Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:16 Issue: 5, May 2014

Today, the psychological and behavioral science experts pay attention to the problem-solving skill as a basic skill. Improving the problem-solving skill is better done through psychological trainings in the form of a group in which communication is the most important issue. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of integrative group therapy on the problem-solving skill. This study is an experimental study with pretest-posttest approach. Thirty clients who were referring to the Counseling and Psychological Services Center of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad were chosen based on screening method. In addition, they were randomly divided into two equal groups: experimental and control groups (13 participants each). Problem-solving questionnaire was used to collect data as well as the experimental intervention was integrative group therapy that was administrated during 8 weekly two-hour sessions. Mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis in the descriptive level and covariate method was used at the inference level (ANCOVA). The results suggest that the problem-solving skills in the experimental group were significantly increased. Moreover, the significant difference was observed in subscales closeness, control, confidence and creative. Integrative group therapy could be an effective intervention for improving problem-solving skills.

Although various medical and psychological interventions have been used to treat addiction, addiction particularly methamphetamine addiction as a social, health and medical issues is still jeopardizing the human community. This study is aimed at determining the impact of teaching life skills and changing behavior on the emotional well-being of the individuals addicted to crystal methamphetamine.

This study was carried out using before-after plan with participation of 28 crystal methamphetamine addicts. In addition to receiving medical treatment, the intervention group patients obtained necessary trainings required for developing life skill and changing behavior during 15 sessions, whilst the control group received only the routine pharmacotherapy treatments and primary interventions. Then pretest and posttest scores of the two groups were compared.

The mean score on emotional well-being by the intervention group is lower than that in control group after treatment (10.71<18.78) which was statistically significant. The history of dependence on methamphetamine, age, education, the times of quits, and the marital status had no impact on the extent of the influence of teaching life skills and behavior changes on the individuals’ emotional well-being.

Notwithstanding that addiction could influence various aspects of mental and emotional health of dependent people, teaching life skills and behavioral changes may lead to enhancement in their emotional well-being. Hence it is necessary to encourage these individuals to participate in group sessions of changing behavior and teaching life skills.

Child abuse is a common phenomenon accompanies with unfavorable short and long term personal and social consequences. With changes in environment which child taken care, negative long term consequences could decreased. This study designed to determine the prevalence of all types of maltreatments in 15-17 year-old students in Kerman. In this cross sectional -descriptive study, a sample of 360 students (184 boys/196 girls) selected by cluster method from all boy and girls high school students of educational area one and two of Kerman and was evaluated. Maltreatment assessment instrument was a 48-questions standard self-report questionnaire which previously recorded. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical tests. The average of child abuse among samples was 27.6%. The students have experienced physical, neglect and emotional abuse, 9.67%, 23.6% and 17.9% respectively in their history. Despite the lower frequency of child abuse types in comparison with other studies, it seems the early diagnosis and protective educational interventions could have critical roles in diminishing the prevalence and harmful consequences of child abuse.

Since, a few study have been done using community education related to cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) prevention, this study was done to assess the effect of educational program basis on BASNEF Model for promoting Volunteer Health Workers (VHWs) educational practices about CL prevention. In this prospective quasi-experimental study, 60 VHWs who resident in endemic area of CL in Yazd in 2009 were selected through cluster sampling method and randomly divided in two groups (experimental and control group). Data were collected before and 3 months after educational intervention by using reliable and valid questionnaires and analyzed. The mean score of knowledge and BASNEF Model components such as attitude, behavioral intention, enabling factors and practice as well as subjective norms (family, friends, neighbors, local trusted people, local therapist, local mullah, health workers and physician) increase significantly (p<0.05) 3 months after the intervention program among experimental group comparing to control group. This study was confirmed effectiveness of the training VHWs by using educational program basis on BASNEF model related to CL prevention program.

Self assertiveness can be considered as hearth of interpersonal behavior and weakness in this area is one of the obvious characteristic in the patients with social phobia disorder. This study aimed to determine the effect of meta-cognitive therapy on the rate of self assertiveness skill in patients with social phobia disorder. This experimental study was conducted with pretest-posttest and follow-up design, using control group. From all social phobia disorder patients visited in psychology clinics in Shiraz, south western part of Iran in 2012, 22 patients were selected through the objective sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental (11 persons) and control (11 persons) groups. The instruments of this study were social phobia symptoms assessment questioner (SPSAQ) and self assertiveness scale (SAS). The experimental group received 8 weeks of Wells’ meta-cognitive therapy sessions. Data were analyzed through covariance analysis method. The results showed that the mean of the self assertiveness scores in post-test and follow up in the experimental group is significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The results of analysis of multivariate covariance showed that MCT had a significant effect on increscent of the self assertiveness skill scores of posttest (0.39) and follow up (0.38) in patients with social phobia disorder (p<0.001). This intervention is believed to improve self assertiveness skill in SPD patients by facilitating transmission from the object mode to the meta-cognitive mode and enhancing the efficient and flexible coping skills.

