adults With ADHD.

Objectives: This study evaluated the psychometrics of the Farsi translation of diagnostic interview for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults (DIVA-5) based on DSM-5 criteria. Methods: Referrals to a psychiatric outpatient clinic (N = 120, 61.7% males, mean age 34.35 ± 9.84 years) presenting for an adult ADHD (AADHD) diagnosis, were evaluated using the structured clinical interviews for DSM-5 (SCID-5 & SCID-5-PD) and the DIVA-5. The participants completed Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale-Self Report-Screening Version (CAARS-S-SV). Results: According to the SCID-5 and DIVA-5 diagnoses, 55% and 38% of the participants had ADHD, respectively. Diagnostic agreement was 81.66% between DIVA-5/SCID-5 diagnoses, 80% between SCID-5/CAARS-S-SV, and 71.66% between DIVA-5/CAARS-S-SV. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability results for the DIVA-5 were good to excellent. Conclusion: Findings support the validity and reliability of the Farsi translation of DIVA-5 among the Farsi-speaking adult outpatient population.

Normative Data and Reliability of the Moving Shapes Paradigm.

Objective: Moving Shapes paradigm is a test that evaluates intentionality as a theory of mind (ToM) component. This study aimed to assess the normative data and reliability of this test in a community sample of 9-11-year-old children. Method : A total of 398 children aged between 9 and 11 years were recruited from mainstream elementary schools through a random cluster sampling. All participants were evaluated using the Moving Shapes paradigm. To evaluate test-retest reliability, the test was administered again after 2-4 weeks. Results: The intentionality mean score was 29.70 (+5.88) out of 60. There was no significant difference between girls and boys in test scores. Age was not significantly related to the paradigm variables scores. Ten percent of the participants achieved the scores below 22, and 10% above 37. Cronbach's Alfa was 0.40 for the intentionality score. The test-retest reliability was fair to good (0.43 - 0.79) for different groups of animations. The inter-rater agreement was 80%. Conclusion: The study found that the Moving shapes paradigm is a reliable instrument to evaluate intentionality in normal school-aged children.

The Reliability of the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 in an Iranian Typically Developing Group of Children.

Objective: The Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) is a well-known screening instrument to assess autistic spectrum symptoms quantitatively. This study assessed the different types of reliability of the Farsi translation of the scale. Method : This scale was translated into Farsi and back translated considering all aspects of methodology in translation. Then, based on stratified sampling, 533 7-11-year-old students were randomly selected from the mainstream schools located in the central parts of Tehran, the capital of Iran. For all the students, SRS-2 was completed by both the parents and teachers. To check retest reliability, the test was administered again for 15% of the total participants after a 2-4 week-period. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, split-half" and Gottman" methods, and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used. Results: The mean total raw score was 48.47 (±23.63) and 53.17 (±27.33) in the sequence of the parents and teachers' reports. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha; 0.86 and 0.89), test-retest reliability (ICC; 0.72 and 0.83 for parents and teacher' ratings, respectively), and interrater reliability (ICC; 0.72) showed well-accepted measurement performance. Conclusion: The findings indicated that the Farsi SRS-2 can be used as a reliable instrument to measure social responsiveness as autistic symptoms in Iranian child population.

A study on sexual functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

PURPOSE: Sexual dysfunction has been ignored in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (A-ADHD). This study examined sexual function in adults with ADHD compared to a healthy control group. DESIGN AND METHODS: The experimental group (N = 63, mean age = 31.11 ± 4.29, females = 31) were recruited among referrals with ADHD to an outpatient A-ADHD clinic. The DIVA-2 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults) and the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia (SADS) were used to assess for A-ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders, respectively. The healthy groups (N = 66, mean age = 31.37 ± 4.30, females = 31) were demographically matched and had no psychiatric disorders based on the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales-Self Report, Short Version and SADS. Sexual functions were evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for females and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for males. FINDINGS: Females with ADHD compared to the control group showed significantly (P < .001) poorer scores in all FSFI domains (desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, pain, and lubrication). The IIEF mean scores in the males with A-ADHD were lower (P = .00) than their counterparts for all the subscales including orgasm, erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction, except for the desire (P = .75). The orgasmic function had a significant negative correlation with Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale-Self Report: Short total scores in males (r = -.48) and females (r = -.40). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study provides preliminary information on greater difficulties with sexual function in adults with ADHD. Assessment of sexual function in referrals with A-ADHD is suggested.

