Journal of Research in Behavioral Sciences
Year:2008 | Volume:6 | Issue:2 (12)|Papers Count:10

Aim and Background: Fear of movement is a psychological construct with pivotal role in chronicity of pain. Chronic pain may lead to depression and anxiety in patients, which may change life quality and style. This study was aimed to evaluate the role of fear of movement in chronicity of pain in patients with musculoskeletal pain.Method and Materials: In a descriptive analytic study a sample of 170 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain referred to an orthopedic clinic at Atieh hospital (Tehran, Iran) was selected. Based on scores of Tampa Scale of Kinesophobia, were divided into three groups of high, medium, and low fear of pain. Data was analyzed by SPSS 12 using ANOVA test.Findings: Patients with higher fear of pain received higher scores on other pain related measures except estimation of pain severity during the current and the next week. In addition, regression analysis showed that scores on Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale, and Pain vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire are the best predictors of Tampa Scale of Kinesophobia scores.Conclusion: Fear of movement in patients with chronic pain is predictable by psychological variables which are correlated with pain specific anxiety rather than pain severity. Such variables can predict further movement and physical disability and have clinical implications for chronic pain management.

Aim and Background: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) is a chronic disease with relapsing and remitting periods. As it can make disabilities in patients' physical activities, MS can affect patients' psycho-social status to various degrees. The aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes of patients with MS towards the impacts of the disease on their social and sexual activities.Method and Materials: One hundred patients with a diagnosis of MS hospitalized in Az'zahra Hospital in 2006-2007 were selected through a simple randomized sampling. Data was collected using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as well as two other researcher-made questionnaires to assess patients' attitudes. Data was analyzed by SPSS-12 software using t-test and ANOVA.Findings: The mean score of patients' attitude toward the adverse impacts of MS on their social & sexual activities were 23.64 and 14.23 respectively (the mean scores of the tests are 24 for impacts on social activities and 12 for impacts on sexual activities). According to the results, patients with MS believed that the disease has had a moderate impact on their social activities but a relatively high adverse impact on their sexual ones.Conclusion: Patients with MS viewed the disease as moderately disturbing for their social activities and highly interfering with their sexual life. There were significant differences in this regard according to sex and depression co-morbidity.

Aim and Background: This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of face to face and internet-applied methods of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Counseling (CBGC) based on Ellis's theory in increasing marital satisfaction.Method and Materials: In a controlled experimental pre-post test study, a total number of 36 couples with low marital satisfaction referred to a university counseling center were randomly selected. They were then randomly assigned to one control and two experimental groups. The two different methods of CBGC were applied for the two experimental groups. Data was analyzed using the one-way Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) and the post-hoc Sheffeh's test through the SPSS-12 software.Findings: A significant higher increase was seen in marital satisfaction in both intervention groups compared with the control one (P<0.05). Face to face group counseling was more effective than internet-applied method in improving some components of marital satisfaction such as financial management, leisure time management and personality issues (P<0.05).Conclusion: For solving marital problems, internet-applied group counseling can be regarded as a good substitute for the face to face method in special conditions.

Aim and Background: The driver's Sleepiness is an important risk factor for road accidents leading to death or disability. Little is known about sleep quality in Iranian drivers. This study was aimed to assess the sleep quality in those Iranian drivers recognized as responsible for a recent road accident in which at least one of the car occupants had been severely injured or killed.Method and Materials: In a cross-sectional study, 453 Iranian drivers were assessed within the first 24 hours after severe road accidents. After getting completed the informed consent forms and demographic questionnaires, we used Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for screening psychiatric problems and sleep quality impairments, respectively. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and multivariate linear regression analysis through SPSS-10 software. Findings: Mean (±SD) nocturnal sleep duration of drivers was found to be 6.3±2.8 (median: 6). Based on PSQI, a total number of 263 drivers (73.5%) were poor sleepers. PSQI was correlated with a GSI more than 0.81 according to SCL-90-R, having used drugs which can affect the sleep, and a history of similar previous accident(s). Retired individuals had a better sleep quality. Conclusion: Our study showed that sleep problems, especially early morning awakening, frequent need to lavatory during night, early insomnia and feeling too warm or cold, are common among Iranian drivers with severe road accidents.

