Confirmatory factor analysis and gender invariance of Persian version of the modified Yale food addiction scale (mPYFAS) 2.0: insight from a large scale Iranian sample.

BACKGROUND: The Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0) was developed with the primary objective of evaluating food addiction (FA). The present study aimed to undertake the translation, pilot testing, and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the mYFAS 2.0 within the Persian-speaking population. METHODS: The transcultural adaptation of the mYFAS 2.0 to the Persian language was conducted. Data collection was carried out through an anonymous online questionnaire. Participants completed the Persian versions of the mYFAS 2.0, Binge Eating Scale (BES), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The assessment encompassed the evaluation of internal consistency reliability, factor structure, as well as convergent and discriminant validity of the aforementioned questionnaires. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the single-factor model of the Persian translation of mYFAS 2.0 performed satisfactorily, with comparative fit index (CFI) and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) values exceeding 0.95, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) less than or equal to 0.09, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) below 0.03. The internal consistency and composite reliability of the mYFAS 2.0 were favorable in the entire sample, as well as in both male and female groups, with alpha (α) values of 0.83, ordinal alpha (αord) of 0.93, and composite reliability (CR) of 0.86. Additionally, significant relationships were observed between the total score of BES (r = 0.59, p < 0.001), BIS-11 (r = - 0.16, p < 0.001), and CD-RISC (r = 0.22, p < 0.001) with mYFAS 2.0-diagnosed FA presence, severity, and symptom count. CONCLUSIONS: The Persian version of the mYFAS 2.0 exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties.

In this study, researchers developed a Persian version of the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0) to assess food addiction in Persian-speaking individuals. They translated and tested the scale's reliability and validity through an online survey with 9606 Persian speaking participants. The results showed that the Persian mYFAS 2.0 performed well, with a reliable single-factor model. The internal consistency and reliability were good across the entire sample and in both male and female groups. The relationships between mYFAS 2.0 and other scales measuring binge eating, impulsivity, and resilience were significant. The findings suggest that the Persian version of mYFAS 2.0 is a reliable tool for assessing food addiction in the Persian-speaking population. The study used statistical analyses like confirmatory factor analysis, indicating the scale's robustness. Overall, the psychometric properties of the Persian mYFAS 2.0 were satisfactory, providing a valuable instrument for researchers and healthcare professionals studying and addressing food addiction in this population. The study contributes to cross-cultural research and enhances our understanding of food addiction in diverse linguistic communities.

Risk and Protective Factors Affecting Drug Craving among Patients with Substance Use Disorders Undergoing Opioid Agonists Maintenance Therapy.

Background: In this study, the purpose was to investigate the risk and protective factors affecting craving among patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) on buprenorphine, methadone, or opium maintenance treatment in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: In the current cross-section path analysis model, the statistical population was all SUD patients in Isfahan who were under treatment with Methadone or Buprenorphine in 2018. The study sample included 482 people who were on maintenance treatment in Isfahan who were selected by random sampling in two stages. The Franken, Hendriks, and Brink Opiate Craving Questionnaire (OCQ), Substance Related Beliefs Questionnaire (SRBQ), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Patient Health Questionnaire, Sixbey Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS) and the Self-Resiliency Scale (SRS) were used to collect data. A path analysis method and PLS software were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that the direct impacts of self-resilience (ß=-0.147, p = 0.009) and uncompromising strategies (ß = 0.249, p = 0.0001) on depression are significant. Also, the direct effects of belief in drugs (ß = 0.518, p = 0.0001) and depression (ß = 0.219, p = 0.0001) on craving are significant. Conclusion: Substance-related beliefs play an essential role in craving both directly and indirectly. The results of the present study can be used to carry out educational and therapeutic interventions for drug SUD patients.

Validity of the Persian version of the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQIR).

PURPOSE: Currently, the most useful questionnaire for determining the chronotype is the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ). It determines chronotype based on sleep-wake behavior on workdays and work-free days and uses the mid-sleep time on free days (MSF), corrected for accumulated sleep debt over the work week to classify chronotype (MSFsc). Our study aimed at validating Persian version of the MCTQ. METHODS: Participants completed the Persian version of the MCTQ, reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The study sample was comprised of 250 Iranian men and women (mean age 34 years, age range 30 to 58 years, 113 men). Results showed that there is a significant negative relationship between the components of MCTQ and rMEQ, and the strongest relationship related to the MSF index. The results also showed that MCTQ parameters were not significantly related to the ESS scale. Cut-off values of MSFsc for chronotype categories were determined by inter-quartile range (Q25% = 3.44, Q50% = 4.68, and Q75% = 5.75). CONCLUSIONS: Like the MCTQ in other languages, the Persian version of the MCTQ is a reliable tool for assessing chronotype.

Berberine hydrochloride improves cognitive deficiency through hippocampal up-regulation of neurotrophins following inhalant self-administration of methamphetamine.

