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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare cognitive avoidance in patients with OUDs and a control group. Methods: This study is a case-control study. The selected population includes all the patients with OUDs and control group visiting Farabi Hospital of Kermanshah in western Iran in 2018 for treatment. From this population, 202 individuals were selected as the sample of the study. The required data were collected using the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ) and the data were analyzed using logistic analysis. Results: The majority of the individuals under study were in the age range of 26-35 years (48.5%), male (92.6%), with a secondary school education (80.6%), unemployed (55.4%), and single (59.9%). Moreover, the results of the logistic analysis show that the total score of cognitive avoidance among patients with OUDs, 7.50 (1.34 – 13.66), was higher than that of control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings from the current study indicate the high prevalence of cognitive avoidance among patients with OUDs, which shows that this component must be considered while attempting to prevent and treat OUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Jalal. Shakeri, Mohamad. Kamangar, Ehteram. Ebrahimi, Mozafar. Aznab, Hania. Shakeri, Farid. Arman Backgrounds and Aim: Cancer patients experience a high level of stress caused by the disease and treatment [...]

Background: Due to its progressive nature, substance use impacts the entire aspects of life, and can result in adverse repercussions on mental status. Accordingly, the current article seeks to compare the mental status of substance abusers with that of normal individuals.Methods: The study is a cross-sectional research. The study population is comprised of 50 methamphetamine users, 52 opium users, and 100 normal individuals referred to Farabi Psychiatric Hospital in Kermanshah, 2018, in Iran. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling method and matched in terms of demographic characteristics. Data collection was performed using Mental State Examination (MMSE) and demographic questionnaire.Results: The results showed that mean scores of orientation, attention, and mental status were significantly different between the normal and substance abusers (P <.05). However, the above-mentioned difference was not significant between methamphetamine abusers and opioid abusers (P >.05). In addition, the mean score of the language tests was statistically significant only among the normal and methamphetamine abusers (P <.05). Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the opium and methamphetamine users showed poorer performance in MMSE than the normal group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that incarcerated people show higher rates of symptoms of psychopathology. In the present study, we assessed male Iranian incarcerated people with borderline personality disorders (BPD) and investigated the occurrence of past and current trauma and their associations with dissociative experiences. Methods: A total of 69 male Iranian incarcerated people (mean age: 33.76 years) diagnosed with PBD completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, dissociative experiences, and past and current traumatic events. Results: Participants reporting the occurrence of childhood trauma also reported the occurrence of adulthood trauma. Dissociation and adulthood trauma were associated in a U-shaped, non-linear fashion: Low and high adulthood trauma were associated with higher dissociation. Younger age, the presence of childhood trauma, and being single or divorced predicted adulthood trauma. Conclusion: The pattern of results suggests that both childhood and adulthood trauma are highly prevalent among male incarcerated people, while the association between adulthood trauma and dissociation appeared to be more complex. When treating male incarcerated people, a complex interplay between past and current traumas and dissociation should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug abuse is a major issue and one of the main causes of health, psychological, and social problems. Studies have shown the effectiveness of narrative therapy in reducing psychological symptoms of addiction. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group narrative therapy on depression, quality of life (QoL), and anxiety among people with amphetamine addiction in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted during 2015-2016 among patients (n=26) with amphetamine addiction in Kermanshah, Iran. The participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group followed 10 sessions of narrative therapy, whereas the control group received routine psychiatric care. The data collection tools included a demographic data form, Beck depression inventory-II, QoL questionnaire, and Beck anxiety inventory. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22.0). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in depression and anxiety scores between the pre- and post- intervention stages (P<0.001) in the intervention group. However, their QoL was unaffected by the therapy (P=0.487). These variables did not show a significant change in the control group. Conclusion: Group narrative therapy reduced the level of depression and anxiety in patients with amphetamine addiction. However, their QoL was unaffected by the therapy. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2016010425442N2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries occasionally associated with complications, such as acne lesions. Anxiety reportedly leads to the emergence or exacerbation of acne lesions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 147 patients undergoing rhinoplasty. The patients were assigned into two groups of case (with acne lesions) and control (without acne lesions) entailing 52 (45 females, 7 males) and 95 (68 females, 27 males) subjects, respectively. The data were collected using an instrument entailing clinical and demographic data and the state-trait anxiety inventory developed by Spielberger. Results: According to the results, 70.7% and 71.6% of the patients in the case and control groups were female, respectively. Regarding the education level, 61.5% and 68.4% of the case and control groups had academic education, respectively. Additionally, 61.5% and 42.1% of the subjects in the case and control groups were single with the mean