Iranian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Winter 2010

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of SX (combination of yohimbine and L-arginine) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). This trial was a 4-week, double blind study of parallel groups of patients with mild to moderate ED. Forty married male patients with ED of mild-to-moderate severity were screened for the study entry; among them, those aged 25-50 who reported a minimum of a- 3-month history of ED were eligible to enroll in this study. The severity of ED was based on EF domain scores on the international index of erectile function (IIEF). The scores of 15- 25 was considered as mild to moderate ED. Patients were randomized to receive one capsule of SX or placebo on demand in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated code. The difference between the two groups was significant at week 4 (endpoint) (P=0.03). Four adverse events were observed over the study. The difference between the SX and placebo was not significant in the frequency of adverse events. This study indicates that SX is safe and effective for the treatment of mild to moderate ED at least in the short-term.

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study todetermine the efficacy of an herbal sexual supplement (vigRX) on premature ejaculation (PE).A randomized double blind study was conducted on a fixed dose of herbal vigRX at Roozbeh Psychiatry Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The sample consisted of 85 married patients diagnosed withprimary PE according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Each patient underwent diagnostic evaluation by one trained psychiatrist, using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. Each patient was evaluated by researchers to exclude the organic sexual dysfunctions. The patients were randomly assigned in to two groups: group 1 consisting of 42 patients receiving placebo, and group 2 consisting of 43 patients receiving 540 mg herbal vigRX for a 4-week treatment course. The effects of the drug on the ejaculatory function in each group were assessed by the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), and the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE) before and at the end of the treatment course. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (15th version). The mean IELT increased 22.4 and 32.0 seconds in the placebo and the vigRX group respectively after the treatment course. The mean IELT differences between the two groups was not significant. The mean CIPE score increased 2.40 and 4.37 in the placebo and the vigRX group respectively. The mean CIPE score differences between the two groups was not significant.No side effect was reported by the subjects in neither groups during the treatment course. Although the improvement in IELT and CIPE scores in the herbal vigRX group was more than the placebo group, this difference was not statistically significant. The increasing of IELT and CIPE score in the placebo group may be due to the placebo effects. Further studies with higher vigRX doses, greater sample size and longer treatment courses are warranted.

The implementation of family psychoeducation at the service delivery level is not without difficulty. Few mental health professionals receive special training to work with families especially in Iran. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of training health professionals in terms of their adherence to protocol. Eight professionals (general practitioners, nurses and social workers) participated in a training program for health professionals as part of the Roozbeh First-Episode Psychosis Program (RooF) to conduct family psychoeducation. Training included a 3-day- workshop and 12 supervision sessions during the course of the implementation of the psychoeducation program. The family psychoeducation sessions (multiple-family group or single-family home-based) were tape-recorded. Transcripts of the audiotaped sessions were analyzed based on the content of the manual and were scored accordingly. Twenty-four recorded sessions were analyzed in terms of the adherence to protocol, the number of questions and the time for each session. The overall rating showed a 72% adherence to the protocol. Multiple-family group sessions had a higher rate compared to the singlefamily home-based family psychoeducation sessions (79% to 69%) as well as the time spent and questions asked. The rate of adherence to the protocol of conducting the family psychoeducation sessions had not changed over time. Considering the amount of time taken for training and supervision, the level of adherence to the protocol was satisfactory. Tape recording sessions and regular supervision would be beneficial following specialized training. Further research is needed to tailor the amount of training and supervision required for professionals to conduct family psychoeducation programs in different settings.

The aim of this research was to compare the characteristics of assertiveness, locus of control and general health among young drug dependent patients in Iran. Three groups of Iranians: were choosed. The first group included drug dependent patients who had volunteered for treatment and had registered in the local Welfare Organization; the second group included dependent patients who were in the prison; and the third group held nondependent patients. All the participants were male and were matched for age and educational level. The following instruments were used in the present study: locus of control Questionnaire, Assertiveness Scale and the General Health Questionnaire, GHQ. The results of the present research showed that there were significant differences among the three groups in assertiveness, locus of control and GHQ scores. It was found that participants in the non addictive group were more assertive and more internal in their locus of control and had higher GHQ scores than the other two groups. The participants in the prison group reported less assertiveness and lower GHQ scores than the non addictive group; and their locus of control was more external. The results this study may be useful in terms of possible strategies for changing an attributive style in young adults in the framework of psychotherapy.

