The present research will examine the effectiveness of music on social skills in male students who are mentally retarded but educable.

This research applied an experimental method with pre-test and post-test tools. Therefore, to carry out the research, 40 eligible students were chosen from three especial schools in such cities as Amol (Bahmand school), Babol (Kusha school) and Noor (Tulo-e-Noor school) in Mazandaran province in Iran. Afterwards, they were randomly divided into two groups, namely control and experimental ones. Both Demographic Data Collection and Social Skill Development (by Vineland) Questionnaires were used to pile up the data. in addition to being provided by teachers' teaching, the experimental groups were exposed to rhythmic -melodious music for 12 sessions weekly, 10 minutes per session, as compared to the control groups who have been educated without the dependent variable (i.e. absent of rhythmic -melodious music).

Results from covariance analysis revealed that after the scores of pre-test and other variables related to social skills had been checked, there existed a significant difference between the mean of remained scores in control and experimental groups. That is, the mean score of experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group (P=0).Eta square root equaling 1 explained 58% of covariance of remained scores (personal differences) in regard to musical effects.

Results of the research indicate that rhythmic -melodious music can be considered as one of the factors affecting socially developmental skills in especial children.

The present research aimed at determining the effectiveness of risk-taking on reducing anxiety level in students in Payam-e- noor University in the city of Babol.

This research had a semi-experimental and comparative design with pre-test and post-test tool. The sample size of the research was divided into groups, namely control and experimental ones, each including 15 students out of 30 individuals. Anxiety Inventory was used as an instrument for the present research. Statistical t-test for independent variables and SPSS spreadsheet were applied to analyze data.

Results of this research demonstrated that the way of risk-taking training could increase risk-taking behaviorally and cognitively. in addition, risk-taking training through group-counseling could lead to the reduction of anxiety in university students. Accordingly, the more the degree of risk-taking increased, the less the anxiety level would be.

The use of expressive style training can elevate the risk-taking in anxious students. Moreover, when students learn how to answer courageously, this surely can decrease the stress and tension they have been experiencing in a certain situation in the past.

Nephrotoxicity is a well-known pharmacological side effect in patients under long-term treatment with lithium. About 20% may develop renal insufficiency and in 33-62.5% of these patients renal cysts are seen.

Some prior studies report MRI findings in patients undergoing chronic lithium therapy.

To compare Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the kidney in patients undergoing chronic lithium therapy with renal function to determine if MRI findings are related to renal function impairment.

Thirty five consecutive patients with mood disorders who were undergoing lithium therapy for at least one year were evaluated with a 1.5 tesla MRI imaging and renal function tests. Renal size and the presence, number and location of renal microcysts were analyzed and compared with renal function.

The mean size of kidney was 106.0 mm ± 6.0; 106.0 mm ± 11.0. The mean number of microcysts in both kidney was 6.2. There was a positive correlation between duration of lithium treatment and number of renal microcyst(P< 0.0001, r=0.773). Correlation between MRI findings and renal function tests were not statistically significant.(p> 0.05).

The present study reports that longer duration of lithium therapy can increase number of renal microcysts.It seems that increasing renal microcysts are not consistent with renal function impairment and magnetic resonance may not be useful for prediction or diagnosis of lithium-induced nephropathy. Our study results suggest that the relationship between MRI findings and renal function impairment in patients on long-term lithium therapy is not clear and needs further studies.

Gypsies and Travellers have been described as one of the most marginalized minorities in society with poor living conditions which are known to have a negative effect on health. Published research on the mental health needs of the Roma population is sparse. Knowledge of Social representations of mental health is fundamental for improving mental illness prevention strategies and mental health education programmes targeted to Roma people.

The aim of this research was to understand the Social representations of mental health among a group of Roma people in the center of Portugal (city of Coimbra).

This study covered twenty Roma children aged 6 to 11, in a Basic school located in a Roma neighborhood, as well as a group of adults and Roma families. Qualitative methodologies were used in data collection: semi-structured interviews, analysis of documents and Focus Group techniques.

Findings suggest that social representations of mental health and emotional well-being in Roma participants have a strong holistic and integrative component. There is no marked cleavage between the concept of “physical health” and “mental health.” in this group, the notions of mental health and emotional well-being appear to be strongly associated with the welfare of the family - including extended family -, in addition to the individual's own emotional well-being.

