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Background: Prenatal and postnatal depression (PND) is associated with adverse outcomes for mother, fetus, and child. The aim of study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and hospital-based survey of 2305 pregnant women and post-partum women (18-48 years) that was registered in the Babol Pregnancy Mental Health Registry (BPMHR) database from June 2020 to March 2021. Two questionnaires, including demographics and depression, were analyzed in this study. Also, the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the depressive symptoms. Independent t test and the analysis of variance were used to compare the means. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors for depressive symptoms. Results: According to the EPDS scale, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19.8% in the pregnant woman group in comparison with the postpartum period (11.6%). Risk factors for antenatal depressive symptoms were parity (women with parity ≥ 4 vs. 1 parity, ß=1.808, P=0.020), two groups of gestational age (gestational age ≤12 weeks vs. 28 weeks, ß=1.562 P=0.030) as well as (gestational age 21-27 weeks vs. 28 weeks (ß=1.586, P=0.033), and high-risk pregnancy (high-risk vs. low-risk pregnancy, ß=1.457, P=0.003). For postnatal depressive symptoms, none of the factors were a significant risk. Conclusion: Prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms should be screened, particularly for women in the first and second trimesters, with high parity, and those with a high-risk pregnancy, as recommended by the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the high prevalence of poor sleep quality in late adulthood, older adults might be involved with different physical, mental and social consequences of this disorder. Current research was conducted to examine the association between sleep quality and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 800 community-dwelling people aged = 60 years living in Amirkola, North of Iran. The participants were selected by simple random sampling method. Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for data collection. Seven components of the sleep quality were categorized into the four groups (very good, relatively good, relatively poor, and very poor condition). The participants were divided into the two groups based on their cognitive function, and sleep quality was compared between these two groups. Mann-Whitney, Spearman's correlation analysis, Chi-square, Pearson's correlation test and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the collected data. Results: Mean PSQI score among the older adults with normal and abnormal cognitive function was 5.5 ± 3.2 and 5.8 ± 3.3, respectively (p = 0.508). Poor sleep quality was slightly more prevalent in the elderly with cognitive dysfunction (p = 0.775). Logistic regression analysis revealed age (adjusted OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03-1.08; p < 0.001) and level of education (adjusted OR = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.09-0.20; p < 0.001) had a significant impact on cognitive function; PSQI score (p = 0.254), gender (p = 0.661), and administration of sleeping drugs showed no significant effect (p = 0.081). Conclusion: Among different components of sleep quality, a significant positive association was observed between the frequency of sleep disturbances with cognitive function in older adults; furthermore, older age and lower level of education showed a significant negative effect on cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and infertility are associated with significant psychiatric complications. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and sertraline in the treatment of in depression, anxiety, and infertility stress of depressed infertile women with RPL in comparison with usual care. Materials and Methods: A triple-arm randomized controlled trial was carried out on the 60 depressed infertile women with RPL, a population of Infertility Center of Babol city, Iran, who were randomly assigned into three groups: pharmacotherapy with sertraline (n=20), psychotherapy with CBT (n=20), and a usual care as control group (n=20). The participants of psychotherapy received CBT sessions (90 minutes each) over 10 weeks. The participants in the pharmacotherapy group took 50 mg/day sertraline daily for 22 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), fertility problem inventory (FPI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y) at the beginning of the trial, 10-weeks post-trial, and three months of follow-up. Using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software, data were analyzed. Results: CBT considerably reduced the depression symptoms more than sertraline with a moderate effect size at the post-trial (g=0.11, 95% CI: -0.03 to -0.50). Sertraline showed reduced the scores of state-anxiety more considerably in comparison with control group by a large effect size of post-trial (g=-1.04, 95% CI: -1.70 to -0.38). CBT reduced the total scores of FPI more considerably than sertraline, with a large, small size at follow up-trial [95% CI=-0.03(-0.65, -0.58)]. Both CBT and sertraline were superior to the control group in reducing depression and infertility stress. Conclusion: Depression and infertility stress diminished under CBT and sertraline in depressed infertile women with RPL, with a significant advantage of CBT. Sertraline was superior to CBT in reduction of anxiety (registration number: IRCT201304045931N3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The rapid growth of the elderly population has led to more problems, such as declining independence. Due to the importance of doing independent daily living activities in the elderly, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between social support, cognitive status, and depressive symptoms with daily activities in the elderly in Amirkola City. Methods & Materials This matched case-control study is part of the first phase of the cohort project for the elderly in Amirkola City, which was conducted on all people aged 60 years and more in Amirkola City. To collect the data, various questionnaires, including demographic characteristics, mental brief assessment (MMSE), duke social support index (DSSI), elderly depression index (GDS), activity of daily living (ADL), and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) were used. Statistical analysis of variables was performed using descriptive (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and analytical tests (independent t-test, conditional logistic regression) and at a significant