International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume:2 Issue: 4, 2008

The purpose of current study is to determine the effectiveness of individual and group cognitive-behavioral techniques in decreasing psychological symptoms in Prisoners. A total of 48 prisoners selected randomly and were allocated into three groups with equal size. 16 participants receiving individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy along with teaching cognitive-behavioral techniques and other 16 participants receiving only individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. The last 16 participants were waited (Control group). Using GHQ and SCL-90 tests, as well as a diagnostic interview conducted by a psychiatrist based on DSM-IV-TR criteria before and after interventions, participant's psychological status were measured. Data collated was analyzed using multiple analysis of variance procedure. After applying cognitive-behavioral interventions, scores of prisoners in both experimental groups in indexes of GHQ and SCL-90 decreased (p<0.001). Although both individual and combined therapy approaches were effective, the latter had more impact in diminishing psychological symptoms of prisoners. Follow up studies after 8.5 months indicated the maintenance of treatment effect with no recidivism of the treatment groups.

The present research aims to study the effectiveness of the method of assertiveness training and stress inoculation training on homesickness of girl university students with regard to their personality traits and attachment style. In this research a total of 249 girl freshmen studying at Teacher Training Centers, aged between 17 and 35, were surveyed by a questionnaire on homesickness, attachment style, and personality traits. Based on the grades on homesickness questionnaire, 90 students with grades above the average (1 standard deviation unit higher) and 30 students with grades under the average (1 standard deviation unit lower) were selected. Then the sample group (those with 1 standard deviation unit higher) was randomly divided in 3 groups to undergo the training methods in 2 test groups in 12 sessions. Following the training, the homesickness feeling of the 3 groups was evaluated. The outcomes of the T-test show that the training methods used for reducing students’ homesickness have been effective. Homesickness was measured by the characteristics of high neurosism and low extroversion. Between attachment style and homesickness no meaningful difference was observed. The programs of assertiveness training and stress inoculation training are effective on alleviating homesickness and tenses resulted from the incidence of movement

The present study investigated the mediating role of coping styles examining the relationship between academic stress and subjective well-being. On a sample of 415 subjects (165 male and 250 female), the student life stress inventory (SLSI), the coping inventory for stressful situations (CISS) and subjective well-being scales (SWS) were applied. Using the hierarchical regression analysis, the mediating role of coping styles in the relationship between academic stress and subjective well-being were tested. Results Among coping styles, only task-oriented coping statistically decreased the negative relationship between academic stress and positive affect and only emotion-oriented coping statistically increased the negative relationship between academic stress and negative effect. Task-oriented and emotion-oriented coping, statistically decreased the negative relationship between academic stress and life satisfaction. Paying attention to the mediating role of coping styles in examining the relationship between academic stress and subjective well-being is necessary.

One of the greatest sources of stress in modern life is labor stress. Family as the basic and fundamental unit of society is not immune of negative effects of labor stress. Pilots have a lot of labor stress. So, this study compares the psychological health level of military pilot's and normal people families. This is a descriptive study. Sample society was 30 military pilot's families (30 wives, 47 daughters, 39 sons; total of 116) and 30 wives of normal people. The study performed with SCL-9-R and demographic questionnaire. Achieved data analyzed by T-test. Comparing psychological health level of wives showed that differences in physical complaints, obsession-compulsion, sensitivity in relations, depression, agitation, aggressiveness, phobia and psychotics between two groups are statistically meaningful (p<0.01 or p<0.05). Comparing psychological health level of military pilot's wives and progenies also showed meaningful differences (p<0.01 or p<0.05) in physical complaints, obsession-compulsion, depression, agitation, phobia and psychotics. Existence of meaningful differences in psychological health level of pilot's and normal people's wives showed the effect of labor stress in pilot's families. By this result, all responsible people should notice more about negative effects of labor stresses in pilot's families.

New psychological and neuropsychological studies have shown that the symptom and sign orientation approach is more useful in understanding the nature of schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between spatial-temporal integration and positive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Fifty patients with schizophrenia were examined with a spatial-temporal integration task. There were negative correlation between spatial-temporal integration ability and positive-negative symptoms. By decreasing spatial-temporal integration ability the positive-negative symptoms increases in patients with schizophrenia.

