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The essential feature of Boderline Personality Disorder is pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects and marked impulsivity. These individuals may show performance in school or work situations unstructured. Impulsivity exhibit is potentially harmful to themselves. They can play, make irresponsible spending, overeating, engage in unsafe sex and abusing psychoactive substances. They also have, recursively, self-mutilating behavior and threats of suicide.
Methods
The following case features a patient whose characteristics meet the diagnostic criteria for boderline personality, with positive family history of psychiatric illness and user of multiple drugs, particularly cocaine, marijuana and alcohol, who has been trated by the same professional team between 2011 and 2013, with an average of 2.3 psychiatric hospitalizations per year with the signs unchanged until the last year. The introduction of Aripiprazole caused the remission of some symptons and attenuating others, with significant improvement in quality of life, as the scope of complete abstinence from drug use and school progress.
Conclusions
Although only one case, the excellence of the results with Aripiprazole in mood stabilization and improvement of impulsive behaviors, especially in the cessation of compulsive use of drugs, makes our attention turns to this substance so that it remains subject of further studies.
Topic: EPW13 – e-Poster Walk Session 13: Addictive Behaviours part 1
Onset as a result of use of new synthetic drugs of behavioral disorders accompanied by disorders of perception, consciousness and aggression is the basic reason for seeking specialized help.
Objective
to compare efficiency of Haloperidol and Clopixol-Acuphase (zuclopenthixol acetate) in therapy of acute psychotic disorders caused by use synthetic cannabinoids.
Material and Methods
72 patients (mean age 23,7±2,4) admitted with acute psychotic disorders due to use of synthetic cannabinoids were examined. In the course of investigation patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=37) with haloperidol for stopping of psychotic disorders, group 2 (n=35) with Clopixol-Acuphase. Detoxification and metabolic therapy were administered.
Results
The carried-out analysis showed that when using the typical neuroleptic haloperidol in patients of group 1 the reduction of psychomotor excitement passed for 8±2,5 hours; stopping of hallucinatory manifestations was observed after 48±12,0 hours; in the same period there was Self-identification restoration (who had such disturbance), orientation was restored for 72±8 hours; delusional disorders disappeared after 3-5 days. When using Clopixol-Acuphase psychomotor excitement was reduced after 4±1,5 hours, stopping of hallucinatory disorders occurred at the same time with Self-identification restoration in average after 36±8 hours, orientation in place and time was restored for 48±12 hours, delusional disorders disappeared within 72 hours.
Discussion
The assessment of efficiency of therapy of acute psychoses caused by use of new synthetic cannabinoids showed that use of Clopixol-Acuphase allows to cope quicker with psychomotor excitement and hallucinatory disorders which represent a substantial danger to the patient and people around.
Topic: EPW24 – e-Poster Walk Session 24: Addictive Behaviours part 2
In Italy, 6 months of abstinence from alcohol/substances are required before OLT, evidence for this recommendation remaining controversial. No standard approach linking abstinence duration at the index psychiatric pre-OLT evaluation to referral to Community Services is followed.
Aims
To report data of the Modena Consultation-Liaison Psychiatric Service (MCLPS) for pre-OLT patients with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), and to evaluate patients' concordance with referrals.
Methods
Case-control study. Data source: database of MCLPS. Psychiatric evaluations pre-OLT from 01/01/2008 to 31/12/2013 were extracted. Patients were controls if they had a SUD and abstinent for more than 6 months; cases if they had a SUD with less than 6 months of abstinence. Chi-squared analysis was performed with STATA 13.0.
Results
515 consultations were requested for 309 pre-OLT patients, 36.3% (N=112) of patients had a current or past SUD. Controls were 80 (71.3%), while cases – who had stopped use less than 6 months before the consultation, or were still using- were 20 (17.9%). 52.5% of controls (N=42) and 85.0% of cases (N=17) were referred to community services (Chi 5.71; p=0.02). 70.0% of cases (N=14) and 33.6% of controls (N=27) were seen at least twice (Chi 7.22; p=0.01). 16.7% (N=2) of cases and 23.5 % (N=4) of controls referred to community services reported concordance with Consultant's recommendation at re-assessment, a non-significant difference with cases (Chi 0.00; p=1.00).
