The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence rate of mental disorders in factory workers in Chahar-Mahal Bakhtiary province of Islamic Republic of Iran.

Following a pilot study and determination of cut-off point for the SRQ-24 Questionnaire, the study was carried out in two stages. In the first stage 503 subjects were administered the questionnaire and in the second stage, 148 subjects who had scores equal to or higher than the cut-off point were assessed by a clinical interview checklist based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.

Results showed that the prevalence of mental disorders was 19.9% (females 23.4% and males 19.1%).The most prevalent disorders were anxiety disorders (7.7%) and mood disorders (7%) followed by somatoform disorders (2.4%) and adjustment disorders (1.4). The finding also indicated that the prevalence of mental disorders among technical workers, semi-skilled workers and unskilled workers were 22.6%, 20.4%, and 18.6%, respectively.

These findings emphasize the responsibility of the health policy makers for prevention, treatment and medical education for mental health in factories.

Religious and spiritual beliefs are widely recognized as important components of human wellness, of health care outcomes and of holistic medical and nursing care. There are controversial data suggesting a correlation between religiosity and mental health disorders among young adults and students. Aim of the study was to determine the association between self-esteem, depression and religious and spiritual beliefs among nursing students in Thessaloniki, Greece.

A total of 122 students agreed to participate in the study. Data was collected using the Greek versions of three self-administered, structured, pre-tested questionnaires: I) The Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs II) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and III) Rosenberg self-esteem scale.

Self-esteem was found normal in 89,3% of the students, low in 10,7%, but it is important to notice that nobody reported high self-esteem levels. The vast majority of the students (61,5%) reported both religious and spiritual beliefs. 27% reported only religious beliefs and 9% only spiritual beliefs. 31,9% of the students perceived depressive symptoms, most of them in mild levels (19,5%). Praying, religious reading and religious attendance were associated with normal self-esteem and low depressive symptoms. However, a consistent negative correlation was found between intrinsic religiosity and depression.

These findings indicate that religious and spiritual variables influence the psychological well-being of students. Religiosity may have a protective role against depression; however, our study sample is relative small and further studies are required in order to evaluate the effect of religious beliefs on the mental health of students.

Depression is a global public health problem with highest rates in women in low income countries including Pakistan. Paediatricians may be a resource to help with maternal depression. Little is known in low income countries about the prevalence of depression and its social correlates in mothers of children attending paediatric clinics.

Using cross-sectional design consecutive women attending the paediatric clinic were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (n=185). Women scoring 12 or more (n=70) and a random sample of low scorers (n=16) were interviewed using the Clinical Interview Schedule Revised (CIS-R) to confirm the diagnosis of depression, the Oslo scale was used to measure social stress and EQ-5D for health related quality of life.

The prevalence of maternal depression was 51%. The mean age of the sample was 26 years. Depressed mothers were more likely to be living in a joint family household, they were less educated and they and their husbands were less likely to be employed. The depressed mothers had more financial difficulties and they were more likely to sleep hungry during the last month due to financial problems. The depressed mothers had less social support and poorer quality of life compared to non depressed mothers.

Maternal depression in this health care setting is high and it is associated with social stress and poor social support. Paediatric appointments may be an opportunity for care and care delivery for maternal depression.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in children (5.29%) worldwide, and highly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders.

To evaluate ADHD symptoms prevalence/frequency in young ambulatory patients diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders.

Non-interventional, multicentre, and cross-sectional, retrospective study. Patients aged 15-24 having a primary diagnosis of: Substance Use (SUD), Borderline personality (BPD), Anxiety (AD), Affective, Antisocial Personality (APD), or Conduct Disorders(CD) or Bulimia, giving inform consent were included (not previously treated/diagnosed with ADHD). ADHD symptoms prevalence was captured following DSM-IV criteria and moderate ADHD symptoms was considered as scoring >24 in the ADHD RS (DuPaul).

795 patients meeting in- and exclusion criteria were analyzed in the study. Mean age was 21.12 (SD: 2.64), and the majority were men (57.5%).A probable ADHD diagnosis (6 or more DSMIV symptoms and ADHD RS moderate symptoms) was apparent in: 40.3% of SUD patients, 23.7% of AD, 21.7% of Affective Disorders, 30.3% of Bulimia, 48.3% of BPD, 41.7% of CD and 57.1% of APD. Moreover, patients with SUD (ODD: 1.54) and BPD (ODD: 2.2) had significantly more risk vs. rest of population studied of having moderate ADHD symptoms. Also, patients having a probable ADHD diagnosis were significantly rated more severe in the GCI-Severity scale than the rest of population studied.

