Iranian Journal of Practice in Clinical Psychology
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Summer 2013

Metacognitions are vulnerability factors in predicting development of psychological disorders especially Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and dysthymia, which are highly comorbid. Many studies have shown that GAD and dysthymia may have similar underlying metacognitive factors but the results are equivocal. The aim of present research was to test this hypothesis by using new instruments for measuring multiple metacognitive factors. Fifty-eight students referred to university counseling centers in Tehran who met the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV-TR for dysthymia (n=21), GAD (n=18), and comorbidity of them (n=19) were selected. The participants completed Meta Cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ), Anxious Thoughts Inventory (AnTI), Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ) and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). Results of one-way analysis of variance demonstrated no significant differences between groups on metacognitive factors. It seems that GAD and dysthymia are associated in common underlying metacognitive factors. This study confirms the results of some previous research indicating similarities between the two disorders.

The aim of the present research was to compare the auditory perception and verbal intelligibility in children with cochlear implant, hearing aids and normal hearing. 60 children aged 5-7 years were divided to three groups and each group contained 20 children. The first and second groups were selected ordinarily from children with cochlear implant and hearing aids by convenient sampling method, while that third group was selected randomly from children with normal hearing. All participants answered to Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR). The results revealed that mean scores of CAP and SIR in normal hearing children were significantly higher than the mean scores of children in other groups (P<0.0005). Also, the mean scores of CAP in children with cochlear implant were significantly more than the mean scores of children with hearing aids (P<0.002); Additionally, the mean scores of SIR in children with cochlear implant had not a significant difference in children with hearing aids (P<0.65). This study confirms that auditory perception and verbal intelligibility are multidimensional and complex phenomenon. They require unique rehabilitation program in order to achieve more development in speech skills.

The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) which originally developed by Neff (2003a) is based on the assumption that the self-compassion comprised by self-kindness/self-judgment, common humanity/perceived isolation, and mindfulness/over-identification. This research was aimed to confirm the six-factor structure of SCS. 265 university students entered the research to assess the psychometric properties of SCS. The participants were asked to complete SCS, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Ruminative Response Scale and demographic questionnaires. Using Amos-21 and SPSS-21, descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson correlation and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were calculated. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for total SCS items, self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, perceived isolation, mindfulness and over-identification subscale were 0.78, 0.79, 0.79, 0.93, 0.90, 0.88 and 0.88 respectively. Results of CFA supported the six-factor structure SCS [RMSEA=0.08 (0.078-0.092), NFI=0.86 and CFI=0.90]. The SCS showed a significant positive correlation with RSS (r=0. 261, P<0.05) and a significant negative correlation with RRS (r= -0.363, P<0.05), BDI–II (r= -0.177, P<0.05) and STAI (r= -0.361, P<0.05). The six-factor structure of SCS demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties in Tehran universities students.

Dysfunctional beliefs of tuberculosis patients have pivotal role in treatment and development of their serious psychiatric problems. Cognitive group psychotherapy has been utilized to manage the dysfunctional beliefs. In a quasi-experimental study and a pretest and posttest design, 24 male tubercular patients were selected by convenient sampling and then randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. Before and after 12 sessions of psychological intervention, they completed the Snyder Hope Scale (Snyder, 1991). The student t-test showed that cognitive group psychotherapy, can significantly decrease dysfunctional beliefs and increase hopefulness in experimental group (P<0.05). Tuberculosis patients need psychological treatment as well as medications. These interventions can raise the level of hopefulness as one of the most vital components in coping with tuberculosis.

Many behavioral problems are resulting from inappropriate parenting styles and inattention to behavioral-emotional difficulties in childhood. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between parenting styles and dimensions of children''s maladaptive behaviors. 120 six-year old boys, who were enrolled in the first grade of elementary school, were selected and completed Baumrind’s Parenting Styles Questionnaire, Adaptive Behavior Scale and Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM). The results showed that permissive parenting style is positively related to violence and disruptive, antisocial, outburst behavior, and hyperactivity tendency. Maternal and paternal educations were positively related to outburst, and untrustworthy behavior, respectively. Intelligence of children was positively related to outburst, and untrustworthy behavior. There was not any significant relationship between parenting styles with parents’ education and children’s intelligence. Based on current research results and adding up previous studies, new hypotheses for future studies were suggested.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Lazarus Multimodal Psychotherapy (MMT) on perceived stress in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Through a quasi-experimental design, forty patients in Qazvin city in Iran were selected by convenient sampling and then divided into two groups: experimental and control groups. After group assignment, Cohen’s perceived stress questionnaire and clinical interview based on DSM-IV were administered. Among 20 patients in experimental group, 16 patients completed the treatment. MMT was implemented in twelve 90- minute sessions in a period of 3 months. All subjects completed perceived stress questionnaire before (pretest) and after 3 and a 1 month follow-up periods. Results of Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) showed that MMT had a significant effect on perceived stress. Results of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) showed that MMT could significantly decrease negative perception and increase positive perception scores. The results of negative perceived stress had remained low in experimental group in follow-up period, but two groups did not differ in positive perceived stress in follow-up assessment. Lazarus Multimodal Psychotherapy may be effective in increasing positive perceived stress and can decrease negative perceived stress in patients with MS.

Since fosters adolescents are deprived of family environment and probably the friendly relationships, some of them may develop problems in achieving self-awareness and communication skills and adjusting to the environmental conditions. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the effect of self-awareness and communication skills training on increasing the level of adjustment in foster adolescents. In a quasi- experimental study, 30 adolescent girls with the age range of 12 to 17 were selected through accessible sampling from several Mashhad orphanages. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to one of the experimental and control group. Then, communication and self-awareness skills in the experimental group were implemented. In addition, Shinha and Singh adjustment inventory for senior students were performed to measure the changes of adjustment levels in both groups. Self-awareness and communication skill training increased the level of adjustment significantly (p<0.05). Life skill training affects the level of adjustment in foster adolescents. Thus, it is suggested that self-awareness and communication skills can be added to the current approaches in managing interpersonal problems of foster adolescents.

The aim of present research was to compare the quality of life in caregivers of acute and chronic schizophrenic patients. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 participants were selected through purposive sampling method among the caregivers of acute and chronic schizophrenic patients. The sample answered to WHO Quality Of Life (WHOQOL-100) and demographic questionnaires. The overall quality of life variables, physical health status, psychological status, independence, social status, environment status, religious beliefs and personal beliefs were significantly different in two groups (p=0.01). Considering the higher scores of religious beliefs in caregivers of chronic (in contrast to acute) schizophrenic patients and lack of difference in quality of life index, it seems that caregivers of acute schizophrenic patients may also benefit from religious beliefs.