Practice in Clinical Psychology
Year:2020 | Volume:8 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Objective: The relationship between emotional symptoms and addictive behaviors is essential. Moreover, short and effective interventions to treat these behaviors are required. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Group Therapy (EFGT) on the reduction of negative emotions and internet addiction symptoms. Methods: This was an experimental study with a Pre-test-Post-test, and a control group design. The study participants included 40 students from the University of Bu-Ali-Sina in Hamedan City, Iran. They were selected by purposive sampling methods. The study participants were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (n=20 for each group). The experimental group participated in 12 one-hour sessions of EFGT; however, the controls received no intervention. For data collection, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and thePositive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-. Results: The obtained results have suggested that EFGT reduced negative emotions and the internet addiction symptoms (i. e. social problems, impact on performance, the lack of control, pathological use, and neglecting duties) (P<0. 001). It also increased positive emotions (P<0. 001). Conclusion: Applying emotional strategies, as guidance in the clinical interview of internet addiction problems, with the use of emotional interventions, is recommended. Moreover, it could improve the clinical symptoms and increase the positive emotions, as a protective factor against the Internet addiction disorder.

Objective: This study is an attempt to investigate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Reasons for Death Fear Scale among men and women attending in religious rituals of Mosques in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: The sample consisted of 157 participants attending in religious rituals of Mosques in Shiraz, who were selected by a convenience sampling method after obtaining informed consent. They completed the Reasons for Death Fear Scale. Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis on RDFS identified 4 factors. Cronbach´ s α coefficients was 0. 86 for the entire of measure (18 items), with alphas ranging from 0. 70 to 0. 81 for the individual factors. The indices of convergent and divergent validity for this scale were all significant (P< 0. 001). Conclusion: Given the validity and reliability of the Reasons for Death Fear Scale, this scale can be used in clinical settings and research studies.

Objective: The substance use disorder is a debilitating and often chronic problem. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of group therapy based on the 12-step approach of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) on self-control and Quality of Life in people with substance use disorder diagnosis during recovery. Methods: The design of the study was two-way quasi-experimental (an experimental group and a control group) in the form of a pre-test, post-test, and follow up. A total of 60 subjects were recruited as the prototype among the patients who were referred to the Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship in Isfahan and were divided into experimental and control groups (30 people in each group). To measure the pre-test step, the participants in both groups completed Tangney’ s self-control scale questionnaire (Tangney, 2004) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHO, 1991). Then, the experimental group received 12 sessions of grouptherapy intervention based on the 12-step approach of NA (NA step working guides, 2013), and the control group received no intervention. After completing the intervention, the post-test and follow up test (two months later) were implemented in both groups. The obtained data were analyzed with a multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS V. 22. Results: The results indicated significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in self-control and Quality of Life domains (physical, social, and psychological domains) scores in the pre-test and follow-up (P<0. 05). However, regarding the environment domain of Quality of Life, no significant difference was observed between the experimental and the control group. Conclusion: The group therapy based on the 12-step approach of NA can be considered an effective treatment to reduce the likelihood of substance re-use and improve the Quality of Life of these people.

Objective: The present study investigated the relationship between personality traits and psychological capital and academic adjustment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional research study. The study population comprised all male and female students at the University of Kashan in February-March 2018. A total of 360 (190 females and 170 males) students were selected by cluster sampling method. The Adjustment Inventory for College Students (AICS), HEXACO Personality Inventory, and Luthans Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) were used to collect data. To analyze the obtained data, a regression analysis was run by SPSS. Results: The analysis suggested a significant relationship between academic adjustment and honesty-humility (r=-0. 19, P<0. 01), emotionality (r=0. 14, P<0. 01), extraversion (r=-0. 14, P<0. 01), and conscientiousness (r=-0. 32, P<0. 01). Besides, a significant correlation was observed between academic adjustment and psychological capital (r=-0. 17, P<0. 01). The regression analysis results revealed that conscientiousness, emotionality, and honesty-humility predicted 13% of the variance in academic adjustment. Moreover, regression analysis results indicated that hopefulness predicted 3% of the variance in academic adjustment. Conclusion: The study results indicated a relationship between personality traits and psychological capital and academic adjustment. Furthermore, educational-counseling interventions oriented on personality and psychological capital could help promote student’ s academic adjustment.

