Iranian Journal of War and Public Health
Volume:11 Issue: 43, 2019

Psychiatric veterans’ wives are exposed to psychological damages due to their husbands’ specific condition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive mindfulness-based-therapy on resilience and emotional control of psychiatric veteran’s wives.   The present study was a semi-experimental design with a pretest, post-test design with a control group conducted in Tehran in 2017. In order to conduct this research, a sample of 30 people from the research population (psychiatric veteran’s wives in Tehran) were selected, using available sampling method and were randomly selected in experimental and control groups. The instruments included the resilience and emotional control questionnaires. Before administering the independent variable the pretest was taken from both groups. Then, the experimental group received teaching intervention during 8 sessions in 2-and-a-half month period. Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene's test, and univariate covariance analysis as well as SPSS 23 were used to analyze the data. Cognitive mindfulness-based-therapy significantly affected resilience and emotional control of psychiatric veteran’s wives (p<0.05) in such a way that this treatment could significantly improve the resilience and emotional control in psychiatric veteran’s wives. Cognitive mindfulness-based-therapy can improve resilience and emotional control of psychiatric veterans’ wives, and regarding this effect, this treatment can be used to improve their resilience and emotional control.

In Iran, a significant group of warriors and veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Efforts have been made to evaluate a variety of psychological treatments. This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of stress management training on reducing perceived stress in veterans with PTSD. In this semi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design with control group conducted in 2017-18, 22 veterans with PTSD, who were hospitalized in Issar Psychiatric Hospital of Ardabil, were selected by available sampling method and they were randomly assigned into experimental group (11 veterans) and control group (11 veterans). The data collection tools were Perceived Stress Scale and Mississippi PTSD Scale. Patients in the experimental group received stress management training for 10 sessions. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software, using one-variable ANOVA, covariance analysis and multivariate variance. There was a significant difference between perceived stress scores and PTSD symptoms in post-test stage, and stress management training reduced perceived stress and PTSD symptoms in veterans with PTSD in the experimental group (p=0.001). Stress management training is effective in reducing perceived stress and PTSD symptoms in veterans with PTSD

The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment Therapy on the competitive-state anxiety of warfare victims who are football athletes in Yazd province. This study was a semi experimental research with two-group and post-pretest and follow up. The population consisted of all warfare victims who are athletes in Yazd province in 2013-2012. By available sampling method, 30 of these athletes were selected and randomly assigned to control and study group (Each group is 15 people). In study group, participants received 8 sessions 120 minutes admission and commitment training and control group received no intervention. Data collection was performed by the Competitive State Anxiety Questionnaire Martens & et al (1990). Data was analyzed by multiple analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The findings of ANCOVA analysis showed a significant difference between post-test scores of study and the control groups after the study. In other words, acceptance and commitment therapy resulted in a significant increase (P <0.01) in self-esteem scores and a significant decrease (p <0.01) in physical and cognitive anxiety scores in athletes.This incensement is persistent until follow-up. Considering the role of levels of anxiety in cognitive and physical functions of athletes, acceptance and commitment therapy can be used to improve self-esteem and reduce physical and cognitive anxiety of warfare victim athletes.

Amputation is the most disturbing and damaging thing a person may experience in his or her life. The aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on anxious thoughts of wives of veterans with amputation. In this experimental study with pre-test post-test design with control group, 28 wives of veterans with amputation referring to veterans counseling center of Ahvaz were randomly chosen by available sampling method and they were assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of intervention based on MBSR. The instrument was the Wells’s Anxious Thoughts Inventory scale, which was filled out by participants in pre-test and post-test stages. Data analysis was performed, using SPSS 20 software by multivariate covariance analysis and Bonferroni post hoc test. By controlling the effects of pre-test, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the dimensions of the anxious thoughts in the experimental and control groups in the post-test (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean scores of health worry (p<0.05) and meta-worry (p<0.0001) in the experimental and control groups, but there was no significant difference between the mean score of social worry in the experimental and control groups (p>0.05). Reducing MBSR decreases the anxious thoughts of wives of veterans with amputation.

