Journal of Behavior in Clinical Psychology
Year:2016 | Volume:10 | Issue:39|Papers Count:8

Gastrointestinal disorders are ranked first among medical disorders to seek psychiatric consultation. Irritable bowel syndrome is one of these diseases. Various researches report multiple causes for this syndrome and emphasize the role of psychological factors in causing or exacerbating symptoms of this disorder. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation mechanisms and lifestyle with perceived stress in patients with irritable bowel syndrome disorder. For this purpose, in a descriptive study of correlation, 170 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (93 females and 77 males) were selected by availability sampling method from the specialized clinics in Orumiyeh city, and evaluated for mechanisms of cognitive emotion regulation, lifestyle and perceived stress. Regression analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between cognitive emotion regulation mechanisms and life style and perceived stress. Among the predictive variables, blaming others factor had the greatest predictive power in perceived stress. Additionally, linear regression analysis displayed predicting lifestyle as a predictive factor for stress among patients with this syndrome. This study verifies the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation mechanisms and lifestyle and perceived stress in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Because of the numerous evidence of pathology of this syndrome, more research is needed on emotional regulation skills and related problems among patients with irritable bowel syndrome disorder.

Methamphetamine use has a lot of adverse effects as it enters the nervous system, affects dopamine’s level, and as a result stimulates the brain and increase aggressiveness and physical movements. Consumption of Shisha is a high-risk behavior among patients with substance abuse. The most serious sign of methamphetamine withdrawal is depression that may be associated with suicidal thoughts or behavior. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing symptoms of depression and Anxiety among methamphetamine addicts. Therefore, in a quasi-experimental study, 30 individuals diagnosed with dependence on methamphetamine were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent 12 sessions of an hour treatment. The subjects were evaluated for depression and anxiety before treatment, after the sixth and the twelfth sessions, and 90 days after the completion of the treatment. The result of covariance analysis and analysis of variance with repeated measurements showed that the level of depression and anxiety in the experimental group were lower compared to the control group in all phases of intervention and that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective in the treatment of anxiety and depression among addicts.

Death anxiety is defined as feelings of panic, anxiety and fear of death and non-existence. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of early maladaptive schemas in relation to attachment styles and anxiety of death among patients with cancer. For this purpose, in a descriptive correlational study, 367 patients (140 women and 227 men) were selected through volunteering sampling from cancer patients referred to specialized and oncology centre of Emam Reza, Ghaem Hospital and Omid Hospital in Mashhad between September 93 to August 94. The participants were evaluated for death anxiety level, adult attachment style, and early maladaptive schemas. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between attachment styles and anxiety of death through mediation of early maladaptive schemas, and that early maladaptive schemas have been able to affect, the relationship between attachment styles and the anxiety of death as a mediator variable. Thus, using the psychological interventions for alteration of unhealthy behavioral patterns, and counseling a psychologist to identify and modify the primary schemas, alongside the primary medical techniques, can help to reduce the psychological harm among the cancer patients.

This study aimed to test the mediating role of perceived stress reactivity in relation to the emotional adjustment and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors in university students. For this purpose, 324 students (130 males and 194 females) were selected through availability sampling method and evaluated for emotional adjustment, reactivity to perceived stress, and health-promoting lifestyle. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the relationship between emotional adjustment with reactivity to perceived stress was significant and positive; and its relationship with lifestyle behaviors was significant and negative. Also, the relationship between reactivity to perceived stress was significant and negative with lifestyle behaviors. The results of the statistical methods of structural equation supported the relativity of mediatory role of reactivity to perceived stress in relationship between emotional adjustment and lifestyle behaviors. In the assumed model, 64 percent of the scores dispersion of perceived stress reactivity is ascribed through emotional adjustment; and 30 percent of scores distribution of lifestyle behaviors was attributed through emotional adjustment and reactivity to perceived stress. The results of this study suggest that a portion of differences in lifestyle behaviors in predictive context of these behaviors can be explained through emotional adjustment personal trait and the differences in the pattern of the preferred response to stressful experiences.

