BackgroundDifferent studies have suggested that antipsychotic medications of the first generation have better effectiveness for the treatment of psychotic symptoms compared with antipsychotic medications of the second generation.ObjectivesThe current study was the first pilot study in Iran that compared Haloperidol with Risperidone in the treatment of positive symptoms of psychosis among a group of methamphetamine-dependent patients.Materials and MethodsThis randomized clinical trial was designed and conducted in 2012. Overall, 44 patients who met the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition-text revised (DSM.IV-TR) criteria for methamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP) and were hospitalized at Razi psychiatric hospital in Tehran were selected. Patients (1: 1) were randomly divided to two groups. Overall, 22 subjects received Haloperidol (5 - 20 mg) and 22 subjects received Risperidone (2 - 8 mg). All subjects were assessed at baseline, during three consecutive weeks of treatment and one week after treatment (i.e., follow-up). Scale of assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS) was completed for each subject.ResultsThe study findings indicated that both Haloperidol (< 0.05) and Risperidone (< 0.05) were similarly applicable in the treatment of MAP but no differential effectiveness was found between the two medications. The treatment effects of both medications increased in the first two weeks of treatment and remained stable in the second two weeks.ConclusionsRisperidone and Haloperidol are two effective antipsychotic medications for the treatment of positive symptoms of MAP but other aspects of these two neuroleptic medications such as the long-term treatment effects should be studied. Further studies with more samples and longer follow-ups are suggested.

The cognitive model of negative symptoms suggests that some dysfunctional beliefs mediate the relationship between neurocognitive deficits and negative symptoms and disability. This study tested the hypothesis that dysfunctional performance beliefs mediate neurocognitive deficits, negative symptoms, and disability. We used a hierarchal component model with 85 men patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia. Results showed a moderate to strong correlation between dysfunctional performance beliefs, neurocognitive deficits, negative symptoms, and disability. These results support the Hierarchal component model (HCM) of the cognitive model of negative symptoms. Our results indicated that the disability in schizophrenia is mediated through dysfunctional performance beliefs, neurocognitive deficits, and negative symptoms pathway. Further, dysfunctional performance beliefs have a crucial role in this pathway. Therefore, targeting this vicious cycle of dysfunctional beliefs can improve disability in patients with schizophrenia.

Regarding the importance of obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), the aim of this paper is to examine some of the roots of OCD with relation to the socio-cultural factors. By using the two dimensions of TAF, likelihood and moral, we conducted a survey research based on three groups: 1) OCD patients (39 samples), 2) patients with other anxiety disorders rather than OCD (19 samples) 3) and normal participants (30 samples) to allow us different comparisons between these three groups.Results show that there are positive correlation between TAF beliefs and the obsessive compulsive symptoms. Also, compared with normal participants, patients with OCD and patients that have other anxiety disorders had a higher level of TAF-likelihood-other belief. The occurrence of thought suppression was more or less equal in OCD and other anxiety patients, although it was higher compared with normal groups.Most of previous researches found a higher level of TAF-likelihood than TAF-moral in OCD patients indicating that the interpretation thoughts about the likelihood of the occurrence of a negative event is a stronger mechanism than the engagement in the anxiety raised from immoral thoughts. However, the results of this study showed a contrary finding as in our samples, the mechanism of TAF-moral was stronger than TAF-likelihood.Explaining this finding, we got deeper to the cultural and religious beliefs of the targeted population and through qualitative interviews with some of the audiences we realized that there are a plenty of religious and cultural elements that foster the mechanism of TAF-morality.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction, especially memory impairment is common in schizophrenia. Objectives: According to impact of memory problems on everyday life of schizophrenic patients, this research intended to assess the relationship between memory and behavioral signs of these patients for better therapeutic decision. Methods: In this cross sectional study, seventy one schizophrenic patients admitted at Razi psychiatric hospital (Tehran, Iran) from July to December 2015, were included. Verbal memory was analyzed by Persian translated Wechsler memory subtests (WMS-III) of paired associates, recognition and numerical memory. Positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia is used for evaluation of psychiatric symptoms. Data were analyzed with a statistical software program (SPSS 20). Results: Word association memory has a significant correlation with negative signs, positive signs, excitement, anxiety and depression (P < 0.05). Also, numerical memory has an inverse correlation with disease duration. Regarding to sex differences, word association memory has a significant correlation with positive signs, anxiety and depression in male patients but in women, only excitement showed positive correlation with word matching memory (P < 0.05). Conclusions: There is significant relation between verbal memory dysfunction and type and severity of psychological symptoms of schizophrenia patients. So, routine evaluation and treatment of these cognitive impairments should be considered as a part of comprehensive schizophrenia therapeutic approach.

No abstract