anxiety

Anemia in pregnancy is associated with psychiatric symptoms and poor psychiatric symptoms, this study investigates the 6-month trends of anxiety and birth outcomes. Considering the controversies surrounding the impact of anemia on psychiatric symptoms, this study investigates the 6-month trends of anxiety and depression in anemic pregnant women with threatened abortion (TA).

A case-control retrospective cohort study conducted among 282 participants who enrolled in a registry of pregnant women with TA in Babol city from December 2022 to October 2023. Fifty individuals with anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) who were matched with 50 without anemia based on age, pregnancies, education, and gestational age, were included. The BSI-18 (Brief Symptom Inventory) was used to assess depression, anxiety, and psychological distress at the beginning, three and six-month follow-ups.

The prevalence of anemia among women diagnosed with TA was found to be 17.7%. At the beginning, compared to normal individuals, anemic women had higher rates of depression (32% vs. 14%), anxiety (34% vs. 22%), and psychological distress (66% vs. 48%). Moreover, at 3- and 6-month follow-ups, the frequency of psychiatric symptoms in anemic women was significantly higher. The Generalized Estimating Equations model showed that although both groups had a decreasing trend of frequency anemic women experience a slower rate of decrease in psychiatric symptoms compared to non-anemic women.

Anemia in women with TA is associated with high rates of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, as well as a slow recovery rate.

Currently, a significant number of women are becoming pregnant after the age of 35. Since advanced maternal age is recognized as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes and fetal complications, there is a heightened potential for increased anxiety and worry among those who become pregnant at older age. Prenatal counseling can play an important role in reducing anxiety and psychological distress, while also promoting the physical and mental well-being of expectant mothers.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of positive counseling on anxiety concerning giving birth to an infant with anomalies in pregnant women over 35 years of age.

This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 46 pregnant mothers over 35. Participants were conveniently recruited and then randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group using block randomization. The study instrument was the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ; Vanden Berg, 1989). The experimental group received positive counseling in eight 70-90-minute virtual sessions. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and covariance (ANCOVA) analysis in SPSS version 22.

The mean scores of anxieties concerning giving birth to an infant with anomalies before the intervention were 16.30 (6.47) in the experimental group and 12.13 (6.31) in the control group. An independent samples t-test revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean pretest scores of the two groups (p = 0.032). After the intervention, the mean scores of anxieties concerning giving birth to an infant with anomalies were 8.56 (4.65) in the experimental group and 13.34 (6.47) in the control group. An ANCOVA demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the mean post-test scores of the two groups (p < 0.001).

Positive counseling reduces anxiety concerning giving birth to an infant with anomalies in pregnant women over 35 years of age.

The concept of sense of coherence (SOC) plays a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being of the elderly.  The present study was conducted to investigate the mediating role of anxiety and loneliness in the relationship between SOC and mental health in the elderly.  This descriptive-correlational study was conducted based on a cross-sectional research methodology. The target population for this study consisted of all elderly individuals in Shiraz from July to October 2023, comprising 980 individuals. The selection of clinics was based on available methods, and a simple random sampling technique was used for data collection. The research utilized various tools, including the Beck Anxiety Scale, Riff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire, Russell Loneliness Questionnaire, and Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Questionnaire. To test the research hypotheses, the structural equation modeling method was employed using SPSS version 27 and Smart PLS 3 software. The Sobel test was conducted to assess the significance of mediating variables.  The findings indicated that SOC had a significant direct impact on mental health (β=0.415, P<0.01). Anxiety was found to have a direct negative impact on mental health (β=-0.207, P<0.01). Loneliness was also discovered to have a direct negative impact on mental health (β=-0.365, P<0.01). Furthermore, the mediating variables in the study were deemed significant according to the Sobel test.  The research findings indicated a clear and significant correlation between SOC and mental health in the elderly. This suggests that enhancing SOC in older individuals can also improve and bolster their mental well-being. The study revealed that anxiety and loneliness could have an adverse impact on the relationship between SOC and mental health in elderly individuals. It was found that seniors experiencing anxiety and loneliness were more likely to develop mental health issues. In light of these results, it is recommended to focus more on enhancing SOC in the elderly.

