JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
Year:2009 | Volume:7 | Issue:1 (13)|Papers Count:11

Background & aim: Understanding the relative effectiveness of Different kinds of therapeutic methods on abstinence is very important, considering the fact that important variables such as self-efficacy beliefs in addicted adolescents, predicts the variance of marijuana and alcohol use up to 69 and 50 percent respectively. This study was aimed to compare the effectiveness of two different therapeutic models on improving the self-efficacy in abstinence from drug use in substance dependent adolescents.Method and materials: This was an experimental study. The sample was selected from adolescents voluntarily referred to substance dependence treatment centers affiliated to Tehran Welfare Organization. Forty-five adolescents were selected after getting the informed consent forms and initial administration of University of Rhodes Island Change Assessment (URICA) scale to assess the participants’ stage of change (motivation). The Drug Abstinence Self–efficacy Questionnaire (DASES) was administered afterward and they were allocated randomly to two experimental groups, namely the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the trans–theoretical model (TTM) groups. A third group was used as a waiting list control group. The experimental groups were assigned to a 12 session (twice weekly) treatment program in either CBT or TTM and were evaluated immediately afterward and after a two month follow up period. Data was analyzed using Multiple Analysis of Covariance through SPSS-16 software.Results: Results clearly showed effectiveness of both methods on the self efficacy in drug use abstinence in adolescents. Furthermore, results showed that TTM was significantly more effective than CBT on general self efficacy, both immediately after the treatment and at the follow up evaluation.Conclusions: Results of the present study reiterate the significance of the process of change in treatment of substance dependent adolescents. Selection and initiation of any therapeutic module, should be in accordance with the patient’s stage of change process.

Background & aim: Co-morbidity with schizotypal personality in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been widely reported to be associated with poor treatment response. Studies have repeatedly revealed a positive and a negative dimension for schizotypy. The primary aim of the present study was to explore if all or only certain features of schizotypy are predictive for therapy outcome in OCD subtypes.Method and Materials: The current study was conducted in an experimental research context. Thirty adults with OCD were selected through accessible sampling method. They received cognitive behavioral therapy in three groups (pure OCD, OCD with positive schizotypal personality and OCD with negative schizotypal personality). Subjects were assessed through administration of SPQ-B and STA questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multiple analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).Results: The between groups difference was significant (P < 0.01, F= 6.01, 8.05, 5.71, 6.64). Findings revealed that elevated scores in the positive schizotypal scales were highly predictive for treatment failure in OCD subtypes. Responders to treatment and non-responders did not significantly differ on scores in negative schizotypal scales.Conclusion: It is concluded that positive and negative schizotypal traits have different effects on treatment outcome of OCD. This study suggests that positive (not negative) schizotypal personality traits are associated with poor treatment response in obsessive-compulsive patients.

Background & aim: Fundamental dysfunctions in affective regulation have particular importance in development of psychological symptoms in mood disorders. The study investigated the role of alexithymic personality features to predict psychopathological symptoms in patients with major depression.Method and materials: This was a longitudinal descriptive study. The sample consisted of 323 patients with major depression (225 women, 98 men; 32-45 years old, mean age = 38, SD = 3). They had referred to psychiatric clinics of Ardebil province and were enrolled in the study through convenient sampling after completing and signing informed consent forms. The instruments used for data collection were Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and Symptom Checklist-90-R. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analyses.Results: Results demonstrated that only the first alexithymia facet (difficulties with identifying feelings) was a significant predictor for all psychopathological symptoms in patients with major depression (P = 0.001). The contributions of other facets of alexithymia appeared to be almost negligible.Conclusions: In general many psychopathological symptoms in major depression are associated with the patients’ inability to identify emotions.

Background & Aims: Psychological interventions may improve the quality of life in asthmatic patients through affecting the bio-psycho-social dimensions. This study is aimed to assess the efficacy of cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) group education on improvement of quality of life in asthmatic patients.Method& Materials: This was an experimental study using randomized pre-, post- and follow-up tests. Twenty-four patients already diagnosed with asthma were randomly selected and assigned to two groups. They were all administered the Quality Of Life questionnaire for Asthmatic patients (Asthma-QOL) before and after the intervention and again after the follow-up period. CBSM group education was directed for the experimental group in eight sessions. Meanwhile both groups were kept under their routine medical treatments and the control group was registered in the waiting list for the CBSM education group. Data was analyzed using ANCOVA.Results: After the intervention, the mean QOL-Asthma score in the experimental group showed a significantly higher increase when compared with that of the control group (P< 0.05).Conclusion: The results demonstrated the effectiveness of CBSM group education on the improvement of quality of life in female asthmatic patients.

