IRANIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Year:2020 | Volume:2 | Issue:2 (4)|Papers Count:12

Objective: Infected persons to Coronavirus experience mental and social consequences because of disease. So the goal of this research is to investigate the mental and social consequences of infected persons. Method: The population in this study was people with new coronavirus (Covid 19) in Bushehr province. The sampling method in this study was purposive and the sample size was 8 persons (6 males and 2 females). Due to the qualitative nature of the study, information was obtained through interviews and the interview process continued until data saturation. The duration of each interview was 30 to 40 minutes. The interview was semi-structured and contained open-ended questions. After completing the interview process, the responses were interpreted and coded using the content analysis method. Results: Based on the results of the present study, the psychological consequences of this disease include negative emotions such as fear of death, depression and anxiety, reduced social activities, feelings of rejection by the community, decreased effective communication with family and society, and stigma experienced by the patient and her/his family. Conclusion: People with Covid-19 disease experience many psychosocial consequences, and this will reduce their quality of life; therefore, use of psychologists and counselors in the therapeutic setting can be effective in reducing these consequences.

Objective: We used the affective profiles model to investigate individual differences in motivation, stress and energy. The aim was to replicate past findings, but we also focused on matched comparisons within individuals with affective profiles that are similar in one affective dimension and differ in the other in order to predict changes when individuals increase/decrease their experience of positive or negative affect. Methods: A total of 567 participants answered the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, which was used for affective profiling; the Situational Motivation Scale, which measures intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation; and the Stress-Energy questionnaire. Results: Comparisons between the four different profiles, replicating the past findings, showed that individuals with high affective and self-fulfilling profile scored highest in intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, and energy, while they scored lowest in external motivation, amotivation, and the self-fulfilling profile, also lowest in stress. Additionally, the matched comparisons showed, for example, that levels of intrinsic motivation increase when negative affect levels decrease, and positive affect is kept high when positive affect decreases and negative affect is kept low. Conclusions: One important feature of the affective profiles model is the possibility to compare individuals that are similar in one affect dimension but differ in the other (Garcia, 2011, 2017). This way of discussing individual differences helps to predict what changes could be expected when individuals increase or decrease their experience of positive or negative affect. Importantly, the direction of these changes cannot be addressed from cross-sectional data.

Objective: A great number of patients leave psychotherapy prior to the end of treatment. The present study predicts the premature termination of individual psychotherapy based on patients’ expectations and tolerance and therapists’ competencies with the mediating role of therapeutic alliance. Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 317 patients referred to Mental Health Clinics, Pain Clinics and Substance Use Treatment Centers in Mashhad, Iran were selected by random sampling. The data were collected through Distress/Endorsement Validation Scale, Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised, the Milwaukee Psychotherapy Expectations Questionnaire, and Outcome Questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS-19 and structural equation modeling with LISREL-8. 80 software. Results: The examined model indicated good fitness for the data observed (RMSEA=0. 02, GFI=0. 99, AGFI=0. 99, NFI=1, CFI=1, IFI=1, RMR=0. 00253, P value=0. 90). Psychotherapy expectations (γ =-0. 40) and therapists’ competencies (γ =-0. 29) directly influenced the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Treatment tolerance (γ =-0. 17) directly affected the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Therapeutic alliance (β =0. 13) had an impact on the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Psychotherapy expectations (γ =0. 42) and therapists’ competencies (γ =0. 54) significantly influenced the therapeutic alliance, thereby affecting the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Conclusions: Psychotherapy expectations, treatment tolerance, therapists’ competencies and therapeutic alliance interactively affect the premature termination of psychotherapy and therefore on the health outcomes as a main consequence of intervention. This finding did develop insights into designing the tailored interventions to resolve premature termination and improve the outcomes of psychotherapies. Clinicians must be concerned with these factors in the clinics and healthcare centers to enhance the successful termination of psychotherapy.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the role of anxiety sensitivity and attentional control in predicting the tendency toward addiction in youth. Method: The present study is correlational and 150 students were selected as participants of study through multistage cluster sampling. The attentional control questionnaire (Derry berry & Reed, 2002), Anxiety Sensitivity (Peterson & Reiss, 1987) and the Readiness Scale for Drug Abuse (Zargar, 2007) questionnaires were used to collect data. The research data were analyzed through Pearson Correlation Coefficient formula and regression. Results: The results showed that there is a significant correlation between attentional control and the lack of cognitive control with the tendency to addiction. Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be concluded that in addition to social and biological factors, psychological factors, such as attentional control and anxiety sensitivity, are influential in the tendency and readiness of individuals to drug addiction.