Conclusions
Consistently with previously research in this field, no difference of concordance with recommendations emerged between patients with SUD with different duration of abstinence.
Topic: EPW13 – e-Poster Walk Session 13: Addictive Behaviours part 1
Sex under the influence of drugs is widely known to be associated with high-risk of sexually transmitted disease. However, the impact of psychoactive substances (PAS) on the sexuality of MSM is rarely considered.
Objectives
To describe the pattern of drug use among SUMSM and its association with sexual practice.
Methods
A self-report anonymous form was remitted to SUMSM within addictology department or online from January to July 2014. The questionnaire includes a list of PAS, characteristics of their consumption and the effects sought especially on the sexual level (pleasure, facilitate sexual encounters, atypical sexual behavior…).
Results
228 MSM answered (49 through addictology department and 179 via Internet), with mean age of 39±13 years, socially integrated (74%), and having sex with multiple partner in 35% of cases. Most of them (45%) reported HIV positive status. The mostly used substances in sexual context are poppers (72%), cocaine (60%) and ecstasy (48%), with alcohol association in 58% and sildenafil in 43% of cases. Most of the respondents are polydrug users (82%). First time drug use was linked to sexual pleasure (51%).
Conclusion
Each PAS has specific sexual behaviour profile. In 54% of cases, respondents report substance-related disorder. Despite negative effect of cocaine on erection, respondents continue to use it with sildenafil to counterbalance and reach sexual pleasure. SUMSM need substance abuse education, prevention services support, and/or drug treatment. Patients should benefit from interventions targeting both sexual behavior and substance use to take into account link between sex and drug use.
Topic: EPW24 – e-Poster Walk Session 24: Addictive Behaviours part 2
Substances that act on GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors (ethanol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates) can adversely affect the both the short- and long-term effects in the CNS. Our study was to investigate density of platelet's benzodiazepine receptors (BDR) and certain neuroactive steroids: progesterone (PG) and cortisol (CS) in blood serum of patients with compulsive craving for alcohol during chronic exposure to ethanol and evaluate their role in the development of preference for alcohol and alcohol addiction.
Methods
Platelet's benzodiazepine receptors (BDR) of patients with alcohol addiction and control persons were explored using radioreceptor analysis with selective ligand [3H]PK-11195. RIA kits were used for assay of CS and PG from blood serum in examined persons.
Results
The kinetic binding parameters of the specific BDR ligand [3H]PK11195 have been evaluated in platelets from 36 male alcoholic patients in relation to 19 healthy sex-matched controls. A significant increase of mean value of platelet BDR density was observed in patients as compared to the controls (4733±379 and 3358±242 fmol/mg proteins, p<0,005). Comparative study of NS levels in blood serum of alcoholic patients showed significant decrease the level of PG, compared with healthy donors; investigations levels of CS showed significant increase of alcoholic patients.
Conclusion
Alterations levels of NS in alcoholic patients suggest the abruption regulation of NS on platelet's BDR density as one of the mechanisms of development of compulsive craving for alcohol. Compulsive behavior links with altered levels of neuroactive steroid hormones that can modulate GABAA/BD receptor's plasticity and controls inhibitory and excitatory processes in the brain.
Studying the effects of drugs on neuronal GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors can be the basis to develop new approaches to the treatment of this disease.
Materials and methods
Wistar rats (n = 250) used in the experimental model of alcoholism. Properties of BDR 'synaptosomal” and 'mitochondrial” types were examined in respective membrane fractions obtained from brain cortex of rats with experimental alcoholism and treating of anticonvulsant meta-chloro-benzhydrylurea (m-chBHU) by radioreceptor assay with [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]Ro5-4864.
