Validation of the hyperbolic temperament questionnaire in Iran

OBJECTIVE

Because of the importance of the cross-cultural study of hyperbolic temperament in increasing knowledge related to borderline personality disorder (BPD), the present study was conducted to test the reliability, construct, criterion, and discriminant validity of the Hyperbolic Temperament Questionnaire (HTQ) in three Iranian samples.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, the HTQ 11-item version translated into Farsi was provided to three selected samples (total N = 558, 72% female, 18 to 77 years old with an average of 30.2 and a standard deviation of 10.3). The samples included non-personality disorder samples (n = 194), samples with BPD symptoms (n = 104), and samples with other personality disorder symptoms (n = 260). Data were collected using multiple validating measurements. Factor analysis was used to verify that the HTQ is unidimensional and correlations and regression models were used to examine its associations with other constructs.

RESULTS

Factor analysis confirmed the single-factor structure of the HTQ in two non-personality disorder and BPD samples. The internal consistency of all items and the total scale were acceptable across the samples (α = 0.87 to 0.91). Positive correlations with maladaptive constructs such as negative affectivity and interpersonal sensitivity and negative correlations with adaptive constructs supported the criterion validity of HTQ. The HTQ was specifically related to borderline symptoms, even after controlling for similar constructs such as depression.

CONCLUSION

The 11-item version of HTQ has acceptable reliability and validity in Iranian samples. Using this short tool for rapid screening of cases with BPD before common procedures such as clinical interviews helps to save diagnostic time and costs.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Develops the Complications of Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complication that remains a threat to every patient experiencing stimulation of ovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) appears to be the most important predisposing factor for OHSS. The severity of OHSS is associated with the degree of the follicular response to the ovulation inducing agents. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between PCOS with the risk of moderate-to-severe OHSS in intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment patients. Sixty patients in the reproductive ages (20-38), including OHSS patients and age-matched normoresponders were included in this study. Patients who had larger follicle counts on the day of hCG injection were considered at risk for developing moderate-to-severe OHSS. In addition, oocyte quality was assessed about 20-30 min after oocyte pickup. The incidence of OHSS in PCOS patients increased significantly up to 13.9 times higher than in patients without PCOS (OR=13.900; P=0.007). Moreover, moderate-to-severe OHSS increased significantly (OR=3.860; P=0.043) in patients with primary infertility than those with secondary infertility. In addition, oocyte quality was not affected with the severity of OHSS. In conclusion, the risk of moderate-to-severe OHSS is correlated with PCOS and primary infertility without affecting oocyte quality.

Evaluation of the frequency of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome in students of girls’ high schools of Kermanshah-Iran

Introduction

Many women in fertile period of their lives experience some mental and physical symptoms that begin on 7–10 days before menses and cease after bleeding. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) are the terms to indicate these symptoms. The prevalence of PMS has been estimated to be about40% to70%, PMDD has lower prevalence.

Objective

This study has evaluated the frequencies of PMS and PMDD along with related factors in students of girls’ high schools in Kermanshah.

Methods

In this descriptive-analytic study, 800 students of girls’ high schools were chosen by incidentally and clustery sampling. Everyone who was volunteer included in the study. Excluding criteria were: history of depression; medical illnesses like epilepsy, meningitis, encephalitis, heart diseases…; history of consumption of β-blockers or other drugs of heart diseases, Phenobarbitals, and anticonvulsants. The diagnosis was made according to DSM.IV.TR. The data was processed using SPSS software, version 11.5, and by descriptive and analytic statistical methods.

Results

1.

Conclusion

The high frequencies of PMS and PMDD which result to problems in education of students need serious considerations to elevate mental health of students and to refer the severe cases to specialized centers.

Comparison of lidocaine 1% and normal saline in paracervical anesthesia for decreasing of pain in curettage

The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency oflidocaine with that of plain saline for paracervical pain relief during fractional curettage. The double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 150 patients presenting from 2004 to 2005 for curettage. The patients were assigned randomly in two groups to receive lidocaine 1% or normal saline. Number of patients at each group was 75 women. The pain intensity was assessed in four stages: (1) after speculum insertion, (2) during cervical dilatation, (3) during curettage and (4) 30 min after curettage completion. The pain intensity was graded as 0 to 100 according to the Likert Scale. The Mean +/- SD of pain intensity after speculum insertion, during dilatation, during curettage and 30 min after curettage in lidocaine group were 11.33 +/- 9.70, 24.93 +/- 15.36, 37.00 +/- 17.35, 6.47 +/- 6.42 and in normal saline group were 11.73 +/- 9.81, 28.20 +/- 13.19, 49.47 +/- 21.55 and 7.33 +/- 6.22, respectively. There was no significant difference between pain intensity after speculum insertion, during dilatation and during 30 min after curettage but there was a significant difference in pain intensity during curettage between lidocaine 1% group and normal saline group (p < 0.05). Normal saline is as effective as lidocaine 1% in low pain in curettage (distention of nerve capsule) but when increase pain in curettage (third time point), lidocaine 1% is more effective than normal saline. Nerve capsule distention is not the only factor for pain control in paracervical block and analgesic agent is still an important factor.