level (P<0.05) with the SPSS v. 21 software. Results In this study, the mean cognitive status of the elderly without a functional disability was significantly higher than the elderly with a functional disability (P=0.001). Also, in the elderly with functional disabilities, the mean score of depression and the presence of disease was significantly higher, and the mean of social support and ability to perform the activity of daily living were substantially lower (P=0.001). Findings of adjusted conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly with cognitive impairment, chronic diseases, and lack of social support are more likely to be disabled in their activity of daily living (P<0.05). Conclusion The presence of cognitive impairment and concomitant chronic diseases in the elderly has played the most significant role in the disability of the elderly in activities of daily living. However, increasing social support effectively improved the ability to act for the everyday living of the elderly. Therefore, annual screening of the elderly regarding health status and chronic diseases, cognitive status, and improvement and expansion of the social support network for the elderly can play an effective role in preventing functional disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental disorders in postnatal period remains unknown. Aim: The study aimed to determine the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may aggravate depressive symptoms and psychological distress of women with high-risk pregnancy in postnatal period. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on women with complicated pregnancies from antenatal to postnatal period. In the first phase, from December 2019 to January 2020 (before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic), 122 pregnant women filled in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Brief Symptom Inventory 53-items (BSI-53). In the second phase, with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic from February to June, 30% of the participants (41/122) completed three questionnaires: EPDS, BSI-53, and the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scale in postpartum period. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, from antenatal to postnatal period, the depression score of EPDS, total scores, all the subscales of BSI-53, and global severity index-53 increased in women with high-risk pregnancy. Furthermore, the persistence of antenatal depression occurred in 85.7% of the participants, and the onset of postnatal depression occurred in 80% of them. About 12% of the women also experienced PTSD symptoms during the postnatal period. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic may aggravate the prevalence and persistence of postnatal depression in women with high-risk pregnancy. The study calls for clinical implementation to identify and help women with mental disorders in postnatal period, especially women experiencing complicated pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Mahbobeh. Faramarzi, Javad. Shokri-Shirvani, Farzan. Kheirkhah Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a condition commonly seen in gastroenterological practice. The pathophysiology of FD is likely to be multi-factorial and remains [...]

Background. Epilepsy is caused by frequent generation of excitatory impulses in different part of the brain and it would affect different aspects of quality of life in these patients.The present study was conducted to evaluate the quality of life and diverse Confounding Factors in epileptic patients. Methods. This Descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2017 with a simple random sampling method on 150 patients with epilepsy who admitted to the neurology department of Rouhani hospital of Babol. We used Patient Weighted Quality Of Life In Epilepsy (QOLIE-31-P) questionnaire. All statistics were carried out using SPSS v21.0 and P<0.05 was accepted as statistically signifi cant. Results. Of the 150 participant. The mean overall quality of life score in the patients was 54.07 (11.63%). The quality of life of patients with epilepsy in females (54.19±11.52) was higher than males (53.89±11.88, p=0.979). The overall quality of life score of married patients with epilepsy 54.12 (11.12) was higher than single patients 54.04 (11.90, p=0.65). In the extent of energy (tiredness), quality of life score decreased signifi cantly with increasing age (p=0.028). In the fi eld of medication effects the quality of life score decreased signifi cantly with increasing level of education (p=0.030). Conclusion. The mean overall quality of life score was intermediate which is expected required policies will be adopted to improve the status quo. It is also necessary to consider the marital status and aging in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive impairment is a major public health problem among elderly population. The aim of this study was to assess some psychosocial predictors of cognitive impairment (age, education, living alone, smoking, depression and social support) in the Iranian elderly population. Method: A total of 1612 elderly (over 60 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Cognitive function was assessed using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). In addition, data from psychological tests and demographic characteristics were analyzed. Results: Older age, low education level, living alone, smoking, depressive symptoms, and lower social support were associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Ages 70 to 74 (OR = 3.47; 95% CI, 2.13-5.65), 75 to79 (OR = 3.05; 95% CI, 2.11-4.41) and 80 to 85 (OR = 5.81; 95% CI, 2.99-11.22) and depression symptoms (OR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.27-2.13) were significant positive predictors, whereas social support with scores ranging from 26 to 30 (OR =0. 