Results
As a result of screening in terms of consumption of 15% alcohol and water in the rat were divided into 3 groups of animals. 1st – rats preferred to ethanol in testing – 'heavy drink” rats (15% alcohol as the sole source of drinking for 10 months); 2nd – rats preferred to ethanol – 'non-heavy drink” male contained no access to the entire period of ethanol; 3rd – 'non-prefer” alcohol rats – contained in the water. Introduction of m-chBHU rats 100 mg/kg for 14 days caused a significant decrease in alcohol consumption in animals preferring alcohol (1st and 2nd groups). Comparative study of kinetic parameters of selective ligands with bran membranes showed that properties of BDR in membranes from brain cortex of male rats with different preference to alcohol and showed that affinity of BDRs was decreased, but capacity of receptors was increased in brain cortex of 'heavy drink” and 'non-heavy drink” male rats compared with 'non-prefer” alcohol rats.
Conclusions
Administration of m-chBHU induced mediation of GABA in brain of these rats and reduced alcohol consumptions.
The consumption of cannabinoids has increased exponentially in the young. The cannabis-induced psychotic disorder is a rare condition, with transient paranoid ideation being the most common manifestation. Symptoms of anxiety are the most common adverse reaction associated with the moderate use of smoked cannabis. Cocaine use, in turn, is related to the appearance of delusions and hallucinations in up to 50% of its customers, depending on the dosage, duration and personal sensitivity to the substance.
Clinical Case
23 years old single male, jobless, without relevant personal history, who presented in for a psychiatry consultation because of auditory, visual, tactile, somatic and kinesthetic hallucinations, as well as delusional paranoid ideation, influence and self-referencing. Regular consumer of hashish since 15 years and with previous single cocaine use at 21 years old. After the treatment with Risperidone (2mg id); Aripiprazole (15 mg id) e Lorazepam (2,5 mg id in SOS), almost complete regression of hallucinatory symptoms and raving. However, the patient continued with regular use of cannabis as a form of social integration, without stoping the psychotropic medication.
Conclusions
Regular hashish use can induce long-term psychotic states. However, the question that arises is whether the single cocaine may have had a synergistic effect and / or ”triggering“ of psychosis in a patient already hash consumer, since there is reference to the start of hallucinatory symptoms and delusional after consumption of that. However, in this context, it is also difficult to excluded of paranoid schizophrenia since the patient as not completely abandoned the use of hash.
Psychiatry, Hospital do Tamega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal
The aim of this study was to compare three systems of revised reinforcement sensitivity theory, (behavioral activation system (r-BAS), revised behavioral inhibition system (r-BIS) and revised fight/ flight/ freezing system (r-FFFS), between patients, dependent to methamphetamine and normal people.
Material and Methods
This research was causal-comparative study that done in first sex month of 2012. The population of the study was the male dependent on methamphetamine that ruling out Psychotic disorders and prominent axis II of Mashhad city. 25 persons were selected by convenient sampling method. Also 25 normal people from patients' relatives were selected and matched in variables of age, gender and education participated in this study. Samples evaluated by Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for DSM-IV, demographic questionnaire information's and Jackson-5 questionnaire (2009). Data were analyzed by Chi square, K-S and independent t-test.
Results
Methamphetamine dependent group had higher sensitivity in r-BAS, r-BIS, Fight and Freezing systems compare to normal people (p<0.05). However there was no significant difference in r-Flight between two groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion
Personality patterns of patients dependent on methamphetamine were different from normal people. This people have high sensitivity to punishment cues such as being compared in social conditions and tendency to reinforcement and reward, because of their higher sensitivity in behavioral inhibition and activation system. These results are in accordance with the fundamental hypothesis of revised theory (r-RST).
Topic: EPW13 – e-Poster Walk Session 13: Addictive Behaviours part 1
Modern researches suggested that the adolescents' addictive behaviors increased and age limit of interest lowered.
Objectives
to investigate the association of moral religious beliefs (RMB), aggressiveness, anxiety, depressiveness, family relations and addictive behavior of the school adolescents.
