Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
Year:2024 | Volume:29 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Objectives The present study aims to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children of veterans with PSTD. Methods This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with a pre-test/post-test/follow-up design. Participants were 70 children of veterans with PTSD (boys and girls) aged 15-19 years, who were selected using simple random sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of 35 including ACT and control. Before, immediately after, and 12 months after the intervention, people were measured using the acceptance and action questionnaire-II, difficulty in emotional regulation scale, and the PTSD checklist for DSM-5. The intervention group received group ACT at 8 sessions of 60-90 minutes. For the control group, life skills education was presented at 7 sessions of 60-90 minutes. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS software, version 22. Results The results of analysis of covariance showed a significant difference in difficulty in emotional regulation, psychological flexibility and PTSD symptoms in the post-test and follow-up phases in two groups (P<0. 01). Moreover, the two ACT and control groups were significantly different in the hyperarousal symptom of PTSD at follow-up phase, but there was no significant difference in two symptoms of re-experiencing trauma and negative alterations in mood/avoidance (P>0. 05). Conclusion The ACT can improve emotional regulation skills and psychological flexibility and reduce PTSD symptoms in children of veterans with PTSD. Therefore, this method can be used in counseling and mental health centers to improve these children’s symptoms.

Objectives This study aims to assess the effect of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) on cognitive emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility and worry in women with depression. Methods This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with a pre-test/post-test design. The study population consists of all women with depression referred to psychology clinics in Jahrom, Iran, in 2022. From three clinics of Hami, Rahgosha, and Fardaye Behtar, 30 women with a Beck depression inventory (BDI) score of 20-28 (moderate depression) were selected using a purposeful sampling method, and were randomly divided into intervention (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Garnefski et al. 's cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, Dennis and Vander Wal's cognitive flexibility questionnaire, Meir et al. 's Penn State worry questionnaire, and BDI were used to collect data. Data analysis was done using the analysis of covariance. Results The DBT had a significant effect on the study variables. It has caused an increase in adaptive CER strategies and cognitive flexibility and a decrease in maladaptive CER strategies and worry. Conclusion The DBT can be used to reduce worry and improve cognitive flexibility and adaptive CER strategies in depressed women.

Objectives Procrastination is one of the critical issues for university students and is associated with various psychological problems. This study examined the effectiveness of group compassion-focused intervention on procrastination, anxiety, and quality of life of (QoL) university students. Methods This research is an experimental study of clinical trial type. The study participants were 40 students of Iran University of Medical Sciences selected by a convenience sampling method. After obtaining informed consent, they completed the demographic questionnaire,academic procrastination questionnaire,depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21),and personal wellbeing index–adult (PWI-A), before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. The experimental group received eight 120-minute sessions of group compassion-focused therapy once a week, while the control group received no intervention. The data were compared using GLM repeated measures analysis of variance (GLMRM). Results Regarding procrastination, there is no significant difference between the average preparation for assignments and the tendency to change people›s procrastination at different evaluation times. However, the interaction effect of time and group has a significance level smaller than 0. 05, indicating a significant difference between the average preparation for the tasks of the experimental and control groups at different evaluation times (F=4. 439, P=0. 043). The effect size of 0. 115 indicates a moderate effect. There is also a significant difference between the procrastination tendency of the experimental and control groups at different evaluation times (F=8. 348, P=0. 007). The effect size of 0. 197 indicates a moderate effect. Also, there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups› average anxiety (F=35. 62, P=0. 000) and quality of life (F=14. 57, P=0. 001) at different evaluation times. The size of the effect indicates its strength. Conclusion Group compassion-focused intervention can be used as an effective therapy in working with students. However, more studies are needed to examine and compare other variables with other evidence-based treatments.

Objectives This study aims to investigate the effect of combined working memory training (WMT) and attention control training (ACT) on craving, impulsivity, and working memory of opioid addicts under methadone therapy. Methods This is a randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants were 50 male opioid addicts who were selected from addiction treatment clinics in Mashhad, Iran. After their random allocation to the intervention and control group, the intervention group received WMT+ACT for 4 weeks using a mobile application. Pre-and post-test assessments were conducted using a craving scale, Barratt impulsiveness scale, and Wechsler's digit span test. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of covariance were employed for data analysis. Results The combined intervention significantly reduced craving and impulsivity in the intervention group compared to the control group, but it had no significant effect on working memory (P>0. 05). Conclusion The mobile-based WMT+ACT intervention is a useful intervention for male opioid addicts under methadone therapy.

