The goal of this work was to find out if the clinical professional could distinguish hallucination like experiences between clinical and general population through the analyze of their responses.

The Revised Hallucination Scale (RHS) was administered to three groups included hallucinating schizophrenic patients, non-psychotic clinical disordered patients and a group of individuals with no psychiatric diagnoses. Also the frequency they were asked to give an example of a situation in which it had happened and to what they attributed it. Two clinical professionals analyzed the answers of all participants (blind related to the original group) and classified them in the three following groups: general, clinical non-psychotic and psychotic population.

As the results show the experience of the non-clinical group was easily distinguished by the clinical professionals since those persons did not present neither disturbs nor disability. Concerning the non-psychotic clinical group was identified a major variability in the classification, fluctuating between typical characteristics of the clinical group (e.g. anxiety) and the general population. The classification of the hallucination patients indicated a strong relation with their original group.

It is suggested that from a clinical point of view it is possible to distinguish clearly between the experiences of people hearing voices and general population. Concerning the clinical population it is more difficult to differentiate this kind of experience between psychotic and non-psychotic populations. The relevance of the results is discussed.

To access the Intelligence Wechsler Scale for Children (WISC-III) as an auxiliary resource in the diagnosis of patients with suspected mental retardation.

Thirty patients were evaluated in a university psychiatric service for children and adolescents, consulted during 2008. Those patients underwent a psychiatric evaluation and, after, subsequently the WISC III scale was administered. Patients were classified, according to their intellectual coefficients, as with or without a mental retardation score, following ICD-10 criteria. The results were transferred to a SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) spreadsheet and then analyzed in its socio-demographic and clinic variables.

Of the thirty patients, 18 (60%) were children and 12 (40%) adolescents; 22 (73,33%) were male and 8 (26,67%) female. Furthermore, the sample revealed that 20 (68,97%) patients had had an axis I diagnosis. For the participants, 7 (23,3%) had an IQ below the cutoff of 70, consistent with the mental retardation diagnosis, and agreeing with the psychiatric evaluation. The other 23 (76,7%) patients had an IQ within the normal range. From those considered intellectually deficient, 5 (71,43%) had a score for mild and 2 (28,57%) for moderate mental retardation.

This study showed that clinical diagnosis of mental retardation is difficult, especially for mild cases, when the characteristics are not very clear. The error probability is increased if an instrument such as WISC III is not administered. Therefore, WISC III is an important instrument in the diagnostic process for mental retardation, in many instances changing a first clinic impression.

There have been conflicting reports on the relationship between thyroid function and mood between studies in subjects on thyroxine and the general population not on thyroxine. We investigated this relationship in a large population study.

We analysed data on serum TSH levels and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores from the HUNT 2 study (age ≥ 40 years). Following a test for interaction, analyses were performed separately in females on thyroxine (n=1,265) and in people not on thyroxine (males n=9,319 and females n=17,694).

More females on thyroxine had high depression and anxiety scores than females not on thyroxine (depression 18.4% vs 13.0%, p< 0.001, anxiety 23.4% vs 18.7% p< 0.001). In those not on thyroxine there was an inverse association between serum TSH and depression score in males (B coefficient = -0.61, 95% CI -0.91 to -0.24, p=0.001) though not in females (B coefficient = -0.07, -0.33 to 0.19), and an inverse association between TSH and anxiety score in both sexes (B coefficient for males = -0.68, 95% CI -1.04 to -0.32, p< 0.001; females -0.37, -0.67 to -0.08, p=0.01). By contrast, in females on thyroxine, TSH was positively associated with both depression (B coefficient = +0.27, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.51, p< 0.05) and anxiety (B coefficient = +0.29, 0.01 to 0.56, p< 0.05).

There is a different relationship between thyroid function and depression and anxiety in females on thyroxine compared to individuals with no thyroid disease.

Former studies show low treatment rates of outpatients with a diagnosis of depression. The aims of this study are to examine

1. (1) the rate of diagnosed depression in outpatient care,

2. (2) rates of treatment of depression according to individual and regional characteristics and

3. (3) effects of individual and regional characteristics on getting depression-specific treatment in the federal state of Bavaria.

Prevalence of depression and outpatient treatment for depression as well as individual and regional characteristics of outpatients diagnosed with depression were analysed based on secondary data from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians Bavaria in 2006 (N=780,226). Descriptive analyses were followed by logistic regression analysis (STATA, PASW) to examine predictive effects of individual and regional characteristics on getting depression-specific treatment.

