ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Descriptive & Survey Study

Authors

Manaei   Z. (1)
Abolmaali Alhossein   Kh. (*)
Mousavi   B. (2)






(*) Psychology Department, Psychology Faculty, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
(1) Psychology Department, Psychology Faculty, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
(2) Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Psychology Department, Islamic Azad University, Ayatollah Khamenei Boulevard, Roudehen, Iran
Phone: +98 (21) 77505018
Fax: +98 (21) 88577520
sama.abolmaali@gmail.com

Article History

Received:  August  8, 2016
Accepted:  September 24, 2016
ePublished:  November 21, 2016

BRIEF TEXT


The harmonious communication ability with others, improvement and modification of personal and social environment, resolution of the conflicts, and reasonable, fair and appropriate personal interests have been introduced as mental health by World Health Organization.

… [2-20]. In the study of life quality in two-eyes blind veterans, highly significant difference was observed between the mental health of this group and of the normal society [21]. … [22].

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and screening of mental health problems in one eye blind veterans in Fars Province.

This study is descriptive-cross-sectional.

This study was conducted in 2016 among all one eye blind veterans in Fars Province that the total number of them was 339 patients.

187 one eye blind veterans in Fars Province were randomly selected and studied.

Using tools were form of collecting demographic information (including age, injury age, gender, percent of disability, marital status, education level, employment status, and other injuries ( except blindness in one eye) and the SCL-90-R (Symptom Checklist-90-Revised). SCL-90-R questionnaire contains 90 questions of self-reported symptoms that have been developed by the clinical psychometric researches. Answer to each question was based on a five grade Likert scale (nothing=zero, low=1, somewhat=2, high=3, and extremely high=4). This tool studies 9 different dimensions of psychiatric symptoms as following: Somatization (which apparently shows the symptoms of illness, but no medical condition has led to them), obsessive-compulsive (thought, desire or recurrent and persistent imagination that the person passes it as annoying or unwanted experience), interpersonal sensitivity (having considerable problems in interpersonal situations like negative expectations and feelings of inferior in relation to others), depression (emotional concerns and disorders that makes a person to be worried internally and unable to properly conduct it),anxiety (chronic and severe experience feelings of anxiety, fear about what happens in the future that may happen to a person), aggression and hostility (rebellion, resistance, and aggressive behaviors such as desire to hurt, breaking things, debate and controversy), phobia (excessive or irrational fears associated with a person, place, thing or situation), paranoid ideation (pessimism and lack of trust in others, in the way that the person considers the motivation and intentions of others as malicious ones), and psychosis (the person becomes highly withdrawal or loner, and experience the signs such as schizophrenia, delusions and thought control). SCL90 test was introduced in 1973 to demonstrate the mental and psychological aspects of the patients, and it was revised in 1977 with the name of SCL-90-R [23]. This test has been used in several cases, and the reliability and validity of its Persian version, also, has been confirmed [24]. Also, based on previous studies, cutting score of 63 in the Iranian society has been considered as a diagnostic criteria for SCL-90-R checklist tests [25, 26]. Information was transferred to SPSS22 software. The statistical information include mean, frequency, and percentage for quantitative variables such age and age of injury. Frequency and percentage of qualitative variables such as education, employment status, and associated injuries, as well as different dimensions of SCL-90R test were, also, calculated. In addition, significant correlation between demographic variables and mental health problems was investigated through chi-square test. To investigate the correlation between different dimensions of questionnaire, also, Pearson Correlation Test was used.