Friday praying Ceremony is of great importance in Islamic culture and research in this field is absolutely essential. The following research intends to investigate the related factors of participating personnel on Friday pray. This study was a survey research in which data was collected using researcher-made questionnaire which was including demographic data, participating in Friday praying ceremony, and personal, familial and social factors which are in relationship with participating in Friday praying ceremony. Target population of this study were selected from part of military personnel, 1205 personnel were selected randomly using multistage cluster sampling. The two most effective factors in participating were attitude toward ceremony and also religious beliefs. Also, demographic factors such as sex, war records and type of membership are related to participating on Friday pray. There are different methods for increasing participation in Friday praying ceremony, such as training religious beliefs, improving attitudes toward Friday praying ceremony, facilities for participating families in Friday praying ceremony, organizing groups like, group of colleges, neighbors, etc. for participating and also free transportation facilities.

In the present study, the aim is to explore the nature of quality of life according to age, sex, school performance, severity and complications of the disease in thalassemia major (TM) patients. A Cross-section descriptive study was conducted. In this study, quality of life evaluated by four questionnaires; demographic characteristics, the short form 36 health survey (SF-36), Persian version of symptoms checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R), life satisfaction index (LSI). 687 (41.08%) of all eligible patients with TM completed the questionnaires. In order to SF-36 questionnaire, 329 participants (47.9%) had excellent level for physical functioning. In order to SCL-90-R questionnaire, 446 participants (64.9%) had global severity index of more than 0.7 taken as psychiatric patients, 141 participants (20.5%) had GSI between 0.4 to 0.7 taken as suspected psychiatric patients and 100 participants (14.6%) had GSI of less than 0.4 taken as non-psychiatric patients. The mean scores of LSI questionnaire was 20.50±5.95 with a range of 2 to 37. Beta-thalassemia major patients are at risk for psychiatric symptomatology and need appropriated psychiatric consults

Although daily development of technology has made life easier and more comfortable for families and despite of its large advantages it can be a threatening factor for young people. According to the unique characteristics of internet which can make possible the overtime usage and consequently addiction to it this qualitative research has done to truly and deeply characterize the experiments of young people in living with internet. In this research the Benner's Interpretative Phenomenology method has been used. The main method of gathering information was semi organized interviews with 12 young Iranians addicted to internet which have been chosen by purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed by Benner's theme method. Generally 4 main themes and 8 subthemes deduced from the results of this study. Main themes are: 1- Internet world as figurative ideal for young people; 2- Internet and changing of life style; 3- Internet as a wall for loneliness; 4- Internet and changing of physical-mental statue. Internet with its interesting and figurative conditions, especially for young people can disrupt all dimensions of their life and also pull the constructive relations of these ages to the depth of seclusion and loneliness which is the consequence of extreme usage of internet. This result emphasizes on the necessity of noticing of all people in this area to correct usage of this technology.

The present study aimed to explain the effects of early childhood experiences of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder by comparing attachment styles and defensive mechanisms in these patients with normal individuals. A causal comparative research design was used. The statistical universe of the present study comprised all women suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder residing in Yazd who sought treatment at Bahman Hospital during the first three months of 1385. The study sample included all those women approached the hospital on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays and diagnosed having obsessive-compulsive disorder by psychiatrist. The comparison group composed of 80 women from the normal population, who were possibly matched on age and educational status with the clinical group. To assess attachment styles and defensive mechanisms, the standardized Persian version of the adult attachment interview (AAI) and defensive mechanisms questionnaire were used, by order. Data were analyzed using descriptive indices and means were compared using T-test for independent groups. Avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles were statistically greater among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder than normal controls. Normals tended to employ more mature defensive mechanisms than their obsessed counterparts. First, parental overprotection and unresponsiveness are associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Second, treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder is accompanied by a significant increase in the use of mature defensive mechanisms.

The aim of this research was investigation of attention and perception disorders in schizophrenic people and comparison with normal ones. Method of the research is experimental. 30 schizophrenic subjects were randomly selected from three psychiatric hospitals of Tehran City and compared with 30 normal subjects. Chronoscope apparatus was used to assess reaction time to light and sound stimuli. The apparatus assesses the light and sound stimuli in 0/001 seconds. Independent T-test was used to analyze and compare means of experiment group (schizophrenic subjects) with control group (normal subjects). There were statistically meaningful differences between two group's means. Normal subjects were much more rapid in reaction and responding to light and sound stimuli than schizophrenic subjects. Schizophrenic subjects cant response rapid to light and sound stimuli, because of their affective and emotional disorders and depressed temperament which caused disorder in abilities and functions.