This cross-sectional study showed that ADHD symptoms are highly prevalent in young ambulatory patients diagnosed primarily with other psychiatric disorders, what seems to worse patient outcome if not diagnosed/managed on time. ADHD comorbidity risk varied significantly depending on the primary diagnosis.

To study and to evaluate the mental health of the general population of Slovenia with a special emphasis on suicidal behaviour.

The representative sample consisted of 846 randomly selected adult Slovene inhabitants, chosen from a pool of telephone subscribers (N = 2433). Data were gathered by the means of a telephone interview using standardised measures (RSES, Questionnaire of social support, Sense of Mastery) on specific variables related to mental health and suicidal behaviour, e.g. presence of mental illness, use of psychotropic substances, self esteem, sense of mastery of life, social support, etc.

10% of participants have had suicidal ideation, 2% have had a plan for a suicide attempt (in both cases statistically significantly more women) whereas only 1% of the respondents actually attempted suicide. Greater risk for suicide was found among divorced and single persons and those living in rural areas. More than half of suicidal individuals didn’t seek help for their problems anywhere and those who did, mostly turned to relatives and friends. We observed statistically significant differences in help seeking among men and women (the later asking for help more). Suicidal individuals reported of statistically significant smaller social network, of smaller emotional support, lower self-esteem and lower feelings of having control over their own lives when compared to non-suicidal individuals.

Our results accord with specific theories of risk factors (sociological, psychological, etc.) and bear potential for directions to be taken when tailoring suicide prevention strategies, in particular when addressing the general population.

Some of lifestyle factors may influence sleep quality. Because poor sleep quality is associated with an increased risk for various physical and mental diseases, it would be beneficial to identify lifestyle factors that may lead to poor sleep quality.

The subjects were 3341 employees (2280 males and 1061 females) aged 20-65 in local government in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted in January 2003. Sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). PSQI consists of 7 subscale scores generating a global PSQI score. In the present study, a subject with a global score of more than 5.5 was defined as having poor sleep quality. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate whether smoking, exercise, and alcohol drinking habits were independently associated with poor sleep quality, after adjustment for potential confounding factors.

In both men and women, current smokers were more likely to have poor sleep quality. While, in men, physical inactivity (exercise frequency of less than 1/week) were associated with poor sleep quality, there were no significant relationship between physical inactivity and poor sleep quality in women. While, in men, daily alcohol drinking was associated with better sleep quality, no significant associations of drinking frequency with sleep quality were found in women.

Current smoking may lead to poor sleep quality for both men and women, while the associations of physical inactivity and infrequent alcohol drinking with poor sleep quality were significant only for men. Longitudinal study is necessary to confirm the causality.

Sleep is the most important biological circadian rythm. Researches have shown that sleep deprivation causes reduction of hypothalamus function, decrease glucose tolerance and increase cardio-vascular diseases, hypertension and also decrease their mental and intellectual activity of human. This research investigate insomnia in adult people (Kashan city,Iran.)

This cross-sectional research has been done in Kashan,2008 by using classified randomized sampling in 39 health centers among persons with 18 years old and over (N= 1155). Written consent was taken from subjects, and all of them answered to demographic questionnaire,and researcher-made insomnia questionnaire. Test-retest Reliability of this test was 99% and its internal consistency was 82% by using α kronbach. Data was analyzed by using Fisher exact test.

Prevalence of insomnia was (n=684, 59.2%). The highest rate of insomnia were found among adult with age of 42 to 65 years old (n=266, 67.9%) and then in sex of feminity (n=387, 56.5%). There was significant relationship between insomnia and psychiatric history [PV< 0/0001, OR=2.24], sleep disorder in family [PV< 0/0001, OR=4.67] and drinking caffeine before sleep [PV< 0/001, OR=1.64].

The majority of adult person suffer from insomnia and most sleep problems are observed among middle age group. Since sleep disorders can be related to social, psychological and physical problems, paying attention to quality and hygiene sleep in general population is essential.

The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and social and academic impairment in 6-11 year-old children residents of Athens, Greece.

Following the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, the study combined information from teachers for 603 elementary school children following grades first to sixth. A 2-stage screening process was employed including the standardized ADHD test and the Teacher Report Form (TRF).