Objectives Abortion is one of the most traumatic events in a woman's life. The resulting trauma leads to the fear of repeat abortion, despair, inability, reduced self-confidence, isolation, mental health problems, and reduced quality of life (QoL). The present study aims to determine the effect of supportive counseling on the QoL of pregnant women with a history of abortion. Methods This is randomized controlled trial study. Participants were 72 pregnant women with a history of abortion referred to comprehensive health centers in Isfahan, Iran to receive prenatal care. The data collection instruments were a demographic form and the 36-item short form health survey. The intervention group received counseling based on Swanson’s caring theory at three sessions (two face-to-face counseling sessions and one telephone counseling session), while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected in three phases (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up), and analyzed using chi-square test, paired t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance, t-test, and two-way repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS software, version 25. Results Both groups were similar in demographic characteristics and QoL before the intervention (P>0. 05). Four and 8 weeks after the intervention, the mean score of QoL was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0. 05). Eight weeks after the intervention, the QoL score was higher than in the control group in dimensions of physical functioning (P=0. 009), social functioning (P=0. 039), role-emotional (P=0. 004), and bodily pain (P=0. 004). Conclusion Supportive counseling based on Swanson’s caring theory, as a midwife-centered intervention, can improve the QoL pregnant women with a history of abortion. This approach can be used in providing care to the pregnant women with a history of abortion.

Objectives Pursuing goals can help adolescents gain a sense of meaning and purpose in life. On the other hand, failure to achieve goals can lead to depression and despair. Considering the importance of goal pursuit in adolescence, the present study aims to examine the mediating role of intrinsic motivation in the relationship of emotion regulation styles and self-determination with goal pursuit in Iranian adolescents. Methods This is a descriptive-correlational study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population consists of adolescents aged 15-19 in Tehran, Iran, of whom 503 were selected from high schools in four districts in Tehran using a convenience sampling method. They were asked to complete four questionnaires, including the persistence scale, emotion regulation inventory, emotional autonomy scale, and intrinsic motivation inventory. Data analysis was done by SEM using Amos software, version 22 and SPSS software, version 22. Results The emotion regulation styles, including dysregulated (β=-0. 204, P=0. 001), suppressive (β=0. 124, P=0. 040), and integrative (β=0. 359, P=0. 001) had a significant relationship with goal pursuit in adolescents. Based on the Bootstrap test results, the dysregulated (β=-0. 054, P=0. 007) and integrative (β=0. 094, P=0. 001) emotion regulation styles had an indirect relationship with goal pursuit through intrinsic motivation. Self-determination had no significant relationship with goal pursuit (P=0. 137, β=0. 077). Conclusion In Iranian adolescents, the integrative emotion regulation style can positively affect goal pursuit by promoting intrinsic motivation. Therefore, in interventions for improving goal pursuit in adolescents, this emotion regulation style should be considered to promote their intrinsic motivation and persistence in goal pursuit.

Objectives Considering the importance of positive mental health promotion for preventing psychosocial disorders and increasing physical health and productivity, it is necessary to identify the social determinants of health (SDH) to implement the necessary interventions to improve community health. The present study aims to identify the SDH of positive mental health in Iranian adults. Methods This is a quantitative and correlational study that was conducted on adults aged 30-60 years living in Tehran, Iran. The sample size was estimated to be 547 people using G*Power software. The samples were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. After reviewing the literature and meeting with a panel of experts, the SDH list was extracted, and the conceptual model was plotted. The criteria for entering the model was a significance level (P≥0. 2). At the end, the structural equation modeling method was applied. The tools used included the mental health continuum–short form, the socioeconomic status questionnaire, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, perceived stress scale-10 items, international physical activity questionnaire-short form, Neissi’s job security questionnaire, Ten Horn’s job security questionnaire, the visual analogue scale for occupational stress assessment, the neighborhood status checklist, Internet use checklist, and social security insurance checklist. The data was analyzed in SPSS software, version 21 and LISREL version 8. 8. Results The data of 607 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean age of participants was 44. 04±9. 4 years. The mean score of positive mental health was 45. 96±8. 65. Among structural determinants, the social class (B=0. 181), socio-economic status (B=0. 114), job position (B=0. 08), building volume per capita (B=0. 092) had positive effect on positive mental health, while education (B=-0. 071) had negative effect. Among intermediary determinants, job satisfaction (B=0. 16), social support (B=0. 23) and insurance (B=0. 14) had positive effect on positive mental health, while perceived stress (B=-0. 62) had negative effect. Conclusion Improving socioeconomic status by increasing social support and job satisfaction can increase Iranian adults' positive mental health. On the other hand, the reduction of perceived stress can determine the positive mental health of Iranian adults both directly and indirectly.

Objectives In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in psychiatric outpatients in Tunisia and to identify the associated factors. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 133 patients (80 men and 53 women,mean age: 45. 02`11. 8 years) referred to the psychiatry clinic of the University Hospital of Gabes in Southern Tunisia. Data was collected using the childhood trauma questionnaire-short form, and the suicide behaviors questionnaire-revised. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including a correlation test were used for data analysis. The significance level was set at 0. 05. Results The overall prevalence of CSA was 9. 8%. Participants with a history of CSA had a significantly younger age at the onset of psychiatric symptoms and longer duration of hospitalization. The results of multivariate analysis showed that CSA increased the risk of having psychiatric comorbidities by 5. 9 (AOR=5. 9, 95% CI, 1. 3%, 28. 8%) and the risk of suicidal ideation by 5. 1 (AOR=5. 1, 95% CI, 1. 03%, 26. 9%). Conclusion The history of CSA has a negative impact on psychiatric patients in adulthood. This association is multifactorial, and there is a need for further longitudinal studies in this regard