Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:14 Issue: 10, 2012 Dec

In recent years, psychologists and psychiatrists in the field of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD) have been research doing for measurement of validity and efficiency of available treatment and. In this regard, meta-analysis integrates the results of different studies then determines the effect size of drug treatment.This study seeks to investigate the effective rate of methylphenidateon on reducing ADHD symptoms by following the meta-analysis model. 21 Studies which were methodologically accepted were selected and meta-analysis was done on them. The research tool was meta-analysis check list. the result indicated that rate of effect size drug treatment on reducing ADHD symptoms was 0.71 (p≤ 0.001). This rate of effective size according to Cohen table was higher than average and considered. Therefore, it seems that methylphenidateon can be applied as proper treatments for individuals suffering from ADHD symptoms.

Considering the continuous increase in number of published articles by Iranian researchers in recent years, the matter of quality in design, implementation, analysis and publication of articles is receiving its relevant attention. Of issues in quality of articles and studies are methodological errors. There are different kinds of errors that a researcher may fall into during various phases of a study. Of these errors systematic ones (or biases) can be counted. In this paper we aim to shortly introduce various sorts of biases that might happen in medical research. These biases are of two categories; selection and information biases.

There is little information about the relationship of alexithymia and cognitive/behavioral coping strategies with psychological vulnerability. The recent studies indicate that alexithymia and coping strategies affect psychological vulnerability. The present study aims to determine the relationship of alexithymia and cognitive/behavioral coping strategies with psychological vulnerability of women with somatization disorder. The samples of this study included 120 patients with somatization disorder who were selected as convenience sampling among those who attended the psychology centers of Ardabil. Pain coping questionnaire, alexithymia questionnaire, and symptom questionnaire were used to collect the information. The research data were analyzed using the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis methods. The results indicated that there are significant correlations between alexithymia (r = 0.52), cognitive coping strategies (r = -0.27), behavioral coping strategies (r = -0.33) and psychological vulnerability of women with somatization disorder. The results of step-by-step multivariate regression analysis suggested that alexithymia and cognitive/ behavioral coping strategies clarifies 37 percent of the variance of psychological vulnerability of women with somatization disorder. These findings indicate that cognitive/behavioral coping strategies and alexithymia are associated to psychological vulnerability of women with somatization disorder. In addition, these results have special application in prevention, pathology as well as psychotherapy of this disorder.

The main aim of this research was to assess the differences of visual memory in deaf and normal students according to plasticity of cortical brain. This is an ex-post factor research. Benton visual test was performed by two different ways on 46 students of primary school. (22 deaf and 24 normal students). The t-student was used to analysis the data. The visual memory in deaf students was significantly higher than the similar normal students (not deaf).While the action of visual memory in deaf girls was risen in comparison to normal girls in both ways, the deaf boys presented the better action in just one way of the two performances of Benton visual memory test. The action of plasticity of brain shows that the brain of an adult is dynamic and there are some changes in it. This brain plasticity has not limited to sensory somatic systems. Therefore according to plasticity of cortical brain theory, the deaf students due to the defect of hearing have increased the visual the visual inputs which developed the procedural visual memory.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of child abuse and neglect in predicting the early maladaptive schemas domains. This is a causal-comparative research. Sampling was performed using multistage clustering and simple random sampling methods. 500 individuals constituted the preliminary sample. After identifying 140 abused individuals, they were compared to 140 ordinary persons. In order to collect the data, the 53-item version of Bernstein Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Yang Schema Questionnaire: Short Form 2 (YSQ-SF2) were used. To analyze the data, multivariate regression coefficient enter method was deployed. Results showed that about 24% of the variance of the disconnection and rejection maladaptive schema domain, as well as 12% of the variance of the impaired autonomy and performance maladaptive schema domain were explained by the emotional abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect. 13% of the other-directedness maladaptive schema domain variance, 6% of the impaired limits maladaptive schema domain, and 5% of the overvigilance and inhibition maladaptive schema domain variance were explained by the emotional abuse. According to the findings, it can be concluded that one could predict schemas and their respective domains with regards to abused children. Abused children are likely to develop maladaptive schemas and cognitive distortions due to the dull and harsh atmosphere of the family and its unhealthy environment.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy on the emotion regulation and emotion recognition of addicts with traumatic experience. This research is an experimental study with pre and post-test design and a control group. The subjects of this study were selected using random sampling method on drug addicts of Ardebil Addiction Treatment Camp who have successfully completed the detoxification period and they were evaluated in two different experimental (15 individuals) and control (15 individuals) groups. The experimental group was treated with EMDR therapy for 8 sessions (each one for 60 minutes) and the control group received no special treatment. All participants filled a questionnaire of Emotion Regulation and Emotion Recognition at the onset of the research and 2 months after termination of treatment. For the data analysis, SPSS-17 software and covariance analysis were used. The results of covariance analysis test indicated that the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy intervention increased the average of positive emotion regulation and emotion recognition scores in the post-test phase and significantly reduced the average of negative emotion regulation scores. These results suggest that the treatment of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is effective in improving regulation and recognition of emotions in addicts with traumatic experience.