Infertility often emerges as an unexpected crisis for couples, bringing about significant emotional distress and challenges. This experience can affect the mental health and quality of life of individuals, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression.  Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and Existential Therapy (ET) on self-compassion and existential anxiety in infertile women in Yazd city in 2023.

In a quasi-experimental research design of the pretest, posttest, and follow-up type with two experimental groups and one control group, 60 infertile women from the target population were selected using the purposive sampling method and randomly assigned to the ISTDP, ET, and control groups. For the experimental groups, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and Existential Therapy programs were implemented in 8 sessions of 45 minutes, but the control group did not receive any intervention. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)-Short Form (2011) and the Existential Anxiety Scale (1974) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted with SPSS software version 27.0.

The results showed a significant difference between the ISTDP and ET groups compared to the control group (P<0.001). The effectiveness of ISTDP and ET on improving self-compassion (F=44.40, P<0.001, η2= 0.43) and reducing existential anxiety (F=46.38, P<0.001, η2= 0.45) in infertile women was significant, and the effects of the treatments remained stable at the follow-up stage. No significant difference was observed between the two ISTDP and ET treatments.

The findings of this study demonstrate that both Intensive ISTDP and ET are effective in significantly enhancing self-compassion and reducing existential anxiety among infertile women compared to a control group. These positive effects were maintained at the follow-up assessment, suggesting the enduring benefits of both therapeutic approaches.

The Internet has become an integral part of human life. One field that is dramatically expanding is internet gaming, which can be harmful to those who overplay. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between internet gaming disorder, stress, and obsessive-compulsive disorder among high school students in Tehran.

This study used a descriptive survey-based data collection method. The research population consisted of all students who studied in Tehran during the research. The sample included 122 students who were selected by the convenient sampling method. The research instruments were the Internet Gaming Disorder Test-10 (IGDT-10), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Obsessive Belief Questionnaire-Child Version (OBQ-CV). Descriptive statistics, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze data..

The results showed a significant correlation between IGD and perceived stress, with a correlation coefficient of 0.645 (P<0.01). In contrast, there was a negative association between IGD and obsessional beliefs, but the correlation was not significant with a correlation coefficient of 0.014 and a significance level of 0.88 (P<0.01). Furthermore, the impact of the predictor variables on the dependent variable is statistically accepted. Based on the R2 coefficient of 0.457, this model can explain more than 47% of the variance in IGD. Additionally, perceived stress has a Beta coefficient of 0.663, which confirms the hypothesis that perceived stress predicts IGD positively (P<0.01). In contrast, obsessional beliefs have a Beta coefficient of 0.123, which means they cannot significantly predict IGD.

It seems IGD is significantly related to perceived stress, and those with higher stress are more prone to IGD symptoms. Meanwhile, there is no correlation with obsessional beliefs. IGD appears to be more characterized by impulsivity than compulsivity. If the hallmark of behavioral addictions is the initial impulsivity followed by compulsivity, IGD may be more akin to an impulse-control disorder than a behavioral addiction.

Diagnosing children's cancer can cause significant disruptions in the child and family life, putting parents and children at risk for psychosocial problems, including reduced quality of life through increased anxiety, stress, and depression, which necessitates solutions like emotion-focused therapy (EFT) to reduce complications. This research investigated the effectiveness of EFT in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression in couples with children with cancer.

The research used a semi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest design, control and experimental groups, and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population of the study included 40 couples with a child with cancer in Ferdous City. The collected data were analyzed utilizing inferential statistics and a step-by-step regression analysis under the normality assumption. Data were analyzed using statistical techniques (descriptive, inferential) and SPSS22. The research hypotheses were investigated utilizing ANCOVA and MANCOVA.