Cross-Cultural Validation and Normative Data of the Social Responsiveness Scale in a Group of Iranian General Child Population.

This study aimed to assess the validity and normative statistics of the Farsi version of the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2). Among the mainstream elementary schools, 191 boys and 342 girls with a mean age of 9.46 (+ 1.72) years were recruited. Teachers and parents completed the SRS-2. The parents also answered the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS). There were not any significant differences regarding the parents' and teachers' ratings of the SRS mean scores in terms of gender, academic level, and age. The SRS was significantly correlated with the SCQ (0.438) and VABS (- 0.142) mean scores. The study supported the validity of the SRS as a screening instrument for social communication problems in Farsi-speaking school-aged children.

Collaborative care for child and youth mental health problems in a middle-income country: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial training general practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Child and youth mental health problems are leading causes of disability and particular problems in low- and middle-income countries where populations are young and child mental health services are in short supply. Collaborative care models that support primary care providers' efforts to detect and treat child mental health problems offer one way to address this need. However, collaborative care for child mental health can be more complex than collaboration for adults for a number of reasons, including two-generational aspects of care, high degrees of co-morbidity, and variations in presentation across developmental stages. METHODS: The study takes advantage of an existing collaborative care network in Tehran, Iran, in which general practitioners are supported by community mental health centers to care for adult mental health problems. At present, those practitioners are asked to refer children with mental health problems to the collaborating centers rather than treating them themselves. We are conducting a cluster randomized trial in which practitioners in the network will be randomized to receive training in child/youth mental health treatment or a booster training on recognition and referral. Children/youth aged 5-15 years making visits to the practitioners will be screened using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; those found positive will be followed for six months to compare outcomes between those treated by trained or control practitioners. DISCUSSION: If the trial demonstrates superior outcomes among children treated by trained practitioners, it will support the feasibility of expanding collaborative care networks to include children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03144739 . Registered on 8 May 2017.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults Using Methamphetamine: Does It Affect Comorbidity, Quality of Life, and Global Functioning?

Objective: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in adulthood, and it is associated with different high- risk behaviors, particularly substance use. Evidence suggests a high prevalence of ADHD in adults who take methamphetamine (METH). This study aimed at comparing functional level, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in METH users with and without adult ADHD (A-ADHD). Method: In this cross-sectional study, 134 patients who had a history of METH use (at least once in lifetime) were selected from among inpatient and outpatient referrals to a psychiatric hospital. DIVA was performed for those who were positive on the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales-Self-Report-Screening Version (CAARS-SR-SV). The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQoL-BREF) were used to assess the participants' level of functioning and quality of life, respectively. Psychiatric comorbidities including substance use disorders were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-Axis I (SCID-I). Results: Among the METH users, 10.4% were diagnosed as having A-ADHD. A-ADHD was more prevalent among female METH users than males. The hyperactive-impulsive and combined types were more common than the inattentive type. Opiates and cannabis were the most commonly abused drugs by the 2 groups, while sedative-hypnotic use was significantly higher in the individuals with A-ADHD. Substance-induced mood disorder was the most prevalent comorbidity in the 2 groups and was higher in those with A-ADHD. quality of life and the GAF scores were significantly lower in those with A-ADHD and duration of METH use was higher Compared to the METH users without A-ADHD, (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study provided some preliminary findings supporting the prevalence of Adult ADHD among METH users and its negative impacts on their global functioning and quality of life. To provide more effective intervention for METH users, detection and treatment of those with A-ADHD can be of clinical value.

Parent-only Group Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Children with Anxiety Disorders: A Control Group Study.

