Concurrent and Discriminant Validity of the Farsi Translation of the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)

Objective: Early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can lead to earlier intervention and greater improvement of children’s quality of life and performance; hence, the use of screening tools is essential to facilitate the diagnosis process. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical and differential validity of Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)in a group of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared to a normal developmental group. Method: The study was conducted in Roozbeh Hospital involving 52 children with ASD and 53 typically developing (TD) children, aged between 4-12 years. Their parents completed the SRS-2 and SCQ. These children were also interviewed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (CARS-2) and Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS). After completion, the results were analyzed using the SPSS Version 18 software and a significant level of 0.05. Results: The average age of children in the autism group was 7.5 ± 2.7 years, while in the typically developing (TD) children group, it was 7.7 ± 2.3 years (P = 0.656). A positive correlation coefficient was observed between the CARS questionnaire score, the SRS questionnaire score, the SCQ questionnaire score, and the ASDS ‏(P < 0.01). In the SRS questionnaire, the area under the ROC curve was 0.976, and in the SCQ questionnaire it was 0.953, both of which had a good and significant diagnostic value (P < 0.001). A sensitivity of 0.942 and specificity of 0.811 for the cut-off point of 62.5 were obtained in the SRS questionnaire. Additionally, a sensitivity of 0.865 and specificity of 0.925 for the cut-off point of 15.5 were achieved in the SCQ questionnaire. Conclusion: The SRS-2 and the SCQ are sensitive and specific tools for identifying and discriminating children with autism spectrum disorder

A pilot study on efficacy of group educational training on knowledge level, stress, anxiety and depression in parents of children with autistic disorder

Background: there is a paucity of data regarding the efficacy of group education for parents of children with autistic disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of parental group education in increasing their knowledge about the disease and ways to help autistic children and decreasing their depression, anxiety and stress.                                                                                                           Materials and Methods: twelve parents who had a child with autistic disorder and was referred to Ruzbeh Hospital for treatment participated in a group education program consisting of five two-hour sessions. Before initiating and after completing the program the participants were evaluated via following assessment tools: The Speech-Language-Hearing History Profile, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, Participant satisfaction Scale, and a tailored questioner for assessing parents’ knowledge level before and after training.                                                                             Result: Study data showed a significant increase in parents’ knowledge level (p< 0.001). The quality of this program was mentioned to be appropriate by the participants. There was no improvement in any measures of the   depression, anxiety, and stress.  Conclusion: Group educational training could be effective in increasing knowledge of parents with autistic children about autism. Additional studies with more samples from different age groups are recommended.                                                                                                                     Key words: autism, group training, parent trainin

The effectiveness of semantic aspect of language on reading comprehension in a 4-year-old child with autistic spectrum disorder and hyperlexia

Background: Hyperlexia is a super ability demonstrated by a very specific group of individuals with developmental disorders. This term is used to describe the children with high ability in word recognition, but low reading comprehension skills, despite the problems in language, cognitive and social skills. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of improving the semantic aspect of language (increase in understanding and expression vocabulary) on reading comprehension in an autistic child with hyperlexia.Case: The child studied in this research was an autistic child with hyperlexia. At the beginning of this study he was 3 years and 11 months old. He could read, but his reading comprehension was low. In a period of 12 therapy session, understanding and expression of 160 words was taught to child. During this period, the written form of words was eliminated. After these sessions, the reading comprehension was re-assessed for the words that child could understand and express.Conclusion: Improving semantic aspect of language (understanding and expression of vocabulary) increase reading comprehension of written words

The Impact of E-CRM on Customer Loyalty Using Data Mining Techniques

With the expansion of the Internet, various tools have been used to communicate with customers in organizations, and organizations use different E-CRM methods to create competitive advantages. Since customer loyalty is critical to achieving competitive advantage and profitability for organizations, one of the goals of organizations in using E-CRM is to maintain and increase customer loyalty. Therefore, considering the importance of the impact of various E-CRM services on customers’ loyalty, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of E-CRM on the loyalty of Bank Mellat customers using data mining techniques. The data required for this research were extracted from Bank Mellat databases. Data mining techniques include clustering with K-means algorithm and neural networks (using error-relay algorithm) and LRFM model through programming in MATLAB and Excel software were used to analyze the data. The results showed that with increasing use of E-CRM services, customers’ loyalty increases. The relationship between E-CRM, the components of LRFM model, and loyalty is a nonlinear and the change in loyalty as E-CRM changes is not a constant.  The increase in loyalty is a function of LRFM components, the amount of E-CRM and weights obtained in the neural network

The Effect of Parent Management Training on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective — To investigate the effect of Parent Management Training (PMT) on behaviour of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the general mental health of their parents. Method — Twelve parents whose children or adolescents were diagnosed with ADHD agreed to participate in the PMT classes for eight weekly sessions of 1½ hours duration. The children were aged between 4 and 13 years. The general mental health of parents and the behaviour of their children were assessed at the first, and after the last training sessions on measures of General Mental Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised (CPRS-R), and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-Revised (CTRS-R). Results — The total score of CPRS-R, and the subscale scores measuring conduct problems, learning problems and the hyperactivity index all decreased significantly. None of the scores on the CTRS-R changed significantly. The mean scores of the GHQ-28 were significant less after the intervention compared to before the intervention. Conclusion — PMT improved the behaviour of the children with ADHD and the general mental health of the parents. It is possible that the high refusal rate is an indication that the intervention may be unacceptable to a large proportion of parents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2005, 17(1): 31–3