The mean age of 187 one eye blind veterans was 46.0±6.7 at the time of the study. And most of them (0.77%) were in the fifth decade of life. The mean age of injury was 21.5±5.7. All veterans were male and married (1 single, 0.5%). 104 (55.6%) of the veterans had the educational level of less than diploma. More than half of the studied veterans (51.3%) were not employed. In 138 (73.8%) cases of the patients with one eye blind injury, there were other injuries than blindness (Table 1). Among the total number of one eye blind veterans in the study, 78(41.7%) had disorders that 16 (8.6%) had one disorder and 62 (33.1%) had two or more disorders. In mental health problems, the prevalence of somatization (13.5%), aggression and anxiety (12.8%) were the highest and psychosis (8.9%) had less prevalence compared to other disorders (Table 2). Internal correlation of other dimensions of the questionnaire with each other was very high (Table 3). There was a significant relationship between level of education and mental health problems, that veterans with higher education than diploma had less disorders (r=13.16; p=0.02). In one eye blind veterans, two factors of employment status (p=0.66) and age at the time of injury (p=0.59) did not have effect on the mental health problem. This is while, the existence of other injuries had completely significant relationship with the mental health problem. In other words, persons had other injuries than one eye blindness, had higher mental problems (r=6.64; p=0.01). There was no significant correlation with the mental health problem with the age of one eye blind veterans in the time of the study (p=0.2).

… [27]. About half of the studied group, had diploma or university degree that was higher in comparison with similar studies [12, 28, 31, 32]. … [29]. … [33-37]. A study of German blind people with the average of two years blindness due to the damage to the brain showed that depression was the most common problem with this group. In this group, unlike the present study, somatization and paranoid thoughts had the lowest frequency [38, 39]. … [40-46].

Due to the high prevalence of anxiety and aggression among the one eye blind veterans, appropriate treatment plan for each of the patients along with appropriate consultation courses in the form of interventional studies is recommended.

Of the limitations of this study, alone use of SCL-90-R questionnaire can be noted.

The most common mental health problems in one eye blind veterans in the Fars province are related to the somatization disorders, anxiety, and aggression. Psychosis and phobia are at the lowest rate.

The authors express their appreciation to the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs and the Veterans` Engineering Research Center and Medical Sciences of Fars Province.

Non-declared

All questionnaires and data collection form were without name and personal identification. The conduction of this study had no cost for the studied group. Before starting work, all participants were given the necessary explanation and oral consent were obtained from all.

This study was funded by the Veterans` Engineering Research Center and Medical Sciences.

