The Prevalence of Problematic Internet Use and the Related Factors in Medical Students, Kerman, Iran

Background: Although problematic Internet use (PIU) is a growing problem among adolescents, few studies have examined its prevalence among university students in Iran. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of PIU and its potential risk factors among students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data was collected from 976 university students. PIU was assessed by the 18-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire. In addition, information on demographics and Internet usage pattern was also collected. Findings: A total of 920 students completed the survey (response rate = 94.8%). Of them, 98% were Internet users. Overall, 21% of the students were identified as problematic Internet users. Logistic regression analysis showed that spending more time online, having a history of psychiatric disorders, and using the Internet for chatting and playing games were risk factors for PIU. Conclusion: PIU is a common problem among university students. These results suggest the need for preventive and interventional strategies for this vulnerable group.Keywords: Problematic Internet use, University students, Iran

Abnormalities of mental rotation of hands associated with speed of information processing and executive function in chronic schizophrenic patients

Aim: Deficits in mental imagery ability have been reported in patients with schizophrenia. However, there is scarce evidence about the correlation between impairment in mental rotation and other cognitive deficits in the patients. The aim of this study was to assess mental rotation ability, along with other measures of cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: The performance of 29 patients with schizophrenia was compared with 29 healthy controls. Mental rotation was measured with the Hand Rotation Task, and cognitive functions were measured with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Results: On Hand Rotation Task, the patients were significantly slower and less accurate compared to controls. Moreover, mental rotation accuracy was significantly correlated with all the BACS domains except verbal memory. In multiple regression analysis, the two BACS subscales, Tower of London and Symbol Coding tasks, were significant predictors and accounted for 41% of the variance in accuracy in the patients. Conclusion: These results support previous findings showing dysfunction of the posterior parietal cortex in schizophrenia, which is involved in general mental rotation, as well as other cognitive processes

Comparing the results of light microscopy with the results of PCR method in the diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax

Background & objectives: Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a new technique in the diagnosis of malaria with very high accuracy; light microscopy is still conventional diagnostic method in Iran. In this study we checked the accuracy of light microscopy using the results of PCR as gold standard in Iran. Methods: The blood samples were collected from 124 febrile cases in Kahnooj district. The blood slides were read by microscopists, and double checked by experts in provincial referral laboratory. DNA samples were processed by PCR to amplify species-specific sequences of 18s subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (18ssrRNA) genes of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of microscopy in the detection of Plasmodium spp infection were 77% (95% CI: 46–94%) and 100% (95% CI: 95–100%), correspondingly. Also, the estimated positive and negative predictive values were 100% (95% CI: 66–100%) and 97% (95% CI: 91– 99%), respectively. Interpretation & conclusion: According to these results, we believe that the accuracy of light microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria in Kahnooj was acceptable. Expert micorscopists in endemic areas of Iran such as Kahnooj and available equipments in one hand and expensive PCR test on the other hand may convince that in current situation we do not have to change the diagnostic method

Neural Evidence for Compromised Mental Imagery in Individuals With Chronic Schizophrenia

Mental imagery impairment has been reported in schizophrenia. The present study aimed to investigate the neural evidence for mental imagery impairment in patients with schizophrenia. The study participants included 20 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 18 healthy control subjects. Event-related potentials were recorded during a mental hand rotation task, in which participants were instructed to judge the laterality of hands displayed in different orientations. The performances of patients were significantly less accurate and slower than control subjects on hand rotation task. Moreover, the patients showed significantly reduced rotation-related negativity amplitude for mental rotation effect. The results demonstrate mental imagery impairment in patients with schizophrenia at both the behavioral and neural level

Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life and General Health of parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Since parents of children suffering from autism disorder have more psychiatric problems compared to parents of normal children or those with other developmental disorders, the present research aimed to study anxiety, depression, general health and quality of life among parents of children with autism disorders in comparison to the control group. Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on parents of autism children visiting the pediatric psychologist at Besat psychiatric clinic and one of the rehabilitation centers in Kerman, Iran. The autism diagnosis was confirmed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist and based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. The control group was selected from parents of children over two years with somatic problems. 66 people were selected in each of the control and case groups and in each group there was 33 men and 33 women. All participants were asked to fill out Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety questionnaires as well as general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREIF) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using t-test. Results: Mean scores of depression, anxiety, and quality of life were significantly different between the case and control groups (P<0.001). However, in terms of general health, mean scores of the two groups showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Parents of children suffering from autism spectrum disorders are more susceptible to anxiety and depression and have lower quality of life

An evidence for lack of pseudoneglect in patients with schizophrenia:An ERP study