Methods
The sample was consisted from 120 elementary and 120 secondary school students (120 girls) of age from 12-18 years. We used The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, The Questionnaire for Measurement of Aggressiveness (AG-87), The Religious Moral Beliefs Scale, Perception of Family Interaction Scale.
Results
The obtained results indicate that the level of RMB was positively associated with the level of the family relationships-acceptance perception, as well as with the level of the academic achievements and the level of student's behavior in the schools. Also, we found that the level of RMB of the school adolescents was negatively associated with the level of anxiety, depressiveness, aggressiveness and the level of perception of family relationships: rejection and control. Furthermore, the level of RMB was negatively correlated with the addictive behaviors of examined adolescents; on the other hand the level of anxiety, depressiveness and aggressiveness was positively correlated with the addictive behaviors of tested school adolescents.
Conclusion
The religious moral beliefs positively associated with the level of perception the family relationship-acceptance, but negatively associated with the level of anxiety, depressiveness, aggressiveness, with the addictive behaviors and the level of perception of the family relationships: rejection and control. The level of anxiety, depressiveness and aggressiveness positively correlated with the addictive behaviors of tested school adolescents.
Topic: EPW24 – e-Poster Walk Session 24: Addictive Behaviours part 2
Patients in the addictions deserve proper assessment, both at intake, to ensure adequate matching to levels of care and to treatment modules, and during and after treatment for monitoring and evaluation. The growing body of evidence allows a more rational and structured patient placement (Merkx et al, 2013).
Aims
We developed the MATE: Measurement in the Addiction for Triage & Evaluation, as an alternative for the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). The MATE is based on the conceptual framework of the WHO classifications ICD-10 an the ICF (International Classification of Functioning). The MATE is a comprehensive, flexible, modular based interview, incorporating a series of existing, valid scales. The MATE contains a multi-functional module (MATE-ICN) that assesses functioning. Assessment duration is around 45 min. Implemented in the majority of the substance abuse treatment centres in the Netherlands and in some German clinics. The MATE is free-of-charge; several European languages versions are available (www.mateinfo.eu). For evaluation purposes the MATE-Outcomes is composed, for adolescents the MATE-Youth, and for judicial clients the MATE-Crimi. There are self-report and electronic versions developed.
Results
The MATE has been tested in the Netherlands (Schippers et al., 2010) and Germany (Buchholz, 2011). Data on psychometric properties from thousands of patients show that the MATE can reliably and validly measure patient characteristics and allocate patients efficiently, properly, and feasibly to forms and intensity of treatment.
Conclusion
The MATE is a solid way to standardize assessment of patient characteristics in the addictions, adding to our knowledge base in that field.
Topic: EPW13 – e-Poster Walk Session 13: Addictive Behaviours part 1
Article: 0498
Introduction & Background
Safety of mental health professionals is vital for services to function. A National Audit Office document emphasizes the right of NHS staff to safety and the duty of the organization to do their utmost to ensure it. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has recommendations for interview room safety, and emphasizes the relationship between the clinical environment and violent incidences. Previous studies have focused on interview rooms across mental health services, in both inpatient and outpatient settings and in different subspecialties.
Aims & Objectives
To assess the safety of interview rooms in Addiction and Recovery Community Hub (ARCH) services in Birmingham.
To highlight areas that can be improved upon to enhance safety.
To emphasize the importance of a safe interview room both in design and organization.
Method
Royal College recommendations, safety advice, and trust guidelines were integrated to form standards to assess interview room safety.
All interview rooms at the ARCH locations were assessed against these standards.
Data was re-checked for accuracy.
Results
Every interview room demonstrated shortcomings in at least 2 of the 12 safety parameters.
Results for other parameters were more satisfactory, with a minimum of over 70% of rooms complying with each safety feature.
All rooms were satisfactory on 2 parameters.
Conclusions
Interview room safety is not being achieved to adequate standards in ARCH services in Birmingham.
Greater emphasis needs to be placed on interview room safety and efforts need to be made to correct shortcomings.
over the past few years Gambling has significantly increased in Italy, being considered as an acceptable form of entertainment and leisure activity. Our aim is to study personality traits and the psychiatric comorbidity of gamblers in relation to the different age and the onset of gambling.
