Feasibility and sustainability of the program are affected by a number of factors. Low referral rate of clinicians, limited resources of the hospital, issues related to stigma and logistic issues are barriers in implementation of these services. Administrators' and clinicians' understanding of the importance of patient and family psychoeducation seems to be crucial in sustainability of such programs in routine service delivery.

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Introduction: Cognitive remediation is used to improve cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Most of the previous studies had incorporated a long duration of a rehabilitation program. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a short course and easy to implement computer-based cognitive remediation on the cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders using a randomized controlled trial design. Method: Sixty-two patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were enrolled in Roozbeh Hospital (Tehran, Iran) and were randomized to either receive a cognitive remediation program added to the standard pharmacological treatment (n=31) or the standard treatment alone (n=31). The remediation consisted of ten sessions of the cognitive training provided 2-3 times a week by applying the Cogpack software. The cognitive performance was assessed in attention, memory and executive function before and after the interventions by using the respective tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Results: This study did not demonstrate any significant improvement in attention and executive function in the experimental vs control group. Nonetheless, we observed modest improvements in some aspects of visual memory (first trial memory score, F=9.152, P< 0.001, Cohen’s d=0.40; Mean errors to success, F= 6.991, P= 0.011, Cohen’s d=0.14; stages completed on first trial, F= 7.155, P= 0. 010, Cohen’s d=0.71; Total errors, F= 5.730, P= 0.020, Cohen’s d=0.53). Conclusion: We observed only modest improvements in the patients' cognitive functioning after a short-course of cognitive remediation. The short duration of the training and lack of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan may explain the findings.

Despite having sexual needs, severe mental illnesses patients do not disclose it due to poor communication between clinician and patients, about sexuality. So, physician had to be pioneer in communicating with them. Therefore, to enhance clinicians' sexual knowledge and effective communication skills with patients, especially those with severe mental illnesses, training is completely necessary.

Highlights MIBG scan is more positive in the PD group than the DIP. There is a significant difference in MIBG uptake between the PD and DIP groups. MIBG scan can be used to determine the prognosis of DIP. MIBG scan is 84.4% sensitive and 86.36% specific in diagnosing PD. MIBG scan is useful in better referring the patients to related centers.

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