Among 603 children, 36 (6.0%) met the study criteria for ADHD. The estimated prevalence was 8% for boys and 3.8% for girls (p=0.028). The most prevalent subtype of ADHD was the Combined type (3.8%), followed by ADHD- Inattentive (1.7%) and Hyperactive-Impulsive type (0,5%). Gender differences were observed in the prevalence of ADHD-Combined subtypes (p=0.003). Statistical significant differences were observed between ADHD subtypes and gender (p=0.047). ADHD-Combined type was associated with greater impairment in both academic and social domains, where ADHD-Inattentive subtype showed a higher academic, but lower social impairment. The ADHD-Hyperactive-impulsive children were not significantly impaired in their academic functioning, while social functioning resulted moderately impaired.

The prevalence of ADHD among schoolchildren in Athens and the risk factors are comparable to those reported in several epidemiological studies worldwide. Impairment in social and academic functioning seems to be strongly associated with the subtype of ADHD. Further research into the association between ADHD symptoms and impairment is warrant.

Recent surveys show a steady increase in infectious syphilis incidence among sexual transmitted infection clinic visitors in many industrialized countries. Untreated, 30% of patients develop symptomatic neurosyphilis, possibly presenting with a variety of behavioral en neurological symptoms. Neurosyphilis is diagnosed on specific abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Case reports on neurosyphilis in Dutch patients prompted us to explore the epidemiology of neurosyphilis with psychiatric co morbidity.

To estimate the incidence of neurosyphilis and psychiatric co morbidity in the Netherlands based on data of hospitalizations in general hospitals from 1999-2007.

Hospitalization data were collected from the Dutch National Medical Register. We included all records on hospitalizations with any kind of neurosyphilis, except congenital neurosyphilis, as discharge- or secondary diagnosis (ICD9-code 094 and subcategory codes).

Between 1999 and 2007, 542 cases of neurosyphilis were registered, approximately 60 cases per year. Of all cases, 76% were male. Co-infection with HIV was seen in 74 (14%) of hospitalized cases of whom 91% were male. In 35 (6%) cases one or more concurrent psychiatric disorders were diagnosed, including 10 organic psychiatric disorders, 8 dementia cases, 6 substance abuses, 4 affective disorders, 7 psychotic disorders, 2 personality disorders and 8 miscellaneous diagnoses.

Neurosyphilis is still diagnosed in patients admitted to Dutch general hospitals. Under diagnosis due to unfamiliarity with the recent syphilis surge is possible. Over reporting is also possible due to incorrect diagnosis not based on CSF results. The reemerging syphilis epidemic may result in an increasing neurosyphilis incidence.

Mental health is one of the most important public health issues, because of its major contribution in decrease of global burden of diseases. This study investigates the prevalence rate of mental disorders in General population aged 18 years and over in (kashan city, Iran 2005).

This was a descriptive cross sectional study that was conducted via classified- randomized sampling. At stage one, by using the general health Questionnaire (N= 1800) and stage two by using clinical interview based on checklist DSM- IV by two psychiatrists;546 ones among 606 questionable people participated and 60 ones did not participated. Data were analyzed using Spss v. 16 and OR, CI and Chi-square test.

The overall prevalence of mental disorders was 29.2% (women 35/5% and men 21.2%). The most prevalent disorders were mood disorders and Anxiety disorders respectively (9.3%),(4.7%).In 505 subject with mental disorders, major depression (8.2%) and generalized anxiety disorder (7.2%) were the most prevalent and 7.8% of people had one mental disorder at least. The prevalence was higher than in adult aged 56-65 years (35.8%), widow (35.8%), illiterate (42.8%) and unemployed (38.8%) in this study. Significant difference was found between genders, education, marital status variables with mental disorder.

This results show that psychiatric disorder in kashan city is higher than previous research in this region (1995).Although this prevalence is less than cities like Qazvin & Shahrekord, but it is higher than other city. There fore prevention programs and treatment psychiatric disorder in this city is of great priority.

Mental distress has been suggested as an etiological factor of fertility problems. The aim of the study was to investigate the predictive value of common mental symptoms for fertility problems in a population sample.