Methods
71 patients affected by Pathological Gambling (PG), who accessed in our service (A. Gemelli Hospital, Rome- Italy), underwent the following assessment tests:
-Addiction Severity Index (ASI);
-Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) to study personality traits;
-MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for psychiatric comorbidity.
Results
we found that younger gamblers have higher TCI-R scores in the subscales NS1 (exploratory excitability)(p<0,001) and NS3 (extravagance)(p=0,024) and lower scores in HA2 (fear of uncertainty) and ST3 (spiritual acceptance)(p=0,005). An earlier age of onset of PG correlates with higher scores in NS1 (p=0,003), NS3 (p=0,047), Novelty Seeking (p=0,016) and lower HA2 (p=0,034). Patients with gambling onset before age 20 have more probabilities of playing multiple kinds of games (p=0,004), while lower probabilities of playing passive games (p=0026); furthermore they exhibit antisocial personality disorder (p=0,033) and addiction familiarity (p=0,006). Late-onset gamblers (age > 45 years) prefer passive games (p=0,007) and usually don't play online games (p=0,02).
Conclusions
gamblers are a heterogeneous population with regard to personality traits, psychiatric comorbidity, familiarity and type of games played. Paying attention to the gamblers' age and the age of onset of PG could be useful to a greater understanding of the individual differences of patients, and to a deeper knowledge of their disorder.
Topic: EPW13 – e-Poster Walk Session 13: Addictive Behaviours part 1
According to the cognitive model of addiction by Beck taking substance represents the final common voice of the activation of beliefs through the involvement of craving.
Objectives
To assess whether beliefs related to craving is a prognostic factor for relapse 6 months after a residential alcohol withdrawal and analyze the evolution of these beliefs.
Methods
107 participants were solicited for this non-interventional prospective study in a department of Psychiatry and Addictive Medicine. All patients showed a dependence on alcohol, and were hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal and had to master the French language and be reachable by telephone to help ensure follow-up. The presence of severe cognitive disorders or schizophrenia constitute a basis for non-inclusion. In the end, 68 patients were included. Beliefs related to craving on alcohol were assessed by Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (CBQ), psychiatric and addictive comorbidities by the MINI and consumption of alcohol by the AUDIT.
Results
Among the 68 patients, 27 were abstinent and 25 had relapsed at 6 months. The CBQ score at baseline was positively correlated with relapse at 6 months (p <.05). Relapsers were characterized by more frequent presence of major depressive disorder, suicidal risk, antisocial personality and an AUDIT and alcohol dependence largest scores. Three months after hospitalization CBQ score drops significantly among non-relapsers (p <.001) but not among relapsers.
Conclusions
This study supports the role of beliefs related to alcohol craving in the relapse after residential withdrawal. These beliefs could be assessed in routine practice and treated with cognitive therapies.
Drug use among medical students is partially unknown. However, consumption among medical students may have a similar role if compared with the rest of population.
Objectives
To study drugs use among medical students comparing gender and evolution on drugs use.
Aims
Students enrolled in the fifth year of the medical studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, from the course 2008-2009 to 2014-2015, were offered the chance to participate voluntarily in the study.
Methods
The students agreed to participate anonymously in a survey filled in during the beginning days of the psychiatry classes. They were asked about their drug consumption, including legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco) and illegal drugs. During the seven study years, 469 questionnaires were collected (74.1% of women) and mean age was 22.77 (20-35) yearsold.
Results
The students reported consuming alcohol (66.7%; 65.5% women, 70.4% men), tobacco (18.6%; 18.1% women, 20% men) and illegal drugs (15.1%; 12.4% women, 22.8% men). The female students consumed fewer illegal drugs than the men (p 0.008) as showed above. Comparing 2008/2009 and 2014/2015 courses, the consumption was: alcohol 75.5% and 65.7%, tobacco 24.5% and 13.2% and illegal drugs 22.4% and 14.7%.