Mental health interventions with Roma community members must meet their social representations relating to mental health, access to mental health provision and contacts with mental health professionals,

High prevalence of poor sleep quality has been reported among Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) patients. in order to reduce side effects and prevent relapse, new treatment approaches should be considered and recently, electroacupuncture (EA) has believed to have a therapeutic effect in the treatment of drug addiction.

To investigate the effects of EA on sleep quality in patients receiving MMT.

A prospective, open-labelled, parallel, randomized-controlled trial was conducted among MMT patients in Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 22 drug misusers who met DSM-IV were randomly assigned into two groups. The treatment group was given methadone plus EA stimulation at 1.1+80Hz while the control group received methadone plus Sham EA without increasing the intensity of the stimulation. Both groups received the EA treatment 30 minutes per session for 14 days. Sleep quality was assessed by validated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

In terms of pre and post treatment comparison, we found that there were significant difference of mean sleep latency (p= 0.011), use of medication (p= 0.043) and global PSQI (p= 0.009) for the treatment group. However, only sleep efficiency (p= 0.014) showed a significant difference between pre and post treatment for the control group. in terms of group comparison, we found that there was significant difference of mean sleep latency (p= 0.004), sleep efficiency (0.004) and global PSQI (0.008) for post treatment. No significant difference was found for pre treatment.

Electroacupuncture may have adjunct effect on sleep improvement and have potential to reduce Benzodiazepine use among MMT patients.

The aim of our cross-sectional study was

1. (1) to assess social and functional impairment in schizophrenia outpatients from the Czech and Slovak Republics, and

2. (2) to examine a relationship between functional impairment and antipsychotic treatment and demographic variables.

Enrolled were schizophrenia outpatients in a stable phase of illness, treated with current antipsychotic medication for a minimum of one month. Recorded were demographic and medication data, administered were Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics (SWN), and CGI scale.

The total number of study subjects was 926. Most PSP values were within the interval of moderate impairment. Functional performance correlated positively with subjective satisfaction with medication and negatively with symptom severity. Higher education predicted better functioning on PSP. The best performance was associated with a stable relationship and a useful work role. The patients who showed the best level of functioning were more likely to be treated with antipsychotic monotherapy. No difference among drugs in monotherapy was found in subjective satisfaction.

The PSP values of stable schizophrenia outpatients indicated moderate degree of impairment. Improvement of functional capacity remains one of the unmet needs of schizophrenia patients.

Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often have symptoms of re-experiencing traumatic life events, recurring nightmares, hyper arousal and insomnia. Evidence is increasing that stress-related hyperglutamatergic states may contribute to dissociative symptoms and neurodegeneration in temporo-parietal cortical areas. Cognitive performance is also be effected in some of the traumatized patients. We are going to present a PTSD case who demonstrates significant memory impairment.

38 years-old, male patient. He had experienced combat related traumatic life events June in 2009 and diagnosed with PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria. Disturbance in short time memory, perception, attention, concentration deficiency was observed in the clinical interview. As a result of cognitive assessment, calculating and remembering subtests were lower than the others so it could be associated with cognitive impairment. To evaluate the organic brain pathology CT was applied and it was within normal limits. After than PET was conducted to reveal the metabolic abnormalities. Left parietal cortical global hypo-metabolic activity, global hypometabolism in temporal cortex and regional hypometabolism in medial parietal cortical regions was demonstrated. He has been treated and fallowed up for two years and provided significant improvement in PTSD symptoms but cognitive impairment was still showed constancy.

It is well known that left parietal and temporal cortical region would be associated with impaired memory performance. The areas that we have found at PET are known to be involved in episodic memory consolidation and retrieval. Comorbid PTSD and hypometabolism in lateral cortical region has not been well documented in the literature.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions that cause emotional distress and affect different aspects of a patient's life which are clinically significant. Experts have developed an OCD model which involves hyperactivity in certain subcortical and cortical regions.

To study the differences in the cerebral activity between control and OCD group using Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) algorithm, specially focused in the presence of an interhemispheric asymmetry.