Objective: The main aim of this research was to investigate the effects of quality of life therapy on increasing the ability of coping with stressful situations, reducing anxiety and irrational fears in at risk workers of electricity distribution companies in Isfahan. Method: This research method is semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with the control group. Population consisted of 250 at risk workers of Isfahan Electricity Distribution Company. Five people were randomly selected from each unit, and a total of 40 people were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in 90-minute sessions of quality of life improvement training for 8 weeks, held at the New Technology Park of Isfahan Electricity Distribution Company. Experimental group was compared with a waiting control group. Measurement tools were Endler and Parker Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and Mental Disorders Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90-R) that were administered on at risk workers in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up phases. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results: Data analysis showed that the intervention sessions had a significant effect on all scales of coping with stressful situations, anxiety and irrational fears in the experimental group in the post-test and follow-up stages. Conclusion: The results indicate that psychotherapy based on improvement of quality of life was effective on tranquility, mental health and the quality of life of at risk workers in Isfahan Electricity Distribution Company.

Objective: Both defense mechanisms of ego and depression affect the intensity of the pain in the patients with chronic pain. The present study investigates the mediating role of depression in the relationship between immature ego defense and perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain. Method: Research was conducted on 503 patients with chronic pain who referred to pain centers in Tehran. Participants were asked to answer Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for perceived pain intensity, Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ-40), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Results: The results indicate that depression plays mediating role in the relationship between immature ego defense and perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain. Conclusion: the relationship between immature ego defense and perceived pain intensity is not a simple linear one, but is mediated by depression.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential roles of emotion control strategies and social anxiety in explaining and predicting eating disorder symptoms. Method: The statistical population included all students of the Mohaghegh Ardabili University, studying in the 2015/2016 academic year. Data on social anxiety, emotion control, and eating disorder symptoms were collected from 190 students of Mohaghegh Ardebili University, using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), and Emotion Control Questionnaire-2 (ECQ-2). Pearson’ s correlation coefficient statistical method and stepwise regression were applied. Results: Rehearsal and benign control (subscales of emotion control questionnaire) positively correlated with all three subscales of social anxiety (fear, avoidance, and physiological arousal). Among different subscales of social anxiety, only avoidance could predict dieting and oral control. Among different subscales of eating disorder test, benign control was the only subscale of emotion control questionnaire that could predict bulimia and food preoccupation. Conclusion: This study suggests that social anxiety and emotion control are, to some extent, related and can partially predict eating disorder symptoms.

Background: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of CBT therapy on methadone consumption and general health of opium addicts before and after the intervention. Methods: The study population included all men aged 20 to 40 who were addicted to drugs and used the counseling services of addiction treatment centers in Tehran. The study sample included 30 addicted men who were selected using the available method and were counseled at Mofarrah addiction treatment center every day for six months. Subjects were divided into two experimental and control groups randomly and each group included 15 subjects. In this study, the index of opiate treatment (OTI) and the Goldberg's general health (GHQ) questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive, univariate covariance and multivariate covariance tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy had a significant effect on increasing general health characteristics (P<0/05), as well as reducing the desire to use drugs in patients undergoing methadone treatment (P<0/05). Conclusions: According to the findings, it can be concluded that the cognitive-behavioral therapy has therapeutic benefits for addicts that can lead to a reduction in drug use and temptation to consume. Besides, CBT by increasing appropriate coping strategies, improves their general and mental health.

