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Objective: Stressful events increase in traumatic conditions. Coronavirus is a new and serious challenge and significant public health problem, which can cause different stressors. This study has identified stressful events experienced by Iranian adults during the COVID-19 epidemic. Method: Data on stressful events during the COVID-19 epidemic were collected online from 418 adults (mean age 37.16 years; 57.4% female and 42.6% male) using quota sampling method. Epidemic Stressful Events Checklist was applied for data collection. Data were analyzed by applying descriptive graphs and tables, the independent sample t-test, the Fisher’s F test, and post hoc Bonferroni test. Results: The most frequent stressful event was rise in essential goods prices (84.7%); however, its perceived stress was not at the highest level. The highest severity of perceived stress was related to the death of a family member (4.83) due to COVID-19 infection, which was an event with the least occurrence, and the lowest severity of perceived stress was related to medical team performance (2.50). The results showed the severity of perceived stress is higher in women than men (t = 3.42; P value < 0.01) and also in the laboring occupations compared to other occupations (F = 3.18; P value < 0.05). Conclusion: Traumatic events can lead to more serious concerns, eg., worrying about those we love, concerns about the future of our life, and about what politicians and macro planners will do to protect our lives. Moreover, traumatic events can cause concerns about food, basic needs, and lack of resources to survive.

Objective: Body mass index undergoes a substantial change in some psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to explore the status of body mass index (BMI) in different psychiatric disorders in a national survey among children and adolescents and to identify the role of gender in this regard. Method: A total of 30 532 children and adolescents were randomly selected using cluster sampling method with equal blocks of three age groups and two genders. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using a standardized face-to-face diagnostic interview of Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (KSADS-PL), and Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured for each participant. Results: In this study, 22 730 children and adolescents (109 46 boys and 11784 girls), with valid data of BMI, completed the KSADS-PL interview. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 21.2% among underweight participants, 22.8% among overweight participants, and 22.2% among obese participants, which was significantly higher than normal weight participants with 19.6% (X2 = 17.55; p = 0.001). In boys’ subgroup, depression and separation anxiety were mostly seen among the underweight category, while tic disorder was mostly seen in the obese category. In girls’ subgroup, on the other hand, generalized anxiety was mostly observed in the underweight category, while oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), depression, and mental retardation were mostly observed in the obese category. In total, the highest mean BMI rates were among the children and adolescents with alcohol abuse disorder, mania, and panic disorder. However, the lowest BMI rates were among those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), and enuresis. Conclusion: This study gives an overall picture of BMI status in different psychiatric disorders according to gender. Furthermore, in a multidisciplinary approach, the results of this study drew the attention of child psychiatrists to the status of BMI in their clients.

Objective: Considering the impact of rapid sociocultural, political, and economical changes on societies and families, population-based surveys of mental disorders in different communities are needed to describe the magnitude of mental health problems and their disabling effects at the individual, familial, and societal levels. Method: A population-based cross sectional survey (IRCAP project) of 30 532 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years was conducted in all provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected by 250 clinical psychologists trained to use the validated Persian version of the semi-structured diagnostic interview Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-PL (K-SADS-PL). Results: In this national epidemiological survey, 6209 out of 30 532 (22.31) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. The anxiety disorders (14.13) and behavioral disorders (8.3) had the highest prevalence, while eating disorders (0.13) and psychotic symptoms (0.26) had the lowest. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly lower in girls (OR = 0.85; 95 CI: 0.80-0.90), in those living in the rural area (OR = 0.80; 95 CI: 0.73-0.87), in those aged 15-18 years (OR = 0.92; 95 CI: 0.86-0.99), as well as that was significantly higher in those who had a parent suffering from mental disorders (OR = 1.96; 95 CI: 1.63-2.36 for mother and OR = 1.33; 95 CI: 1.07-1.66 for father) or physical illness (OR = 1.26; 95 CI: 1.17-1.35 for mother and OR = 1.19; 95 CI: 1.10-1.28 for father). Conclusion: About one fifth of Iranian children and adolescents suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder. Therefore, we should give a greater priority to promoting mental health and public health, provide more accessible services and trainings, and reduce barriers to accessing existing services. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.