OBJECTIVE: Parents play an important role in development and continuation of anxiety disorders in children. Yet the evidence on parent contribution in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for childhood anxiety is limited. This open randomized trial examined the effectiveness of a parent-directed group CBT to manage children with anxiety disorders. METHOD: Parents of 42 children aged 6-12 with primary anxiety disorders were allocated to a six, two-hour weekly intervention and a wait-list (WL) control. The Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety, Children's Depression Inventory, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Home Version, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, Children Global Assessment Scale, and Global Relational Assessment of Functioning were used to assess children's and parents' functioning and emotional symptoms. Parents completed consumer satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: Parents in the CBT group reported significant improvement in their depressive symptoms (p=0.006) and the family functioning (p=0.04), as well as reduction in children's emotional symptoms (p=0.007). Clinician rating of children's functioning showed significant improvement in the CBT group(p=0.001). There was no significant difference in children rating of their anxiety within groups from pre- to post-intervention. Parents were satisfied mostly with the intervention. CONCLUSION: A brief parent-only CBT based intervention can be effective in the management of childhood anxiety.

OBJECTIF: Les parents jouent un rôle important dans le développement et la continuité des troubles anxieux chez les enfants. Et pourtant, les données probantes sur la contribution des parents à la thérapie cognitivo-comportementale (TCC) pour l'anxiété chez les enfants sont limitées. Cet essai randomisé ouvert a examiné l'efficacité d'un groupe de TCC dirigé par des parents pour prendre en charge des enfants souffrant de troubles anxieux. MÉTHODE: Les parents de 42 enfants de 6 à 12 ans souffrant de troubles anxieux primaires ont été affectés à 6 interventions hebdomadaires de 2 heures et à un groupe témoin en liste d'attente (LA). L'échelle révisée de l'anxiété manifeste des enfants, l'inventaire de dépression des enfants, la version maison du questionnaire des forces et difficultés, l'échelle de dépression-anxiété-stress, l'échelle d'évaluation globale des enfants, et l'évaluation relationnelle globale du fonctionnement ont servi à évaluer le fonctionnement et les symptômes émotionnels des enfants et des parents. Les parents ont répondu à un questionnaire sur la satisfaction du consommateur. RÉSULTATS: Les parents du groupe de TCC ont déclaré une amélioration significative de leurs symptômes dépressifs (p = 0,006) et du fonctionnement familial (p = 0,04), ainsi qu'une réduction des symptômes émotionnels des enfants (p = 0,007). L'évaluation du clinicien du fonctionnement des enfants a indiqué une amélioration significative dans le groupe de TCC (p = 0,001). Il n'y avait pas de différence significative de l'évaluation de l'anxiété des enfants au sein des groupes d'avant-après l'intervention. Les parents étaient plutôt satisfaits de l'intervention. CONCLUSION: Une brève intervention réservée aux parents basée sur la TCC peut être efficace pour la prise en charge de l'anxiété chez les enfants.

Normative data and psychometric properties of a farsi translation of the strange stories test.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Strange Stories test is one of the most commonly used tests to evaluate advanced "theory of mind," i.e. attribution of mental states. Normative data and psychometric properties of a new Farsi translation of this test were evaluated in a large community-based sample of Iranian school-aged children. METHODS: Through randomized cluster sampling, 398 children aged 9-11 years studying at 20 elementary schools were recruited from 4 central regions of Tehran, Iran. The mean age of the students was 9.96 years (SD = 0.92), and 51% were girls (n = 202). The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was completed by parents. The Strange Stories test was completed by all children and repeated for 20% of them after 2-4 weeks to assess the test-retest reliability. FINDINGS: Students in upper grades had higher scores (P < .01); age predicted 2% of variance on the mental state score. Girls had significantly higher mentalizing scores than boys (P = .003). The split-half internal reliability coefficient was good (0.73). The test-retest reliability was fair to good. Item-scale score correlations were all significant (P < .01). CONCLUSION: This new translation of the Strange Stories test is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate higher level theory of mind abilities in community samples of Farsi speaking children. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1960-1967. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: "Mentalizing" or "theory of mind," the ability to recognize others' mental states, is a key aspect of social understanding. Mentalizing problems are characteristic of some clinical conditions such as autism. The Strange Stories is a test evaluating mentalizing in every day social situations. It was translated into Farsi language and administered to a group of Iranian school-aged children. The instrument was useful in assessing children's mind reading. Older children and girls were better in mentalizing ability.

Is Emotion Recognition Related to Core Symptoms of Childhood ADHD?

