Chronic Diseases Journal
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Spring 2019

 Considering the importance of psychological factors in exacerbating diseases such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), this study was carried out aiming to compare the early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), perseverative thinking, and somatoform dissociation among normal individuals and patients with OCD.  The causal-comparative (ex post facto) method was used in this study. The population consisted of all patients with OCD referring to the centers for comprehensive urban health services of Ardabil, Iran, in the second half of 2017. The research cluster sampling included 30 patients with OCD whose disease was diagnosed by a responsible physician or clinical psychologist, selected by random sampling method. Moreover, 30 normal people were selected in the sampling method by matching age, sex, and marital status and included in the study. The subjects responded to the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).  The results showed that the mean scores of patients with OCD in EMSs, perseverative thinking, and Somatoform dissociation were significantly higher than normal subjects (P < 0.001).  The results of this study showed that patients with OCD differ in a wide range of EMSs, perseverative thinking, Somatoform dissociation from normal subjects. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to these cognitive components in the treatment process.

 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases and one of the major health problems in all countries worldwide. Considering the role of mental health in improving the health and quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic diseases, this study was carried out aiming to determine the relationship between spiritual health and QOL among patients with type 2 DM.  This was a correlation descriptive study in which 330 patients with DM were selected using systematic sampling. Demographic, spirituality (Parsian and Dunning), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires were used for collecting data. Moreover, descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, simple linear regression, and multiple regression tests were exploited to analyze the data.  The mean scores of the patients' spiritual health and QOL were 62.04 ± 14.36 and 67.85 ± 11.79, respectively. Spiritual health and all of its four dimensions had a direct and significant correlation with QOL. Meanwhile, two dimensions of self-awareness (r = 0.542) and spiritual needs (r = 0.511) had the highest correlation with QOL in these patients (P < 0.001). Furthermore, spiritual health and its two aspects, including self-awareness and spiritual needs had a significant effect on the QOL of the patients (P < 0.001).  The results showed that spiritual health affected QOL of the patients significantly; moreover, two of its dimensions, self-awareness and spiritual needs, had the greatest effect. Therefore, to improve the QOL of such patients, it is necessary to design and implement appropriate training programs with emphasis on these two dimensions.

 The purpose of this study was to identify the effective factors that are related to depression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).  This study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. Statistical population of this research included all patients with MS in Mazandaran Province, Iran, in 2016. The sample consisted of 147 patients who were selected via the available sampling method. For data collection, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory-Short Form (FMI-SF) were administered for all patients. Then the data was analyzed via SPSS and AMOS software using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM).  The results of the CFA to review the construct validity of the questionnaires indicated that the model was consistent with the data. SEM indicated that self-esteem served as a mediator between both stress and depression. Also, mindfulness had the role of mediator variable in the relationship between self-esteem and depression.  This study adds to the existing literature by providing SEM for depression in patients with MS. Theoretical and practical implications of presented results and model are also discussed.

 Tinea pedis (TP) is a common public problem that its prevalence is raising due to the change in the environment and reduction in immune reactivity of individuals. Fungal species apart from dermatophytes are isolated from cases of TP. In spite of the hidden cases or occult TP, the prevalence of this disease it is growing. In this study, we tried to identify hidden and non-complaining cases of TP among population attending for other complaints rather than foot problem. 46 female patients were included in this study, who attended outpatient department of Erbil Dermatology Teaching Center, Erbil, Iraq, for other dermatological problems. The anamneses were taken, clinical examination was done, and direct microscopy and culture of specimens taken from their foot were carried out.  24 (52%) patients of the study sample showed positive culture growth. The most common symptoms among culture-positive patients were itching (84.6%) and bad odor of foot (63.6%). The most frequent affected areas among the sample patients were 4th</sup> interdigital web of foot (69.6%-76.1%) and heels (82.6%). The most common species identified were Trichophyton rubrum (n = 6, 23.1%) and Trichophyton mentagrophyte (n = 6, 23.1%). The next most frequent was Trichosporon spp (n = 5, 19.2%). Occult TP among culture positives was 16.6%.  Prevalence of TP is very high among women (52%). Non-complaining of these women about their conditions reflects lack of foot care awareness that needs improvement.

 Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disorder and a newly-discovered disease in people with end stage renal disease (ESRD). In patients who are hemodialyzed through arteriovenous fistula (AVF), the incidence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is highly probable. Regarding the main role of the AVF in the pathogenesis of PAH and the fact that AVF is the main method of vascular access in patients undergoing dialysis, we decided to investigate pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in patients under chronic hemodialysis. This was a cross-sectional study. All patients with chronic hemodialysis were divided into two groups according to the status of the fistula. The number of cases examined included 100 patients and data were analyzed by SPSS software.  The most common cause of ESRD was hypertension (HTN) followed by diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), urologic disorders, DM and HTN, combined blood pressure (BP) and PKD, renal stones, and other items ultimately. The average creatinine level was 8.59 mg/dl. Therefore, the mean creatinine level of patients, although relative to mode and median, was in any case significantly higher than the mean, which was predictable according to the ESRD community studied. The mean phosphate level was 5.66 mg/dl, and the mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 11.56 g/dl. The mean parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PAP were 558.68 and 27.33 mmHg, respectively, and the mean of ejection fraction (EF) was 50.75%. There was a significant difference between the mean PAP in the two groups (P = 0.048), as it was higher in the AVF group.  Results of this study showed that AVF and ESRD both were risk factors for high PAP and PHT

