Neda Nazarboland, Ameneh Tahmasi, Vahid Nejati,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation, on improving the executive functions of selective attention, inhibitory control and working mwmory in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. This experimental study was a Single Subject of type A-B, which 6 elderly (4 women and 2 men) with an average age of 62 years old were selected via purposeful convenience sampling and randomly assigned into two groups of control (n=3) and experimental (n=3). The evaluation of selective attention and inhibitory control was done using Stroop, Go/NO Go and N-back tests, and the "ARAM" rehabilitation program was presented in 10 one-hour personal sessions for each experimental group subjective. All subjective in both groups was evaluated 6 times (before, during, just after and 2 months following the intervention) and also control group were evaluated simultaneously without receiving any interventions. Using visual analysis, collected data revealed that the scores of both tests of executive functions in experimental group, were steadily increased all through intervention, while the control group scores’ did not make significant changes. Also, two-month follow-up evaluations showed a stable improvement in executive functions of the experimental group. Therefore, it can be concluded that cognitive rehabilitation based on ARAM program has improved the functions of selective attention, inhibitory control and working memory in elderly with mild cognitive impairment. As there are many documentaries suggesting possibility of leading mild cognitive impairment to more serious cognitive disabilities such as Alzheimer’s disease, such findings can confirm possibility of improving cognitive functions of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment with, with lower therapeutic costs applying the help of technology
Afsaneh Moradi, Maryam Akbarzadeh, Vahid Farnia, Mostafa Alikhani, Nasrin Abdoli,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (2-2021)
Abstract
With the significant increase in the computer and internet usage, the new concept of addiction to internet games is now considered as a new psychiatric disorder. The evidences have demonstrated that the internet gaming disorder is similar to drug addiction in terms of neurology, but just a few researches has been done in terms of brain functions. The aim of this project is to compare Inhibitory control and risky decision making among heroin and methamphetamine users, internet gaming disorders and normal people. To do so 180 men participants (45 persons in each group) were selected via simple nonrandom or convenience sampling. Subjects of the study were evaluated using go/no go and Balloon Risk Taking Task (BART) test. For analyzing the results multivariable analyze of variance was used. Results showed that inhibitory control in both substance abuse disorder and internet gaming disorder was significantly lower than normal group (P<0.001). Although internet gaming disorder group showed better performance in comparison with substance abuse disorder group. (P<0.001) Moreover, risky decision-making in internet gaming disorder group was similar to substance abuse disorder group and was significantly higher than normal group (P<0.001). Generally, there are relative similarity in impulsivity parameters particularly in risky decision-making and inhibitory control between internet gaming group and substance abuse group. This can lead to continue taking drugs or online gaming despite of their annoying consequences.
Parisa Pakari, Zahra Kavousian, Faezeh Rezaie, Zeinab Hassani Asl, Parisa Hosein Zadeh Yazdi,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (6-2025)
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a combined adaptive cognitive training and structural-systemic family therapy protocol in reducing depressive symptoms and improving cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. In a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up assessments and a control group, 32 adults (16 per group) diagnosed with mild-to-moderate depression were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control condition from three reputable family therapy clinics in Tehran. The experimental group received 12 sessions of standard structural-systemic family therapy plus 12 sessions of adaptive cognitive training focused on task-switching, set-shifting, response inhibition, and Stroop exercises; the control group received family therapy alone. Measures included the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and computerized Stroop Color-Word Test. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the combined intervention produced highly significant reductions in depressive symptoms and substantial improvements in cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control at post-test and two-month follow-up (p < .001), with very large effect sizes (η² ranging from 0.586 to 0.923). Improvement in inhibitory control remained fully stable at follow-up. Adding adaptive cognitive training to structural-systemic family therapy constitutes a highly effective, clinically meaningful third-generation combined protocol for treating mild-to-moderate depression that not only alleviates emotional symptoms but also directly remediates persistent cognitive deficits, thereby enhancing relapse-prevention potential. This approach is particularly recommended for collectivist cultures and systemic treatment contexts.