The predictive value of anxiety and depression symptoms for incident fertility problems over an 11 year span was investigated in a N=5,873 female sub-sample from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Studies (HUNT 1 and HUNT 2). Only women who had not experienced fertility problems at the time of HUNT 1 were included. Fertility problems were reported retrospectively at HUNT 2. Sub-/infertility was defined as having tried to get pregnant for more than one year without success. Symptoms of anxiety and depression at HUNT 1 were measured by the one-dimensional 12-item Anxiety Depression Index (ADI).

Mean age at HUNT 2 was 42 years (S.D. 4.96, range 28-49). N=152 reported having tried to get pregnant for more than one year. No predictive value of anxiety and/or depression symptoms for sub-/infertility was found (crude OR=0.97 (95% CI=0.82; 1.15), p=0.736; analyses adjusted for age, level of education, civil status, somatic conditions, parity, and gynaecological surgery: OR=0.97 (95% CI=0.81; 1.15), p=0.687). Results were comparable in a sub-sample who had never been pregnant.

There is no prospective effect of common mental health symptoms on incident fertility problems in women. This zero-finding emerges from a large population-based data set with a long follow-up interval, and it provides evidence against the hypothesised causal relationship between mental distress and sub-/infertility.

Clinical studies have found higher occurrences of anxiety and depression in women who experience fertility problems. However, the relationship between common mental symptoms and sub-/infertility should also be investigated in the normal population.

In a valid N=15,000 sample of women (mean age=36 years, s.d.=8.4, range 19-49) in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 1995-97 (HUNT 2), the relationship of anxiety- and/or depression with fertility problems was explored by means of logistic regression analysis. Psychological symptoms were measured by the 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (cut-off=14+, i.e. 90th percentile). Sub-/infertility was defined as having ever tried to get pregnant for more than one year without success. Analyses were adjusted for age, education, civil status, somatic conditions, parity, and gynaecological surgery.

In all, 2,058 (14%) of women were sub- or infertile. Mean HADS total score was 7.8 (s.d. 5.73, range 0-35) in this group and 7.1 (s.d. 5.43, range 0-39) in the group without fertility problems. Odds ratios for fertility problems in the group that scored above HADS cut-off were 1.26 (95% CI=1.09; 1.45), p=0.002 in the crude analysis and 1.13 (95% CI=0.97;1.31), p=0.123 in the adjusted analysis.

The effect size for the relationship between common mental disorders and fertility problems in this epidemiological study was weak. However, it may represent a more true estimate of the relationship than findings from earlier clinical studies, as such clinical studies may be biased due to differences between help-seeking patients and healthy controls.

174 male combatants aged 22-43 y.o.; clinico-psychopathological and statistical methods; quality of life self-evaluating scales.

Combatants were divided into 5 groups: 3 psychotic and 2 nonpsychotic. The probability of heteroaggressive behavior seems to increase in accordance with duration of exposure and severity of stress factors. Criminal behavior dominated in first three years after the impact of the combat stress factors. Besides various PTSD symptoms mentioned in ICD-10, DSM-IV, new personality features in emotional, cognitive and motivational value spheres were observed. The more pronounced were these changes, the more prominent were interpersonal difficulties and violence. A frequent or chronical emotional prerequisite of aggression was proneness to emotional excitement in an interpersonal conflict. «Flashbacks» about war situations seemed to release under the influence of strong emotion. Their value system was polar: black and white: either friend or enemy. Therefore, their opinions were rigid, not realistic. They committed offences against person in emotional conditions triggered by stress, when situation was associated with life threat at war or an emotionally overwhelming opposition.

Detailed analysis of personality characteristics of the offender, duration of exposure to combat stress and its severity, as well as subsequent social stress factors and their psychological impact, and circumstances of offence itself is essential for correct judgement during forensic psychiatric evaluation.

Recent research about pedophilia suggested an association between pedophilia, neurocognitive disturbance and specific personality profiles. Especially neuropsychological functions associated with the prefrontal and motor processing loops showed to be impaired in pedophilia. But in most studies about pedophilia subjects were recruited from high security forensic hospitals. The results might therefore be influenced by selection bias. To overcome this bias we conducted a study that aimed to compare neurocognitive disturbance and specific personality profiles of pedophile sexual abusers, pedophile internet abusers and controls.

We included until now 5 male pedophile sexual abusers, 4 male pedophile internet abusers and 6 male control subjects. Subjects were matched for age and IQ. Personality profiles were assessed by SKID and MMPI. Response inhibition was tested in a classical Go/NoGo task.