With the pretest control of the test significance levels, there was a significant difference between the couples with a child with cancer in the experimental and control groups concerning anxiety, stress, and depression reduction (P<0.001, F-5.299). The respective differences of 19.78, 20.50, and 44.67 for anxiety, stress, and 44.67 for depression highlight the significant effect of EFT on anxiety, stress, and depression of the experimental group at a 95% confidence level and p<0.05.

EFT affects and reduces the anxiety, stress, and depression of couples with children with cancer. The emotion-based developed package created a safe space to resolve past wounds and increase awareness, expression, and acceptance of repressed emotions, leading to a new meaning for life and adjusting the disease through a different perspective toward emotions caused by mental turmoil and anxiety.

Rapid technological advances have led to increased use of cyberspace among medical students. Despite the benefits, there are concerns about the unwanted effects of excessive use of cyberspace on mental health. Depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental health disorders worldwide, have been of particular interest in this context. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of depression and anxiety among medical students and explore its association with Cyberspace use.

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 355 medical students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences using stratified random sampling. Data was collected through the following instruments: Demographic Information Questionnaire, Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data analysis was conducted utilizing SPSS software version 26. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests (Spearman’s correlation coefficient) were employed.

The results revealed that 27.3% of participants exhibited severe depression, 13% displayed severe anxiety, and 10.7% manifested symptoms of internet addiction. There was a positive association among depression, anxiety, and internet addiction (P<0.0001). Additionally, an inverse notable disparity between internet addiction and educational level was discovered (P<0.05). Also, a significant correlation was shown between depression, anxiety, internet addiction, and marital status (P<0.05).

The study indicated a notable correlation between cyberspace usage and the prevalence of depression and anxiety in medical students. Additional research is necessary to develop productive interventions that target the potential negative impacts of cyberspace usage on the mental well-being of medical students, consequently advancing the community healthcare system.

The study's goal was to find out how well acceptance and commitment-based treatment worked for women going through divorce who were afraid of being negatively evaluated and experiencing anxiety.

Women considering divorce who sought help from family counseling facilities in Kerman City during the first three months of 2013 were the subjects of this semi-experimental pre-test-post-test study, which included a control group. The samples were split into two groups of 15 individuals at random. In an experiment, eight 60-minute mindfulness training sessions were given to one group. For the control group, no particular treatment approach was offered. A post-test was administered to both groups following the conclusion of the treatment period. The Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire (BFNES) and Wells Anxiety were among the instruments utilized. For analysis, multivariate analysis of variance and covariance were employed.

According to the findings, women going through a divorce who received treatment based on acceptance and commitment experienced less anxiety and fear of negative evaluation; the linear combination of anxiety and fear of negative evaluation was affected by this treatment by 0.903. Anxiety was reduced by 0.807%, and fear of a negative evaluation was reduced by 0.685% with acceptance and commitment-based therapy.

Psychologists should use the acceptance and commitment-based therapy approach along with other treatment approaches to help women going through divorce feel less anxious and afraid of being negatively evaluated. Research indicates that this approach may be extremely effective.

Few studies have compared the concentration of trace elements and antioxidants in the serum of depressed and non-depressed as well as children on dialysis with and without anxiety.

 A prospective cross-sectional research was conducted. Forty children undergoing dialysis were assessed to define the correlation between mean serum levels of Selenium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin E and their deficient levels with mood disorders. The Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) scorings were applied. According to Scorings, patients were divided into no depression and depression and no anxiety and anxiety disorders groups.

Eighteen hemodialysis and 22 peritoneal dialysis patients were enrolled. The median of age was 11 years. Twenty-two patients (55%) were males. Selenium, copper, and vitamin C deficiencies were found in 32.5%, 15%, and 2.5% of patients, respectively. Anxiety and depression disorders were diagnosed in 82.5% and 67.5% of patients, respectively. No relationship between gender, modality of dialysis, duration from onset of dialysis, serum levels of hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, manganese, and vitamin C with anxiety and depression disorders (p > 0.05 for all). The severity of depression was higher in hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis patients (P < 0.001). The Serum level of Vitamin E significantly was higher in depressed in comparison with non-depressed cases (P=0.02).

