Iranian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume:1 Issue: 4, Autumn 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validityof the Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 in a sample of opioidsubstance use disordered patients.321 substance dependent patients (287 male, 34 female)participated in this study. All of the participants were asked to complete theFarsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (FTAS-20), the EmotionalIntelligence Scale (EIS-41), and The Mental Health Inventory (MHI). In orderto examine the internal consistency of the FTAS-20, Cronbach''s alphacoefficients were calculated for the entire sample. Pearson''s correlationcoefficient was used to estimate the test-retest reliability of the alexithymiadimensions. To examine the concurrent validity of the FTAS-20, a series ofzero-order correlations were conducted between the FTAS-20 subscales,emotional intelligence and mental health variables. Confirmatory FactorAnalysis (CFA) was utilized to test the three-factor structure of the FTAS-20. The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity,and the three-factor structure of the Farsi version of the TAS-20 forsubstance users were supported by findings. The factors found in the Farsi version of the TAS-20, aresimilar to the three factors found in a study conducted by Bagby, Parker andTaylor; the factors were accordingly labeled as Difficulty Identifying Feelings(DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) and Externally-Oriented Thinking(EOT). The results provide evidence for applicability of the TAS-20 and itscross-cultural validity.

Objectivet:To determine the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression among women living in Zabol, a city in South-East of Iran. 2 to 8 weeks after delivery, 408 women were assessed for depression and some of its risk factors. The prevalence of postpartum depression was (40.4 %). Risk factors for the onset of post-partum depression included younger age, low incomefamilies, unemployment, history of depression, lack of family support, formulafeeding, relationship difficulties with spouse, parents or parents-in-law. Type ofdelivery, number of pregnancy, number of delivery, satisfaction with sex of thebaby, and number of children, were not associated with occurrence of PPD.Depression occurs frequently after childbirth. The findings have implications for policies concerning maternal and childcare programs.

Considering reports on the comorbidities of some psychiatricdisorders with epilepsy and in view of some variability in results and lack ofneeded data in the Iranian population, this study aimed at a further systematicevaluation of various major psychiatric disorders in epileptic patients andcompared the results with a control group. In this study, to assess mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders inpatients with epilepsy, 60 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and 60 controlindividuals matched on age and sex were selected. The case group wasconveniently selected from the patients referring to the Iranian EpilepsyAssociation and the clinic of neurology in Rasoul Akram Hospital, Tehran. Acontrol group whose age and gender were matched with the case group was alsoselected. Both groups underwent the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID-I). Each group included 30 males and 30 females. The mean age was31.0±8.97 in patients and 31.2±8.21 in controls. The lifetime prevalence of majorpsychiatric disorders including mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders, was68.3% in individuals with epilepsy and 36.7% in controls (OR=0.28, 95%CI=0.12-0.57, p<0.05). Among mood disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD)(OR=2.57, 95%CI=1.1 to 5.9, p<0.05) and depressive disorder not otherwisespecified (NOS) (p<0.05) prevailed significantly more in patients. Among anxietydisorders, only the frequency of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) wasstatistically significant (OR=5.2, 95%CI=1.4 to 19, p<0.01). MDD is the most prevalent comorbidity while OCD and depressivedisorder NOS are in the second and third ranks. Therefore, in addition to themain psychiatric disorders, clinicians should pay enough attention to thesignificance of depressive disorder NOS. Further studies on community basedsamples, may result in more accurate findings concerning the target population

Marital adjustment has been regarded as an important issue inchronic illnesses. Some studies have addressed the effect of viral hepatitis onpatients'' spouses but there is still limited information on the topic. This studyhas compared marital adjustment in patients suffering from different stages ofviral hepatitis with that of a healthy population. In a cross-sectional study, 176 subjects were recruited and dividedinto three groups: group I (57 patients with chronic active hepatitis), group II(68 carriers with non-active viral hepatitis), and group III (51 healthysubjects). Patients and controls were selected through systematic samplingfrom Tehran Hepatitis Center and Tehran Blood Transfusion Organizationrespectively. The overall score and the scores of subscale items includingDyadic Consensus, Affection Expression, Dyadic Satisfaction and DyadicCohesion were compared in the groups using Revised Dyadic AdjustmentScale (RDAS). There was no significant difference between the overall RDASscore, and its subscales including Dyadic Satisfaction, Dyadic Consensus,Affection Expression and Dyadic Cohesion among the study groups (p>0.05). It appears that marital adjustment in Iranian patients withchronic active hepatitis and carriers with non-active viral hepatitis are similarto healthy subjects. Thus, dyadic support may act as a buffer on the negativeimpact of the disease development on the familial lives of the patients.