OBJECTIVE: Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have some problems in social relationships which may be related to their deficit in recognizing emotional expressions. It is not clear if the deficit in emotion recognition is secondary to core symptoms of ADHD or can be considered as an independent symptom. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of detecting emotional faces and its relation to inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity in children with ADHD compared to a typically developing (TD) group. METHODS: Twenty-eight boys diagnosed as having ADHD, aged from seven to 12 years old were compared to 27 TD boys using a computerized Facial Emotion Recognition Task (FERT). Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) and Continuous Performance Test II (CPT II) were also administered to assess the severity of inattention and impulsivity. RESULTS: The percentages of angry, happy and sad faces detected by children with ADHD were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the control group. The time spent in recognizing happy faces was higher in the ADHD group (p=0.04). The sequential regression analyses showed a significant association between angry and sad targets recognition and inattention (P<0.05), as well as between oppositionality and angry faces detection (P<0.05) when hyperactivity-impulsivity was added to the model. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that children with ADHD suffer from some impairments in recognizing angry, happy and sad faces. This deficit may be related to inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.

OBJECTIF: Les enfants souffrant du trouble de déficit de l'attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH) ont des problèmes de relations sociales qui peuvent être liés à leur déficit de reconnaître les expressions émotionnelles. Il n'est pas déterminé si le déficit de reconnaissance des émotions est secondaire aux symptômes de base du TDAH ou s'il peut être considéré comme étant un symptôme indépendant. Cette étude visait à évaluer la capacité de détecter les expressions émotionnelles faciales et sa relation à l'inattention et à l'hyperactivité-impulsivité chez les enfants souffrant du TDAH comparativement à un groupe au développement typique (DT). MÉTHODES: Vingt-huit garçons de 7 à 12 ans ayant reçu un diagnostic de TDAH ont été comparés avec 27 garçons au DT à l'aide du test informatisé de reconnaissance des émotions faciales (FERT). L'échelle d'évaluation des parents (CPRS) et le test de performance continu II (CPT II) de Conners ont aussi été administrés pour évaluer la gravité de l'inattention et l'impulsivité. RÉSULTATS: Les pourcentages de visages fâchés, heureux et tristes détectés par les enfants souffrant du TDAH étaient significativement plus faibles (p < 0,05) que ceux du groupe témoin. Le temps passé à reconnaître les visages heureux était plus élevé dans le groupe du TDAH (p = 0,04). Les analyses de régression séquentielle indiquaient une association significative entre la reconnaissance des visages fâchés et tristes et l'inattention (P < 0,05), ainsi qu'entre l'oppositionnalité et la détection des visages fâchés (P < 0,05) quand l'hyperactivité-impulsivité était ajoutée au modèle. CONCLUSION: Il est possible de conclure que les enfants souffrant du TDAH présentent un déficit de reconnaissance des visages fâchés, heureux et tristes. Ce déficit peut être lié à l'inattention et à l'hyperactivité-impulsivité.

Theory of Mind in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder in Euthymic Phase: Using the Strange Stories Test.

Objective: This study evaluated the theory of mind (ToM) in adolescents diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) during their euthymic period compared to a typically developing (TD) group. Method: The BD group consisted of thirty 11-18 year old inpatients in euthymic phase. The TD group included 30 age, gender, and IQ matched volunteer students. To assess the diagnosis and comorbid disorders, we performed the semi-structured interview of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) for the BD adolescents. To evaluate the severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mania, Conner's Parent Rating Scale-Revised version (CPRS-R), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were used, respectively. Ravens Progressive Matrices was conducted to evaluate intellectual ability in the both groups. Happe Strange Stories test was performed to assess ToM in the participants. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of covariance, and Pearson Correlation analysis. Results: The two groups did not show any differences in comprehending the stories; however, the BD group's mentalizing scores were significantly weaker than the TD group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The ToM impairments in adolescents with BD may be explained as a trait marker which may lead to continuation of social problems even during remission . .

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care in Iran: Current Status and Future Directions.

