Comparison of metabolic syndrome prevalence in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Research has shown that the metabolic syndrome is more prevalent among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. Given the scarcity of research on the disorders, this paper aims to compare the prevalence of the syndrome among the two groups of patients. METHODS: A total of 120 individuals participated in this cross sectional study: 60 patients with schizophrenia (26 males and 34 females) and 60 patients with bipolar I disorder (32 males and 28 females). The psychological disorders were diagnosed by some experienced psychiatrists according to the DSM-V. Furthermore, metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to ATP III guidelines. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome prevalence among schizophrenic and bipolar I patients was 28 and 36 percent, respectively; the disparity in prevalence is not significant. According to the results, compared to their male counterparts, females were more prone significant to metabolic syndrome. Moreover, diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher among bipolar I patients. On the other hand, schizophrenic males were observed to have higher fasting blood sugar levels in comparison to bipolar I males patients. Age, consumption of second generation antipsychotics or antidepressants, and the duration of the disorder were found to be related to metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study showed that metabolic syndrome is not more prevalent among bipolar I patients, compared to those with schizophrenia. Also, women are more likely to be affected by the syndrome. A number of factors such as age, consumption of medication, and duration of the disorder are associated with the likelihood of the syndrome.

Factors Affecting the Choice of Psychiatry as a Specialty in Psychiatry Residents in Iran.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the current factors affecting the choice of psychiatry as a specialty and to detect the main factors in their choice. Method: This descriptive study included 75 first year psychiatry residents in the academic year of 2014/2015. A Likert-type anonymous questionnaire consisting of academic and demographic data with 43 questions, which evaluated the reason for choosing psychiatry as a specialty, was given to the residents. Results: The participants had a positive opinion about 28 items of the questionnaire, meaning that these items had a positive effect in choosing psychiatry as a specialty (questions with P value less than 0.05 and a positive mean). More than 80% of the residents had a positive opinion about six items of the questionnaire (amount of intellectual challenge, variety of knowledge fields relevant to psychiatry, emphasis on the patient as a whole person, the importance of treating mental illnesses in the future, work pressure and stress of the field during residency and coordinating with the person's life style). The participants had a negative opinion about two items of the questionnaire (questions with a P value less than 0.05 and a negative mean). They included experiencing mental illness personally through relatives or close friends as well as the income in psychiatry. Moreover, 36% of the residents with a more definite opinion mentioned that they chose psychiatry as a specialty because of the limitations in residency exam. Conclusion: Assistants had a positive opinion about most of the questions and this positive attitude seemed to be an important factor in their specialty choice. However, attending to the preventing factors may increase the selection of psychiatry as a specialty. .