TABLES and CHARTS

Show attach file


CITIATION LINKS

[1]World Health Organization. Mental health: A state of well-being. Geneva: World Health Organization; August 2014.
[2]Malakouty K, Norouzy M. The role of follow-up and mental health programmes in rehabilitation of chronic mental patients. Iran J Psychiatry Clin Psychol. 1995;2(1-2):41-7. [Persian]
[3]Ganji H. Mental Health. Tehran: Arasbaran Publication; 2014. [Persian]
[4]Lee Y. The predictive value of self assessed general, physical, and mental health on functional decline and mortality in older adults. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2000;54(2):123-9.
[5]Modirian E, Mousavi SJ, Mousavi B, Soroush M, Khateri Sh, Hosseini M, et al. Mental health in severe ocular chemical injuries. Iran J War Public Health. 2015;7(3):139-45. [Persian]
[6]Sedighi Moghadam MR, Afshar H, Khateri Sh, Soroush M, Mousavi B, Mousavi SJ, et al. Mental health status in severe lung chemical injured veterans exposed to sulfur mustard. Iran J War Public Health. 2015;7(4):207-15. [Persian]
[7]Khademi MJ, Gharib M, Rashedi V. Prevalence of depression in the amputated patients concerning demographic variables. Iran J War Public Health. 2012;4(2):12-7. [Persian]
[8]Fahimi M, Kamali M, Saeedi H. Comparison of quality of life and depression in veterans and non-veterans with below knee traumatic amputation. Iran J War Public Health. 2014;6(4):143-9. [Persian]
[9]Hemmati MA, Shokoohi H, Masoumi M, KhateriSh, Soroush M, Modirian E, et al. Mental health disorders in child and adolescent survivors of post-war landmine explosions. Mil Med Res. 2015;2:30.
[10]Khaghanizadeh M, Sirate Nir M. Influence of individual, familial and socioeconomic factors on severity of psychiatric symptoms in veterans with mental disorders. J Mil Med. 2004;6(1):33-7. [Persian]
[11]Karami GR, Amiri M, Ameli J, Kachooei H, Ghodoosi K, Saadat AR, et al. Psychological health status of mustard gas exposed veterans. J Mil Med. 2006;8(1):1-7. [Persian]
[12]Kong L, Fry M, Al-Samarraie M, Gilbert C, Steinkuller PG. An update on progress and the changing epidemiology of causes of childhood blindness worldwide. J AAPOS. 2012;16(6):501-7.
[13]Kong L, Fry M, Al-Samarraie M, Gilbert C, Steinkuller PG. An update on progress and the changing epidemiology of causes of childhood blindness worldwide. J AAPOS. 2012;16(6):501-7.
[14]Whitcher JP, Srinivasan M, Upadhyay MP. Corneal blindness: A global perspective. Bull World Health Organ. 2001;79(3):214-21.
[15]Négrel AD, Thylefors B. The global impact of eye injuries. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 1998;5(3):143-69.
[16]Thach AB, Johnson AJ, Carroll RB, Huchun A, Ainbinder DJ, Stutzman RD, et al. Severe eye injuries in the war in Iraq, 2003-2005. Ophtalmology. 2008;115(2):377-82.
[17]Etezad-Razavi M, Daneshvar-Kakhki R, Zarei-Ghanavati S, Nobakht-Rad M. Long-term complications of enucleated or severely traumatized eyes in war veterans. Bina. 2007;12(3):373-9. [Persian]
[18]Poorseyed SR, Habibollahi S, Faramarzi S. Effectiveness of life skills educational program on blind and low-vision university students compatibility. Educ Strategy Med Sci. 2010;3(1):7-11. [Persian]
[19]Mousavi B, Soroush MR, Montazeri A. Quality of life in chemical warfare survivors with ophthalmologic injuries: The first results from Iran Chemical Warfare Victims Health Assessment Study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:2.
[20]Crewe JM, Spilsbury K, Morlet N, Morgan WH, Mukhtar A, Clark A, et al. Health service use and mortality of the elderly blind. Ophthalmology. 2015;122(11):2344-50.
[21]Nejati V, Amini R, Zabihzadeh A, Masoumi M, Maleki G, Shoaie F. Mindfulness as effective factor in quality of life of blind veterans. Iran J War Public Health. 2011;3(3):1-7. [Persian]
[22]Ghafouri Fard M, Payami Bousari M, Heyadari Some A. A survey on various dimensions of adjustment status among warfare Veterans with one eye blindness. Iran J War Public Health. 2014;6(2):64-71. [Persian]
[23]Derogatis LR. Lipman RS, Covi L. SCL-90: An outpatient psychiatric rating scale-preliminary report. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1973;9(1):13-28.
[24]Anisi J, Akbari F, Majdian F, Atashkar M, Ghorbani Z. Standardization of mental disorders Symptoms Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R) in Army Staffs. J Mil Psychol. 2011;2(5):29-37. [Persian]