Theory of Mind in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder in Euthymic Phase: ‎Using the Strange Stories Test

Objective: This study evaluated the theory of mind (ToM) in adolescents diagnosed with bipolar disorder ‎‎(BD) during their euthymic period compared to a typically developing (TD) group.‎ Method: The BD group consisted of thirty 11-18 year old inpatients in euthymic phase. The TD ‎group included 30 age, gender, and IQ matched volunteer students. To assess the diagnosis and ‎comorbid disorders, we performed the semi-structured interview of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders ‎and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) for the BD adolescents. To ‎evaluate the severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mania, Conner's ‎Parent Rating Scale-Revised version (CPRS-R), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were ‎used, respectively. Ravens Progressive Matrices was conducted to evaluate intellectual ability in ‎the both groups. Happe Strange Stories test was performed to assess ToM in the participants. Data were ‎analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of covariance, and Pearson Correlation analysis.‎ Results: The two groups did not show any differences in comprehending the stories; however, the BD ‎group’s mentalizing scores were significantly weaker than the TD group (p<0.05).‎‎ Conclusion: The ToM impairments in adolescents with BD may be explained as a trait marker which may lead ‎to continuation of social problems even during remission‏.

The Effect of Social Skills Training Program on the Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Adolescent Girls in a High School

"n&nbsp; "n&nbsp; "nObjective: "nSchool-based interventions (such as life skills training) have become the mainstay for prevention of some behavioral problems. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a social skills training program on a group of students who were in the first grade of high school in an urban area of Tehran, Iran "n&nbsp; "n&nbsp; "nMethod: "nIn a before-after study, a kind of social skill education program named Right Choices" was used for high school female students. The entire students&nbsp;of a class in a high school participated in the study. The students&apos; age&nbsp; ranged from 14-16 years. All of the participants lived in an urban area. Demographic characteristics were recorded in a designed questionnaire and included the name, age, educational level of the students and their parents, and prior history of psychiatric and medical condition. The total problem score and each of the subscale scores of the students before and after the study were calculated and compared. "n&nbsp; "n&nbsp; "nResults: "nThe mean age of the 33 participants in the study whose SDQ answer sheets were completed was equal to 15.15&plusmn;6.2 years (14 to 17 years). The mean total problem score of the participants in the beginning of the program was equal to 14.3&plusmn;5. After the program, the students&apos; total problem score and all of the subscale scores improved, however, the differences between pre- and post intervention scores were not statistically significant. "n&nbsp; "n&nbsp; "nConclusion: "nSocial skills training program may impact the problem behaviors&nbsp;of the adolescent girls

Study on attention deficit Hyperactivity and personality disorders in parents of children with the same disease: brief report

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in adults, and associated with comorbidities and negative consequences in many parents of children with ADHD. The aim of this study was to determine ADHD and personality disorder in parents of children with ADHD compared to the healthy group. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive and the analytic study were conducted in 2015 in Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital Tehran and the sample group consisted of 45 adult subjects with ADHD children and 45 healthy adults who were chosen control method. questionnaires Conner&rsquo;s adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder questionnaires, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II), Conner&rsquo;s parent&rsquo;s scales between the two groups were completed, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Symptom Checklist -90- Revised (SCL-90-R) were completed in the group controlling. And for parents who had a score above the cutting point for the diagnostic assessment of personality disorder Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders, to assess personality disorders, as well as for the diagnostic assessment of ADHD in adults Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA) was conducted. Results: The incidence of ADHD in parents of children with ADHD than parents with healthy children was 6/5 equivalent and the prevalence of B cluster disorders, C cluster disorders, passive-aggressive personality disorder and depressive personality disorder in parents of children with ADHD was higher than the cut-off point parents with healthy children (P˂0.01). The most common subtypes in parents of children with ADHD were respectively mixed (attention- hyperactivity) (38.5%) and attention deficit (30.8%). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD and personality disorders in parents of children with ADHD are more than parents with healthy

Efficacy of the Positive Parenting Program (Triple-P) for a Group of Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

"nObjective: To evaluate the efficacy of the Positive Parenting Program (Triple-P) for parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). "nMethod:&nbsp; Sixty families who had at least one child with clinically diagnosed ADHD aged between 6 to12 were recruited from the consecutive referrals to a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic. Families were randomly assigned to the intervention group (who participated in an 8- week- group Triple-P, N=30) and a control group (N=30). Parents completed the battery of self-report questionnaires of triple-P at the beginning and after the 8th session. "nResults: There were no significant differences in pre intervention measures between the two groups. Comparing the pre and post intervention data, the Triple- P group was associated with significantly lower levels of parent reported child behavior problems (P=0.001), lower levels of dysfunctional parenting (P=0.001) and greater parental competence (P=0.001) than the control group. The parents the in triple-P group had significant improvement on measures of depression, anxiety and stress, in comparison with the control group (P=0.001). This study did not follow the long term effect which marks its limitation. "nConclusion: The Triple-P program can be recommended for parents of children with ADHD to reduce the problem behavior of their children and to improve their abilities