Studies have reported an altered expression of pseudoneglect in patients with schizophrenia, but no study has examined pseudoneglect in schizophrenia at the neural level. We investigated pseudoneglect using the visual P3 event-related potential and the mental number bisection (MNB) task in 21 patients and 25 controls. Using an oddball task, participants were asked to discriminate an infrequent (‘one’ or ‘nine’) from a frequent written number (‘five’). The P3 ERP components were delayed to the targets on the right of the MNL (‘nine’) compared to the targets on the left (‘one’) in controls. The effect of number magnitude on the P3 latency was not observed in the patients. In MNB task, the patients did not show the normal leftward bias observed in healthy individuals. Our findings indicate a lack of pseudoneglect and the presence of an anomalous brain asymmetry in schizophreni

Frequency of Psychiatric Disorders in Children of Opioid or Methamphetamine-Dependent ‎Patients

Background: Addiction is one of the main problems of human societies, which is more common in developing countries. In addition, it causes to personal and social problems and family problem. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children 5-15 years old of opioid or methamphetamine dependence patients. Methods: For this study, three groups including: (1) children of parents addicted to opium, (2) children of parents addicted to methamphetamine, and (3) control group were examined. Child symptom inventory-4 (CSI-4) questionnaires completed by non-hospitalized guardian and control group; then make interviews with the children by the Kiddie-schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia (K-SADS). Data were analyzed by chi-square test and ANOVA. Findings: Survey showed that the frequency of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobia (SP), and separation anxiety disorder in children of addicted parents were more than a non-addicted parent. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of conduct disorder, social phobia, and oppositional defiant disorders (ODDs). Conclusion: Parental addiction can lead to an increase in some psychiatric disorders in the children. Therefore follow-up, early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these disorders in children of the drug-dependent parent are necessary to reduce health costs and improve the health system

Neurocognitive Functions Related to Parietal Lobe in Patients with Schizophrenia and Methamphetamine Induced Psychotic Disorder and Healthy Individuals: A Comparative Study

Background: There are some inconsistent findings about neurocognitive functions in schizophrenia and methamphetamine induced psychosis (MIP). This study aimed to compare these two disorders in terms of neurocognitive functions related to parietal lobe.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 30 patients with schizophrenia, 30 patients with MIP, and 32 healthy individuals were compared. The two groups of patients were selected through convenience sampling from among patients hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kerman, Iran and healthy individuals were selected via convenience sampling from among the employees of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The three groups were administered clock-drawing test (CDT), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) copying test, and interlocking finger test (IFT) and their demographic and clinical data were collected. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the differences between the groups. Multivariate analysis of covariance was also used to examine the effects of confounding factors. Besides, follow-up pairwise comparisons were performed after adjustment for multiple testing.Findings: The group with schizophrenia had significantly more impairment than the group with MIP with reference to the results of IFT and the ROCF test. However, the scores of patients with MIP on these two tests were not different from those of the normal controls. With regard to the CDT, the only significant difference was observed between the group with schizophrenia and controls.Conclusion: On the condition that the results are replicated in other studies, some parietal lobe neurocognitive tests might be used when it is difficult to differentially diagnose schizophrenia and MIP

The reliability and validity study of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Motor imagery (MI) has been recently considered as an adjunct to physical rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is necessary to assess MI abilities and benefts in patients with MS by using a reliable tool. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) was recently developed to assess MI ability in patients with stroke and other disabilities. Considering the different underlying pathologies, the present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the KVIQ in MS patients. Method: Fifteen MS patients were assessed using the KVIQ in 2 sessions (5-14days apart) by the same examiner. In the second session, the participants also completed a revised MI questionnaire (MIQ-R) as the gold standard. Intra-class correlation coeffcients (ICCs) were measured to determine test-retest reliability. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to assess concurrent validity with the MIQ-R. Furthermore, the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and factorial structure of the KVIQ were studied. Results: The test-retest reliability for the KVIQ was good (ICCs: total KVIQ=0.89, visual KVIQ=0.85, and kinesthetic KVIQ=0.93), and the concurrent validity between the KVIQ and MIQ-R was good (r=0.79). The KVIQ had good internal consistency, with high Cronbach’s alpha (alpha=0.84). Factorial analysis showed the bi-factorial structure of the KVIQ, which was explained by visual=57.6% and kinesthetic=32.4%. Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed that the KVIQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing MI in MS patients

Social Phobia and its Association with Academic Performance among Student of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background & Objective: Public speaking is a common academic activity. Social phobia is associated with fear of public speaking which affects educational achievement. However, few researches have examined the prevalence of social phobia among university students in Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of social phobia among students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and its impact on their academic performance. Methods: Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Brief Version of Negative Evaluation Scale, and a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics and academic performance were applied to 700 randomly selected students from Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Results: The prevalence of social phobia among the university students was 40.6%. Grade Point Average (GPA) was not significantly different between the students with social phobia comparing to students without social phobia. Yet, students with social phobia believed that fear of speaking in public had negative effects on their academic performance. In this study, only 4.1% of students with social phobia have been visited by psychiatrists. Conclusion: Preventive strategies are recommended to reduce the under-recognition and the adverse impact of social phobia on academic performance of university students. Keywords Social phobia Academic performance Medical university students Kerman (Iran