Experiential avoidance is the attempt to change the shape, frequency, and duration of events that are perceived as negative and retreat from situations that provoke such occurrences. Experiential avoidance is contributory in the development, persistence and exacerbation of many of psychological disorders and problems in interpersonal relationships. The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the short form of Experiential Avoidance multidimensional questionnaire among the Iranian university students. For this purpose, 335 students were selected through availability sampling method and evaluated by multidimensional questionnaires of Experiential Avoidance, Acceptance & Act, and the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire contains six factors including: cognitive avoidance, emotional avoidance, behavioral avoidance, mental confusion aversion, procrastination, and psychological pressure tolerance. Positive correlation between psychological pressure tolerance and physical health, mental health, and acceptance demonstrate the convergent validity of the questionnaire. The results, also, indicated desirable internal consistency of the questionnaire among the Iranian students; and that it can be used to predict mental health and identify individuals prone to various physical and psychological disorders.

In the study of individual psychological crisis, the perspective towards time is significantly important when facing adverse situations. This perception of time consists of five dimensions including; positive past, negative past, present selfindulgence, fatalistic present, and future. The aim of this study is to determine the mediating role of hopefulness in the relationship between time perspective and the psychological crisis. Therefore, in a descriptive study, 296 students of Islamic Azad University, Karaj branch, were selected through multi-stage random sampling method and tested for their perspective of time, symptoms of mental health problems and hopefulness. Analysis and structural equation modeling showed that hopefulness mediates in the relationship between both fatalistic present and future and psychological crisis. Fatalistic time perspective view the present with a sense of failure, frustration and desperateness. Individuals with future time perspective have tendency towards long-term goals and prospects. Possessing an optimistic view, having access to adequate resources on goaloriented philosophy, and familiarity with the essential methods to achieve the objectives, all promote individuals’ well being.

The present study aimed to compare the resiliency, social competence and defense mechanism styles in women with and without ovarian cysts is done. For this purpose, in a causative comparative study, 140 women, aged 18 to 38, who were admitted to Kasra hospital in Tehran with a diagnosis of ovarian cysts and lack of ovarian cysts, were selected through purposive sampling method and evaluated in terms of resiliency, defense mechanism styles and social competence. The result of multivariate analysis of variance demonstrated that there is significant difference between resilience scores in the two groups and that women without ovarian cysts have higher scores than women with ovarian cysts for resiliency. Furthermore, the results determined that among the defense mechanism styles, only for immature defense mechanisms scores there are significant differences between the two groups; women with ovarian cysts use these mechanisms more often than women without ovarian cysts. Additionally, in regards to social support scale, women with ovarian cysts received lower scores that show women without ovarian cysts receive more social support compared to women with ovarian cysts. The results indicate higher prevalence of psychological problems among women with ovarian cysts. It seems that training based on strengthening the resiliency and increasing levels of social competence in women can have preventive values.

Any psychotherapist, inevitably, follows a particular theory of psychotherapy in their work. Each counselor and therapist must resort to a point of view. The uses of scientific theories in psychotherapy accelerate behavior change process and amelioration of individual’s problem, and prevent potencies’ dissipation. Usually, theories of psychotherapy present their therapeutic purposes in a way that demonstrates their similarities and uniqueness compare to other theories. Psychotherapist, in addition to possessing knowledge about theories regarding personality structure and behavior modification techniques, need to determine her assumptions about human nature, behavior pathology, and approach towards maladaptive behaviors modification. This awareness creates a distinct and defined system that facilitates working with the clients in a more integrated context. The scientific basis for the use of quadrilateral psychotherapy is based on studies and experiences that attempted to develop more effective and efficient psychotherapy techniques within a scientific framework. Various theories proposed in the field of psychotherapy are based on their different approach and belief in regards to human nature, personality, and the concept of anxiety and mental illness. Since different theories represent their principles and techniques based on these basic concepts in psychotherapy process and methods, this article attempts to introduce therapeutic purposes of four dimensional psychotherapy as an integrated approach.