Research in psychological health

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy with or without metacognitive techniques and Zolpidem 10 mg. for people with chronic insomnia disorder

Behzad Salmani

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with or without metacognitive techniques and Zolpidem (10 mg) for people with chronic insomnia disorder. After assessing eligibility criteria, six patients included four female and two male entered the study. All patients allocated randomly to three treatments (CBT, CBT+ & Zolpidem 10 mg.) and assessed 6 times by research instruments. Results were analyzed by recovery percent, clinical significant index, effect size and diagnostic recovery. Results of the study showed that during post-treatment and 1-month & 3-months follow-up, patients who received CBT+ have higher rate of recovery in sleep efficiency and sleep quality than other patients. In terms of insomnia severity, CBT & CBT+ have no significant difference but both were superior to patients who received Zolpidem 10 mg. Also, patients who received Zolpidem (10 mg) failure to keep treatment achievements in follow-up. Adding metacognitive techniques to CBT increased its efficacy. Findings of this study could regard as a pilot information about new ways for raising efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic insomnia disorder.

The Effectiveness of Tactical Defenses Neutralization in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Defensive Styles, Anxiety, and Fear of Intimacy in Non-Clinical Sample

mehran farhadi

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the neutralization of tactical defenses in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) on Defensive Styles, Anxiety, and Fear of Intimacy. In fact, the purpose of this research that distinguishes it from the few studies in the Psychotherapy field is to study the structure of the conflict triangle (feeling, anxiety and defense) with an emphasis on interpersonal defenses. The method of this research was quasi-experimental (pre-test and post-test with control group). Population of this study was all students from Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan (dormitories-central site) in the years 2017-2018. Twenty-six of them selected by voluntarily accessible sampling (non-randomized and random replacement sampling) in both experimental and control groups. Data of the research were collected by defense styles questionnaires, state- trait anxiety and fear of intimacy. Clients in the experimental group received each of the interventions (Questioning technique, Pressure, and challenge of the therapeutic protocol ISTDP) during 10 sessions in 45 minutes. Control group received no intervention. Results indicated that the neutralization of tactical defenses reduces the use of immature and neurotic defensive styles, and state and trait anxiety. However, treatment was not effective for increasing the use of mature defensive style and reducing fear of intimacy. The results of this study indicate that the removal of tactical or external defenses that rooted in fear of re-failure in the intimacy and emotional closeness can be effective in reducing interpersonal and interpersonal tensions. In addition, this kind of intervention could change some kind of defensive styles.

A structural equation model of relationship between Social Anxiety symptoms, Early Maladaptive schemas and Cognitive Distortions in Adolescents

mahdea salehy

Clinical and epidemiological studies have proved the role of cognitive processes in the formation and continuity of social anxiety. This study aimed to predict the social anxiety symptoms among adolescents based on the early maladaptive schemas and cognitive distortions. Population included all junior high-school students in Marivan city and among whom 400 students (200 males and 200 females) were selected as samples. To select sample size, the researcher referred to the selected high schools and distributed Connor’s social phobia index questionnaire among students who were suspicious of suffering from social anxiety (diagnosed by schools consultants and consistent with symptoms indicated in DSM-V). Upon the completion of the questionnaire, the students with confirmed social anxiety disorder were randomly selected as the sampling of the study. Data were gathered using social anxiety questionnaire, early maladaptive schemas questionnaire (short form) and cognitive distortions questionnaire. The collected data analyzed using Structural Equation Model. The results showed the structural model was fit. Five areas of the early maladaptive schemas (disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, impaired limits, directedness, over-vigilance, and inhibition) can predict 63% of social anxiety. There was a direct and significant correlation between the variables of the early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety. Bootstrapping analysis revealed cognitive distortions served as a mediator between the early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety symptoms. The results of this study supported the role of the early maladaptive schemas as a vulnerability factor in social anxiety and the role of cognitive distortions as a linking mechanism between the early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety.

Healthy and pathological aspects of parenting among Iranian families: A qualitative research

Mohammad Saeed Abd Khodaee

The aim of this study was to investigate the healthy and pathological aspects of parenting among Iranian’s families. This study had a qualitative design and the method used is Grounded Theory. The population consisted of all Muslim parents with children over 10 years of age, living in Tehran and Karaj during the summer of 2016 to the summer of 2017. The sample consisted of 44 Muslim parents who were investigated through semi-structured interviews. The interviews' data were analyzed on the basis of grounded theory coding (coding paradigm or Strauss and Corbine method). Final codings consisted of 216 initial codes, 9 clusteres and 3 themes. In the axial analysis of the initial codes, 9 main clusters were extracted: rejection; kindness/support; over protection; inflexibility; optimum structure; chaos; coercion; assertiveness; autonomy support; negligence/passivity. Althought Theses clusters can be conceptually distinguished, but they have common features. In the selective coding, 9 clusters were integrated around 3 major themes : Intimacy (rejection; kindness/support; over protection); structure/rule (inflexibility; optimum structure; chaos); autonomy/freedom of action (coercion; assertiveness; autonomy support; negligence/passivity). Among these three themes, the medium cluster draws a balanced and healthy situation and two other clusters represent the pathological aspects of parenting. The results of this study showed that most of the parents involved in the study used a kind of authoritarian parenting style(the combination of over protection, inflexibility and coercion) and Healthy parenting (the combination of kindness/support, optimum structure and autonomy support) is located in the second rank.