BACKGROUND: The need for mental health care among children and adolescents in Iran, as in other low and middle income countries (LAMIC) remains mostly unmet. In this paper, we sought to provide an overview of the extent of unmet need and mental health services in Iran. We also aimed to propose approaches to address this gap. METHOD: We reviewed the published epidemiologic studies of child and adolescent mental and behavioral health problems in Iran. We also examined the current status of child mental health services and the gaps between current needs and available services based on published literature that included papers published in scientific journals, as well as governmental and other administrative reports. The contextual issues relevant to child mental health care were also explored, as well as the possibilities to introduce new or scale up promising services. RESULTS: Child and adolescent mental and behavioral health problems are highly prevalent in Iran. Different studies have estimated that 16.7% to 36.4% of children and adolescents suffer from one or more mental health problems. However, there is a serious scarcity of resources to meet this need. Available services are delivered by independent public organizations (e.g., Ministry of Health, Welfare Organization, and Ministry of Education) or private sector with inefficient communication and collaboration among them and no mandatory national mental health policy. Available specialized child and adolescent services are mostly confined to small inpatient units and university outpatient facilities in larger cities, and there is a scarce evidence for  the effectiveness of the available services. CONCLUSIONS: Expansion of primary care's role in timely detection and management of child and adolescent mental health problems, implementation of task-shifting and -sharing initiatives, as well as improved collaboration among responsible governmental and non-governmental sectors are some of the most promising future venues to improve mental health care for the Iranian youth.

Concurrent Validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder in which impairment of executive functions plays an important role. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to assess the validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) in children with ADHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty children, aged 7-12 years, attending the child and adolescent clinic of Roozbeh hospital and diagnosed with ADHD according to interview with a child and adolescent psychiatrist, formed our ADHD group. In contrast, thirty participants of the control group were selected from 7 to 12 year-old students according to Conners' Teacher/Parent Rating Scale and did not have ADHD. The kiddie schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia-present and lifetime version-Persian version was also completed for all children to rule out other psychiatric disorders. After oral consent, parents of 60 children (ADHD = 30, control = 30), completed three questionnaires of ADHD-Rating Scale-IV, Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Version and BRIEF. RESULTS: Children in ADHD group got higher scores than those in the control group in all subscales and indices of BRIEF (P < 0.001). There were also good correlations between subscales and indices of BRIEF and the two other rating scales (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: BRIEF could be used as a valid tool to assess behavioral aspects of executive functions, especially to discriminate children with ADHD and normal ones.

Facial emotion recognition in adolescents with bipolar disorder.

OBJECT: Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with abnormalities in emotional competence. One of the main aspects of this competency is emotion recognition which is presented in the face. This study aimed to evaluate facial emotion recognition in adolescents with bipolar disorder when they are free of acute symptoms. METHOD: Thirty patients diagnosed with BD aged 12 to 18 were selected from a large sample of consecutive admitted adolescents in Roozbeh hospital. They were compared with 30 matched normal developing adolescents who were recruited from mainstream schools at Tehran. All participants were evaluated using a facial emotion recognition task. The participants needed to recognize happy, sad, angry and neutral facial expressions The ANOVA was used to analyze the differences between the two groups in terms of emotion recognition variables. RESULTS: The patients with BD showed a significant deficit in recognizing emotions in general (p=.01) which was prominent in the angry faces. Their response time to recognize the facial expressions was longer compared to the normal individuals. This difference was significant in recognizing the happy and neutral faces (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests an inaccurate recognition of facial expressions in adolescents with BD, particularly for anger, as well as slowness in detecting emotions especially happiness.

Visual memory of meaningless shapes in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Visual memory is an important cognitive ability, which has been studied in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). In such studies meaningful shapes were used more frequently. Since meaningless shapes provide a better assessment of short term visual memory, in this study we used them to evaluate visual memory in children and adolescents with ASDs compared to the normal group. METHODS: Four visual memory tests of Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) including Paired Associates Learning (PAL), Pattern Recognition Memory (PRM), Spatial Recognition Memory (SRM) and Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS) were administered to 15 children and adolescents with ASDs (high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome) and to 15 normal participants aged 8 to 17,with IQ of above 70. RESULTS: Individuals with ASDs performed worse than the normal group on visual memory tasks. After eliminating IQ as a covariate, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of visual memory performance. CONCLUSION: It seems that deficits on visual memory tasks in youths with ASDs could be related to their general intellectual abilities.