There are models of the development of personality disorders which include individual differences in attachment relationships as causal factors contributed in explanation of these phenomena. The dimensional view of personality disorders represents these conditions as extreme variants of normal personality continua. This study investigated main and interactional effects of attachment styles and personality traits in relation to borderline characteristics. The current study was conducted in expo fact context. Randomly selected 603 participants (134 male and 469 female) from Tabriz Payam-e-Noor, Tarbait Moallem of Azarbaijan and Sarab Payam-e-Noor university students took part in this research. Participants answered to Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised, Short form (EPQ-RS) and Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI). Data were analyzed using two way analysis of variance method. Results indicate main effects of attachment styles and personality traits, so, individual with ambivalent insecure attachment experience more intensity of borderline traits than individual with avoidant insecure and secure attachments. Individual with high psychoticim and neuroticism traits experience more intensity of borderline characteristics than individual with extraversion personality traits. Also, there are no interactional effects of attachment styles and personality traits in relation to borderline characteristics. These findings reiterate contribution of childhood risk factors in developing borderline personality disorder, especially in children with emotionally vulnerability.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of stress management cognitive-behavioral therapy on psychological indexes) anxiety and depression) of patients volunteer to surgery. The design of research was Quasi-experimental with pre-post test type, and control group. 26 subjects were selected on the list of elective surgery in March 2009 had been assigned randomly to experimental (N=13) and control group (N=13). Stress management intervention was conducted in experimental group and were under no intervention in control group. Test anxiety by Spilberger, depression by Beck depression were measured. Destabilizing Middle data using covariance analysis was used. Results showed that test scores of anxiety, depression compared to the experimental group had a significant reduction (p< 0.05). Stress management cognitive-behavior intervention can be a elective psychotherapy.

The most common cause of dementia among the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease. Given the increasing population of the elderly, achieving a screening tool with high reliability and validity is an essential need for all communities. The main objective of the project was to determine the Persian version of Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (P-CDR1). Twenty subjects were randomly selected from among 150, 50-70 year old people, who were illiterate and not mentally retarded, residing in the nursing home; and they were given the Persian version of CDR scale (test). After three months, the group was given the test again. The findings showed that from the specialists’ standpoint CDR scale had acceptable validity, and the test validity was achieved 0.05 at the significant level with Cronbach’s alpha and reliability coefficients 73% and 89%, respectively. CDR scale is a reliable instrument for evaluation of clinical dementia rating among the elderly in Iran. It can be used in screening dementia, Alzheimer, and diagnosis of the severity and stages of Alzheimer.

Despite some studies indicating improving role of stress on memory consolidation, very few animal and human studies show that stress impairs reconsolidation of memories. This study aimed to determine the effect of stress on autobiographical memory reconsolidation. The present study was done with an experimental method (Solomon Four-Group design). The statistical society of this study was all undergraduate female students in 2009-2010 academic year at Tabriz University. Forty students were selected using random cluster sampling, and we ensure about their physical and mental health by GHQ-28 and interview. Tools for this study were cueing autobiographical memory test, SECPT (for raising blood pressure and stress induction), autobiographical memory test, PANAS and general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). MANOVA was used for data analysis by SPSS-17. The results show that stress after activation of memory impairs memory for neutral events (p<0.001), while there was no such effect on the memory for emotional events (p>0.05). None of stress and memory activation alone had effect on memory performance (p>0.05). These findings indicate that stress impairs autobiographical memory reconsolidation, which is opposite to its effects on memory consolidation, so it supports the view that consolidation and reconsolidation are separate process.

Dissociation is a defense mechanism by which people under stress detach their thoughts, emotions and behaviors from the normal stream of consciousness in order to protect themselves against the threats imposed on their ego. The phenomenon of dissociation is associated with a group of psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders (SUDs), and leads individuals to incline towards drugs. This study examines the relationship between the dissociation symptoms prior to abstinence treatment and the abstinence success. 128 opioid dependent males were selected randomly and examined using Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire. After two months, the subjects were divided, in terms of abstinence success, into three groups of rehabilitated (successfully-rehabilitated), recurrence, and non-referral groups. The three groups were compared to each other with regard to the DES mean score, demographic characteristics, drug use history, self-destruction, and self-mutilation history, using statistical methods of χ2, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results showed that 39% of the subjects obtained a dissociation score of 15 and above in DES scale. There was a significant negative correlation between the dissociation score and abstinence success (p=0.001). There was no significant relationship between the DES score and demographic factors such as education level, residential location, and marital status. Moreover, the treatment follow-up of individuals showed that there was no significant relationship among the three groups in terms of age and education level. The extent of dissociative phenomena in drug dependent individuals who decide to discontinue drug abuse is effective in the sense of treatment outcome. Hence, the individuals are recommended to be examined for dissociative symptoms prior to drug treatment, and receive the proper treatment.