The transdiagnostic model of depression and anxiety among nonclinical population: The mediating role of Overcontrolling

Shahram Vakili Heris

The aime of this study was to investigate a transdiagnostic model for explaining comorbidity between anxiety and depression based on the overcontrolling, sensivity to reward and sensivity to threat.The participants were 586 students of Islamic Azad University Tabriz Branch, University of Tabriz and Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University in Iran. Data were collected by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), behavioural inhibtion/Behavioural activation scale (BAS/BIS), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire (AEQ) and Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS). Sensitivity to reward with overcontrolling mediation affects anxiety and depression with standard coefficients of -0.29 and -0.36. Also, sensitivity to threat with standardized coefficients of 0.31 and 0.39, respectively, have a significant effect on anxiety and depression by the mediation of overcontrolling. Our findings proposes a suitable framework for explaining comorbidity between depression and anxiety. Low sensitivity to reward and high sensitivity to threat by the mediation role of overcontrolling could predict comorbidity between anxiety and depression. These findings can be useful in understanding the etiology of comorbid emotional disorders, and developing efficacious therapeutic interventions and prevention of comorbid emotional disorders.

Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Program on Parenting Stress and Parent-Hearing Impaired Child Relationship

Marzieh Paghandeh

Hearing Impairment is one of the most complicated sensory impairments that has an effect on parenting stress and parent-child interaction. Parent-child interaction program taken from parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) theory which was developed by Sheila Eyberg resulted from her wide background on actor theory, traditional child psychotherapy and the first child development. In fact this program has used both attachment theory and social learning theory to gain access to ways of powerful parenting. So parent-child interaction is effective for a correct performance with the child and reduction of parenting stress especially for those who are hearing-impair and have parents who are not. Parents who have a child who is hearing-impaired have a negative cognitive evaluation of their abilities as parents so causing a reduction in mental health and well-being of parents. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of educational program of parent-child interaction for mothers who have a hearing-impaired child on reduction of parenting stress and relationship of parents with the child. The present study was of semi-experimental kind and used pre-test and post-test model and a follow-up step with control group. Sample included 30 preschool children with hearing impairment and their parents were purposefully selected and randomly put in two groups of experimental and control. Then before performing, parent-child interaction program was designed and edited by the researcher. This program included providing need assessment form and defining parent education parameters. In child directed interaction (CDI), reward, mimicry, reflection, description, enthusiasm, getting attention and in parent directed interaction (PDI) issuing good orders, encouraging discipline, punishing by standing on the chair because of disobedience and making authentic rules at home were considered. Subjects of experimental group received parent-child interaction program in 12 sessions during one month. To study parent-child interaction and parenting stress, parent-child relationship scale and parent stress scale were used. The findings showed mean of scores in parent-child interaction and parenting stress has been effective in father; but it increased more in control group in post-test in comparison with pre-test in mother. The results of the study showed the importance of parents' cooperation in parent-child interaction. It seems effectiveness of parent-child interaction program showed on improving the relationship of parents with child having a hearing impairment.

Exploring Lived Experience of Children with Cancer about thire disease and its consequences: A qualitative study

Afrooz Afshari

Cancer is an unpredictable stressor in children and has a psychological impact on their lives. Understanding the children's view about their condition, provide better services and eliminating barriers that effects on accepting treatment by the child. The aim of present study was to explore and understand the perspectives of children with cancer about their disease. The present study was a qualitative investigation that conducted by content analysis method in which 20 hospitalized children aged 4-12 years suffering from different type of cancer were selected through purposive sampling and sampling continued until data saturation. To explore the perspectives of children about cancer and its consequences, content analysis of the drawings (by psychoanalytic approach) and the recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data analysis was conducted continuously and simultaneously with data collection and with a comparative method using MAXQDA software. Approximately 1020 codes were identified by the implementation of recorded interviews and drawings of children by open coding. The data coded were finally summarized in five categories: 1. Concerns relative to the place of treatment; 2. Concern with physical problems due to illness and pain; 3. post-traumatic growth, 4. negative problems due to illness, 5. Family consequences of the disease, and 6. The child's view of the process of the disease.