Background and aim: ADHD is considered as the most prevalent disorder during childhood and adolescence. For the purposes of diagnosis and treatment various methods including play therapy one applied. This research has been conducted with the aim of studying the effectiveness of play therapy on severity of symptoms of Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among primary school male students aged 9-11. Materials and Methods: By considering a experimental design two psychological and counseling clinics in Isfahan were selected. From the population of all clients in the two clinics who were diagnosed as ADHD-C by the psychiatrists, 30 were selected randomly and assigned into the experimental and control groups (15 subjects each). At the pre- and post - test stages, before and after 8 sessions which took 30-45 minutes every two days play therapy with emphasis on increasing attention and decreasing hyperactivity, CSI-4 and MFFT questionnaires were applied to both groups. Furthermore, in order to diagnose any change after the therapy, a follow-up study was conducted after a month. The data were analyzed by SPSS14 software, using ANCOVA. Findings: The play therapy decreased the amount of ADHD, hyperactivity, attention deficit, and response errors symptoms significantly, but increased response time significantly (all at p<0.0001). The fallow up results showed a significant increase of response time when using play therapy (P<0.005), but it there was no significant effect on decreasing response error.  Conclusion: Considering the significant differences between the experimental and control groups as well as the fallow - up, play therapy may be applied as an effective method of treatment for children and adolescence with ADHD preferably, a combination of this and other relevant methods may be used for the treatment of those with ADHD. As the ADHD symptoms were decreased significantly after the intervention, the effect of play therapy was confirmed.

Aim & Background: There is little information regarding the psychological experiences of patient with surgical stoma in Iran. Since preventing adverse psychological effects of surgical stomas is important in planning nursing care programs, exploring the experiences of these patients seems necessary.Method and Materials: This was a phenomenological qualitative study. A purposeful sample of seventeen hospitalized patients was selected through convenient sampling. They had undergone colostomy surgery in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan Medical University. Data was gathered by means of in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data analysis was conducted using the phenomenological analytic method defined by Colaizzi.Findings: Seven main themes were obtained related to psychological experiences including depression, feelings of being a burden on family, feelings of worthlessness, distrust, dishonor, non-acceptance and dependency.Conclusion: Based on our findings, psychosocial problems were of the most important experiences mentioned by patients. This finding is congruent with previous similar studies. In a holistic approach, nurses as essential members of health care system should consider patient's psychosocial needs in their care planning.

Aim and Background: Members of the psychiatric team have significant role in the treatment and care providing process for patients with psychiatric disorders. In order to improve the care system in psychiatric wards, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the team members' experiences with team working. This study was conducted to accesses the psychiatric team's experiences of team working in psychiatric settings.Method and Materials: This was a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. Through a convenient sampling, a purposeful sample was selected consisting of 10 persons working as personnels of psychiatric wards of four university hospitals in Isfahan in 2007. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews. Data was analysed using the seven-step method defined by Colaizzi.Findings: Findings were summarized as three core concepts (namely: "communication”, "power"; and "conflict") as well as 5 sub concepts (that are: "cooperating"; "self awareness";, "hop"; "competence"; and "multiple role").Conclusion: The findings can contribute to future plans for improving psychiatric care in hospitals.

Aim & Background: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between depression and Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) with Meta Cognitive beliefs in female university students.Method and Materials: This was a correlation analytical study executed on the female students of psychology studying at psychology and education school of Isfahan University in 2007-2008. Thirty students were randomly selected. The instruments used for data collection included the Meta Cognition Questionnaire (MCQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), as well as a researcher-made questionnaire for assessment of Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). Data was analyzed using the SPSS-13 software and the regression analysis method.Findings A significant correlation was found between the mean scores of the negative Meta Cognitive beliefs subscale (referring to the beliefs of dangerousness and uncontrollability of worry) with the mean scores of PMS (p<0.05). Also, there were significant correlations between the mean total scores of all dysfunctional Meta Cognitive beliefs and the mean scores of depression during the menstrual period (p<0.05).Conclusion: Meta Cognition may play a role in development and perpetuation of PMS and depression in women.