Reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the standardized assessment of personality-abbreviated scale

Introduction: A short screening tool for high-risk individuals with personality disorder (PD) is useful both for clinicians and researchers. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Farsi version of the Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS). Methods: The original English version of the SAPAS questionnaire was translated into Farsi, and then, translated back into English by two professionals. A survey was then conducted using the questionnaire on 150 clients of primary health care centers in Tabriz, Iran. A total of 235 medical students were also studied for the reliability assessment of the questionnaire. The SAPAS was compared to the short form of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The data analysis was performed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve technique, operating characteristic for diagnostic efficacy, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest for reliability evaluation. Results: We found an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.566 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.455-0.677]; sensitivity of 0.89 and specificity of 0.26 at the cut-off score of 2 and higher. The total Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.38 and Cohen's kappa ranged between 0.5 and 0.8. Conclusion: The current study showed that the Farsi version of the SAPAS was relatively less efficient, in term of validity and reliability, in the screening of PD in the population

Analysis of Association between the Effects of Methylphenidate and DRD4 Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: Drug treatment is one of the most important treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The DRD4 gene is a transporter and receptor coding gene of dopamine and is one of the most important genes under investigation in the disorder and etiology of ADHD. In this study, the association between rs3758653 C/T and VNTR exon 3 repetition polymorphisms of the DRD4 gene and the effects of methylphenidate were investigated in patients with ADHD disorder consuming methylphenidate. Methods: The descriptive-analytical study was performed on 122 patients (5 - 18 years old) with ADHD who were treated with methylphenidate. DNA was extracted using salting out method. Subsequently, the rs3758653 polymorphism in the 5’UTR region of DRD4 gene was genotyped by PCR-RFLP method, and the VNTR fragment in exon III of DRD4 gene was investigated by electrophoresis gel on acrylamide gel method. After eight weeks from the start of drug treatment with methylphenidate, the intensity of symptoms was evaluated using the Conners scale. Finally, all data from questionnaires and information that were resulted from laboratory findings were analyzed using ANOVA and repeated measure analysis. Results: Of the 122 patients under study, 15 patients (12.3%) were responded to the drug treatment, and 107 patients (87.7%) were not responded. The significant differences were not revealed in genotype, and allele frequencies of between rs3758653 (C/T) and exon III 3’VNTR repeats polymorphisms of the DRD4 gene and responder and non-responder of ADHD groups to the drug treatment. Conclusions: The results showed that the reduction of ADHD symptoms with drug treatment is not related to DRD4 sub-types in patients with ADHD

Screening of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children aged 3 to 6 years and 11 month olds

BackgroundADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a multifactorial disorder, defined by hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficits. Symptoms of ADHD begins during early childhood and negatively affects functionality at various levels.AimsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 to screen for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children aged 3 to 6 years, 11 months olds of Tabriz in Iran.MethodsA total of 737 children aged 36 months to 6 years, 11 months in Tabriz were randomly selected from kindergarten and preschool centres. Both the Conners Early Childhood-Parent and -Teacher forms were used to estimate the prevalence of ADHD.ResultsThe results indicated that the prevalence of ADHD was 337 (45.7 per cent) based on Conners EC-Parent, 416 (56.4 per cent) according to Conners EC-Teacher, and 225 (30.5 per cent) based on the both Conners EC-Teacher & Parent scales. The results of Fischer's exact test showed that the prevalence of ADHD in boys (n=117, 35.3 per cent) was significantly higher than that of the girls (n=108, 26.6 per cent) (p=0.01, X2=6.57). The results of Chi-square test indicated that there was no difference among different age groups in terms of the prevalence of ADHD (X2=2.86, p=0.41).ConclusionADHD screening based on the Conners EC-Teacher & Parent forms was estimated to be 30.5 per cent. The regional prevalence of ADHD appears to be greater among children under the age of 7, although the use of the new Conners EC tool in this study could have possibly affected the ADHD prevalence estimates

Influence of Different Temperatures and Times on Antiradical Properties of Zataria multiflora Boiss. and Cinnamon zeylanicum Essential Oils by Using DPPH Method

The oxidation of fats and oils has a key role in the reduction of the nutritional and organoleptic properties of foodstuffs. Nowadays, there is a tendency to create to use natural preservatives, such as essential oils, for antioxidant, antiradical and antimicrobial properties in foodstuffs. In this study, the effect of thermal processing on the antiradical activities of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (ZMEO) and Cinnamon zeylanicum (CZEO) essential oils is checked. Antiradical activities were measured with a 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay at 3 temperatures (100, 140 and 180 °C) and at 3 different time intervals (1, 2 and 3 h). The EC50 of ZMEO and CZEO were 4026.67 ± 2.2 and 2605.01 ± 15.57 ppm, respectively, at 25 °C. The 2 essences showed various reactions and characteristics at different temperatures (100, 140 and 180 °C) and time ranges (1, 2 and 3 h). Maximum and minimum antiradical properties were observed for ZMEO at respectively, 140 and 180 °C after 1 h heating. doi:10.14456/WJST.2015.8

Stressful life events during pregnancy as risk factors for developing autistic disorder in children

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the role of prenatal stressful events in mothers of children and adolescents with autistic disorder (AD). Methods: This case-control study was conducted in 2014. A total number of 115 children and adolescents with AD were selected by convenience method from the autism rehabilitation centers in Tabriz, Iran. Moreover, 112 typically developing (TD) children and adolescents were selected from public schools using a random clustering method. Two groups were matched in terms of mother's and child's age and mother's educational level. The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) semi-structured diagnostic interview was used to evaluate the presence of psychiatric disorders. The diagnosis of AD was made based on the DSM-IV criteria during separate diagnostic interviews by two child and adolescent psychiatrists. The life stressful events’ inventory was used to assess the presence of stressful events during pregnancy. Results: According to Fisher's exact test, the frequency of stressful life events including failure to achieve life goals, high debt, frequent marital conflict, conflict with spouse's family, changes in sleeping habits, and sexual difficulties in the mothers of AD children during pregnancy was significantly higher than the mothers of TD children. Also, mothers of AD children reported significantly higher frequency for the positive stressful life events including the major job progress, starting or finishing education, change of education, location, and summer vacation during pregnancy. Conclusion: Some stressful life events in mothers during pregnancy may be considered as risk factors for developing AD in their children. Further researches are needed to establish the results of this study

Psychopathology of the Parents of Autistic Children Based on the Clinical Personality Disorders

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychopathology of parents of autistic children based on clinical personality disorders.Methodology: In this is a cross-sectional study,130 parents of autistic children were selected from autism community rehabilitation centers in Tabriz, Iran and 154 parents of the mentally healthy children were selected as controls. Diagnostic interview based on DSM-IV-TR criteria was used to diagnose autism by two child and adolescent psychiatrists. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) was used to evaluate parents’ personality profiles.Results: The frequency of having personality disorders was higher in the parents of autistic children than controls (p&lt;0.01).The most common psychiatric conditions among parents of autistic children were melancholic personality, persistent depression and negativism (44.6%, 29.2% and 25.4% respectively). Alcohol and substance use and antisocial personality were the least prevalent. Clinical patterns of personality disorders (avoidance, depressed, sadist, negativist, masochist), severe personality pathology (schizotypal, borderline, paranoid), clinical syndromes (generalized anxiety, somatoform, bipolar, persistent depression, PTSD), and severe clinical syndrome (thought disorder, delusional disorder) were higher in parents of autistic children than controls (p&lt;0.05) and prevalence of histrionic personality disorder was lower (p&lt;0.01).&nbsp;Conclusion: Parents of autistic children have higher rate of psychopathology.</p