We analyzed the magnetoencephalographic recordings of 13 patients diagnosed of OCD (DSM and ICD) and 60 healthy controls, using the LZC algorithm. Statistical analysis, using SSPS 19.0, included Wilcoxon signed rank and correlation Tests.

LZC values were smaller in the OCD than in the control group. An asymmetry between both lateral regions was found in the OCD sample but not in the controls.

We studied the difference between the Pearson correlation coefficients (left and right values) between OCD and controls, which was statistically significant.

Although we know that in humans normal variation and specialization produce asymmetries of function and structure leading to an asymmetry between brain hemispheres, it seems to be more important in some mental disorders. The presence of an asymmetry between both lateral regions is a conclusion found in previous neurophysiological works and that must be integrated in the neuroanatomical model of the disorder.

Recent studies have suggested that the deficit of glutathione (GSH), a major antioxidant, seems to play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Moreover, oxidative stress may contribute to the development of neurological abnormalities, including tardive dyskinesia and parkinsonism symptoms.

To determine plasma glutathione levels and to explore their association with neurological soft signs (NSS) in patients with chronic and first-episode schizophrenia.

A case-control study carried-out on three groups: sixty clinically stable patients with chronic schizophrenia, twentythree patients with first-episode schizophrenia and thirty matched healthy controls. Glutathione levels: total (GSHt), reduced (GSHr) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were determined by spectrophotometry. NSS were assessed in three groups by a standardized neurological examination (Krebs et al., 2000).

Plasmatic GSHt and GSHr levels were significantly decreased in patients with chronic and first-episode schizophrenia. All NSS scores were significantly higher in two groups of patients compared to controls. No association was found between NSS scores and glutathione levels in patients with chronic schizophrenia. However, in patients with firstepisode, a negative correlation was found between GSHt levels and involuntary movement sub-score (r= -0.62, p=0.008).

These results suggest that GSH deficit is not related to the stage of disease and may be an important indirect biomarker of oxidative stress in schizophrenia. The association between low GSHt level as a marker of oxidative stress and involuntary movements could suggest that oxidative stress may contribute to the brain damage which leads to an increased prevalence of these NSS.

Several studies have shown a glutathione (GSH) deficit in patients with schizophrenia. It may in part arise from a genetically compromised synthesis of GSH, the major cellular antioxidant and redox-regulator. First-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia share many susceptibility genes of this disease.

The objectives of this study were to determine plasma glutathione levels in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives of compared to healthy controls and to examine the correlation between glutathione levels and schizotypy scores in unaffected relatives.

We included 60 patients with schizophrenia, 33 of their unaffected siblings and 30 healthy controls with no family psychiatric history. The blood glutathione levels: total (GSHt), reduced (GSHr), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were measured by spectrophotometry. Schizotypy scores were assessed by the schizotypal personality questionnaire (SPQ).

GSHt and GSHr were significantly lower in patients than in controls, whereas there was no difference in glutathione levels between unaffected relatives and healthy controls. Moreover, no correlation was found between glutathione levels and schizotypy scores in unaffected relatives of patients with schizophrenia.

These results reveal that unaffected relatives of patients with schizophrenia didn’t have a GSH deficit. in the same group, no correlation was found between glutathione levels and schizotypy scores which considered a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia. These findings disagree with our hypothesis that GSH deficit could be a biological marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia. However, further studies are necessary to explore this hypothesis.

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are minor or subtle neurological signs indicating non-specific cerebral dysfunction. They have been conceptualized as neurodevelopmental markers that mediate the biological propensity for the development of psychosis. Their interaction with the environmental factors such as cannabis use remains little studied.

To study the relationship between the NSS and the use of cannabis which is considered an environmental risk factor of psychotic disorder.

Sixty one in-patients (fifty three men and eight women; mean age: 28.9 ± 9.4 years) with a first-episode non affective psychosis according with DSM-IV were recruited. Neurological evaluations were carried-out by using the NSS scale of Krebs et al. (2000). We ascertained the use of cannabis with the cannabis subsection, included within the section of substance use, in the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

The prevalence of cannabis use was 16.4%. The mean NSS total score was 15.3 ± 6.7. Significant lower NSS total score was found in cannabis users: 11.2 ± 5.6 versus 16.0 ± 6.7 (p=0.04). There was also an inverse but not significant relation between the use of cannabis and the motor coordination and the involuntary movements sub-scores.