This study investigated the relationship between NEO personality factors with happiness in the Mobarekeh city high school students. For this purpose, correlation design study, 120 students from first year to pre-university from high school (in base 30) from Mobarekeh city, were selected by combination of cluster and stratify sampling and responded to inventory of the Oxford happiness (α=0.91) and the NEO-FFI personality questionnaire (α=0.81). Data analysis by Pearson correlation coefficient indicated between the components of conscientious, agreeableness, extraversion, there is a positive correlation with happiness levels. These components, respectively, at 0.0001, 0.0001 and 0.001 were significant. Between neuroticism and openness there was not a correlation with happiness levels. The results indicate that by programming for education and thriving components of conscientious, agreeableness and extraversion we can increase happiness in this age group.

Gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gum structures. Given the importance of psychological factors and their impact on physical condition such as gum disease, the aim of this study was to investigate D personality type, brain behavioral systems and anger and hostility in people with gum disease. In this causal-comparative study, 50 women with and 50 women without gum disease (age range from 14 to 37) were selected using purposive sampling method and completed the questionnaires of multidimensional anger (Sigel, 1986), D personality type scale, Behavioral inhibition/activation system. MANOVA was used for data analysis. Data analysis showed that groups had significant differences in behavioral inhibition system, behavioral activation system and its components (response to drives, fun seeking, reward responsiveness), D personality type and its components (negative affectivity, social inhibition), anger-arousal, hostile attitude and anger-in (p<0.05), but there were no differences in anger arousing situations and anger-out between them. People with gum disease score higher in BIS, and lower in BAS than normal people, and score higher in D personality type and its components, anger-arousal, hostile outlook, and anger-in. This suggests that psychological factors play a significant role in developing and continuing gum disease and possibly other psychosomatic disorders. So this study focuses on the decisive role of psychological treatments in prevention and promotion of physical and psychological health of people.

Perfectionist is an important psychological construct and it is highly relevant to education contexts because of the role that standards in general and perfectionism in particular play in the motivation, affect, cognitions, and performance of students. This study aimed at investigating the comparison of early maladaptive schemas in perfectionist and non-perfectionist middle school students of Kangavar city. This cross sectional study was performed on 500 middle-school girl’s student of Kangavar city, who were selected using multistage randomized cluster sampling, completed the perfectionism questionnaire and schema inventory for children (SIC). The data were analyzed through descriptive (mean, SD, maximum, minimum, person product moment correlation, stepwise regression) and inferential static (t-test). The study demonstrated that perfectionist students gained significantly higher scores in the nine form eleven schemas, and results showed that there was a positive significant relationship among early maladaptive schemas and perfectionist, also unrelenting standards, subjugation, entitlement, enmeshment vulnerability, can predict perfectionist in students. Early maladaptive schema have important role in vulnerable to the perfectionist and they are appropriate components for psychological analysis of perfectionism.

Stuttering is a common disorder among children and adolescents. The purpose of this study is to draw semantic and phonemic verbal fluency comparison between children and adolescents with developmental stuttering, and their normal peers. This is a cross-sectional comparison study in which 30 students with developmental stuttering and 30 students, as normal peers, were selected from the schools within Shahriar, using convenience sampling method and getting help from an expert speech therapist in making diagnosis. The subjects completed semantic and phonemic verbal fluency tests. In these tests, in a given time interval, the subject should mention words that phonemically begin with a certain phoneme or semantically belong to a certain group. All gathered data were analyzed using t-test. The findings showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of phonemic-verbal fluency, but not regarding verbal-semantic fluency. Due to the dependence of verbal fluency task on cognitive functions, the research findings suggest inclusion of stutterers’ cognitive deficits in their treatment programs.

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of family management training in reducing anxiety difficulties in preschool children (4 to 6 years old) in Ahvaz.

The present research is a pilot study with pre-test/post-test control group design. A total of 50 mothers whose children scored 1.0 standard deviation above the mean on Spence’s children anxiety scale (parent report form) were randomly chosen and then divided into experimental and control groups. According to the treatment plan, the participants underwent ten 120-minute sessions of family anxiety management training.

Multivariate analysis of covariance demonstrates that experimental intervention is efficient in reduction of children anxiety (p=0.03). Following up the experimental group for a course of one month show that intervention impact can last over the time.