Objectives: Chronic methamphetamine (METH) abuse is recognized as an important risk factor for cognitive impairment. A plant-based isoquinoline alkaloid, Berberine hydrochloride (BER), shows memory and cognition enhancement properties. Due to the aim of the present study which is to investigate the influence of BER administration on METH-induced cognitive deficits, we investigated neurotrophin signaling including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) as a possible mechanism by which BER exerts its cognitive improvement influences. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly classified into four groups, including non-treated control, intubated control, METH-inhaled, and METH-inhaled + BER-intubated. Rats in the METH-inhaled group underwent METH inhalation for 14 days, and the BER-inhaled and BER-intubated rats were intubated (100mg/kg) for the following three weeks. A novel object recognition task (NORt) was carried out on days 36 and 37. Rats were sacrificed for histological preparations after the behavioral tests. Neurotrophic factors, including GDNF and BDNF, were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining in the hippocampus. Results: This experiment indicated a dramatic improvement in cognitive deficits associated with chronic METH abuse (P<0.001). Furthermore, a significant decrease in the expression of both neurotrophins, GDNF (P<0.001) and BDNF (P<0.001), was observed in the METH-inhaled group compared with the METH-inhaled group treated with BER and non-treated control group. Conclusion: Activation of neurotrophic factors after BER administration resulted in improvement of METH-induced cognitive deficits. Therefore, BER may be considered a promising treatment for METH users who experience cognition deficits.

Validation and Psychological Properties of the Persian Version of DSM 5 Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (PYFAS 2.0) in Non-clinical Population.

Background: The Yale Food Addiction Scale version 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) is used for the assessment of food addiction (FA). This research intended to evaluate the validity of the Persian translation of the questionnaire and to investigate the psychological properties and the association between FA and anthropometric indices. Methods: In a sample of 473 nonclinical participants, FA, binge eating, and objectively measured anthropometric indices were assessed. Internal consistency, convergent, and validity of the PYFAS 2.0 were examined. Also, the factor structure (confirmatory factor analysis following the 11 diagnostic indicators in addition to the significant distress) and the construct of the scale were evaluated. Findings: The frequencies of mild, moderate, and severe FA based on PYFAS 2.0 were 0.2%, 10%, and 5.5%, respectively. The findings supported a one-factor structure. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good construct validity (RMSEA=0.043, χ2=76.38, df=41, χ2 (CMIN)/df=1.862, GFI=0.975, AGFI=0.957, IFI=0.986, RFI=0.958, ECVI=0.319, TLI=0.978). For both the diagnostic and symptom count versions, the PYFAS 2.0 presented acceptable internal consistency (IC) (Kuder-Richardson 20=0.99 and McDonald omega=0.91). Conclusion: The PYFAS 2.0 was a psychometrically sound instrument in an Iranian non-clinical population. This questionnaire can be used to study FA in Persian non-clinical populations. Future research should study the psychometric characteristics of this scale in high-risk groups.

Lapse and Relapse Rates in Narcotics Anonymous versus Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A 12-Month Prospective Study.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare lapse and relapse-free survival between patients treated in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) groups and Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) centers and to determine the relationship between social support scale and treatment outcome. Method: This study was a prospective, 12-month cohort study using the random sampling method to select 100 newcomer patients treated by the NA Association as well as 100 patients in MMT centers. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Social Support Appraisals (SSA) scale at the onset of the study along with follow-up phone calls every other week. Results: All participants were male, aged between 18 and 65 with a mean (SD) age of 38.98 (± 10.85) years. Prevalence of relapse in 12 months was 60.5%. The lapses in the MMT group and relapses in the NA group were significantly higher (P < 0.001). The younger patients with lower levels of education are at greater risk of lapse/relapse. The mean score of SSA was significantly higher in the MMT group than the NA group in all subscales, including friends, family, and the others' support (P < 0.001). The mean scores of SSA subscales for the participants without relapse in the NA group was significantly higher in comparison to the MMT group. Conclusion: Detection of factors related to drug abuse relapse/lapse may help addiction therapists to identify drug abuse patients with lapse/relapse and to develop treatment and policy guidelines to prevent relapse in addiction recovery.

Metabolite Alternations in the Dopamine Circuit Associated with Methamphetamine-Related Psychotic Symptoms: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study.

Objective: Chronic METH use results in neurodegenerative alternations in the human brain. The present study aimed to assess the long-term METH impact on brain metabolite concentrations in cases meeting the DSM-5 criteria regarding METH use. Method: We recruited 42 METH users meeting the DSM-5 criteria and 21 healthy controls. Psychotic signs were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) evaluating Myo-inositol (Ml), Choline (Cho), Glutamine plus Glutamate (Glx), N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), and Creatine (Cre) were obtained in the dopaminergic pathway (Frontal Cortex, Substantia nigra, Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), Hippocampus, Striatum,) the subjects. All participants collected urine specimens for 24 hours to measure presence of specific metabolites including METH metabolite level, 5-Hydroxy indoleacetic acid metabolite (for serotonin level monitoring), and metanephrine metabolite (for dopamine level monitoring). Results: Dopamine and Serotonin increased in the METH group (P < 0.001). METH caused an increase in the Cre (P < 0.001) and a decline in the Glx (P < 0.001), NAA (P = 0.008), and MI (P < 0.001) metabolite concentrations of dopamine circuits in METH users in comparison with healthy subjects. We found no change in Cho metabolite concentration. Psychological data and the neurometabolite concentrations in the studied area of the brain were significantly correlated. Conclusion: There is an association between METH use and active neurodegeneration in the dopamine circuit, and it causes serious mental illness. 1HMRS can detect patient's deterioration and progression of disease as well as follow-up management in patients with METH use disorder.