Objective: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is among the most unknown psychosomatic disorders in the field of gastroenterology. IBS is a chronic, disabling, and functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, it is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits in the absence of identifiable structural diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of group logotherapy on the IBS symptoms and Quality of Life in patients with IBS. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial study, 30 IBS patients were selected; of them, 15 took part in 10×1 group therapy, and 15 were the controls. The data gathering tools included the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) for assessing the severity of IBS and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire. These inventories were completed in 3 stages of pre-test, Post-test, and follow-up. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS. Results: The mean scores of the experimental group, including pre-test (50. 97), Post-test (30. 50), and follow-up (25. 83) phases, revealed significant changes in the studied patients’ Quality of Life and decreased IBS severity scores. Moreover, these results remained consistent in the follow-up study that indicated a significant decrease in the IBS severity and Quality of Life of the patients (P<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the present research data, developing a treatment plan based on group logo-therapy intervention is effective in improving the patients’ Quality of Life, and decreasing IBS severity

Objective: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) could cause various emotional symptoms due to the damages imposed on the temporal lobe. This study aimed at comparing emotional processing between patients with early-and late-onset TLE and a healthy group. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, after a definitive diagnosis of TLE, 60 patients were compared with 60 healthy controls without any epilepsy to identify emotional-processing styles in them. The research instruments were the Emotional Processing Scale and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 th Edition (DSM-5)-based psychiatric interview. The obtained data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance by SPSS. Results: The present study results suggested significant differences in emotional processing between the investigated epileptic and non-epileptic groups (P<0. 01). Besides, emotional processing indicated significant differences in intrusion, the lack of attunement, and dissociation subscales between patients with early-onset TLE, compared to those with late-onset TLE. Conclusion: The obtained data revealed more emotional processing dysfunction in patients affected by TLE, compared to the non-epileptics. Besides, in some subscales of emotional processing, there was more malfunctioning in the early-onset TLE group, compared to the late-onset TLE group.

Objective: Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) refers to one or more symptoms that cause distress or a significant disruption in one’ s daily life and is correlated with poor Quality of Life and psychological distress, as well as an increased burden on health services. Therefore, its identification and treatment are of great importance because of the high prevalence and cost of this syndrome. The present study aimed to evaluate the factor structure, as well as the validity and reliability of the 8-Item Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) in a non-clinical sample of Iranian society. Methods: The study participants included 281 individuals, who referred to Taleghani Hospital as the patients’ companions. After obtaining their informed consent, the participants answered Beck anxiety inventory, general health, SSS-8, and somatic symptoms 12 questionnaires. After completing the questionnaires, the collected data were analyzed by SPSS v. 24 and LISREL software. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that gastrointestinal problems, pain, fatigue, and cardiopulmonary complaints were the general factor loadings of somatic symptoms. Besides, the 8-item Somatic Symptom Scale had good internal consistency. Regarding validity, the 8-question scale showed a positive correlation with the Beck anxiety inventory (r=0. 70), general health questionnaire (r=0. 70) and, somatic symptoms 12 (r=0. 52). Conclusion: The findings provided preliminary support for the validity and reliability of the scores derived from the 8-item Somatic Symptom Scale. This scale can be used to evaluate the severity of somatic symptoms of patients referring to health clinics. Additionally, it is beneficial for interested researchers to investigate this disorder and its complications.

Objective: This research investigated the psychometric properties of the Self-criticism Scale (SCS) and Self-reassurance Scale (SRS) among the students in Tehran universities. Methods: First, the original versions of SCS and SRS were translated into Persian and backtranslated into English. Then, the scales were reviewed and revised by Psychology professors and experts. Finally, the 22-item scale was presented to 300 students from Tehran universities. Results: Using Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA), three items were removed, and the 3-factor structure of the questionnaire was supported. The reliability of each factor was also calculated using Cronbach’ s alpha coefficient and was at an acceptable level. Generally, stability and reliability coefficients for SCR and SRS were satisfactory (P<0. 05). Conclusion: SRS and SCS, form a homogenous set with the appropriate factorial structure qualified for psychological investigations and clinical application in Iranian society.