Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
Year:2018 | Volume:24 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:10

Objectives The present study examined the effects of reward-driven task on improving the affective levels in individuals with depressive symptoms.MethodsThe present study is an experiment study with pretest- posttest and follow-up with control group. The community of this research was the students in Tabriz University in 2016-2017 semester. The sample size was 40 students which had visited the university counseling center 20 of them were assigned randomly to control group and 20 other experimental group. The intervention was given to the experimental group during 8 sessions (45 minutes per session) and 25 days by the Balloon Analogue Risk (reward-based task test), and the equivalent score obtained in each session was given to material rewards. Beck Depression Scale (BDI-II) and Mood Adjective Check List (MACL) were used for data collection. For data analysis, covariance analysis and SPSS version 23 software were used.ResultsThe posttest mean scores of the participants based on reward-based task in the intervention group were 18.1, 12.6, and 14.1 for hedonic tone, tense arousal, and energetic arousal, respectively, and 13.9, 19.3, and 13.2, respectively for the control group; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.01). The effect size of the present intervention was 0.70. In addition, the observed difference between the mean scores of the affective levels in the participants based on the reward-based task in the intervention group (mean scores 15.7, 14.4, and 11.7 for hedonic tone, tense arousal, and energetic arousal, respectively) and the control group (mean scores 14.1, 18.9, and 13.6 for hedonic tone, tense arousal, and energetic arousal, respectively) differed significantly in the follow-up stage (P<0.01). The provision of the reward-based task had been effective in improving the affective levels of the participants of the intervention group in posttest and follow-up stages, and statistical power equaling 1.0 indicated a reliable statistical accuracy.ConclusionRewards and consequences of fun-producing factor strengthened the desire to earn rewards and improve the activity levels that would affect the depressed patients, and the negative effect was reduced with the reward situation.

Objectives The present study investigated the impact of music education on the creativity of 7–9-year-old children in Tehran, Iran.Methodssemi-experimental study comprised of pretest-posttest and control groups. The study participants were 7–9-year-old children from primary schools from 20 regions of Tehran. The sampling method used in this study was based on availability that recruited 20 individuals, who were and randomly selected (n=10 each for the test and control groups). Data were collected by Torrance creativity questionnaire as well as the Wechsler Intelligence Test 4, and analyzed by SPSS software in two descriptive and inferential parts using independent samples t-tests and analysis of covariance tests.ResultsThe results showed that children had sufficient intelligence to receive music education, which significantly affected the components of children’s creativity.ConclusionThus, music education can be taken into consideration as an effective tool for developing creativity in children.

Objectives A few of the challenges involved in measuring moral development includes tools and methodology. The present study compared two neo-Kohlbergian approaches in the study of moral development.MethodsA total of 40 peoples referred to the Center for Behavioral and Mental Health Assessment were selected as a sample group, subjected to QUAN-QUAL (equal) design, and assessed using Defining Issue Test (DIT), Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form (SRM-SF), semi-structured interviews based on hypothetical moral dilemmas, and in-depth interviews based on real-life dilemmas.ResultsThe results showed that DIT and SRM-SF scores were correlated in the moral maturity index; however, these two methods and the results of conflicts in real life exhibited significant differences.ConclusionTherefore, standards and instructions were applied to both methods including test based on the memory or recalling that would yield similar results. Furthermore, the difference between these two methods with respect to results and interviews based on real-life dilemmas might be dependent on the situation of the individual than the tools, making self-judgment easier for individuals.

Objectives Machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy are often referred to as the dark triad of personality. This study explored the relationships of those personalities with three factor personality models.MethodsThe current study was conducted in correlational descriptive research context. A group of 203 normal participants from Tabriz Payame noor university students answered to MACH-IV, MCMI-II and EPQ-R personality questionnaires. Data analyzed using the stepwise multivariate regression analysis method.ResultsAccording to three factors model of personality, Machiavellianism was correlated to neuroticism (r=0.46, P<0.01) and psychoticism (r=0.32, P<0.01), Narcissism was correlated to psychoticism (r=0.17, P<0.01) and extraversion (r=0.17, P<0.01), Psychopathy was correlated to psychoticism (r=0.43, P<0.01) and neuroticism (r=0.43, P<0.01).ConclusionThe dark dimension of personality can be described in terms of high psychoticism, according to three factor personality model.