32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.62) and 31 to 33 (OR =0.29; 95% CI, 0.14-0.61) and more than 5 years of education (OR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.14-0.27) were the negative predictors of cognitive impairment. Conclusion: The findings suggest older age and depression as positive predictive factors and higher education level and social support as negative predictive factors of cognitive impairment in the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which was diagnosed by three features including: attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsivity. This study aimed to determine the effect of executive function training based on daily life on reducing symptoms and improving adaptive skills in children with ADHD. 16 children aged 7-10 years old with ADHD were selected by random sampling method from clients of the department of psychiatry in Babol hospital and were divided randomly into experimental and control groups (n=8). Subjects were assessed in two steps at pretest and posttest by SNAP-IV and Barkley Functional Impairment Scale Children and Adolescents (BFIS-CA). The intervention group received 11 training sessions (1 hour in each session) with their mothers. The research findings showed that subjects of the experimental group had significant reduction in posttest scores of SNAP-IV scale than the control group. Significant reduction was observed in the scores of BFIS scale in the experimental group for both Homeschool impairment and Community-Leisure impairment subtests. According to findings executive function training based on daily life leads to reduce ADHD symptoms and improve adaptive skills in children with ADHD. It is concluded that executive functions training based on daily life for ease of use and the applicability of its methods can be used in different situations such as home and school for reducing symptoms and improving adaptive skills in children with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fertility loss is considered as a challenging experience. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of antidepressant medication and psychological intervention on depression symptoms in women with infertility and sexual dysfunctions (SD). Materials and Methods: This randomized, controlled clinical trial study was completed from December 2014 to June 2015 in Babol, Iran. Of the 485 participants, 93 were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to psychosexual therapy (PST), bupropion extended-release (BUP ER) at a dose of 150 mg/d, and control (no intervention) groups. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was completed at the beginning and end of the study. Duration of study was eight weeks. Statistical analyses were performed by using paired-test and analysis of covariance. Results: The mean depression score on the BDI was 22.35 ± 8.70 in all participants. Mean BDI score decreased significantly in both treatment groups (PST: P<0.0001, BUP: P<0.002) from baseline to end of the study, whereas intra-individual changes in BDI score were not significant in the control group. The decrease in mean BDI score was greater with PST compared to BUP treatment (P<0.005) and the control group (P<0.0001). The PST group showed greater improvement in depression levels (severe to moderate, moderate to mild) in comparison with the two other groups (P<0.001). Drug treatment was well tolerated by the participants in the BUP group. Conclusion: PST can be a reliable alternative to BUP ER for relieving depression symptoms in an Iranian population of women with infertility and SD (Registration number: IRCT2015042721955N2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies for improvement of state-trait anxiety among Iranian infertile women with sexual dysfunctions (SDs). Material and Methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 105 women with infertility suffering from SDs were randomly assigned to participate in a 2-hour group weekly session of psychosexual therapy (PST) (n = 35), took a tablet of bupropion ER 150 mg/d (BUP ER) (n = 35), or control (n = 35) for 8 weeks during 2014-2015. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed before and after of the study. Results: State and trait anxiety levels had mean values of 47.80 ± 10.93 and 48.78 ± 11.34, respectively. Mean values of state and trait anxiety levels observed at baseline significantly decreased toward the end of the study in each of the treatment groups (PST, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001; BUP, P < 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively), and the decrease was more significant in the PST group than in the BUP ER group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.007, respectively) and the control group (P < 0.0001) and P < 0.0001, respectively). Significantly high improvement in state and trait anxiety levels was observed in the PST group than the BUP and control groups. However, the decrease in the BUP group was not significant than the control group (P < 0.076 and P < 0.186, respecttively). Conclusion: PST compared to bupropion ER treatment was found to be a more favorable strategy for improvement of state and trait anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the gender-specific predictors of depressive symptoms among an Iranian elderly community population. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was performed on elderly subjects (aged ≥60 yr) who participated in the Amirkola Health and Aging Project, Amirkola, Babol, northern Iran in 2011-12. Depression was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale. Fourteen variables, including marital status, age, education, occupation, living alone, social support, dependency in daily activities, physical activity, smoking, body mass index, chronic pain, medicine use, comorbidities, and cognitive impairment, were analyzed as predictors of depression. RESULTS: In males, age group of 80-84 yr (odds ratio (OR)=0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09, 0.55), occupation (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.90) and social support (OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.77, 0.88) had protective effects against depression, and smoking (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.44), cognitive impairment (OR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.34, 3.45) and comorbidities(OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.60) were found as risk factors. In females, social support (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.44) and higher education (OR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.84) were two protective factors against depression, and being unmarried (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.35), cognitive impairment (OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.21), comorbidities(OR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.44) and chronic pain (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.44) were four positive predictors of depression. CONCLUSIONS: There were both similarities and differences in predictors of depression between old males and females. These findings suggest physicians and healthcare executives consider gender-specific risk/protective factors to improve preventive mental health programs in older males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]