arash mohagheghi

The causes of schizophrenia spectrum disorders are believed to be multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental factors, as well as gene-environment interactions, influencing the course of this disorder. Research suggests that immunological factors may play a role in the development of psychotic disorders.

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12), as well as the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-12 genes, between an Iranian Azeri population of patients with first-episode psychosis and healthy controls.

Forty patients who had recently experienced first-episode non-affective psychosis were allocated to the patient group. Forty healthy volunteers, matched for age and gender, were also recruited as controls. The study was conducted in 2020 in Tabriz, Iran. Peripheral blood samples were collected (using the Ficoll-Paque process) and assessed to determine the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-12 mRNA (using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction-PCR- system), as well as the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-12 (with a sandwich ELISA kit). GraphPad Prism Version 6.0 was used for all statistical analyses.

Each group consisted of 40 participants in this study. Patients had significantly higher levels of IL-6 mRNA expression compared to the healthy controls (P < 0.0001), while no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of IL12 mRNA expression (P = 0.5697). A similar pattern was reported for the serum levels of IL-6 (P < 0.0001) and IL-12 (P = 0.0777). The area under the curve (AUC), which indicates the accuracy of the predictive model, was 0.9669 for the level of IL-6 mRNA expression (P < 0.0001). This Area (AUC) was 0.9584 for the serum concentration of IL-6 (P < 0.0001). The levels of IL-6 or IL-12 were not correlated with the severity of symptoms, gender, or age of the patients.

The expression level of IL-6 mRNA and the serum concentration of IL-6 were altered in patients with first-episode non-affective psychosis. This finding supports the role of inflammatory pathways in the pathogenesis of psychosis. According to our results, measurement of the circulating level of IL-6 may be useful in distinguishing patients with first-episode psychosis from healthy individuals.

The extrapyramidal system is part of the central nervous system (CNS) involved in motor control. Extrapyramidal symptoms include a variety of acute and chronic movement disorders caused by medications. Currently, antipsychotic medications are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and can cause extrapyramidal symptoms. The St. Hans Rating Scale (SHRS) is a multidimensional scale designed to quantify the severity of dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia, and dyskinesia caused by antipsychotic drugs. This scale has not yet been translated into Persian so far. Considering the importance of assessing the quality of life in patients with severe or chronic psychiatric disorders, this study aimed to translate the SHRS into Persian and evaluate its validity and reliability. Also, we presented the software version of the SHRS.

This descriptive-analytical (methodological) study was performed on patients with psychiatric disorders treated with antipsychotic medications. After translating the SHRS into Persian, the validity and reliability of the Persian version was evaluated and the necessary corrections were made. Then, the Persian version was back-translated into English, followed by re-translation into Persian. A total of 30 patients were examined for extrapyramidal symptoms using the prepared version. The expert group concluded that there is no need to translate SHRS.

Regarding face validity, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.99 and reliability was 0.99. The mean scores by the first psychiatrist were 2.03 in the first visit and 2.1 in the second visit. These scores were 2 in the first visit and 2.03 in the second visit by the second psychiatrist.

The software version of SHRS has good reliability and validity and can be used to evaluate the extrapyramidal symptoms of patients. Practical Implications. English version of the SHRS and its application for cellphone can be used to assess extrapyramidal symptoms.

Employee job satisfaction is one of the most important issues in any organization. Job satisfaction is described as general attitude of a person towards his job. Job satisfaction of medical assistants increases and promotes the quality of medical services and improves patients' satisfaction with medical services. The aim of this study was to determine the level of job satisfaction and hopelessness of medical assistants in educational centers of Tabriz. In this descriptive-analytical study, medical assistants of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were selected and assessed using the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) for Job Satisfaction and Beck Hopelessness Scale. Hopelessness decreases with increasing job satisfaction (P<0.001). There was a significant relationship between hopelessness and domesticity (P=0.017) and between job satisfaction and the level of hopelessness with the marital status of assistants (P<0.001) and (P=0.043).

