JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTALS OF MENTAL HEALTH
Year:2021 | Volume:23 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Introduction: Regarding the high prevalence of breast cancer and necessity of appropriate psychological intervention in these patients, this research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on perceived stress, psychological capital and emotional processing in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The population of this clinical trial was all women with breast cancer in Tehran in 2018 referred to the treatment centers of these patients. The sample size was thirty women with breast cancer who were selected by convenient sampling method and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups (n=15). The Mindfulness Cognitive Therapy Program conducted on the experimental group in eight weekly ninety-minute sessions. They fulfilled Perception Stress Scale (Cohen et al. ), Psychological Capital Inventory (Lutanz et al. ) and Emotional Information Processing Questionnaire (Barker et al. ) in pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Data analyzed by descriptive statistics and repeated variance analysis through SPSS software. Results: The comparison of the scores in two groups showed that cognitive therapy based on mindfulness was effective on perceived stress (F=22. 11, P= 0. 0001), psychological capitals (F=165. 54, P= 0. 0001) and emotional processing (F=18. 7, P= 0. 0001). The follow-up phase also indicated that the effectiveness of intervention was persistent. Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that the cognitive therapy based on mindfulness reduced the perceived stress and the emotional processing and increased their psychological capital in women with breast cancer. So, it is suggested to use this therapeutic approach in clinics and hospitals to reduce perceived stress and improve psychological capitals and emotional processing in cancer patients.

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depression disorder (MDD) are highly debilitating disorders that usually require lifelong treatments. Studies have introduced cognitive rigidity as a common risk factor for both disorders. This study aimed to investigate and compare the cognitive rigidity profile in patients with OCD and MDD. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive causal-comparative study. The participants were selected among who referred to Bozorgmehr Clinic in Tabriz city, Iran, in 2019 based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for OCD and MDD by using convenience sampling. A total of forty-five cases were selected and assigned to three equal groups. Research instrument included General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the computer-based task-switching test, working memory test, and the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), which are related to cognitive rigidity. The data were statistically analyzed by using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) in SPSS-16. Results: The results showed that MDD and OCD patients had more errors in the task-switching test than healthy individuals as the control group (P=0. 043). In addition the response time in the task-switching test was longer in MDD and OCD patients than in controls (P=0. 007). The control group outperformed both OCD and MDD patients in the working memory test. The results also indicated that MDD and OCD patients had more errors and obtained higher scores on the response time in the SCWT compared to the control group (P=0. 003). Conclusion: The results suggested that patients with MDD and OCD were similar to each other but significantly different from healthy individuals in cognitive rigidity profile.

Introduction: Due to the increasing rate of coronavirus disease, the experience of high levels of fear and anxiety worldwide is predictable. In this regard, the results of previous studies have shown that each of the variables of fear of coronavirus and behavioral inhibition system plays a decisive role in predicting death anxiety. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear of coronavirus and death anxiety, and the mediating role of behavioral inhibition system in this regard. Materials and Methods: The research method of this study was descriptive-correlation type and structural equations. The statistical population of this study included Iranian adults. Among them 605 people were selected by the available sampling method. Data were collected in July and August 2020 using the Templer death anxiety scale, fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Carver and White BIS/BAS Scale in Mashhad, Iran. Data analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation method and path analysis. Results: The results showed that death anxiety was significantly associated with fear of coronavirus (P< 0. 01) and the behavioral inhibition system (P< 0. 01). Also, the mediating role of the behavioral inhibition system was confirmed at the level of 0. 001. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, fear of coronavirus can predict death anxiety through the mediating role of the behavioral inhibition system.

Introduction: The study of sexual violence requires a valid scale that does not exist in Iran, so this study aims to build and validate the scale of sexual violence in Iranian women. Materials and Methods: The method of this research is qualitative and quantitative. The statistical population included all women in Jiroft city, Iran. In the qualitative section, the available samples were collected through interviews with women with sexual violence and review of information sources, and in the quantitative section, the number of samples 100 people were selected for the predictive narrative section and 301 for the convergence narrative section. These samples were selected by cluster sampling. The data collection tool in the quantitative section was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the World Health Organization Quality and Domestic Violence Section. Content validation methods, convergence, and factor analysis were used to evaluate the validity of the scale. The reliability of the scale was assessed by internal consistency and syntactic reliability methods. Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the sexual violence questionnaire was composed of 18 items of the four factors and had good validity and reliability. The second-order confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the four-factor model.