Conclusions
Drug consumption is an important problem among medicalstudents who will becomeprescribing doctors in a few months after the survey. There is a decreased tendency to use illegal drugs. Due to the gender differences on illegal drug use a special focus must be placed on the male group.
Topic: EPW24 – e-Poster Walk Session 24: Addictive Behaviours part 2
The association of ADHD and Substance Abuse has been a focus of research. Studies point to elevated rates of ADHD in patients with history of alcohol abuse or dependence.
Objectives
The main objective of this study was to assess the presence of ADHD in patients with history of alcohol abuse or dependence and investigate a possible relationship with consumption patterns and other mental comorbidities, including personality disorders.
Methods
We interviewed patients that were hospitalized, were attending the Day Hospital or were being followed in therapeutic groups in a Treatment and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit of the Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa. It was collected social and demographic data and applied the following scales: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS); Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA 2.0); Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire for the DSM IV (PDQ4). Patients were also submitted to a psychiatric interview in order to assess the presence of other comorbidities and suicide attempts.
Results
57 patients were evaluated, 80% were male; 63.2% obtained scores PDQ4 suggestive of personality disorder. A high percentage of patients had an history of consumption of other abuse substances and had comorbidity with depression and anxiety disorders. In ASRS scale, 33.3% had scores suggestive of ADHD.
Conclusions
Diagnosis of ADHD in patients with substance abuse is complex since there are similar symptoms that are present in other mental disorders. However, the presence of ADHD is associated with a more severe expression of addictive behaviors and a worse prognosis, hence the importance of its early diagnosis.
Alcohol induced liver disease (ALD) is the predominant cause of alcohol-related mortality in the UK. Therefore helping patients with ALD to quit is a primary treatment goal.
Aims/Objectives
The primary aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness and tolerability of Baclofen in maintaining abstinence, and to determine if this resulted in a reduction in standard measures of liver damage.
Methods
An observational prospective clinical audit was performed. Patients with ALD were commenced on Baclofen titrated according to tolerability and response up to 30 mg TDS. Primary outcome measures were severity of physical dependence (SADQ score) and biochemical markers of liver damage GGT, ALT, Bilirubin fibroelastography. These were compared at baseline, and 1 year.
Results
Of the 243 patients commenced on Baclofen, 151 (85 female 66 male) have completed 1 year follow-up (F/U) of which 130 (86%) have remained engaged. 10 have died. Comparison of baseline (B/L) and 1 year biochemical markers showed a reduction in GGT (c2= 66.8 P < 0.0001) and Bil (c2= 82.6 P < 0.0001). There was a significant reduction in alcohol consumption (P < 0.0001 95% CI = 10 to 22). And the presence of physical dependence (c<sup>2</sup> = 77.4 P < 0.0001) as categorised by SADQ.
Conclusion
Baclofen is well tolerated in this very difficult to treat, high risk patient group. It has a positive impact on alcohol consumption, and overall measures of liver function and harm. A RCT is needed to confirm the benefit of Baclofen in this patient group.</div>
Topic: EPW13 – e-Poster Walk Session 13: Addictive Behaviours part 1
A very low cost treatment system for alcohol dependence is possible with new technology.
Objectives
To maintain abstinence from alcohol with affordable remote intensive therapeutic support and long term follow up.
Aims
To describe the use of new technology and its application in a treatment system to promote abstinence from alcohol.
Methods
A new breathalyser uses a photo-ionisation device and a fuel cell to remotely monitor disulfiram metabolites and alcohol on a sample of breath. A small sample (n=10) of post-detoxified patients with severe alcohol dependence were provided with a breathalyser. Patients sent daily readings from various locations (e.g. UK, Australia, Germany). The clinical team required 2-3 minutes to read the results and email the patient each day. Patients were telephoned if readings dropped (missed tablet), or no sample was sent.
Results
The mean duration of follow up was 11.3 months. Of 10 patients using the breathalyser 90% remained totally abstinent from alcohol. One patient had two brief lapses during an 8 month period, both of which were detected in advance.