The results indicate that family anxiety management training has been effective in reduction of anxiety disorders in anxious children (4 to 6 years old), studying at kindergartens within Ahvaz. Therefore, it can be useful strategy as an educational and preventive program in pre-school and school children.

Satisfaction with life has a vital role in human’s well being and health. The aim of this study was investigate to effectiveness of the positive couple therapy on improving satisfaction with life of mothers of children with special needs. The research method was semi-experimental with pretest/posttest/follow-up design with control group. Among mothers with special needs children of Mashhad were recruited 20 subjects through purposely method and were assigned in experimental and control groups randomly (10 subjects in each group). For gathering data, satisfaction with life questionnaire was used. Findings showed that life satisfaction of mothers with special needs children who received intervention had increased. Couple therapy with positive approach has been effective on increasing the life satisfaction of mothers with special needs children of Mashhad.

The present study compares the effects of reading instruction and traditional methods on grammar quotient of 4 to 10 years old children with down syndrome having IQ scores of 40 to 60. In this quasi-experimental and interventional study, 20 children with down syndrome, average mean age of 63 months, and 40 to 60 IQ scores were selected from 96 children with down syndrome from rehabilitation clinics within Tehran and Karaj, using convenience sampling. Then, they were assigned into two groups in the presence of their parents, using balanced randomized method. The first group was educated by whole-word reading method and the second group by traditional methods. Both groups had three 15-minute sessions per week for a period of 6 months. Pre-test and post-test grammar quotient of both groups was assessed using the Test of Persian language development. The obtained data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test, and paired t-test. Both groups were quite similar in age, IQ, and grammar quotient, prior to training. However, the first group showed significant development in grammar quotient, after training (p<0.001). In comparison with traditional methods of language therapy that emphasize on weakness of children with down syndrome by employing auditory modality, teaching reading through whole-word method based on their strength “visual memory” has more influence on grammar quotient of them.

Recognition of emotional facial expressions is one of the psychological factors which involve in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of present study was to compare the ability of recognizing emotional facial expressions in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and major depressive disorder. The present study is a cross-sectional and ex-post facto investigation (causal-comparative method). Forty participants (20 patients with OCD, 20 patients with MDD) were selected through available sampling method from the clients referred to Tabriz Bozorgmehr clinic. Data were collected through Structured Clinical Interview and Recognition of Emotional Facial States test. The data were analyzed utilizing MANOVA. The obtained results showed that there is no significant difference between groups in the mean score of recognition emotional states of surprise, sadness, happiness and fear; but groups had a significant difference in the mean score of diagnosing disgust and anger states (p<0.05). Patients suffering from both OCD and MDD show equal ability to recognize surprise, sadness, happiness and fear. However, the former are less competent in recognizing disgust and anger than the latter.

The revised version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED-41) is a self-report questionnaire that measures symptoms (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, school phobia, social phobia) of DSM-IV linked anxiety disorders in children with aged 8 to 18 years. The aim of the present study was to examine the validation of the (SCARED-41) in a sample of 300 school children. After the translation of the original version of the mentioned Scale to Farsi and confirming it by two psychology and English language professors, the final version was administered to 300 students (150 males, 150 females) of Isfahan who were selected through stratified-cluster sampling. The age range of the participants was between 19 to 35 years. To assess reliability, internal consistency and split half methods were used. Also, concurrent, validity of convergent and divergent and factorial structure were used to determine validity. The range of Cronbach’s alpha and retest were from 0.52 to 0.93 for subscale. Also, the coefficients of total Cronbach’s alpha reliability and retest were 0.93, and 0.92 respectively. Moreover, results of the concurrent validity, validity of convergent and divergent and factorial structure showed that (SCARED-41) has satisfactory validity. The revised version of the SCARED-41 has satisfactory reliability and validity in the sample of Iranian students, and could be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

In verbal communication in addition of semantic and grammatical aspects, includes: vocabulary, syntax and phoneme, some special voice characteristics were use that called speech prosody. Speech prosody is one of the important factors of communication which includes: intonation, duration, pitch, loudness, stress, rhythm and etc. The aim of this survey is studying some factors of prosody as duration, fundamental frequency range and intonation contour. This study is performed with cross-sectional and descriptive-analytic approach. The participants include 134 male and female between 18-30 years old who normally speak Persian. Two sentences include: an interrogative and one declarative sentence were studied. Voice samples were analyzed by Dr. Speech software (real analysis software) and data were analyzed by statistical test of unilateral variance analysis and in depended T test, and intonation contour was drawn for sentences. Mean of duration between kinds of sentences had a significant difference. Mean of duration had significant difference between female and male. Fundamental frequency range between kinds of sentences had not significant difference. Fundamental frequency range in female is higher than male. Duration is an affective factor in Persian prosody. The higher fundamental frequency range in female is because of different anatomical and physiological mechanisms in phonation system. In addition higher fundamental frequency range in female is the result of an authority of language use in Farsi female. The end part of intonation contour in yes/no question is rising, in declarative sentence is falling.

