Iranian Journal of Psychiatry最新文献

Objective: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a global health threat. However, awareness and psychological responses to climate risks may vary across populations, particularly in conflict-affected regions. This study aimed to assess the levels of climate change awareness, climate anxiety, and aggression among Yemeni medical students. Method : A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized for this study. The sample included 212 final-year students from all departments within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Taiz University. Data were collected using validated scales for climate change awareness, the Climate Anxiety Scale, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, group comparisons (t-tests and ANOVA), correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were applied to identify significant relationships and predictors. Results: More than 60% of the participants demonstrated poor awareness of climate change, and over 50% reported low levels of climate anxiety. Moderate aggression scores were observed in more than half of the respondents. While aggression showed significant associations with sex and climate anxiety, no statistically significant relationship was found between climate change awareness and anxiety. Conclusion: Despite the environmental vulnerability of Yemen, medical students show limited awareness and low psychological response to climate change. This may reflect a focus on immediate survival needs in conflict-affected settings. Integrating climate-health education and psychological preparedness into medical curricula is essential to empower future healthcare providers in addressing climate-related health challenges.

Objective: This study aimed to design and validate a culturally tailored educational package for Iranian parents of children and adolescents aged 0 to 18. The package addresses the safe and effective use of a range of digital technologies, including social media, online games, and educational applications. It focuses on enhancing parents' knowledge, monitoring capabilities, and strategies to mitigate digital risks, with consideration of Iranian cultural values and family dynamics. Method : The content was developed through a review of literature across multiple English and Persian databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Iran Medex, Magiran, and SID. Relevant keywords and MeSH terms related to parenting, digital technology, and cultural adaptation were used. Cultural appropriateness was ensured through consultations with a panel of experts in psychiatry, child development, and digital education, along with qualitative input from Iranian parents via focus groups and interviews. Results: The finalized educational package comprises 12 well-structured chapters covering topics such as digital literacy, online safety, parental supervision, balancing screen time, effective family communication, and related legal and ethical issues contextualized for Iranian society. The package achieved high content validity, with all chapters scoring above 0.79 on the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR). Conclusion: This culturally adapted package offers an evidence-based resource that empowers Iranian parents by increasing their awareness, sharpening their supervisory and communication skills, and supporting the healthy and responsible use of digital technologies among their children. Future steps include pilot testing and evaluating the package's effectiveness and scalability in real-world settings.

Objective: Conduct disorder is one of the most common disorders of childhood and adolescence. This disorder imposes high costs on the individual, family and community. Understanding the risk factors associated with conduct disorder can provide a comprehensive picture of the disorder. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors related with conduct disorder. Method : We included meta-analyses that reported one or more risk factors of conduct disorder. We searched PubMed and Scopus until July 19, 2025. One author assessed the quality of the included studies using the ROBIS, and two authors extracted relevant data independently. Results: We found 12 articles that met the inclusion criteria, from which data pertaining to 17 meta-analyses were extracted. The risk factors identified by the meta-analyses were as follows: severe psychiatric disorders in parents, postnatal exposure to second-hand smoke, atopic dermatitis, being children of alcoholics, prenatal alcohol exposure, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal alcohol use during pregnancy, overweight/obesity, maternal perinatal depression, preconception overweight, and preconception obesity. Conclusion: Drawing on 17 meta-analyses, this study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the risk factors associated with conduct disorder. The findings can inform policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions, such as public health campaigns and support programs for at-risk families, to mitigate these risks. Furthermore, this study highlights the gaps in the existing literature, including the reliance on older studies and methodological limitations, paving the way for future research to address these shortcomings and strengthen the evidence base.

Objective: Despite growing evidence on the influence of lifestyle on adolescent mental health, structured educational interventions addressing multiple health dimensions remain limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle educational intervention in improving mental health results among secondary school students. Method : A randomized controlled trial based on the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills (IMB) model was carried out with 347 adolescents (182 in the intervention group and 165 in the control group) from twelve secondary schools in Tehran. Participants completed a set of questionnaires assessing knowledge and attitudes concerning diet, physical activity, and stress management. Additionally, assessments included measures of eating behavior, daily physical activity, and psychological state using the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form (BDI-S, BDI-13), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale [DASS-21]). The innovation is addressing multiple dimensions of adolescent health in a comprehensive way and targeting mental health outcomes. It consisted of eleven one-hour sessions delivered to the intervention group in their schools. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square (association between categorical variables) and two-way repeated measure ANOVA (difference in the means score at follow-up). Results: In the intervention group, significant improvements were observed in knowledge about lifestyle factors, including diet, stress management and physical activity and, from baseline to post-intervention (P < 0.05). Attitudes toward stress management also showed significant positive changes. Behaviorally, there was an increase in physical activity, participation in relaxation activities, and eating breakfast, while unhealthy practices such as eating out, drinking sweetened beverages, and consuming fast food decreased (P < 0.05). Additionally, depression symptoms decreased by 1.9 points (mean ± SD) at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a six-month healthy lifestyle educational intervention can effectively enhance adolescents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to healthy lifestyle factors, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in psychological symptoms, even after recovery. However, the measurement of psychiatric disorders requires diagnostic tools, whereas most studies, including this one, use symptom-based screening instruments. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and levels of emotional distress (stress and anxiety) among COVID-19 recoverees. It also examined the prevalence and predictors of self-medication behaviors in this population. Method : A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adults who had recovered from COVID-19 and attended academic pharmacies in Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) for emotional distress, and a researcher-designed questionnaire to assess self-medication practices. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of self-medication. Results: Moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) were reported in 35.1% of participants. Based on DASS-21 scores, 38.8% had moderate to severe anxiety, and 33.5% had moderate to severe stress. Self-medication was reported by 32.8% of participants, primarily using sedatives, antidepressants, and herbal remedies. Depression was significantly associated with self-medication (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.45-3.29; P < 0.001), while anxiety and stress were not. Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of psychological symptomatology and self-medication among individuals recovering from COVID-19. Since only depressive symptoms were assessed using a validated psychiatric screening tool (PHQ-9), and no formal diagnostic criteria were applied, the results should not be interpreted as reflecting psychiatric disorder prevalence. The findings underscore the need for improved mental health support and regulation of medication access in post-COVID care settings.

Objective: Disasters impact global health, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) being a significant early consequence. Countries differ in their response to disasters and health management, affecting PTSD prevalence. This study aims to compare PTSD prevalence in developed and developing countries and investigate its trends post-COVID-19 compared to other mass-casualty incidents. Method : This study was conducted using systematic review and meta-analysis methods regarding the prevalence of PTSD in the world. Accordingly, all the English language articles published from the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2024 were extracted from the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases and were investigated. Data analysis was done by random effects model, meta-regression, I² index, and Egger test using the STATA (ver. 17) software. Results: One hundred and eight studies, with a total sample size of 498,796, were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of PTSD in developed countries at various intervals after exposure to disaster was as follows: 26.3% (1-3 months), 44.5% (4-6 months), 11.1% (7-12 months), 24.0% (13-24 months), and 22.0% (25-36 months). In developing countries, the corresponding prevalence rates were 26.0%, 25.2%, 30.4%, 21.4%, and 20.9%, respectively. PTSD prevalence in men was slightly higher in developing countries compared to developed countries, but the difference was minimal. Conclusion: More than one-fifth of disaster-exposed populations develop PTSD, with no significant prevalence difference between developed and developing countries. PTSD prevalence was higher in men from developing countries, but no significant gender differences were found otherwise. Prompt diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are essential globally to mitigate PTSD's impacts.