The psychometric properties of the of the Persian version of the Screen for adult anxiety related disorders (SCAARED) in patients with anxiety disorders

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Screen for adult anxiety related disorders (SCAARED) in Tehran. Method The present study was a descriptive‐survey method and a cross‐sectional method. The present research population consists of patients referring to hospitals and psychiatric clinics in Tehran, as well as male and female students in Tehran. The sample of the present study included 300 participants (150 patients with a diagnosis of anxiety disorders and 150 non‐clinical samples), who were selected by random sampling method. Inclusion criteria included age 18 to 50, minimum diploma, lack of mental retardation, and lack of acute physical illnesses such as cancer or severe pain. The participants, after completing the demographic questionnaire and conducting a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5 Disorders–Clinical Version (SCID‐5‐CV), completed the SCAARED and the Personal Wellbeing Index—Adults (PWI‐A). Finally, face and content validity and construct validity, test–retest reliability, Cronbach's alpha, and factor analysis were used. Results The results of the present study confirmed the face validity and content of the present scale. A review of Cronbach's standardized alpha showed that SCAARED has a reliability of 0.966, and therefore, the Persian version of these questionnaires is a reliable tool. Also, the results showed a correlation between the two implementations of the questionnaire; in addition to the strong correlation at the level (p < .01) between the factors of the questionnaire and the factors with the total score, there was a strong correlation between the first and second implementation in four factors and the overall score. Therefore, it can be concluded that the SCAARED has good test–retest reliability. Also, there is a positive correlation between the factors and the overall score of the SCAARED with anxiety disorders based on Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5 Disorders (p < .01), which indicates the favorable convergent validity of the SCAARED questionnaire. There is a negative correlation between the factors and the overall score of the SCAARED with the PWI‐A at the level (p < .01), which indicates the favorable divergent validity of the SCAARED, and the results of exploratory factor analysis of the questionnaire were confirmed. Conclusion The Persian version of the SCAARED is a tool with appropriate validity and reliability

Numerical investigation of rigidity and flexibility parameters effect on superstructure foundation behavior using three-dimensional finite element method

A comprehensive three-dimensional finite element of the superstructure foundation model includes the effect of lots of important parameters on the structure performance. Among these parameters, rigidity and flexibility of raft foundations and soil interactions become an important aspect of design due to their efficient, practical and economic performance compared to the isolated foundation for buildings and heavy projects. In this study, the elastoplastic constitutive model based on the three-dimensional finite element (FE) method is employed to investigate rigidity and flexibility parameters' effect on superstructure foundation behavior. The model is developed and calibrated using SAFE 12 and ABAQUS programs by comparing two case studies. Utilizing the Winkler approach, flexible soil foundations are designed. In addition, technics like turning the raft into a boxed-raft or piled raft are evaluated to improve the performance of the raft from a rigidity and flexibility point of view. Then, the effects of various factors and conditions which affect design such as geometry, modulus of subgrade reaction, stiffness of the foundation, the effect of soil and thickness of foundation, piled raft foundations (PRF) and boxed raft foundations are studied. The results demonstrate that the superstructure components such as shear walls and basement walls can significantly affect the deflection, shear stress, and bending moment of the raft and its structural design subsequently. Also, shear walls, as structural parts which transmit an important part of vertical and lateral loads to the foundation, can play an important role in the rigidity of the raft. It is concluded that using PRF instead of the simple raft, results in a much rigid foundation with more bearing capacity and less differential deflection. The results of this study have the potential to be utilized in the design of advanced superstructure, in which rigidity and flexibility act as the basic elements