Prevalence of diagnosed depression is 9.2% for persons who are statutory health insured and older than 17 years. 55% of diagnosed depressed patients do not get a depression-specific treatment within one year. Rates of a depression-specific treatment are higher for persons who are female, of middle age, with a moderate or severe depression, with a psychiatric comorbidity, without somatic comorbidity, who live in more rural areas.

The access to depression-specific treatment after a diagnosis of depression must be facilitated. Training for physicians, psychoeducation for patients and anti-stigma campaigns are necessary measures to reach this goal. The knowledge about influence of individual characteristics on getting a depression-specific treatment is important to reach the groups who get least depression-specific treatment.

The aim of study is to determine ethnics differences related to the knowledge, attitude and beliefs towards Mental Health Illness in a traditional fast developing country.

A cross-sectional survey.

Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers.Subjects: A representative sample of 3000 Qatari and other Arab expatriates above 20 years of age and 2514 subjects (83.8%) expressed their consent to study.

A specific questionnaire was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and beliefs towards mental health illness.

Among the 2514 studied subjects, 50.3% were Qataris’(males 39.8% and females 60.2%) and 49.7% were Arab expatriates (58.6% males and 41.4% females). 50.6% Qatari and 44.5% Arabs believe that mental illness could be the result of punishment from God or, thought as it was due to the possession of evil spirits (40.5% Qatari's and 37.6% Arabs). More than half of Qatari's and Arabs think that psychiatric medication will cause addiction and consider mental illness as dangerous. 75.3% of Qatari's and 83.4% of Arabs respondents had no problem to visit a Psychiatrist for their emotional problem, and 42.3% of Qatari's and 36.4% of Arabs agreed to visit a healer for their problem. Less than half of the population are disturbed to work with someone who has mental illness and are afraid if anybody with mental illness are staying in next door. The common mental illness among Qatari's and Arab Populations described are: schizophrenia, depression, autism, anxiety, epileptic, obsession, and other reported mental illnesses.

People's knowledge and attitude about understanding the mentally sick were of negative impact.

To examine whether depression or social isolation or the combination of both is associated with high leptin levels.

In this cross-sectional study, the study population comprised 1229 subjects. Social network was assessed according to the Social Network Index initially designed for the Alameda study. Depression was assessed using the DEEX scale. Four categories were built: “socially integrated, not depressed”, “socially integrated, depressed”, “socially isolated, not depressed”, “socially isolated, depressed”. Serum leptin concentrations were assessed.Logistic regression was performed in men and women separately to investigate the influence of the three different categories “socially integrated, depressed”, “socially isolated, not depressed” and “socially isolated, depressed” in comparison with the reference category “socially integrated, not depressed”. The probability belonging to the upper 30% of leptin values was modelled. Four models were adjusted for BMI, age, lifestyle factors, psychosomatic complaints and metabolic variables.

In men, but not in women a significant effect could be seen. The combination of depressed state and social isolation was associated with a four fold increased risk of belonging to the group with the 30% highest leptin levels in men, whereas in women odds ratios did not reach significance.

Men, who were socially isolated and depressed, had an increased risk for high leptin levels. Therefore the combination of social isolation and depression, which is known to be associated with the worst outcome in cardiovascular disease, may have the potential to increase leptin levels in men.

To identify factors associated with visits by patients with schizophrenia and related disorders to community mental health services, under the Mental Health Department of Carlos Haya Hospital in Malaga, Spain.

We undertook a cross-sectional study. Data on demographic and clinical factors and service use were obtained from the public mental health services database and centralized in the “Malaga Schizophrenia Case Register (RESMA)”. The outcome measure, defined as the total number of outpatient consultations during one year, was analyzed by multilevel multivariate linear regression.

The analysis included 1097 patients with diagnoses of schizophrenia and related disorders (F20-F29, ICD-10).The adjusted model explained 46.35% of the variance. Patients who contacted both types of professional (nurses and psychiatrists) had a higher number of visits compared to patients who only contacted a psychiatrist (p< 0.001), and the individual psychiatrist attending the patients was also associated with the number of visits (p< 0.001).Clinical variables, such as a higher global level of severity (p< 0.001), a diagnosis of a persistent delusion disorder and having an inpatient episode (p< 0.001), were also associated with a higher number of visits. Patients who were receiving welfare benefits or who had no formal education or were illiterate had a higher number of visits. Patients living alone, living outside the study area and living in more rural municipalities was associated with fewer ambulatory contacts.

Among all variables, the role of psychiatrists and nurses in organized outpatient settings present the strongest association with the number of visits by similar patients.

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.