Introduction: Psychological well-being which replaces mental health is of particular importance in positivist psychology. This study aimed to develop a structural model for explaining psychological well-being based on ego strength and positive dimensions of time attitude. Materials and Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive and correlational study consisted of all students who were studying at the central site of Bu-Ali Sina University during the academic year of 2018-2019. Through a convenient sampling, 367 of them were selected. They responded to Ryff’, s Psychological Well-being Questionnaire (1989), Miller and Worrell’, s Time Attitude Questionnaire (2010), and Markstrom, Sabino, Turner, and Bremen’, s Ego Strength Questionnaire (1997). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling. Results: The results showed that the proposed model had a good fit. In other words, Ego strength could affect psychological well-being through mediating positive dimensions of time attitude. The amount of impact in different dimensions was as follows: negative future (b=-1. 29, P= 0. 001), negative present (b=-1. 07, P= 0. 001), negative past (b=-0. 076, P= 0. 041). Conclusion: Those who had weak ego, tended to have negative time attitudes,as a result, their psychological well-being decreased. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that using strategies to prevent ego weakness in individuals can reduce their negative attitudes and thus can prevent the decline of psychological well-being.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of group psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment by matrix method and group behavioral activation therapy on depression and quality of life in depressed university students. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 45 university students with depression were selected during June and July 2018 and randomly divided in 3 groups (behavioral activation, group psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment and the control). The experimental groups received 6 weekly sessions based on matrix acceptance and commitment and behavioral activation. All participants completed the Beck Depression Scale (BDI-II) and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that matrix acceptance and commitment therapy and behavioral activation therapy have significant impacts on reducing symptoms of depression and increased quality of life. There was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in terms of depression (P= 0. 411). The results also remained at a one-month follow-up. Conclusion: It seems that group psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment by matrix method and group behavioral activation therapy can decrease depression and increas quality of life in depressed university students.

Introduction: The present study aims at explaining and analyzing the relationship between the variables of rumination, temperament, attachment styles, and family relations and the occurrence of terrifying dreams in university students. Materials and Methods: The study used a descriptive quantitative correlational research method. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the students of Islamic Azad Universityof Isfahan (Khorasgan Branch) from which 180 students were selected randomly through cluster sampling method. To collect data, questionnaires including the Inventory of Terrifying Dreams (Yousefi), the Inventory of Rumination (Yousefi), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form (PANAS-X), the Inventory of Attachment Styles (Armesden and Greenberg), and the Inventory of Family Relations (Olson and Barnes), were used. Data analyzed through Pearson coefficient, regression analysis by SPSS software, version 21. Results: The results of the study revealed that the variables of rumination, the insecure attachment toward the father, and negative affect had a significant positive relationship with terrifying dreams. On the other hand, There was a significant negative relationship between family relations and the occurrence of terrifying dreams (P<0. 05). Moreover, rumination and the insecure attachment toward the father were able to predict terrifying dreams (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Regarding the results, changes in the states of rumination, the insecure attachment toward the father, and negative affect will change the occurrence of terrifying dreams.

Introduction: Considering the increase in prevalence of gender dysphoria during the last decade and few studies in this issue in Iran, this study aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of transgender individuals in the northeast of Iran. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study done in Khorasan Razavi Forensic Medicine Organization in 2018-2019. All individuals referred to Forensic Medicine Organization due to gender dysphoria and applying for sex reassignment during 2013-2017 were included in the study. To complete the information, the researchers contacted people using personal information in their case files. One-hundred two cases between 2013 until 2017 were assessed in the psychiatric commission of forensic medicine organization. Results: The frequency of patients with gender dysphoria has decreased from 2013 (24. 8%) to 2015 (9. 9%), and from this year to 2017 (29. 7%) has increased. Most of the transgender individuals were 22 years old. The unemployment rate before sex reassignment surgery was 17. 5% and after surgery was 23. 2%. Regarding the history of psychotic disease, 20. 6% of all transgender individuals had a history of suicide attempt, 15. 7% self-cutting, 3. 9% tattoo, and 8. 8% had substance abuse. Most of the participants had diploma and associate degree (43%), and then bachelor and higher degree (37%). Conclusion: The present study showed that over the five-year period of the study, the most requested sex reassignment was related to the year 2016. This may be due to increased awareness and reduced stigma of this issue in recent years.