Similar results have been reported in patients with schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis suggesting the existence of fewer NSS in the cannabis user patients. The cannabis could enhance the effects of genetic risk factors for psychosis. More work in the area of genetic-environment interactions in predicting psychosis is necessary.

The DSM IV-R criteria for Developemental Coordination Disorder (DCD) involve a marked impairment in the development of motor coordination although visual-spatial, digital and visuo-motor perception, neuromuscular tone, qualitative and quantitative measures impairments related to of gross and fine motor coordination might be used to isolate three main subtypes of DCD/dyspraxia: Ideomotor, Visual-Spatial/Constructional, and a Mix group sharing common impairments with additional comorbidities. This study focus on isolating specific markers with high predictive discriminatory power from a wide range testing battery in a sample of DCD children.

Data were collected on 63 children with DCD aged 5-15 years (median 8.1), enrolled on DSM IV-R criteria. Children were free of previous assessment, medication, and therapy followup-up. Each subject underwent a neuropsychological, neuropsychomotor and neurovisual testing batteries comprised of 49 milestones assessment.

The most salient markers with respect to the three subtypes of dyspraxia studied in this sample are digital praxia, imitation of gestures, digital perception, visual-motor integration, manual dexterity, visual spatial structuration, coordination between upper and lower limbs, and lego blocks. Clustering results suggest Ideomotor patients define a homogeneous group of patients and Mix group with specific difficulties in coordinating lower and upper limbs or poor manual dexterity.

This study confirms the importance of some aspects of neurovisual processing of spatial information, and motor control in DCD. Less than 15 neurovisual, neuro-psychomotor and neuropsychological milestone tests might be required to provide a sensitive and specific diagnostic of DCD subtypes, and isolated markers allow a better understanding of DCD.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects not only children but persists for up to 4.4% in the general population. Comorbidity is common among adults with ADHD, including substance abuse.

Assessment of impact of both childhood and adult ADHD on SUD.

The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence rate of past history of childhood ADHD and current adult ADHD among substance use inpatients and to compare between the two groups regarding onset and severity of substance use disorder.

This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in addiction treatment center at El Maamoura psychiatric hospital. One hundred and two adult males were assessed using Arabic version of Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) for retrospective assessment of symptoms of childhood ADHD. Arabic version of Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist was used to screen for adult ADHD. DSM IV TR criteria were used for final diagnosis.

Sixty Four patients of the total studied sample had past history of childhood ADHD. of which, only 36 patients fulfilled the DSM - IV TR criteria for adult ADHD. Presence of adult ADHD was associated with an earlier mean age of onset of SUD (13.22 vs. 14.86 years), larger number of hospital admissions, (4.21 vs. 6.83 times) and a shorter mean period of abstinence (124.53 vs. 271.50 days).

In comparison to childhood ADHD, presence of adult ADHD was associated with a more complicated course of substance use disorders and poorer outcome.

Gender differences in psychopathological symptoms have frequently been found in chronic schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. However, many of the existing studies suffer from methodological problems. Furthermore, very few studies have investigated gender differences in at-risk mental state (ARMS) individuals.

To investigate whether male and female ARMS and FEP patients differ in self- and observer-rated psychopathological symptoms when adjusted for potential confounders.

Psychopathological symptoms were assessed in 117 ARMS and 87 FEP patients by two observer-rated scales:the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and one self-report scale,the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ). Gender differences were investigated by applying Analyses of Variance using the BPRS, SANS and FCQ subscales as dependent variables and, group and sex as between-subject factors. Furthermore, Analyses of Covariance were conducted by including age, antipsychotic, antidepressant and cannabis use as covariates.

No significant gender × patient group interactions were found, suggesting that gender effects did not differ between patient groups. Women showed higher scores in positive psychotic symptoms (BPRS Psychosis/Thought Disturbance) while men had higher scores in negative symptoms (BPRS negative symptoms, SANS total score, and subscales Affective Flattening, Avolition-Apathy and Asociality-Anhedonia). However, the differences did not withstand correction for multiple testing. Furthermore, these results did not change when corrected for potential confounders.

