Evaluation of Psychopathology and Quality of Life in Patients with Anogenital Wart Compared to Control Group.

Anogenital warts (AGW) are one of the most common venereal diseases. Psychosocial complications and quality of life (QoL) of AGW patients have been considered only in recent years. Herein, the QoL and psychopathology in patients with AGW are evaluated. In total, 37 AGW patients and 37 healthy controls were recruited in the present cross-sectional study. All participants were provided with the symptom checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R) and short-form (SF-36) questionnaires. All analyses were performed using the SPSS software, version 16.0.1 for Windows. QoL was not significantly different between the study groups (P=0.12). The data showed that mental health, general health, and social functioning were significantly decreased in AGW patients (P<0.05). In addition, AGW patients were significantly more depressed and anxious than the control group (P=0.01 and P=0.04, respectively). AGW has adverse effects on psychological and QoL elements of the infected individuals. Psychological factors should be carefully considered when treating a patient with the HPV virus; hence, referral to a psychiatrist seems mandatory in these cases.

Assessment of life skills of medical students in Mashhad, Iran, in 2015.

BACKGROUND: Developing social skills and mental health is a crucial part of the psychosocial health status of medical students. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the life skills of medical students in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2015. By census method, 146 interns were entered into the study. The life skill questionnaire, consisting of 144 questions, was used as the measurement tool. Over 3 months, all the medical students in internship period were asked to complete the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by independent-samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Mann-Whitney with SPSS version 11.5 software. RESULTS: Women were shown to have higher decision-making ability than men (p=0.046). It was also shown in the study that social behavior (p=0.018), participation in activities that improve benefits (p=0.006), critical thinking (p=0.007), observing and using safety points (p=0.005), and mental health status (p=0.034) were significantly lower in men than in women. The data also suggests that men (13.97±4.7249) are more likely to become global citizens than women (12.15±3.6298) (p=0.010). Furthermore, there was a significant difference when comparing smoking and non-smoking in freedom and justice (p=0.003) and becoming a global citizen (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Our study provides helpful information about medical students' life skills for policy makers and university authorities. We suggest that gender differences should be considered during life skill training.

Effect of changing journal clubs from traditional method to evidence-based method on psychiatry residents.

INTRODUCTION: Journal club is a valuable educational tool in the medical field. This method follows different goals. This study aims to investigate the effect on psychiatry residents of changing journal clubs from the traditional method to the evidence-based method. METHOD: This study was conducted using a before-after design. First- and second-year residents of psychiatry were included in the study. First, the status quo was evaluated by standardized questionnaire regarding the effect of journal club. Then, ten sessions were held to familiarize the residents with the concept of journal club. After that, evidence-based journal club sessions were held. The questionnaire was given to the residents again after the final session. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage frequency, mean and standard deviation), and analytic statistics (paired t-test) using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of a total of 20 first- and second-year residents of psychiatry, the data of 18 residents were finally analyzed. Most of the subjects (17 [93.7%]) were females. The mean overall score before and after the intervention was 1.83±0.45 and 2.85±0.57, respectively, which showed a significant increase (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Moving toward evidence-based journal clubs seems like an appropriate measure to reach the goals set by this educational tool.

A Study on the Association of Interleukin-1 Cluster with Genetic Risk in Bipolar I Disorder in Iranian Patients: A Case-control Study.

The pathogenesis of Bipolar I Disorder (BP-I) involves immune-mediated mechanisms, especially an imbalance in pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene cluster, coding some of these pro-inflammatory cytokines, might play a role in various neuropathologies related to neuron inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of IL-1 gene cluster polymorphisms in determining the susceptibility to BP-I in Iranian population. 48 patients with BP-I in Mashhad (in north-eastern Iran), diagnosed by two psychiatrists using SCID (structured clinical interview for DSM disorders) were selected through convenient sampling and were compared with 47 healthy controls, voluntarily enrolled in the study. Patients with non-Persian ethnicity, history of immunoallergic disorders, endocrinopathies, neurologic disorders, and substance-induced mood disorders were excluded from both case and control groups. Genotyping of IL-1 gene cluster polymorphisms, including IL-1a-889, IL-1b +3954, IL-1b-511, and IL-1RN (VNTR) were carried out using Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and compared by SPSS using Fisher's exact and chi-square tests. The frequency of IL-1b-511 CC genotype and C/T allelic frequency were significantly different between BMD patients and healthy controls (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). Among patients, -511 T allele was significantly more frequent in those with a positive history of major depression. Moreover, +3954 T allele was significantly more frequent in early onset BMD patients. The results suggest a positive association between IL-1 gene cluster variation and BP-I. This polymorphism may contribute to genetic vulnerability through its possible role in neuron inflammation.

Screening for depression in hospitalized pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: In chronically ill children who are hospitalized, many mood changes occur. For example, in children with cancer or renal failure, prolonged hospitalization and chemotherapy can lead to depression. With the improved survival of childhood malignancies, the effect of treatment on child's psychosocial well-being becomes increasingly relevant. In this study, we examined the prevalence of depression in hospitalized children with chronic and acute conditions in Dr Sheikh Pediatrics Hospital in Mashhad. MATERIALS & METHODS: After receiving the approval from the Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, we did this cross-sectional descriptive study, from April to June 2012 in Dr Sheikh Pediatric Hospital in Mashhad. Ninety children, between 8 to 16 years, were screened for depression. The sampling method was census. Children with a history of depressive or other mental disorders were excluded. Three groups of children (children with chronic renal disease, malignancy, and acute disease) were evaluated for depression using standard Children Depression Inventory Questionnaire (CDI). Two specifically trained nurses filled out the questionnaires at patients' bedside under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Depression scores were then analyzed by SPSS software. RESULTS: Of 90 children, 43(47.7%) were male and 47(52.2%) were female. The Children's mean age was 11±2.3 years, and the mean length of hospitalization was 8±5.3 days. Depression was detected in various degrees in 63% of patients (N=57), and 36.6% of children (N=32) had no symptoms of depression. Severe depression was not seen in any of the patients with acute illness. More than half of patients with cancer and chronic kidney disease had moderate to severe depression. There was a significant statistical relationship between the duration of illness and severity of depression. There was also a significant correlation between severity of depression and frequency of hospitalization. Children who had been hospitalized more than 3 times in the previous year, experienced more severe levels of depression. We also found a significant correlation between pubertal age and severity of depression in patients with cancers and chronic renal failure. CONCLUSION: Children who are hospitalized due to chronic conditions are at a higher risk for mood disorders in comparison with the ones with acute conditions. It is therefore advisable to consider more practical plans to improve the care for hospitalized children's mental health.