Background & aim: Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-assertiveness play essential roles in mental health. This study was aimed to assess the effect of social learning model education on self-confidence, self-esteem, self-assertiveness and academic achievement in students of intermediary schools in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province.Methods and materials: This was a semi–experimental study carried out in boys’ and girls’ intermediary schools in Chahar mahal & Bakhtiyari Province in 2006-2007 academic year. A total number of 304 students were selected through a randomized multi–stage cluster sampling. Subjects were randomly assigned to the case and the control groups. Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-assertiveness were respectively assessed using Bern Router (short form), Cooper Smith and Wamonz scales. Academic achievement was assessed using students’ first half year average academic scores. Using an interactive participation model in the social skills training approach, the case group was then educated about social learning model within a total number of fifteen 75–minute sessions. Data was analyzed using MANCOVA and MANOVA tests.Results: Findings demonstrated a significantly higher increase in the mean scores of self-confidence, selfesteem, self-assertiveness as well as academic average scores in the case group in both post interventional and follow-up stages (P < 0.01). There was found no association between gender and educational territorial region with the effects of social learning model education on the mentioned variables.Conclusions: The results indicated that social learning model education was effective in enhancement of students’ self-confidence, self-esteem, self-assertiveness and academic achievement. This effect was independent of gender and educational territorial region.

Background & Aim: Although socio-economic variables are widely used for describing the tourist’s behavior, but increasing awareness is evident in current researches that personality characteristics might also be useful for that purpose. In this regard, the present study compares the personality characteristics of Iranian tourists with those of non tourists.Method and Materials: In a causal comparative study, 150 tourists and 150 non tourists were selected through an accessible sampling method. They were then administered NEO- Five Factor Inventory and of Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking Scale-Form V (SSS-V). Data were analyzed using independent t-student test and MANOVA.Results: The findings indicated that the two groups were significantly different regarding the sensation seeking, extroversion and openness characteristics (P < 0.0001). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding other personality characteristics (i.e. neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness).Conclusion: The findings provide empirical support for the proposition that personality characteristics may influence tourism.

Background & aim: Compulsive hoarding is considered as a subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder. Schizotypy, on the other hand, has been reported to be prevalent in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. With these considerations in mind, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of compulsive hoarding in people with high schizotypal traits.Method & Materials: A group of 454 participants were screened using schizotypal personality scale. Thirty-one participants with schizotypal personality traits were enrolled in the case group. The control group also consisted of thirty-one non-schizotypal participants. Saving Inventory-Revised was administered to participants in both groups. Data was analyzed using the two-way Analysis of Co- Variance. Results: Results revealed that compared with the control group, the group with schizotypal traits had a higher mean score of hoarding behaviors. Also there was found a gender effect in this regard i.e. females with high traits of schizotypy were characterized by higher scores on compulsive hoarding scale compared to males with the same traits.Conclusion: Results add some more evidence about the correlation between obsessive–compulsive disorder and schizotypal personality traits.

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare family functioning in home-escaping and non home-escaping girls in Isfahan. Method and Material: This was a survey executed on all 31 girls who had referred to the Isfahan Social Emergency Center (SEC) by the police and/or the court due to an attempt for escaping from home in the spring and the summer of 2006. The control group consisted of 31 university girl students studying in one of the Islamic Azad universities. Both groups were selected through convenient sampling. Bloom’s Family Functioning Test (FFT) was administered to participants of both groups. Data was analyzed using ANOVA test.Results: The two groups showed significant differences in the mean scores of Family Cohesion, Family Sociability, External Locus of Control, Conflict, Family Idealization, Expressiveness, Democratic Family Style, Laissez-Faire Family Style and Authoritarian Family Style (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Family of escaping girls are identified with characteristics such as having less family and social close relationships, a sense of inability to control events, conflictual family interactions, too hard or too soft family rules, family members’ less contribution in decision making, a lower sense of pride about their own family and a lower rate of emotional and mental expressiveness.

Many studies have demonstrated the role of psychosocial and behavioral risk factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders. Previous studies have shown relationships between some personality characteristics and the risk for coronary heart diseases. Recently, a new personality construct, the type D or ‘distressed’ personality, has been proposed. Type D personality is characterized by the joint tendency to experience negative emotions and to inhibit these emotions while avoiding social contacts with others. Type D personality may be identified by using the scales measuring global personality traits. Some evidences confirm the role of heritability in development of type-D personality. The findings of various studies indicate that type-D personality is an independent risk factor of psychological distress, heart diseases, adverse clinical prognosis in cardiac patients and increased mortality. Evidence confirms the relationship between type-D personality and cardiovascular reactivity, HPA dysregulation leading to elevated serum levels of cortisol, and psycho-neuro-immunological processes. These alterations may be factors which mediate the association between type-D personality and clinical outcome in cardiac patients.Identification of cardiac patients with type-D personality and application of psychological interventions in their rehabilitation would be needed. In addition, type-D personality may be a personality construct to be considered not only in cardiovascular diseases but also in other psychosomatic disorders.