Practice in Clinical Psychology
Year:2020 | Volume:8 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Objective: In recent decades, the relationship between personality traits and attitudes toward substance use has attracted much attention. Accordingly, evidence suggested a significant direct relationship between personality traits and the tendency to substance use. However, studies on the relationship between the Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 th Edition (DSM– 5) (PID-5) PID-5 model, personality pathology, and the tendency to substance use are scarce. Moreover, our survey revealed that no studies had been conducted in this respect in Iran. Drug abuse, as a prevalent condition, is of numerous etiologies, one of which is maladaptive personality traits. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between maladaptive characteristics and the severity of personality disorders in predicting substance use tendency. Methods: This descriptive research was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019 in Tehran City, Iran. The statistical population of this study consisted of 300 healthy individuals with substance abuse disorder referring to substance dependence treatment centers who were selected by the convenience sampling method. Data gathering tools were the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form (PID-5-BF), the Standardized Assessment of Severity of Personality Disorder (SASPD), and the Addiction Tendency Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed by correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis methods using SPSS. Results: The current study results revealed that drug use tendency is significantly associated with personality traits. Among the maladaptive traits, antagonism had the highest correlation with drug use (0. 45). Moreover, the obtained data indicated a low correlation (0. 014) between the severity of drug tendency and personality traits, according to PID-5. Conclusion: The current study results revealed that drug use tendency is significantly associated with personality traits. Among the maladaptive traits, antagonism had the highest correlation with drug use (0. 45). Moreover, the obtained data indicated a low correlation (0. 014) between the severity of drug tendency and personality traits, according to PID-5.

Objective: The current paper examined the relationship between Problem-Solving Ability (PSA) and Quality of Life (QoL) in the mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (AS). Methods: This was a descriptive and correlational study. The study population consisted of the mothers of children with AS in Isfahan City, Iran. The required sample was selected from one autism center (out of three) using a convenience sampling method. Then, a sample of 150 mothers was randomly selected. Accordingly, they completed the 12-item Quality of Life and the 35-item Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI). The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis. Results: The present research results suggested a significant relationship between PSA and QoL (r=0. 696, P<0. 01). Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the dimensions of the PSA (self-confidence in PSA; r=0. 560, P<0. 01), avoidant attachment to PSA style (r=0. 241, P<0. 01), self-control (r=0. 307, P<0. 01), and QoL. Regression analysis data also indicated that QoL was predicted by self-confidence in PSA (P<0. 01), avoidant attachment to PSA style (P<0. 01), and self-control (P<0. 01), and self-confidence in PS, as the most powerful predictor of QoL. Conclusion: The PSA is correlated with QoL, and PSA dimensions, including self-confidence in PS, avoidant attachment to PSA style, and self-control.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effects of the non-computerized training package of Working Memory (WM) and selective attention with Captain’ s Log software on the components of WM. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a non-random targeted sampling method, and pre-test, post-test, follow-up, and a control group design. A sample of 150 cases aged 13 to15 years diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) referring to neurology clinics was selected and randomly divided into two case groups (n=15/group) and a control group (n=15). The non-computerized package was performed in 15 one-hour sessions for 4 weeks in the first case group. Besides, the computerized package was provided in 15 sessions (45 minutes each) for 4 weeks in the second case group; however, the control group received no training. All WM components were examined in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up (3 months after post-test) steps in all study groups. Results: The repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) data indicated a significant difference in the mean scores of the components of WM in the first case group, compared to the second case group and the controls (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The non-computerized package of WM and selective attention were significantly more effective on the WM components, compared to the Captain’ s Log computerized package.

Objective: The present study aimed to predict the tendency to Internet Pornography Viewing (IPV) in married men based on difficulty in Emotion Regulation (ER) with the mediating role of impulsivity and experiential avoidance. Methods: The study participants were recruited via advertising banners posted on some of the most popular social networking applications in Iran. A total sample of 123 married men in Isfahan City, Iran, participated in the study. The study participants completed the Pornography Craving Questionnaire (PCQ), the Short-form version of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-SF), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-15) through the internet. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics (Mean± SD) and correlation tests. For analyzing the study model, the PLS-SEM technique was performed in WarpPLS. Results: The current research results indicated that difficulties in ER provided a positive direct effect on the tendency to IPV (β =0. 37, P<0. 01). The results also revealed that impulsivity (β =0. 64, P<0. 01) and experiential avoidance (β =0. 71, P<0. 01) played mediating roles between difficulties in ER and the tendency to IPV. The model presented a good fit with the data (AVIF=2. 88, GOF=0. 63, SPR=1, RSCR=1, SSR=1, NLBCDR=1). Conclusion: Difficulties in ER, impulsivity, and experiential avoidance play important roles in the tendency to IPV. Impulsivity and experiential avoidance, as two modes of ER, can mediate the relationship between difficulties in ER and the tendency to IPV; therefore, they should be taken into consideration in this regard.