ages of 25.06±5.077 and 27.45±5.909 years, respectively., 73.1% of the case group indicated grade 2 acne mostly in the face (100%) appearing 1-4 weeks post-surgery (51.9%). The case group had higher mean scores of trait (46.92±12.53) and state (46.21±9.30) anxiety, trait (P=0.001) and state (P=0.019) anxiety severity, as well as the prevalence of cosmetic dissatisfaction (51.9%), compared to the control group. Furthermore, acne severity showed a direct correlation with the severity of trait anxiety (r=0.472, P=0.005) and state anxiety (r=0.443, P=0.013). Conclusion: As the findings indicated, anxiety could be a major factor in triggering or exacerbating acne lesions after rhinoplasty. The assessment of mental health before the surgery, proper selection of the cases seeking aesthetic surgery, provision of psychological support, lack of medical history of acne lesions, and successful cosmetic rhinoplasty could result in reducing the prevalence of acne lesions after cosmetic surgeries, especially rhinoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluating the prevalence and clinical features of substance induced mental disorders leading hospitalization is important in programming for better management of these disorders. There is a lack of studies investigated the pattern of drugs leading admission in mental hospitals. Objectives: To evaluate demographic and clinical features of patients with substance induced mental disorders admitted to Farabi psychiatric hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2013. 359 patients whom admitted with substance related psychiatric disorders were evaluated using demographic questionnaire, clinical and paraclinical exams. patients diagnosed with primary mental disorders, and mental disorders due to other medical condition were excluded. Results: The participant's mean age was 31.44 years. The most of the patients were unemployed males with low education living in urban areas. Amphetamines in 289 (80.5%), opioids in 57 (15.8%), cannabis in 11(3.1%), and benzodiazepines in 2 (0.6%) patients were the main drugs leading admission. Amphetamine induced psychotic disorder with hallucination (40.4%) were the most common diagnosis among the study subjects. Discussion: Amphetamines was the most problematic drug in our setting and amphetamine induced mental disorders were the most prevalent causes of hospitalization. Opioids induced psychiatric disorders were in the second rank. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Fatty acids play various physiological roles in the organism; they are crucial for the structure of cell membranes, metabolic processes, transmission of nerve impulses and brain functions. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to the rich sources of omega-3 for the treatment of many diseases, especially mental illnesses. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of omega-3 supplement in the treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder (BID). Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, 100 patients suffering from BIDs were randomly divided into two, i.e. control (n = 50) and experimental (n = 50) groups. In addition to the other standard treatments, 1000 mg of omega-3 supplement was given to the experimental group on daily basis for 3 months and placebo was given to the control group. The Young Mania Rating Scale was completed for both groups before and after the intervention. Afterward, data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, and Chi-square test. Results: Before intervention, mean severity of mania in the experimental group (23.50 ± 7.02) and control group (23.70 ± 8.09) was not significant (P ≤ 0.89). The difference after the intervention in the experimental group (10.64 ± 3.3) and control group (20.12 ± 6.78) was significant (P < 0.01). The mean intensity of mania before (23.50 ± 7.02) and after (10.64 ± 3.3) intervention reported to be significant at P < 0.05. Conclusions: Since omega-3 supplement was effective for the treatment of BID, it is suggested to use omega-3 supplements as an adjuvant therapy along with the other pharmacotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although sexual dysfunction is a common problem among methamphetamine (MA) abusers, the prevalence and features of this disorder are not well known. Objectives: To evaluate sexual dysfunction in patients during MA abuse and withdrawal. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted during March 2012 to April 2013. Ninety three subjects were studied within three groups. Group 1and 2 consisted of participants who were abused MA for less than and more than 1 month, respectively. Participants in group 3 were in first month of MA withdrawal. All of the subjects evaluated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV disorders (SCID-IV) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Results: Mean age of the patients was 25.86 ± 9.10, 28.96 ± 8.10 and 29.96 ± 9.30 year in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.09). Mean IIEF-5 scores was 22.12 ± 2.70, 16.43 ± 3.10 and 12.86 ± 6.30 in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. There was significant difference in mean IIEF-5 scores between study groups (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Although MA can increase libido and sexual excitement in short-term usage, but may induce sexual dysfunction in long-term abuse and leading severe sexual dysfunction during withdrawal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: In Iran, traffic accidents and deaths from traffic accidents are among the highest in the world, and generally, driver behavior rather than technical failures or environmental conditions are responsible for traffic accidents. In a previous study, we showed that among young Iranian male traffic offenders, poor mental health status, along with aggression, predicted poor driving behavior. The aims of the present study were twofold, to determine whether this pattern could be replicated among non-traffic offenders, and to compare the mental health status, aggression, and driving behavior of male traffic offenders and non-offenders. Methods: A total of 850 male drivers (mean age =34.25 years, standard deviation =10.44) from Kermanshah (Iran) took part in the study. Of these, 443 were offenders (52.1%) and 407 (47.9%) were non-offenders with lowest driving penalty scores applying for attaining an international driving license. Participants completed a questionnaire booklet covering