Metabolic side effects of the second generation (atypical) antipsychotics have been a forefront of attention since their availability. One common concern is the development of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of early initiation of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on glucose-insulin homeostasis in a group of psychiatric patients under treatment with olanzapine and sodium valproate or lithium combination. In a double-blind design, eligible participants with schizophrenia, bipolar I, and schizoaffective disorders who were initiated on olanzapine combination with sodium valproate or lithium were randomly assigned to receive omega-3 or identical placebo capsules for 6 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin and HbA1c were measured at the baseline and at the end of the 6th week. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), as a measure of insulin resistance, was also determined at the same times. At the end of the study, no significant difference was observed between the two arms in terms of FBS, fasting insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR. However, trends toward decreasing both fasting insulin levels (p= 0.06) and HOMA-IR (p= 0.07) were noted in the group receiving omega-3. No significant changes in the outcome variables were observed from the baseline to the final measurements in both groups. This study noted that adding omega-3 fatty acids at the commencement of olanzapine combination therapy with valproate or lithium could not favorably influence glucose-insulin homeostasis. However, trends toward a decrease in insulin levels (p= 0.06) and HOMA-IR (p= 0.07) observed in patients receiving omega-3 suggest a possible beneficial role of this supplement in this population and, therefore, warrant further evaluation.

Poor premorbid adjustment has been reported to be a predictor of more severe psychotic symptoms and poor quality of life in such psychotic disorders as schizophrenia. However, most studies were performed on chronic schizophrenic patients, and proposed the likelihood of recall biases and the effect of chronicity. The aim of this study was to investigate these factors in a sample of first episode psychotic patients, as a part of Roozbeh first episode psychosis project (RooF). Premorbid adjustment was assessed using Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) in 48 patients with the first psychotic episode who were admitted to Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital. The severity of symptoms was measured using Positive and Negative Scale (PANSS) in three subgroups of positive, negative and general subscales. Quality of life was measured using WHO QOL, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) was also measured. The mean age was 24 years. Poor Premorbid adjustment in late adolescence was significantly associated with more severe symptoms according to PANSS negative symptoms (p=0.019, r=0.44). Furthermore, sociability and peer relationship domains had a positive correlation with PANSS negative subscale scores (r=0.531, p=0.002 and r=0.385, p=0.03, respectively). There were no significant differences between males and females in premorbid adjustment. Furthermore, this study failed to show any differences between affective and non-affective psychosis in premorbid functioning. Our study confirms poor premorbid adjustment association with more severe negative symptoms and poor quality of life in a sample of Iranian first episode psychotic patients.

This study was conducted to compare the personal well-being among the wives of Iranian veterans living in the city of Qom. A sample of 300 was randomly selected from a database containing the addresses of veteran''s families at Iran''s Veterans Foundation in Qom (Bonyad-e-Shahid va Omoore Isargaran). The veterans'' wives were divided into three groups: wives of martyrs (killed veterans), wives of prisoners of war, and wives of disabled veterans. The Persian translation of Personal Well-being Index and Stress Symptoms Checklist (SSC) were administered for data collection. Four women chose not to respond to Personal Well-being Index. Data were then analyzed using linear multivariate regression (stepwise method), analysis of variance, and by computing the correlation between variables.Results showed a negative correlation between well-being and stress symptoms. However, each group demonstrated different levels of stress symptoms. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression in the 3 groups showed that overall satisfaction of life and personal well-being (total score and its domains) could be predicted by different symptoms. Each group experienced different challenges and thus different stress symptoms. Therefore, although they all need help, each group needs to be helped in a different way.