Iranian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Spring 2007

The present study compares the efficacy of two most commonly used biofeedback relaxation techniques in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 45 individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder were randomly assigned to three groups (n=15): Group I received electromyographic biofeedback relaxation training, Group II received alpha-electroencephalographic biofeedback relaxation training and Group III served as the control group. Both treatment groups resulted in more consistent pattern of generalized relaxation changes reflected in galvanic skin resistance, state and trait anxiety as compared to the control group. Significant changes were observed in galvanic skin resistance and trait anxiety in the electromyographic group as compared to the electroencephalographic group. At follow-up,maintenance of effects of treatment was observed in both treatment groups. Both Biofeedback trainings are efficacious in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Several studies show co morbidity of anxiety disorders amongst patients with bipolar and unipolar disorders. It is associated with an intensification of symptoms, insufficient treatment response, non recovery, poor functional outcome and suicidality. The aim of this study was to show the frequency of anxiety disorders comorbidity and the relationship between comorbidity and suicide attempt in these patients.In a descriptive study, 152 patients with bipolar and unipolar disorders in a psychiatric center were assessed with SCID. Current and lifetime comorbidity in bipolar and unipolar patients were analyzed.One hundred fifty two subjects aged 18-60 years were included in the study and102 bipolar I, 11 bipolar II, and 39 unipolar patients were diagnosed.Co morbidity in each group was 21.2%, 11.5%, and 43.5%. Suicide attempt in patients with bipolar disorders and anxiety disorders comorbidity was significantly more than patients with bipolar disorders without co morbidity.Significant proportions of patients with bipolar and unipolar disorder had co morbid anxiety disorders. Moreover, anxiety disorders comorbidity may be associated with more suicide attempt in bipolar patients,highlighting the need for greater clinical attention to anxiety in this population, particularly for enhanced clinical monitoring of suicidality. In addition, it is important to determine whether an effective treatment of anxiety symptoms can reduce suicidality.

There have been concerns about people with mental health problems experiencing harassment in the Iranian community. This study measures the prevalence and nature of harassment experienced by individuals with mental health problems and compares them with the general population. Face to face interviews were conducted by trained interviewers to ascertain experiences of harassment. Interviews were carried out with 112 individuals with mental health problems and with 104 individuals from the general population.Sixty-one per cent of people with mental health problems reported experiencing harassment, nearly ten times more frequently than those in the general population (7%). Among the people with mental health problems, being female, having higher levels of education, or being unemployed were significantly associated with experiencing harassment. The harassment commonly involved verbal abuse, often made reference to individuals'' mental health problems and was primarily committed by family members. A significantly higher prevalence of harassment was reported among individuals with mental health problems living in the community than in the general population sample. Mental health professionals should proactively ask their service users about their experiences at home, and educational interventions are recommended, particularly for families of those with mental health problems.

Social skills training (SST) aims to increase the ability to perform key social behaviors that are important in achieving success in social situations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of social skills intervention for aggressive pre-school children.The sample consisted of 25 children (13 for the experimental group, 12 for the control group). Children in intervention and Control groups were assessed by parent ratings, teacher ratings at-home and kindergarten. Assessments were made at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-month follow-ups. The assessment battery consisted of the social skills rating system-teacher form, teacher-rated aggression, and intelligence test. These skills were carried out in 11 sessions and on two stages and were taught twice a week.Significant results emerged with respect to aggression and social skill levels. With respect to parent ratings, aggressive behaviors decreased more so in the treatment group than the control group. In addition, social skills significantly increased between post-treatment and follow-ups in the treatment group compare to the control group. In other words, teacher ratings of social behavior showed improvement over time.The results of this study indicate that aggression would decrease in the treatment group largely over time than the control group. Several directions for future research are discussed, including the addition of more sessions to the curriculum, a parent-involvement component, and a contingency management program. It would also be helpful to evaluate SST in a larger number of pre-school centers and to extend follow-up assessments beyond three months periods.

Psychiatric distress and work related stress may have a profound effect on an individual''s well-being. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence rate of mental health problems and their distribution by age,educational level, marital status and years of employment in a chocolate manufacturing company in Iran. The General Health Questionnaire (a widely used screening instrument) which detects a wide range of psychological problems, mainly anxiety/depression spectrum, was used in this study.The study group consisted of 144 workers who were screened using the GHQ-28 in the Persian language version. Workers with a GHQ score of 6 or more were defined as having psychiatric distress. Multiple logistic regression was performed to assess the odds ratios (ORs) for mental health problems including age, years of employment, marital status and educational level of the GHQ.The prevalence of suspected mental health problems increased with age and years of employment (range 16.7%-41.2% and 15.2%-36.8%, respectively). The increased risks for mental health problems were observed for the range 11-20 (OR = 3.1; 95% CI 1.1-8.4) and >20 years employment (OR=3.7; 95%CI 1.2-11.3).The study results demonstrated a significant association between years of employment and suspected mental health problems.

Since1980, when Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was officially recognized as a unique diagnostic entity and was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III, a large body of research has been done in the assessment of this disorder. This study investigated the applicability of the Persian form of the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale Self Report (PSS-SR) in a group of Iranians who had been directly involved in a disaster in Iran (from May 4th 2002 to 20 April 2005). The participants were 109 individuals who had been directly involved in one of the three disasters which happened in Iran: A- 20 adolescents who survived the boat sinking or witnessed it in Tehran''s city park on May 4th 2002; B- 50 persons who survived the Bam earthquake; C- 39 persons who survived the accident in Tehran''s airport on April 20th 2005. The assessment measures used were the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale Self Report (PSS-SR) and psychiatric interview based on DSM-IV-TR. 90 participants (81%) were diagnosed with PTSD using the PSS-SR and 93 (83.8%) were diagnosed with PTSD by psychiatric interview. Correlation coefficients between the PSS-SR and the psychiatric interviews were significant (r=. 62, p<. 001). The PSS-SR appears to be an effective and efficient method of screening for PTSD.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of risperidone on fasting blood glucose (FBG) in patients with Schizophrenia. Seventy five non-diabetic patients with Schizophrenia (based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria) entered this cross-sectional study. Patients did not receive any medications (Including risperidone) affecting serum FBG levels for at least 2 weeks prior to the initiation of the study. Patients received the mean dose of 4.5mg (range 2-12mg) risperidone for 8 weeks. Pregnant women, patients with diabetes mellitus and a history of any major heart disease were excluded from this study.Additionally, none of the patients should have received electroconvulsive therapy within 6 months prior to the initiation of the antiphsychotics.FBG levels were measured at the initiation and 8 weeks after starting risperidone. Fifty one patients completed the study. The mean FBG level was increased from 88.9mg/dL (baseline) to 94.4 mg/dL at week 8 (P =0.003). This 8-week study showed that FBG levels may increase in schizophrenic patients receiving risperidone. Measuring and monitoring FBG before the initiation and during the treatment with risperidone is suggested.

Kleine-levin syndrome is characterized as a periodic hypersomnia crisis as well as dietary and variable significant psychic symptoms. This report describes the finding on an evaluation of a 15- year- old girl with KLS. She had amnesia to her episodes. All episodes were correlated with menstrual period.Polysomnographic finding of this patient was normal with 5 sleep cycles in sleep architecture and sleep efficiency of 99%. Decreasing in stage I, increasing of stage III and IV and decreasing in REM sleep was notable. Dextroamphetamin was given to the patient in order to decrease sleepiness.Kleine-levin syndrome should be considered in patients with periodic hypersomnia.