Self-transcendence can organize the challenges of multiple sclerosis patients to achieve and maintain a constant state of well-being and sense of integrity in the disease process. As a research based on self-transcendence didn''t done in Iran, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of peer groups on promoting self-transcendence level in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study is a before and after quasi-experimental study that was conducted on 33 patients with confirmed MS participated in three peer support groups: 10 men in male group, 11 women in female group and 12 men and women in mixed group. Eight weekly sessions and each session was 2 hours were held. Data collection tool was Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) with 15 item and Cronbach''s coefficient was 0.68 that after modifying, it increased to 0.81. Patients completed self administered questionnaires pre- and post of sessions. Results showed that peer support groups promote the self-transcendence (p=0.001) with increases in mean self-transcendence scores in all 3 groups (men group: 0.008, women group 0.005 and mixed group: 0.003). Comparing scores before and after intervention demonstrated that self-transcendence increased equally in all groups. The results showed an improving in self-transcendence in peer support group participants at the end of the intervention. The results can be used in areas of nursing education and management. It is proposed that the self-transcendence assessment to be done in other chronic disease in order to evaluate its efficiency.

The metacognitive theory refers to beliefs and theories which people experience in according to their familiarities and their excitements, such beliefs can involve other kinds of treatments toward paying attention to specific types of thoughts, about other acquintive events. In this correlational descriptive study, the subjects were consisted 264 people. The samples for addicted subjects were chosen amongst those who had registered their names in addiction centers. These people were chosen by simple sample method Torbat-e-Heydariyeh in 2010-11. The witness cluster was also consisted with, socio-individualistic characteristics. To gather the outcoming data properly, the Metacognitive beliefs questionnaire (MCQ-30) and Zuckerman sensation seeking using. SPSS-16 software, descriptive statistical indices used to analyze data. There were significant differences of scores between two group in metacognitive beliefs and sensation seeking (p<0.01). The current survey is equivalent with basic hypothesies of metacognitive model and psychological status of addicts.

To prevent AIDS it is required to create essential changes in attitudes and behaviors of the society. This work was conducted to evaluate attitude and behavior of nonmedical students towards transmission and prevention ways of AIDS. This work was conducted based on stratified random sampling on 384 numbers of nonmedical students. Research instrument was a three-part questionnaire designed by the author. Findings indicated that 19.8% and 80.2% of the students have negative and positive attitudes toward AIDS, respectively. Besides, 47.4% of them had a relatively risky behavior whereas 52.6% of them had a secure behavior. Efficient programs about changing the attitude and prevention of risky behaviors seem to be necessary.

This study was done to examine the relationship of self-efficacy with dimensions of family communication patterns and locus of control. The population of this study was all Isfahan University students in the 2010-2011 academic years. Two hundred seventy nine students from various faculties of the university selected by cluster sampling method. In this descriptive study were used from the revised scale of dimensions of family communication patterns, locus of control questionnaire and general self-efficacy scale. Results showed that the dialogue orientation, locus of control and conformity orientation have a significant correlation with self-efficacy (p<0.01). In addition dialogue orientation, locus of control and conformity orientation predicted 13%, 7%, 2% of self-efficacy, respectively. Dialogue orientation in family is the most important predictor of students'' self-efficacy.

The present study aim is to predict the psychological inclination to drug use in youths by studying their attachment styles. The research sample includes male and female students of Zahedan Medical Science University with the average age of 19-24. The proportional cluster random sampling was used for selection of participant. The hypotheses were analyzed, using Pearson correlation method, regression analysis, one way variance analysis and t-test for two independent groups. The results indicated positive relationships among addiction aptitude and insecure-avoidant attachment style and negative relationship between addiction aptitude and secure attachment style. It is necessary to focus training intervention and prevention on all students.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of schema therapy on symptoms intensity reduction and anxiety in a special case with obsessive compulsive personality disorder. In this study a single case method with A-B design was used on a woman with obsessive compulsive personality disorder that was diagnosed by semi-structure interview for axis I and II of DSM-IV-TR (SCID). Martukovich -s obsessive compulsive personality disorder questionnaire and Beck -s anxiety inventory were used to collect data. Schema therapy intervention was effective in symptom reduction of obsessive compulsive personality disorder.