Objectives Discharge Planning is a dynamic, collaborative and comprehensive process which is aimed to promote the continuity of care after discharge and providing necessary services and support to the client and his/her caregivers. Recently, the efficacy of discharge planning has been shown in multiple studies on factors like re-admission, treatment adherence, length of stay, treatment costs, symptoms resolution and patients’ quality of life.MethodsWe used an evidence-based service development model which contained five steps, including needs assessment, situation analysis, cost-effectiveness evaluation, prioritization and structural design.ResultsNeeds assessment studies and situation analysis showed that Roozbeh Hospital had some deficits in adherence to outpatient visit and length of stay indices. In the next step, prioritization among possible interventions and designing the structure and details of this service in Roozbeh Hospital performed based on the principles mentioned in the literature, needs of the center and feasibility of services, and finally a comprehensive, collaborative and continuous program designed which includes some steps which are patient data registration, needs assessment, coordinating services and checklists of the affairs.ConclusionDevelopment and implementation of the discharge planning service has been performed as the first one in Iran, in Roozbeh Hospital and requires to be evaluated and revised continuously, and we hope that this program be prominent to other psychiatric inpatient centers and also higher order mental health organizations.

Objectives Mental health problems are prevalent especially in women all over the world. These problems have adverse effects on various aspects of life. Interventional programs to mental health promotion related to sociocultural structure and it is needed to know the coping mechanisms and mental health promotion strategies and it is the aim of this study.MethodsThis is a qualitative study. The relevant data were collected by in-depth interviews with 15 married women (18-65 years old) in Tehran. Then the obtained data were investigated through content analysis.ResultsMarried women used four strategies to cope with the stress and promote the mental health status: a) strengthening the spiritual aspects, b) learning the skills of stress management, positive thinking, self-controlling and problem solving, c) seeking help, and d) setting their priorities setting and avoid daily boring tasks.ConclusionTeaching coping mechanisms based on problem-solving techniques is essential for mental health promotion in married women.

Objectives The present study investigated the factor structure and reliability of the Parenting Style Index 2.MethodsA total of 381 students of Hakim Sabzevari University filled out the survey. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate the factor structure of the method, and Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest methods were employed for examining the reliability.ResultsThe results of the principal component with varimax rotation showed three- and four-factorial solutions that explained 45.13% and 52.17% of the total variance, respectively. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three-factorial solution was a better indication of the data than the four-factorial solution and that it fitted the data adequately in the Iranian society. The Cronbach’s alpha of the instrument was 0.65 and that for the subscales of the instrument was 0.53–0.75. The correlation coefficient of test-retest was 0.77, which demonstrated acceptable reliability of the instrument.ConclusionAcceptable reliability and fitting well with the data in Iranian society rendered the 3 factor PSI II as a suitable measure for determining the perceived parenting style with respect to screening or clinical purposes.

Objectives Affective temperaments are subclinical trait manifestations related to mood disorders. The temperament evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) has been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide and has been shortened in a few of these translations. The primary objective of the study is to validate a brief Persian version of the TEMPS-A.MethodsThe sample consisted of 694 University students educated in 10 different faculties of Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. After translation and back-translation process, participants were asked to complete the Persian translation of the original 110-item TEMPS-A. The exploratory factor was analyzed using the principal component analysis method. A five-factor solution was applied based on other studies and theoretical assumptions.ResultsThe five factors such as irritability, anxiety, dysthymic, cyclothymic, and hyperthymic temperaments with a total of 35 items showed acceptable Cronbach’s alpha 0.63, 0.63, 0.66, 0.6, and 0.6, respectively. Anxious-dysthymic and anxious-irritability pairs showed the highest Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.4. Female subjects scored significantly more on the dysthymic, anxiety, and irritability temperaments and less on the cyclothymic temperament. The subscales of the short Persian version showed satisfactory Pearson’s correlation coefficients between 0.48 and 0.78 with similar subscales from the Persian translation of 110-item TEMPS-A.ConclusionThe 35-item Persian version of the TEMPS-A demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and sufficient correlation with the original version, and hence, can be conveniently used for the temperament studies of individuals using Persian language.