Hardiness as a personality trait is an important factor in directing people to success. An explanation for this trait is the psychobiological explanation including the Gray’s theory of Brian/behavioral systems. This study has examined the relationship between the Brian/behavioral systems and hardiness in successful people. In this study, 60 successful students (medical students in their final two years of medical school) and 60 ordinary subjects were studied using two personality questionnaires (Gary-Wilson and Hardiness Questionnaires) as well as Pearson’s correlation statistical technique, regression, and independent t-test. Data analysis showed that the activity level of behavioral activation system (p=0.002: active avoidance and p> 0.001: approach behavior) and hardiness (p>0.001) is significantly higher in successful people than ordinary subjects and that there is a significant relationship between hardiness and two components of behavioral activation system and one component of behavioral inhibition system (i.e. active avoidance) (p>0.01). According to the findings, only two components of approach behavior and active avoidance can predict the variable hardiness. However, these two components are considered as only one of the predictors of success and there are undoubtedly many other factors involved in this regard. Overall, this study can lead to the identification of new factors involved in the success occurrence that consideration of them can help understanding the individual differences in order to perform effective psychological interventions to improve the level of effort and success in people.

The growing population and increasing needs to agricultural products increased use of pesticides resulting in contamination of the environment, including water. The purpose of this study was to determination of pesticide residues in agricultural water resources in Barzok city of Kashan in 2011. This study as a descriptive and cross-sectional study that was conducted at spring season. That totals of 135 samples of the agricultural water resources of Barzok were collected randomly and mixtures from different stations. After extraction and preparation of samples, the pesticide residues were determined by using the HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) devices and CATS4 software. Finally, obtained data were analyzed by using ANOVA statistical methods. The results of this study showed that maximum amount of diazinon and chlorpyrifos has been 22.43 and 11.79 ppm respectively, and the pesticide residues have declined gradually overtime of (p<0.001).Furthermore, after a month 95.9% of Chlorpyrifos and 88.8% of diazinon is degraded. Accordingly, the remaining of diazinon and chlorpyrifos after a month of spraying was higher than determined limited standards. Because Chlorpyrifos is broken down rapidly more than diazinon, it is recommended that besides educating farmers on the proper use of pesticides, unnecessary contact with the water resources of this region must stop at least one month after spraying.

Some studies have demonstrated high cognitive deficits in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering the limited available information about this issue, we decided to assess the cognitive deficits and memory disturbances in these patients. The present study is a case control research conducted on 50 patients with post-traumatic stress disorder who were admitted to Ibn-e-Sina psychiatric hospital in Mashhad, in north-eastern part of Iran in 2008. The control group included 50 people of first degree relatives of these patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Case and control groups were selected by simple sampling method; and for all of them, a questionnaire of demographic information, Wechsler memory scale, and mini mental status examination (MMSE) were completed. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS 14th edition by chi square, t-test, and analyze of variance. The mean score of Wechsler memory scale in patients with PTSD (80.78±18.39) was significantly higher than control group (67.92±7.38) (p=0.001). The mean score of MMSE was significantly lower in patients with PTSD compared to control group (p=0.001). The determined disability level assessed by Iranian veterans’ organization and also comorbidity of other psychiatric disorders with PTSD did not have a significant relationship with cognitive deficits, but the duration of PTSD and age of patients were significantly related to the level of cognitive deficits. Cognitive deficits and memory disturbances are higher in patients with PTSD than general population.

The aim of this study is assessment of burden of disease in East Azerbaijan women. In this project we used of disability adjusted life years (DALY) as an index of burden of disease. Cardiovascular disease, cancers and unintended injuries 71.98% of DALY for premature death. The 3 leading causes of YLD in East Azerbaijan province were: psycineurotic disorders, musculoskeletal and urogenital diseases. This study shows that YLL is 3 fold of YLD and this indicated to lower quality of life of women.