socio-demographic variables, traits of aggression, health status, and driving behavior. Results: Compared to non-offenders, offenders reported higher aggression, poorer mental health status, and worse driving behavior. Among non-offenders, multiple regression indicated that poor health status, but not aggression, independently predicted poor driving behavior. Conclusion: Compared to non-offenders, offenders reported higher aggression, poorer health status and driving behavior. Further, the predictive power of poorer mental health status, but not aggression, for driving behavior was replicated for male non-offenders [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Iran, traffic accidents and deaths from traffic accidents are among the highest in the world, and generally driver behavior rather than either technical failures or environmental conditions are responsible for traffic accidents. In the present study, we explored the extent to which aggressive traits, health status, and sociodemographic variables explain driving behavior among Iranian male traffic offenders. Method: A total of 443 male driving offenders (mean age: M =31.40 years, standard deviation =9.56) from Kermanshah (Iran) took part in the study. Participants completed a questionnaire booklet covering sociodemographic variables, traits of aggression, health status, and driving behavior. Results: Poor health status, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction, and also higher levels of trait aggression explained poor driving behavior. Multiple regressions indicated that poor health status, but not aggression, independently predicted poor driving behavior. Conclusion: Results suggest that health status concerns are associated with poor driving behavior. Prevention and intervention might therefore focus on drivers reporting poor mental health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To assess the relationship between lifetime suicide attempts (SAs), serum lipid values, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with bipolar disorders (BPD). Methods. Eighty patients with BPD took part in the study (M = 40.60 years). After psychiatric diagnosis, demographic data, SAs, and serum lipids were measured and MetS was calculated. Results. 70% reported at least one suicide attempt. 52.5% suffered from MetS. Suicide attempters had higher cholesterol values. SAs were associated with a family history of suicide, current mood state, and lower educational level. SAs were unrelated to MetS. Conclusions. In patients with BPD, against expectations, the occurrence of SAs was associated with higher cholesterol values. Serum lipid values are not suitable as a biological trait marker to predict SAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A substantial disadvantage of psychopharmacological treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is the impact on sexual dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the oil of Rosa damascena can have a positive influence on SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction (SSRI-I SD) of male patients who are suffering from MDD and are being treated with SSRIs. Method: In a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial, a total of 60 male patients treated with an SSRI and suffering from MDD (mean age =32 years) and SSRI-I SD were randomly assigned to take either verum (R. damascena oil) or a placebo. Patients completed self-ratings of depression and sexual function at baseline, at 4 weeks later, and at the end of the study, 8 weeks after it started. Results: Over time, sexual dysfunction improved more in the verum group than in the control group. Improvements were observed in the verum group from week 4 to week 8. Self-rated symptoms of depression reduced over time in both groups, but did so more so in the verum group than in the control group. Conclusion: This double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that the administration of R. damascena oil ameliorates sexual dysfunction in male patients suffering from both MDD and SSRI-I SD. Further, the symptoms of depression reduced as sexual dysfunction improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There are significant gender differences in the epidemiology and presentation of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), physiological aspects of CVDs, response to diagnostic tests or interventions, and prevalence or incidence of the associated risk factors. Considering the independent influence of gender on early dire consequences of such diseases, this study was conducted to investigate gender differences in patients' beliefs about biological, environmental, behavioral, and psychological risk factors in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: This study has cross sectional design. The sample was composed of 775 patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation unit in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. The data were collected using clinical interview and patients' medical records. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test. To do the statistical analysis, SPSS version 20 was utilized. Results: As the results indicated, there was a significant difference between the beliefs of men and women about risk factors of heart disease (X2= 48.36; P<0.01). Men considered behavioral (55.1%) and psychological (33.7%) risk factors as the main causes of their disease, respectively. On the other hand, women regarded psychological (38.2%) and behavioral factors (26.6%) as the most common causes of cardiac conditions, respectively. Both men and women considered stress as the most important heart disease risk factor (21% and 22.3%, respectively). Also, women were less aware of the risk factors, compared to men. Conclusion: From the patients' perspective, psychological and behavioral risk factors were the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); moreover, stress was the most influential risk factor for developing cardiac diseases. Thus, learning to control and manage these risk factors can help to prevent the development of CVDs and reduce the occurrence of subsequent cardiac events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lifetime prevalence of amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder is reported as being up to 23% for methamphetamine (MA) abusers. Approximately 25% of those with a baseline DSM-IV diagnosis of substance-induced psychosis are diagnosed with primary psychosis at one-year follow-up. Evidence on the treatment of amphetamine psychosis is very limited. