Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Following the increasing rate of suicide and its outcomes in recent decades, WHO introduced its attempt to decrease suicide rate as one of its aims in world health program by 2000. As a part of multinational project of World Health Organization, this study was undertaken to determine demographic characteristics of suicide attempters attending emergency ward of Karaj Hospitals in 2003-2004. Patients & Methods: Statistical population of this study was all suicide attempters attending emergency department of Karaj hospitals, out of whom 632 attendants ready to participate in the study were selected. Demographic variables, method of suicide, time and place of doing suicide, frequency of attempts and use of health services were all collected by hospital records, as well as interview with accompanies and patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of multinational projects of WHO between 2003-2004. T-test and chi-square test were used for data analysis. Results: Most of suicide attempters were female(62.5%), single(53.6%), with high school education(52.8%). The mean age was 24.5(±9) years. Suicide attempters were unemployed(29.8%) and housewife(67.5%) in male and female group respectively. There was a positive history of suicide in relatives in 15.4% of attempters(97 subjects). 28% of subjects had previous attempt and 23.7% of them reported a poor physical health in the past 3 months before attempt. Conclusion: Unemployed, female, single individuals, married females, and housewives are at risk of suicide more than others.

    Background & Aim: Drug abuse in prisons is a serious problem and the high risk methods of drug abuse are even more dangerous, causing greater threats such as the outbreak and spread of HIV/AIDS in the prisons. This indicates the need for treatment of drug abuse and harm reduction in prisons. The aim of this study was to examine the role of medical and psychological interventions in reducing the risks of drug abuse and improving the psychological status of prisoners. Patients and Methods: The effects of methadone maintenance therapy(MMT) and other traditional methods of treatment were compared in a case-control and qualitative study to examine their role in reducing drug use, drug dependence, needle sharing, injections using un-sterilized objects, high-risk sexual behaviors, as well as the psychological well being of the prisoners and their statisfaction with the treatment process. The instruments used in the study were SCL-90-R(farsi version), Highrisk questionnaire,Drug dependence scale, Anger scale and client statisfaction questionnaire. The experimental group(n=38) was provided with MMT and psychological and psychiatric treatment while the control group(N=31) received only the usual psychiatric treatment. Results: Data were analyzed using independent T and Chi-square tests. Six months into the project, the results showed significant changes in the amount of drug use and the extent of needle sharing in the experimental group. However, high-risk sexual conduct remained as prevalent as before. Methadone maintenance therapy also greatly improved the psychological health indicators. In addition, the subjects in the MMT group were considerably more satisfied with the services they received. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed the advantages of MMT over the traditional psychological and psychiatric approaches in the imprisoned, in helping drug addicts in prisons to overcome their addiction. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that not only providing methadone to addicted inmates is safe and harmless, but also can lead to harm reduction and solve many dangerous problems which they face.