[25]Mohammadi MR, Rahgozar M, Bagheri Yazdi A, Naghavi HR, Pour Etemad HR, Amini H, et al. Epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders in Tehran province. Iran J Psychiatry Clin Psychol. 2003;9(2):4-13. [Persian]
[26]Hosseinifard SM, Birashk B, Atefvahid MK. Epidemiology of mental disorders in high-school students in Rafsanjan. Iran J Psychiatry Clin Psychol. 2005;11(1):71-80. [Persian]
[27]Amini R, Sahaf R, Kaldi A, Haghani H, Davatgaran K, Masoumi M, et al. Activities of daily living independence in Iranian blind war survivors: A cross sectional study, 2008. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2013;13(3):741-50.
[28]Soroush M R, Ganjparvar Z, Masoumi M, Mousavi B. Instrumental activity of daily living in war related bilateral lower limb amputation. Iran J War Public Health. 2012;4(4):1-7. [Persian]
[29]Ahmadi K, Nejati V. Evaluation of epidemiology of chronic disease in Iranian psychiatric veterans. Iran J War Public Health. 2010;2(4):8-12. [Persian]
[30]Jandaghi G, Tabarsa Gh, Heydary H, Heydary F. Studying the satisfaction of war handicapped to health and treatment services and its impact on subjective well-being. Iran J War Public Health. 2010;3(1):30-6. [Persian]
[31]Mostafaloo A, Gazmeh J. The relationship between job satisfaction and mental health in chemical veterans. Iran J War Public Health. 2013;5(4):43-50. [Persian]
[32]Hermansson AC, Timpka T, Thyberg M. The mental health of war-wounded refugees: An 8-year follow-up. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2002;190(6):374-80.
[33]Behdani F, Fayyazi Bordbar MR, Hebrani P, Talebi M, Kohestani L. Psychiatric symptoms in chemical and somatic combat veterans. J Mil Med. 2009;11(1):31-5. [Persian]
[34]Masoumi M, Soroush MR, Modirian E. Evaluation of psychiatric problems among war-related bilateral upper limb amputees. J Mil Med. 2008;10(3):185-92. [Persian]
[35]Somasundaram DJ, Renol KK. The psychosocial effects of landmines in Cambodia. Med Confl Surviv. 1998;14(3):219-36.
[36]Falahati F, Soroush M R, Khateri S. The Effects of Landmine and UXO Accidents on Survivor's Quality of life in 5 western provinces of Iran. Iran J War Public Health. 2009;1(4):1-8. [Persian]
[37]Ghaedi G, Ghasemi H, Mousavi B, Soroush MR, Rahnama P, Jafari F, et al. Impact of psychological problems in chemical warfare survivors with severe ophthalmologic complication, a cross sectional study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012;10:36.
[38]Gall C, Brösel D, Franke GH. Mental distress in patients with cerebral visual injury assessed with the german brief symptom inventory. Front Aging Neurosci. 2015;7:51.
[39]Gall C, Mueller I, Franke GH, Sabel BA. Psychological distress is associated with vision-related but not with generic quality of life in patients with visual field defects after cerebral lesions. Ment Illn. 2012;4(2):e12.
[40]Kroenke K. Efficacy of treatment for somatoform disorders: A review of randomized controlled trials. Psychosom Med. 2007;69(9):881-8.
[41]Yousefi N, Etemadi O, Bahrami F, Fatehizadeh MA, Ahmadi SA, Mavarani AA, et al. Efficacy of logo therapy and gestalt therapy in treating anxiety, depression and aggression. J Iran Psychol. 2009;5(19):251-9. [Persian]
[42]Schulenberg SE. Psychotherapy andmovies: Onusing films in clinicalpractice. J Contemp Psychother. 2003;33(1):35-48.
[43]Rief W, Hiller W. A new approach to the assessment of the treatment effects of somatoform disorders. Psychosomatics. 2003;44(6):492-8.
[44]Ahmadi K, Nejati V. Evaluation of quality of life in psychiatric veterans of Isfehan. Iran J War Public Health. 2010;2(4):13-7. [Persian]
[45]Bakhshayesh SH, Bahmani F, Kamali M. Comparative of Mental Health Disabled People of Athletic and Non-Athletic. Iran J War Public Health. 2012;5(1):22-6. [Persian]
[46]Akbari M, Safdari R, Tofighi S, Moeinolghorabaei M, Karami G. A comparative survey on war- related mental diseases clinical information system in England, United States of America and Australia and offering proper strategies for Iran(2008-2009). Iran J War Public Health. 2009;2(1):44-9. [Persian]
[47]Ahmadi M, Bahaadinbeigy K, Noori T. Viewpoints of veterans affected by psychological disorders towards usage of telemental services for war veterans. Iran J War Public Health. 2013;6(1):51-9. [Persian]