There was no requirement for routine clinic follow up appointments. Daily emails and monthly summaries of progress were reported to be of great motivational value.
Conclusions
New technology has the potential to provide daily remote therapeutic support and monitoring to alcohol dependent patients prescribed disulfiram. Early observations indicate that it is possible to maintain disulfiram adherence at very low cost. The sample size was small, and further trials are required, but early indications are promising.
Smartphones allow their users accessibility to internet, media, games and social networks. Nowadays, in modern life many people prefer to contact via smartphones. Beneath the potential benefits of smartphones, related harms as problematic use or 'addiction” should also be considered especially among young adults.
Objectives and Aims
To determine smartphone addiction in relation with social anxiety and loneliness among university students.
Methods
Three hundred sixty-seven students who have a smartphone in an university in Istanbul participated in the study. The participants were given a set of questions about their style of smartphone use, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short version (SAS-SV), UCLA Loneliness Scale and Brief Social Phobia Scale.
Results
Significant difference was found between users who declare their mainly purpose to use a smartphone as access to social network sites and who declare it as access to internet or a phone call (p<0.001). Addictive tendencies were negatively correlated with the age of owning the first mobile phone. Scores in total and all subscales of Brief Social Phobia Scale are positively correlated with SAS-SV scores in both sexes. Scores of UCLA Loneliness scale were also positively correlated with SAS-SV scores in female students.
Conclusions
Findings of this study suggest that smartphone users who have their first mobile phone in an early age and who use their smartphone primarily to access social network sites have an addictive use of smartphone. Also social phobia in both sexes and loneliness in females make smartphone users more prone to an addictive usage of smartphones.
The current research attempted to propose a structural model of the relationships between parenting styles, mothers' occupation status, and addiction to computer games, self-control, and educational progress of secondary school students.
Methods
Using multistage cluster random sampling, 500 female and male secondary school students in Kerman (Iran) were selected and studied. The research tools included self-control, parenting styles, and addiction to computer games questionnaires and a self-made questionnaire containing demographic details. The data was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and route analysis.
Findings
We found self-control to have a linking role in the relationship between four parenting styles and educational progress. Mothers' occupation status was directly and significantly correlated with addiction to computer games. Although four parenting styles directly and significantly affected addiction to computer games, the findings did not support the linking role of addiction to computer games in the relationship between four parenting styles and educational progress.
Conclusion
The current research reflected the impact of four parenting styles on self-control, addiction to computer games, and educational progress of students. Among the parenting styles, authoritative style can affect the severity of addiction to computer games through self-control development. It can thus indirectly influence the educational progress of students. Parents are recommended to use authoritative parenting style to help both self-management and psychological health of their children. The employed mothers are also recommended to have more supervision and control on the degree and type of computer games selected by their children.
Nicotine is one of the strongest poisons. Every year about 75 thousand of Iranians die due to smoking. Since doctors and nurses have a major role in controlling smoking, this study tried to investigate the prevalence of cigarette smoking among doctors and nurses and their awareness about the effects of smoking.
Methods
This descriptive study was conducted on all doctors (n = 150) and nurses (n = 400) of hospitals affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences (Kerman, Iran). Data was collected through a questionnaire with reliability of 0.8 and validity of 0.79. It consisted of two parts to assess demographic characteristics of the participants and their awareness about the side effects of smoking. Their awareness was ranked from poor to excellent based on the number of correct answers. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were then used to analyze the collected data.
Findings
Of 550 questionnaires, 524 were completed (51.3% by the nurses and 48.7% by the doctors. While 21.2% of all participants smoked cigarettes, 71.8% of doctors and 95.3% of nurses did not smoke. The levels of awareness among nurses and doctors were determined as poor and moderate, respectively.
Conclusion
The higher prevalence of smoking among nurses confirms the significance of education. The level of awareness among the studied doctors and nurses was not desirable. Enhancing the awareness and attitude of medical staff will improve not only their own performance but also the behavioral pattern of the society.