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of risperidone versus aripiprazole in treatment of amphetamine-induced psychotic symptoms. Methods: In a double-blind study, 45 participants were randomly allocated to either aripiprazole 15 mg or risperidone 4 mg daily over a six-week trial. Positive and negative symptoms of psychosis were assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at baseline and completion of the trial. Results: SANS and SAPS scores decreased significantly in both groups. Mean SAPS score reduction in risperidone and aripiprazole group was 16.20 and 10.80, respectively, after trial course ( p < 0.001). Mean SANS score reduction in risperidone and aripiprazole group was 9.35 and 11.25, respectively ( p = 0.08). Conclusions: Both aripiprazole and risperidone were effective for patients diagnosed with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. However, risperidone had the greater effect on positive psychotic symptoms while patients with negative symptoms may respond better to aripiprazole. There is a case for further studies evaluating the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ECT could effectively relieve the relevant motor and psychiatric symptoms in PD patients. • ECT should be performed at regular intervals in order to maintain their effects as its effectiveness waned over time. Motor and psychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) constitute some of the most problematic issues for both the patients and their caregivers. This study evaluated the short- and long-term efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in PD patients whose psychiatric symptoms had been exacerbated due to drug therapy. Fifteen PD patients were treated using an electroshock device at a range of 25–100 Joules over a period of 6 weeks, during 12 sessions. Motor and psychiatric symptoms of all patients were evaluated before conducting ECT as baseline, after 12 sessions of ECT at the 6th week, and one month after completion of the treatment at the 10th week. The results showed that the variables mentation, behavior, mood, performance of daily activities, and severity of motor and psychiatric symptoms, were significantly improved at the end of the 6th and 10th weeks when compared with the baseline. Moreover, the results revealed that the mean values were significantly different only for motor symptoms at the end of the study (10th week) compared with the second time point. The current trial may indicate that ECT could potentially serve as a viable treatment for PD patients with refractory psychiatric symptoms. However, due to waning efficacy of ECT, it is recommended that PD patients undergo a conventional treatment in conjunction with periodic ECT sessions to ensure an optimal medical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical inactivity has become a global somatic and mental health issue. To counterbalance, promoting regular physical activity appears plausible, above all among adults, where physical inactivity is particularly high. However, some, but sparse, research also indicates that excessive exercising might be associated with unfavorable mental health dimensions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that excessive exercising was associated with more mental health issues. To this end, we assessed mental health issues, stress, mental toughness, and sleep disturbances among heavy and light adult exercisers. Methods: A total of 200 adults (mean age: 35 years; 62% females) took part in the study. Of those, 100 were heavy exercisers (18–22 h/week), and 100 were light exercisers (1–6 h/week). Participants completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, mental health issues, perceived stress, mental toughness, and sleep disturbances. Results: Compared with light exercisers, heavy exercisers reported higher mental health issues, more stress, but also higher mental toughness scores and less sleep disturbances. Higher age, lower mental toughness scores, heavy exerciser-status, and more sleep disturbances predicted higher mental health complaints. Conclusions: Compared with light exercising, heavy exercising might be associated with more mental health issues. As such, it appears that the association between exercise frequency, intensity, and duration and psychological well-being might be related to an optimum point, but not to a maximum point. In a similar vein, heavily exercising athletes, their coaches, parents, and representatives of sports associations should get sensitized to possible adverse psychological effects of excessive physical activity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased prevalence of depression among patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been described previously. However, the impact of depression among Iranian patients has not yet been investigated. Objectives: Here, the prevalence of depression was assessed and the effect of disease-related characteristics including pain, weakness and rheumatoid factor (RF) status on incidence of depression was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Patients with RA, who were referred to rheumatology clinics of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and healthy subjects from the general population of Kermanshah participated in this investigation. Depression was assessed using Beck's depression inventory II (BDI II). Pain and weakness were assessed subjectively by patients' self-report. Data was collected during a year between 2012 and 2013. Chi-square test and independent t-test were used. Results: One hundred and seventy-one patients with RA and 198 healthy individuals participated in this investigation. In the RA group, depressive mood was detected in 45.7% of patients, which was significantly higher than healthy subjects (P = 0.008). Depression was more common in elderly patients (> 50 years old) in comparison with healthy subjects at a similar age (P = 0.03). Pain and weakness had no influence on depression incidence (P = 0.14 and 0.19, respectively) whereas patients with negative RF status were significantly more susceptible to severe depression (P: 0.001). Conclusions: Depression is more common among Iranian patients with RA (45%) than healthy subjects regardless of gender. Depression has a significant association with older age. Negative RF status may predict future risk of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]