Objective: The present research aimed at explaining anger in individuals with the atypical pattern of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) based on impulsivity and risk perception. Methods: The present study used a cross-sectional design. The research population included all students of Arak University; of which, 450 individuals were selected by convenience sampling method. Firstly, the Social Phobia Inventory, Dickman Impulsivity Inventory, Risk Perception Scale, and Novaco Anger Scale were performed in them. Then, based on their obtained scores in social anxiety, 124 individuals with scores ≥ 19 were selected as the final research sample. Results: Multiple regression data indicated that impulsivity and risk perception predict 36% of the variance of anger in individuals with social anxiety (F2, 121 = 33. 70, P<0. 001); impulsivity directly (Beta=0. 423) and risk perception inversely (Beta=-0. 297) presented a significant contribution in predicting the study subjects’ anger. Conclusion: It is necessary to pay serious attention to impulsivity and risk perception in understanding and treating individuals with SAD and their anger.

Objective: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) has recently been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The outbreak of the disease has caused numerous individuals around the world to become extremely frightened and subsequently present the signs of phobia. Fear is the basic emotion of anxiety disorders and individuals cope with their emotions by different strategies. The present study aimed at developing and validating Emotion Regulation Strategies for Germophobia Questionnaire (ERS-GPQ). Methods: The study participants were 99 individuals (74 females) of the Iranian population with concerns about germs who were selected with the snowball sampling method. They completed the ERS-GPQ and GPQ in the Google Forms platform. Results: The present study results illustrated that the ERS-GPQ has acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach’ s alpha coefficient (a=0. 61), reliability coefficients with split-half (0. 70), and one-week test-retest (0. 92); the ERS-GPQ also presented a moderate positive correlation with the contamination obsessions checklist of GPQ (r=0. 44) as the convergent coefficient. Besides, the confirmatory factor analysis indicated 2 factors of the ERS-GPQ. Finally, the ERS-GPQ has 2 components with good convergent and discriminate validities and composite reliability. Conclusion: Based on the current research findings, the ERS-GPQ has acceptable and good psychometric properties; researchers can use the ERS-GPQ as a reliable and valid instrument for assessing ER strategies concerning germophobia. Furthermore, it has some considerations for practitioners in epidemic and pandemic crises, like COVID-19.

Objective: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes a debilitating disease that affects the involved patient’ s life. Therefore, investigating and introducing effective interventions to improve the status of these patients are among the necessities of modern research. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) on enhancing psychological wellbeing, life expectancy, and psychological flexibility in HIV-infected patients. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test-follow-up and a control group design. The statistical population included all patients with an active file in the Tehran Blood Transfusion Organization who were eligible to participate in the study according to inclusion criteria. Thirty-four cases were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned into two groups of CFT and control (n=17/group). During the research process, 2 subjects from the experimental group and 2 subjects from the control group were removed. The study participants were assessed before, after, and three months after the intervention using the Ryff Psychological Well-being Questionnaire, Schneider’ s Hope Scale, and Bond’ s Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in SPSS. Results: The present research findings suggested that psychological wellbeing (F=112. 83, P=0. 001) life expectancy (F=117. 02, P=0. 001), and psychological flexibility (F=65. 61, P=0. 001) significantly increased in the CFT group, compared to the controls (P>0. 001). Conclusion: The obtained data revealed that CFT was effective in increasing psychological wellbeing, life expectancy, and psychological flexibility in HIV-infected patients.

Objective: Numerous children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) either have no access to its main treatment, i. e. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or fail to respond to it. Cognitive Bias Modification of Interpretation (CBMI) is a novel and promising intervention that targets the incorrect interpretation of intrusive thoughts and impulses, i. e. the characteristics of OCD. The present study aimed to determine the effects of CBMI in children with OCD for the first time. Besides, we evaluated the possibility of online implementation of this intervention. Methods: A sample of 35 children with OCD (aged 7-12 years) were randomly assigned to two study groups. The experimental group (n=18) received CBMI and the controls (n=17) received placebo treatment. Interpretation bias and OCD severity were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and 2-month follow-up stages, using the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Child Version (OCICV), Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-Child Version (OBQCV), and Ambiguous Scenarios Task (AST). The present study results were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Paired Samples t-test. Results: The collected findings demonstrated that after receiving CBMI, children’ s propensity to positively interpret ambiguous situations was increased, their tendency towards negative interpretation and OCD severity was also decreased. There was no such significant change in the control group. Furthermore, the effects of CBMI was sustained at the 2-month follow-up step. Conclusion: This study provided preliminary evidence that suggests CBMI is capable of modifying interpretation bias in children with OCD, can reduce the severity of their disorder, and works as an online intervention. This brief and inexpensive intervention could be considered as an auxiliary or standalone treatment for OCD in children.