Objective: This study investigates the different motives and substance use risk profile in opium and methamphetamine use. Method: The statistical sample includes Seventy-eight individuals with substance use history who referred to Drop-In Center (DIC). The respondents completed research instruments including demographic information (researcher-made questionnaire), substance use motives (Hecimovic, Barrett, Darredeau, & Stewart, 2014), and substance use risk profile scale (Woicik et al., 2009). Multivariate analysis of variance was utilized for data analysis on SPSS-24. Results: The results of the MANOVA indicated that availability, relaxation, enjoying, and sexual motives are significantly higher in individuals using methamphetamine. Also, the results of the substance use risk profile represent that there are significant differences in anxiety sensitivity, sensation-seeking, and impulsivity in opium and methamphetamine use. Conclusions: Findings indicate the important role of motives and substance use risk profile in the tendency to the use of different types of substances. These various motives and personality risk factors should be considered in educational settings and psychological treatment for different types of substance use, especially opiate or stimulating substances.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of logotherapy group training on changing self-esteem and intimacy attitudes and depression of physically disabled women. Method: The research was performed in semi-experimental method with two groups (logotherapy and control), pretest, post-test and follow up phase. The statistical population was 68 people with physically disabilities under therapy of Kashan Welfare Center. Among this population, 40 physically disabled women (20-40 years old), who had depression above 17, were selected and randomly divided equally in two groups (n=20). The research instruments were Treadwell intimacy attitude (1983), Beck depression (1996) and Eysenck’ s self esteem (1976) inventories. Before the first group training session pre-test was conducted by using questionnaires in both groups. Then 8 sessions of logotherapy, twice a week, each lasting 120 minutes, were administered to test the group. For both groups, post-test (immediately after training sessions), and follow-up test (one month later) were taken. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze data. Results: The results showed that group training through logotherapy, significantly decreased depression (р ≤ 0. 01), and significantly increased self-esteem and intimacy attitude (р ≤ 0. 01), and the sustainability of this effects at follow-up. Conclusion: The study concluded that training logotherapy can effectively increase intimacy attitude and self-esteem and decrease depression in physically disabled women, and so it implies the importance of paying attention to spiritual training and applying them in welfare centers.

Objective: The present study aimed to predict corona disease anxiety among medical staff in Tehran based on fivefactor theory of personality. Method: In the present descriptive and correlational study, the statistical population included all medical staff in Tehran in 2020, among which 210 physicians, nurses, and other medical staffs were selected based on snowball sampling method. The instruments included Neo-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS). Data were analyzed using Pearson’ s correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis. Findings: Regression analysis indicated significantly Beta coefficients for openness personality (-0. 238) and conscientiousness personality traits (-0. 249). Conclusion: Medical staff who are higher in openness and conscientiousness personality traits are lower in corona disease anxiety.

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based group therapy on improving meta-cognitive beliefs in preventing the relapse of women consuming stimulants has been done. Method: The design of this study is experimental with pre-test and post-test with the control group was followed by the follow-up phase. The statistical population of this study included all women who consumed stimulants from eighteen to forty years referring to the Hamgam sazan Addiction treatment Center in Tehran Province in 1396 among which thirty individuals were selected by convenience sampling method. Availability sampling was selected and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups of each 15 individuals. The 90-minute treatment session was trained by the mindfulness method. However, the control group received no training. (MCQ) in both pre-test and post-test stages were completed by both groups. Data were analyzed by covariance analysis and soft aided SPSS software was used for data analysis. After three months, both groups were followed up. Results: Results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean of metacognitive post-test scores in the experimental and control groups. Mindfulness training has improved metacognition in preventing relapse in women who use stimulants. Conclusion: The findings of this study in general indicate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based group therapy training on improving metacognitive beliefs in preventing the relapse of women consuming stimulants. Therefore, such sessions are recommended in drug addiction treatment centers and clinics.