Tehran University Medical Journal

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In a cross-sectional survey depression prevalence of 130 nurses in Tehran Imam Khomeini hospital has been investigated by using long from test items (21 questions) of Beck depression questionnaire. Also necessary data for independent variables was collected by interview. The findings of this study indicated that depression rate of mild, moderate and severe type were 73.1%, 21.5% and 5.4%, respectively. In this study statistically significant association has been found between depression and marital status (P<0.0001), level of education (P<0.005), over time's hours at work (P<0.02) and parent's death at childhood (Before 11th age) (P<0.001).

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Background: To eradicate a problem such as drug abuse, we need thorough knowledge of the problem and its epidemiological aspects. In response to increasing ecstasy abuse among youth, as noted by the increase in related health issues at emergency clinics, we performed this epidemiologic study on ecstasy use in Tehran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, including 1,903 youth aged 15-25 years, at different coffee shops in Tehran, Iran, subjects filled out questionnaires to evaluate the prevalence of ecstasy use with regard to gender, age, family income, level of education, psychological state (Beck test), acute complications of ecstasy use, as well as manner and place of ecstasy use and reason for repeated ecstasy use. Information was gathered from September 2004 to January 2005, using simple nonprobable sampling.

Results: The prevalence of ecstasy abuse among our study population was 18.5%, which meaningfully correlated with gender (male), education level (undergraduate degree), family income (high), drug abuse and Beck test score (high). The mean age of ecstasy abusers was 21.3 years (SD: 2.65), which wasn't statistically different than the study population as a whole and the portion that did not use ecstasy. Tablet was the most common form of ecstasy usage (97.1%). In this study population, 91.4% had heard of the ecstasy name, and 83.7% were familiar with its use. The most common site of usage was in parties (85.7%) and in group forms (84%). Of all the users, 30% stated the reason for repeat ecstasy use was their friends' insistence, 38.8% expressed emotional need, 37.7% had no reason, whereas 6.6% felt a physical need and 1.7% repeatedly used ecstasy to prevent withdrawal symptoms

Conclusion: Some studies have reported that drug abusing friends are the basic cause of drug abuse. In this study, the ecstasy users admitted that the influence of friends and emotional need were the causes of their repeat use. Remarkably, these subjects report withdrawal symptoms with ecstasy use. Most importantly, families have to consider the relationships and emotional needs of their children. The statistical difference between Beck test scores between ecstasy users and the non-users placed them in two clinically different psychological groups. The ecstasy users were in groups that definitely needed psychological consultation and non-users were in the slightly depressed group. These psychological aspect of drug abuse expressed here is an alarm.

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Background: Measuring anxiety level in clinical and non-clinical population needs valid and reliable tool. This research examined the validity and reliability of Beck Anxiety Inventory in Iranian normal population as well as clinically anxious patients.

Methods: First, a two-session course was run to train research workers. After they were sufficiently prepared, they were dispatched to different regions of the city, Tehran, referring to residential places for men and women volunteer to take part in the research. At the end, 1513 respondents were randomly recruited and tested using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Of this population, 112 respondents were randomly selected and re-tested in order to measure test-retest reliability with a one-month interval time between first and second tests. Meanwhile, 261 clinically anxious patients (from clinics and mental health centers) were tested. In order to measure validity, 150 patients were interviewed by two parallel clinicians and the anxiety level was rated based on a 10-point scale from 0 (the least) to 10 (the most). The two raters were blind to the BAI scores of the patients.    

Results: For data reduction and analysis, the SPSS for Windows-edition 14, was conducted. Findings showed that the Persian version of BAI proved a good reliability (r=0.72, p<0.001), a very good validity (r=0.83, p<0.001), and an excellent internal consistency (Alpha=0.92).

Conclusions: The results support the applicability of BAI in Iranian population and suggest the use of this inventory for clinical and research aims. Persian version of BAI not only can help clinicians in assessment and diagnosis, but also assist researchers to evaluate anxiety level when needed.

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Background: Several studies that have evaluated psychological and counseling interventions suggest that a proactive approach may be effective in preparing patients for the experience of living with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The purpose of this study was to develop and assess cognitive and behavioral interventions in reducing stress and anxiety and improving quality of life.

Methods: One hundred Patients with ICD in Shariati and Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2009- 2010 were divided randomly into two groups to undergo cognitive and behavioral interventions (case group) or serve as the control group. The patients in the case group were received relaxation, cognitive and ICD alarm trainings three times during the study period. Routine care was the same in both groups after ICD implantation. We evaluated anxiety and depression by, respectively, Beck anxiety and Beck depression inventories in the two groups before and after ICD implantation. Quality of life was also evaluated by SF-36 instrument before and after the interventions. The results were later compared between the two groups.

Results: Beck scores for anxiety in the case and control groups before the interventions were 24.9±15.5 and 24.2±15.8 (P=0.590), respectively and after six months they were 13.5±8.3 and 17.9±10.1 (P=0.005), respectively. Beck scores for depression in the case and control groups before the interventions were 17.7±9.8 and 18.4±10.6 (P=0.590), respectively and after six months the scores, respectively, were 13.5±8.3 and 17.9±10.1 (P=0.005).

Conclusion: It seems that psychological interventions can reduce anxiety and depression after ICD implantation. Further studies with more sample sizes are necessary for the final judgment.