Assessments of personality profiles showed similar sub threshold profiles for the controls and the group of internet abusers while subjects from security forensic hospital setting fulfilled criteria of personality disorders. Accordingly showed the Go/NoGo task higher rates of failed response inhibition in the group of paedophilic subjects from high security forensic hospital setting and lower rates for pedophile internet abusers and/or controls.

Our preliminary data suggests that results of recent studies about neurocognitive disturbance and neuroimaging correlates of paedophilia might be influenced by selection bias and might rather reflect impairment of personality and social interaction in a broader sense. Future research about paedophilia should consequently aim to disentangle personality impairment from sexual orientation.

Although it is well-known that infanticide (murder of child< 1year) is typically for young women and libericide (murder of child≥1year) for older melancholic women, comprehensive differences between these two kinds of murderers remain little-known. Our objective was to describe their demographic, clinical and criminological differences.

We collected 41 psychiatric expert examinations in criminal cases of child murder between 2000 and 2005 and compared, after sex-matching, those responsible for infanticide (n=16) and libericide (n=25).

Compared to perpetrators of infanticide, subjects responsible for libericide were older (24 and 33 respectively, p=0.012), and had a psychiatric history (35% versus 71%, p=0.005) and convictions for violence towards others (6% versus 29%, p=0.022). A the time of the crime, 77% of libericide perpetrators were suffering from a psychotic, depressive, cognitive or personality disorders while only 53% of perpetrators of infanticide were ill (p=0.024). Although there was no significant difference in regard of the circumstances of the act or the gender of the victim, we found that head trauma, suffocation and drowning were the most frequent means of infanticide while libericide perpetrators used more active methods such as shooting, strangulation and striking (p=0.007) in a dynamic of homicide-suicide. Finally, it has to be noted that the perpetrators of libericide were more often unfit to plead than the perpetrators of infanticide (p=0.067).

Our results confirm the relevance of Resnick's typology of child murders, distinguishing infanticide and libericide which different criminological dynamics are fundamental for medico-legal orientation and capacity to plead.

Although refugees are at an increased risk to suffer from mental disorders, as compared to other immigrants, little is known about possible differences in treatment response and service utilization.

The current study includes data from two separate samples of Iraqi refugees and Arab immigrants. Prevalence of physician-diagnosed mental disorders along with treatment response and utilization data was collected from medical records or by surveys. Data was collected from 307 refugees and 326 immigrant controls.

The prevalence of depression was significantly greater in refugees as compared to immigrants (54% vs. 26%; p< .001). There were no differences between groups in diagnosed anxiety disorders. In addition, self reported complaints of depression (33% vs. 3.1%; p< .001), anxiety (20% vs. 4%; p< .001), and sleep difficulties (15% vs. 2%; p< .001) were more prevalent among refugees than immigrants. In general, treatment response was poor for both groups; however, for longer term patients, treatment response was significantly better (44% recovery vs. 15% recovery; p< .001) for immigrants than refugees. Typical common psychosomatic symptoms were more prevalent and associated with increased health care utilization in refugees as compared to immigrants.

Results suggest that treatment offered to refugees is far from effective. There is a need to review health systems factors in order to promote cost-effective and timely mental health services for refugees, not least with the current influx of Iraqi refugees commonly suffering from mental and adjustment disorders.

The Irish Mental Health Act (MHA) 2001 brings Irish health legislation into line with the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights.It replaced the older 1945 Act.The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the MHA 2001 on involuntary admissions to a private psychiatric hospital before and after its implementation.

All involuntary patients admitted to the hospital over a 3 year period for 2 years before and 1 year after the act was introduced were included.A retrospective case note review was undertaken.Data collected included number of days as an involuntary patient and discharge diagnosis.Data was analysed using SPSSv14.

A total of 204 patients files were examined. 94 and 70 patients were admitted in the 2 years before the introduction of the MHA, this fell to 40 admissions in the year after the MHA.The mean number of days that patients were involuntarily admitted for 2 years before the Act was 68.6, this fell to 24.9 days in the year after the act, p value < .001.The percentage of involuntary patients with a diagnosis of dementia fell and the percentage of admissions with schizophrenia and BPAD increased.

There was a considerable reduction in the number of involuntary admissions and average length of stay after the introduction of the 2001 MHA.More bed numbers may be needed for acute adult admissions and less for long stay admissions.Patients human rights have been improved by the new act which is a positive consequence.