Substance misuse is a major public health threat in Iran. The totalnumber of addicts in Iran is estimated to be between 700,000 and 4,000,000.A few limited household studies on the prevalence of substance misuse havebeen performed in Iran. The residents of the sixth district of the municipality of Tehran whowere over the age of 15 were selected as the study population. The samplesize was 2,705. The instrument of the study was face-to-face interviews. 184(6.8%) of the subjects had used at least one substance in theirlives and 142(5.2%) used a substance during the month before theinterviews. 132(4.88%), 10(0.37%), 3(0.11%), 5(0.19%) and 4(15%) of thesubjects reported the use of alcohol, opium, opium residue, heroin, andcannabis respectively during the month before the interviews. The estimate and profile of substance use are different fromother methodologies. This household study indicated lower than expectedprevalence of opioids and higher than expected alcohol use. Indirectestimation methods are probably more appropriate for the prevalence studiesof substance misuse in Iran.

Memory and concentration may be affected by hemodialysis inend-stage renal disease. In this study, changes in cognitive functionparameters such as attention, impulsiveness, and reaction time weremeasured and evaluated in the Iranian hemodialysing patients. In this analytic observational study, cognitive function of 38hemodialysis patients was measured before and after hemodialysis sessionsusing Conners'' continuous performance test. Mean age of patients was 37.97 ± 12.58 years. There wasn''t anysignificant difference between numbers of matches successfully recognized,number of Miss Faire and mean of reaction time of those matchessuccessfully recognized before and after hemodialysis. There weren''t anydifferences between history of hemodialysis and number of matchessuccessfully, matches missed and mean reaction time of matches.Educational level of patients was significant effect on number of Miss Faireduring hemodialysis. It has been concluded that hemodialysis did not have anysignificant impact on the cognitive function. However, this hypothesis needsto be checked and confirmed by careful selection of patients and othercognitive function tests.

To report the case of a 39- year old unmarried female withfactitious edema of the right hand two weeks after being struck by her brotherand following self injury of the right arm. A 39-year old unmarried female with severe edema of the right handand forearm diagnosed as factitious lymphedema was admitted to RoozbehPsychiatric Hospital. After hospitalization, with elevation of affected limb, theedema had lessened. Thereafter, she was observed at ward rounds with acloth bandage wrapped around her arm. The edema had recurred. PhysicalExamination as well as right upper extremity X ray was normal. In mentalstate examination, patient''s mood was dysphonic, rather anxious, and deniedtourniquet application; otherwise no prominent psychiatric symptoms weredetected. Patient underwent psychotherapy and 20 my fluoxetetine on dailybasis was administered. Patient''s symptoms relieved within eight weeks and dischargedwhile accepted to adjust herself with the situations. Factitious etiology may be presuming in any patient withunilateral limb lymphedema when venous or lymphatic Pathology weremissing. The patient may be suffering from emotional conflicts.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of themetacognitive model in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. In a single-subject experimental trial of multiple baseline type, thetreatment process was carried out on an 18-year-old male subject. Thepatient satisfied the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and was assessed for pre-durationand post treatment. The scales used in this study included: ImpactEvent Scale-Revised (IES-R), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beckanxiety Inventory (BAI), and Subjective Units Distress Scale (SUDs). Inaddition, all scales were again completed by the subject at 1-month, 3-month, and 6- month follow-ups. The treatment led to reductions in symptoms of PTSD, anxiety,depression and distress. Gains were maintained at follow-ups. The treatment approach which is based on the metacognitivemodel, appears to be effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stressdisorder.