Our findings suggest that male and female ARMS and FEP patients do neither differ in self-report nor in observer-rated psychopathological symptoms when corrected for multiple testing and potential confounders.

Obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms may begin at any point of the life span. Comorbid psychiatric disorders in OCD is more a rule than an exception and can contribute to the OCD-related burden.

The goal of this study is to understand the trajectory of comorbid disorders in OCD according to the first manifested psychiatric disorder and their impact in the clinical manifestation of OCD and.

1001 consecutive OCD outpatients from the Brazilian Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Consortium were evaluated. Inclusion criterion: OCD as the main psychiatric diagnosis (DSM-IV). Exclusion criteria: comorbid schizophrenia and mental retardation. The instruments applied were: SCID-I; Y-BOCS; DY-BOCS, YGTSS (significant level =5%). To investigate the age at comorbidities onset Bayesian approach was performed. Those distributions contain all the information obtained by the data for the mean age at onset.

OCD patients that presented separation anxiety disorder (N=175, age of onset SAD 5.35) as first diagnosis had higher frequency of social phobia, simples phobia, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder (78.3%; p=0.05), somatoform disorders (13.1%; p=0.05) and post-traumatic stress disorder (30.3% p=0.003). OCD patients that presented ADHD (N=50, age of onset ADHD 6.42; age of onset OCD 13.08) as first diagnosis had higher frequency of substance abuse (16.0%; p=0.00001). OCD patients that presented tic disorders (N=44, age of onset tic disorder 6.86; age of onset OCD 16.18) as first diagnosis had higher frequency of OC spectrum disorders (50.0%; p=0.03).

First psychopathological manifestation in OCD patients is associated with distinct long-term trajectory of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

The French nosological concept of bouffée délirante (literally “delusional flush or rush”) may define a subgroup of non-affective, acute remitting psychoses with an especially favourable prognosis. To date, relatively little published literature is available about this entity.

To discuss the concept, nosological status, diagnostic features and associated clinical characteristics of bouffée délirante.

A case report of bouffée délirante is described. The concept and clinical features of the condition are reviewed.

A case report is presented in detail and a literature review of the theme is surveyed.

The authors report a case of a 48-year-old woman with no psychiatric background until November 2011 when she developed a sudden onset of persecutory delusions concerning her colleagues and boss. She believed computers and televisions were under their control and that her daughter and husband were in danger. This information was given by the voices she believed to hear. During one week, she developed behavior disturbance that motivated her urgent evaluation. As she was admitted to our department, she showed herself defensive and hostile. During the first day in our ward she described a delusion of Capgras, but the symptoms were rapidly overtook with low doses of antipsychotic.

Bouffée délirante is a historic French diagnostic term used in the past to describe a short-lived psychosis. The term was substituted differently in ICD-10 (described as acute and transient psychotic disorders) and DSM-IV-TR (brief psychotic disorder). The key diagnostic features are acute, floridly psychotic symptoms with complete remission.

Hospital A&E departments are the most frequent access to healthcare among migrants, often accounting for improper admissions. This also impacts massively on delivery of psychiatric care and prevention, making it hard to provide a health program, and not just solving an acute situation.

To analyze admissions to the A&E by migrants, focusing on previous medical/psychiatric history and health program after discharge.

Electronic databases were searched for all migrants accessing the A&E departments of the two general hospitals in Modena, Italy, during 2010.

Of the patients evaluated in the A&E, 10.24% were migrants. For 5% of these, the reason for admission was psychiatric, for 36% non-psychiatric (mostly traumatic); for the remaining 56%, admission was due to mild somatic symptoms, possibly medically unexplained symptoms suggestive of somatization (i.e. 16.59% gastro-intestinal symptoms, 10.92% joint pains).

Only 32% of the migrants accessing because of explicit psychiatric reasons (attempted suicide, alcohol abuse, aggressiveness) were investigated by a psychiatrist. After the psychiatric consultation, 35% of patients were referred to community mental health centers, 20% to psychiatric wards, 22% to primary care, 6% to services for substance abuse.

Migrants in the A&E are referred to psychiatry only for severe psychopathology and disturbances, very rarely for symptoms suggestive of somatization, which are particularly difficult to recognize in the A&E: this may result in delay in diagnosis and chronicization.