To date, of essential goals in psychiatry and establishment of future medical centers is creating therapeutic environments with the aim of improving clinical outcomes, preventing the progression of personality difficulties to serious psychiatric disorders, increasing self-satisfaction in society, facilitating personal growth and actualization, as well as reducing high medical costs. In this regard, the Personality Modulation Clinic in 2016 in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences was established, with the aim of providing appropriate mental health services for clients who do not fulfill criteria for a specific mental disorder, in the traditional classifications; nevertheless, desiring to eliminate inner obstacles towards mental growth, self-actualization, spirituality and the proper well-being they lack. The services in this clinic provide clients with support in order to seek innovative growth opportunities within themselves, by removing inner obstacles towards personality development. These obstacles are roughly equivalent to the diagnosis of “personality difficulty” in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Moreover, the therapeutic foundation of this clinic is an emerging medical paradigm known as Cosmetic Psychiatry. At the beginning of any new scientific establishment, as usually happens, and was true for this clinic as well, the bond of philosophical concepts are unveiled, and this is the irreversible and undeniable link between science and philosophy. Thereby, important questions appeared, which were approached philosophically.

Mental health status of the parents and children are associated.

The aim of the present study was to compare the psychopathology of parents of children with epilepsy with healthy children in an Iranian sample.

A total of 288 parents of children with epilepsy attending the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Northwest of Iran, were matched with 154 parents of normal children and evaluated using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III.

Parents of children with epilepsy scored higher in all subscales, except for dependent personality pattern. Mothers of children with epilepsy scored higher in all clinical syndrome scales. The same pattern was observed for fathers of the children with epilepsy.

A high rate of psychiatric disorders was observed in Iranian parents of children with epilepsy. This pattern was not limited to mothers but was applicable to fathers, as well.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of group counseling based on self-knowledge sources in increasing assertiveness of male addicts in rehabilitation program.

This was an experimental study and the statistical population included individuals being rehabilitated in the center of dependence to drugs in Razi Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Thirty individuals were selected through targeted sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups. Random assignment was used to control the disturbing variables. Ten group counseling sessions were conducted based on the theory of self-recognition sources for the experimental group and after the end of the study, the control group was also intervened to observe ethical considerations.

To analyze the results at the descriptive level, the mean and standard deviation (SD) and at the level of inferential statistics, the t-test (t-difference) were used to compare the scores of self-expression of the experimental and control groups. The analysis of the results showed that group counseling in the way of self-recognition sources was significant and effective in the increasing of self-expression in patients addicted to the drugs being rehabilitated at the level of P < 0.01.

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that group counseling education in the way of self-recognition sources increases the self-expression in addicts.

Sleep-related problems remain largely an unidentified public health issue, especially among university students. The aim of this study was to appraise sleep quality among students at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Also it was to compare the sleep quality index and subscales sleep quality with the different level of academic performance of students. This descriptive study was done through causal –cluster comparative method. The research population was all students from different fields of medical sciences from 2007 to 2010; they were studying at Bachelor degree and professional doctorate level and at second semester in 2010-2011.. Accordingly, 168 students were selected through Randomized Stratified Sampling method. Data collection tools included (PSQI) and demographic questionnaires; afterwards, data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and ANOVAs methods. Prevalence of poor sleep quality was calculated %57/1 in comparison to normal sleep quality (%42/9). Student's average scores were 6/15 (PSQI), and it was more than normal range. In addition, there was a significant difference between sleep quality index and subscale “sleep efficacy"; while there was not observed any difference between “sleep latency and sleep duration”. The results showed the majority of students at Tabriz University of medical sciences were at poor sleep quality and there also observed a considerable relationship between sleep quality index and students’ academic performance. The present investigation provided an applicable suggestion that the importance of sleep quality and quantity effectiveness on education should be considered and mainly be taught as well as life skills (as a component of life styles) to students.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders which affects married couples frequently.The present study aims to explain the role of family processes, social support and demographic factors in marital satisfaction of women with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In this cross-sectional study, 188 women with MDD were randomly selected among the patients who visited Bozorgmehr Clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The sample selection was carried out through structured psychiatric interviews based on DSM-TV-TR criteria. Data were collected using Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS), Family Process Scale (FPS) and Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ).The Mann Whitney U, Multivariate and ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. No relationship was observed between age, educational level, age difference of couples and number of children with family processes and marital satisfaction (p≥0.05). The patients with low educational level reported less social support (p≥0.05).Marital satisfaction and family coherence were lower when the husband had a psychiatric disorder (P≤0.01). The family processes (family coherence, problem-solving skills, communication skills and religious beliefs) and social support positively predicted marital satisfaction, while the husband''s psychiatric disorders negatively predicted marital satisfaction. The findings highlight the significance of family processes, social support and husband''s psychiatric disorders in marital satisfaction of women with MDD.