Different studies have shown different effects of exercise on low back pain. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of selective home-based exercises on chronic low back pain in unilateral below knee amputees. In this randomized controlled clinical trial with pretest-posttest design conducted in 2016, 53 unilateral below knee amputees with chronic low back pain referred to Kowsar orthotic and prosthetic center to assess their health status were selected by random sampling method. They were randomly assigned to intervention group (n=29) and control group (n=24). An interventional exercise program for myofascial release, stretching, activation, and integration (5 days a week) was performed for the intervention group, but the intervention group did not receive any intervention. A numeric rating scale and an Oswestry Disability Index, abdominal endurance test, Modified Biering-Sørensen Test, and electromyography (EMG) signals were used to measure the effect of exercise on low back pain. The data were analyzed by SPSS software 20, using paired- samples and independent t-test. At the end of the training program in the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in pain score and disability index and a significant increase in extensor muscle endurance and  flexor muscle endurance (p<0.05). The electrical activity of lumbar multifidus and elector spinae muscles activity improved in the intervention group in comparison with control group (p<0.05). A comprehensive program with parts of myofacial release, stretching, activation, and integration affects the low back pain in lower limb amputees.

After the end of the war and the return of the warriors to the family, due to the stresses of the war and its devastating effect on the people's spirits, the adverse effects of war on the family, especially their wives, continue. The aim of this study was the prediction of emotional empathy by cognitive emotion regulation strategies and resilience in the wives of veterans. In this descriptive-correlational study, 306 veterans’ spouses, who were referred to counseling center of the foundation of martyrs and veterans affairs in Robat Karim in 2016, were selected by simple random sampling method. The research instrument included Lodis's emotional empathy questionnaire, Garnefski’s cognitive emotion regulation, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The data were analyzed by SPSS 21, using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression test. There was a positive and significant correlation between positive cognitive emotion regulation (r=0.73) and resiliency (r=0.99) with emotional empathy (p=0.001), but there was no significant correlation between negative cognitive emotion regulation and emotional empathy (p=0.418). Among predictor variables, only resilience and positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies were able to positively and significantly predict emotional empathy in veterans’ spouses (p<0.05). positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and resilience can positively predict emotional empathy in veterans’ spouses

After the end of the war and the return of the warriors to the family, due to the stresses of the war and its devastating effect on the spirit and soul of the veterans, the adverse effects of war on the family, especially the spous, continue.The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of psychological security in the relationship between optimism and self-compassion with psychological well-being in veterans' spouses. In this descriptive-correlational study with the path analysis model, 226 veterans’ spouses supported by the foundation of martyrs and veterans affairs of Mashhad were selected by available sampling method in the winter of 2016. The instruments of the study included Reef’s Psychological Well-being Scales, Reis et al.’s Self-Compassion Scales, Scheier and Carver’s Optimism Scale, and Maslow's psychological security questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Amos 20 and SPSS 22 software, using Pearson correlation coefficient, path analysis method, and structural equation modeling. There was a positive and significant correlation between psychological security with optimism and self-compassion, also, there was a positive and significant correlation optimism, self- compassion, and psychological security with psychological well-being (p<0.05). The direct effect of optimism and self- compassion on psychological well-being was not significant (p>0.05), but psychological security had a mediating role in the relationship between optimism and self- compassion with psychological well-being. Indices related to the fitting of the path model indicated a fairly favorable fit of the model (p<0.05). The relationship between optimism and self-compassion with psychological well-being is not a simple linear relationship and psychological security can mediate this relationship.

Aging is an inevitable part of human life, which is associated with reduced ability, increased dependence, and susceptibility to a variety of diseases. Those who experience this period with previous long-term injuries are exposed to more difficulties. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and the ability to perform daily activities in elderly and middle-aged monocular veterans. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 among 1271 monocular veterans in 19 provinces of the country, who were selected by available sampling. The participants were divided into two groups: middle-aged (between 40 and 59 years) and elderly (60 years and older). The research tools were quality of life, activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The data were analyzed by SPSS 23 software, using independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test. The mean age of the middle-aged and elderly veterans was 46.3±4.1 and 68.7±7.9 years, respectively. In quality of life, there was a significant difference in physical dimension (p=0.010) and 3 areas including physical functioning (p<0.001), limitation in physical role (p=0.003), and vitality (p=0.002) between two groups. In ADL, in both groups, the least independence was related to transfer and mobility on uneven surfaces. Except for the bowel control, there was a significant difference between two groups on all activities (p<0.001). In IADL, the highest dependency was on laundry and except for housekeeping, there was a significant difference between the two groups in all areas (p<0.05). The levels of quality of life, the ability to perform daily activities, and instrumental daily activities are lower in elderly monocular veterans compared to the middle-aged group.