This study determined the effectiveness of life skills training by empowerment approach to social work on personal and social adjustment of physically motor handicapped girls. The study was semi-experimental design and used pretest-posttest plan with a control group. The intervention group participated in 8 session's life skills training by empowerment approach to social work, and a control group received no teaching. To gathering information from California questionnaire were used. To examine significances, independent t-test was used. There is significant difference in posttest scores between the intervention and control groups (p<0.05) but neurological syndrome is not only significant change (p>0.05) Life skills education by empowerment approach to Social work is effective way to promote a level’s adjustment of physical motor disabilities girls.

The aim of this research is study of theta burst stimulation on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in remission of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. In a placebo, double blind and randomized study, 10 patients with schizophrenia assigned in experimental and control group. The experimental group received 20 sessions of TBS with 50 Hz frequency, but control group were treated just with sham coil. All the patients were appraised before, the 10th sessions and after the treatment. The treatment efficacy was calculated with ANOVA. The results indicated that the experimental group had statistical difference to control group in negative symptoms (p>0.007) and social functioning (p>0.01). But there weren’t any significant difference in quality of life and depression between two groups. Theta burst stimulation can be mentioned as an efficacious treatment for people with schizophrenia.

In today's world stress has been epidemic issue. This study has been done with the aim of study and comparison of job stress rate in the employed veterans Guilan In the 2010. This study is a cross-sectional comparative and case-control study.statistical society are 100 people of employed veterans in Fuman, Shaft, Soume Sara, Rasht that has been chosen as random sampling. Results showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups of veterans and non veterans of stress rate (p= 0.14). Role conflict and high volume work, also excessive expectations is considered including stressful factors at work environment.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse and its respective factors in women and children referring to medical and health centers of Birjand county. A number of 301 women referring to medical and health centers of Birjand were entered into this analytical-descriptive study. Based on the research objectives, a self-administered questionnaire was prepared and approved in terms of content validity by experts of the field. The data were analyzed using SPSS-15, at a significance level of p ≤0.05. Results showed that 58.8% and 25.3% of the subjects experienced physical abuse and sexual abuse, respectively. 24.3% confirmed physical abuse and 1.7% confirmed sexual abuse of their children by their husbands. There was a significant relationship between physical and sexual abuse, and the education level, husband’s education level, addiction and commitment of husband, economical disputes, husband’s job, disputes over rearing children, mental disorders of husband, and the weakness of husband in controlling his motions (p=0.001). The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse in women and children is relatively high, and based on the investigated related causes, it is necessary to reduce such prevalence through an appropriate planning.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the educational program on knowledge attitude and preventive behaviors towards tuberculosis in the Ramin village of Iran. In this study 90 eligible participants were randomly divided into two groups of intervention group who took port in educational workshop (N=45) and control group (N=45) who received no education. Data were collected at baseline and 3-month follow up. Data was analyzed within statistical SPSS program. Initially, two groups were the same in terms of demographic data (p>0.05). However, the intervention group improved significantly in terms of knowledge¸ attitude and behavior scores compared to control group (p<0.0001). The educational program could improve preventive behaviors among individuals who living in the Ramin village of Iran.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder as the most prevalent sexual dysfunction has a major role in marital relationships. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive-behavioral teaching on improvement of women sexual function. In this semi experimental study, the sample size were 30 women that 15 were randomly selected for each experimental and control group of women with hypoactive sexual desire. At first the pretest was carried out in both groups and then the experimental group was thought for 10 sessions. At the end the posttest was carried out in the groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS-15 software and differential independent t test. There was a significant difference between mean of differential scores of both groups sexual function that suggests a significant impact of the educational program on improvement of sexual function in women with hypoactive sexual desire (p=0.01). It is recommended to use these teachings by specialist into therapeutic program of women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

The aim of this study was to comparison of depression and uncertainty in cardiac patient and normal persons. The present study has been done in a form of casual-comparative on 60 persons at the Bookan city hospital. In the present study, Beck Depression Inventory (1988), and Fristone Uncertainty Scale (1994) were employed to gather the required data. For data analysis, Manova, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis methods by SPSS-19 was used. Finding supported, the rate of depression and uncertainty were higher in coronary heart disease than normal persons. There is meaningful relationship between depression and uncertainty (p=0.01). The result of regression analysis showed that about 14% of depression variance was predicted by uncertainty. Results supported that depression and uncertainty are associated with CHD. These results for the use of psychological interventions focusing on depression and uncertainty in the prevention and treatment of Coronary Heart Disease can be important in treating cardiac patients.

This study investigated the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in obsessive- compulsive disorder. A single case design used in five patients with obsessive- compulsive disorder. Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck anxiety Inventory and a processing measure was used for assessment of patients. Results suggested the significant decreases in all measures in post test in five patients and these results maintained at 1-month follow up. Process of treatment and results from this study suggest that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be effective intervention for difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviors seen in OCD.