 As a common educational phenomenon, test anxiety is known to be closely related to the academic performance and achievement, and even the future performance of most students. Math anxiety is considered to be one of the possible contributing factors to test anxiety.This study aimed to determine the role of self-efficacy and math anxiety in predicting test anxiety among girl students.  In this descriptive-analytic study, the statistical population included all girl students studying in junior year in high schools of Urmia City, Iran, in the academic year of 2016. Of them, 351 students were selected using multistage cluster sampling method. The data were collected using Spielberger test anxiety inventory (TAI), Chiu and Henry mathematics anxiety scale for children (MASC), Sherer et al. and general self-efficacy scale (GSES). The collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression tests.  Self-efficacy and math anxiety could significantly predict test anxiety in studied students (P < 0.010).  The result indicated that increasing self-efficacy decreased math anxiety level and test anxiety in students. The findings imply that self-efficacy improvement and test anxiety reduction should be taken important in educational and counseling services provided for students.

 Religion affects all aspects of the life. One of the most important aspects of human health is its mental health, and how it gets affected by stress, anxiety, and depression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there was any relationship between religiosity with stress, anxiety, and depression among the students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.  This cross-sectional study was conducted at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2017. The total number of 282 students were selected using a two-stage stratified sampling method to fulfill univariate religiosity questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.  The mean age of participants was 22.34 ± 3.05 years. 70.9% of participants were women, and 92.2% were single. Out of four dimensions of religiosity, only ritual dimension was found to have a significant correlation with stress (P = 0.030). The correlation between other dimensions of religiosity (belief, emotional, and consequential (and aspects of mental health found to be not statistically significant (P > 0.050).  Based on the findings of this study, religious activities can reduce the stress of individuals. Designing non-syllabus interventions is recommended in order to increase religious activities in order to improve students’ mental health.

 This study aimed to examine the prevalence of spouse abuse against men and the demographic variables affecting it in Savojbolagh County, Iran.  This was a cross-sectional study on all married men living in Savojbolagh County. The study population consisted of men employed in rural and urban healthcare centers as well as governmental and private companies in this province; 292 participants completed the demographic form and Man Abuse Questionnaire. This questionnaire assesses the different forms of abuse such as emotional, physical, sexual, neglect, and verbal abuse. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation method in SPSS Software.  The majority of victims had experienced minor abuse (11.6%) including emotional abuse (15.8%), verbal abuse (13.7%), active aggression and sexual abuse (10.3%), and passive aggression and domination (9.2%). Moreover, 6.2% of the participants had experienced medium rate of abuse including passive aggression (8.6%), active aggression and sexual abuse (7.2%), domination (5.5%), verbal abuse (3.8%), and emotional abuse (3.1%). The remaining 1% had experienced severe abuse the most common forms of which were verbal abuse and domination (1.4%) and emotional abuse (1.0%). The highest frequency of spouse abuse occurred in the first 5 years of marriage among laborers. Moreover, there is a reverse relationship between increasing age of men, marriage duration, and education level and man abuse. However, man abuse had a positive relationship with low income.  The most prevalent form of violence by women against men in Iran included emotional abuse, verbal abuse, behavioral aggression, and sexual abuse with a severity rate of low to medium. Higher age of men, higher education level, longer marriage duration, sufficient income, and suitable age gap were factors that prevented women’s violence against men.</div>

 In the hospital, nurses are exposed to high levels of psychological stress. The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life, psychological well-being, and emotional self-regulation of nurse and non-nurse women in Imam Khomeini hospital in Kuhdasht City, Iran.  This was a descriptive prospective causal-comparative research. The statistical population of this study was all the women staff of Imam Khomeini hospital in Kuhdasht in 2018. A sample population of 100 nurse women was selected using convenience sampling method, and 100 non-nurse women were selected via random sampling method. The instruments used in this research were 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Quality of Life, Reef Psychological Well-Being, and MARS emotional self-regulation questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) (P < 0.050). The MANOVA test showed a significant difference between quality of life, psychological well-being, and emotional self-control between nurse and non-nurse women (P < 0.050). This meant that nurse women in the studied variables were lower than their non-nurse counterparts. According to the results of this research, it is suggested that in nursing mental health promotion programs, education should be considered in order to improve the quality of life, psychological well-being, and emotional self-regulation of nurses.

 Chronic urticaria is a cutaneous disorder defined by the presence of hives and flare for over six weeks. Etiology of chronic urticaria is not clear in 80 to 90 percent of patients. Malignancies are possible associations with allergic disorders such as urticaria. The purpose of this article was to review the expression of chronic urticaria with various malignancies.  We searched in PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases in English using the keywords chronic urticaria, urticarial, malignancy, and cancer. Inclusion criteria were both full and brief articles, case reports, case series, and original article up to June 2018.  We found 258 articles on the primary search. After screening by two researchers, 23 articles were included. Most studies failed to find a link between hives and malignancy. Four studies showed a relationship between hives and malignancy. Five studies showed no relationship between hives and malignancy, and suggested that urticaria could even have a protective effect. As there were no homogenous results, we could not write a meta-analytic study.  The relationship between chronic urticaria and malignancy is not clear. We need a more organized researches to clarify the association between urticaria and malignancies.