There was no relationship between trace elements and vitamin C serum level and depression or anxiety disorders. An unreported finding was significantly higher level of vitamin E in depressed patients in comparison to those without it.

Fear of falling (FOF) is a critical and highly prevalent neuropsychological disorder in stroke patients, confining the individual in mobility, activities of daily living, and communication. Screening and detecting FOF is crucial in effective and efficient rehabilitation management. Considering that none of the questionnaires that assess the FOF in patients with stroke are single-item, the present study was conducted to design and validate a single-item scale (FOF rating scale [FOF-RS]) for a faster and step-by-step screening of the FOF in stroke patients. Also, considering the impact of psychosocial factors such as anxiety and depression on the fear of falling in these patients, they were controlled in this study.

In a cross-sectional study, 180 participants suffering post-stroke symptoms were recruited from public and private rehabilitation clinics, including Rafideh Hospital, Loqman Hospital, Tajrish SHohada Hospital, Nizam Mafi Clinic, Hasti Clinic, and Iran Rehabilitation Faculty Clinic through convenience sampling in Tehran City, Iran. Sampling was conducted within 3 months, between December 2021 and March 2022. The cut-off point and validity indicators were computed for FOF-RS, considering FES-I (falls efficacy scale-international) as a criterion measure.

Based on receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, the resulting cut-off point for the FOF-RS (>3) had a satisfactory level of specificity (82.30) and sensitivity (77.61). Also, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 32.8 and 97.1, respectively. 

The FOF-RS has an adequate level of diagnostic accuracy and may well be used as a fast tool for screening FOF. Besides, it could assess step-by-step protocols in chronic stroke patients.

The demand for orthodontic treatment to correct malocclusion has increased worldwide. A main cause of applying for orthodontics treatment may arise from mental disorders, such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between BDD, the real need for orthodontic treatment based on the ICON index, and inquiry about orthodontics treatment in women. 

In a case-control study, 414 women from the public outpatient dental clinic of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, completed a demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for BDD (BDD-YBOCS). A specialist also determined the ICON index for each participant. 

Among 414 subjects, 52 patients (31 in the orthodontics and 21 in the control group) (p=0.182) had a BDD-YBOCS score of 20 or above. The frequency of BDD, based on a definite diagnosis by an interview with a psychiatric specialist, was 6.28% among the orthodontic patients, which was significantly more than that of other dental patients (p<0.05). The mean ICON index score was found to have a significant difference between the orthodontic patients and the controls (p<0.001). No correlation was found between the severity of ICON and BDD-YBOCS scores in all the participants (p=0.804), in the cases (p=0.655), or the controls (p=0.403). 

The current study found no correlation between ICON and BDD score. However, a significantly higher rate of BDD subjects receiving orthodontic procedures suggests using the BDD-YBOCS survey in dental clinics to screen patients suspected of having BDD for further psychological management.

Nail-biting can result in both physical and psychological consequences including emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. The study aimed to forecast the extent of concern regarding body image and anxiety in children by examining the family dynamics and communication styles of parents whose students have nail-biting habits in elementary schools in Tehran.

The present study utilized descriptive and causalcorrelational methodologies through regression analysis. The research participants are girls in the sixth grade who are enrolled in a primary school in the 6th district of Tehran in 2022, as well as their parents. 160 individuals were chosen through a combination of convenience and purposive sampling methods. The sample consisted of around 80 students and 80 parents. Data collection involved four standardized questionnaires related to The Body Image Concern Inventory, The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Version (SCAS-P), The Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ), and The McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD). After collecting data, the study utilized descriptive statistics (age, gender, education level) and regression analysis. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS 23 software.

The findings showed a significant connection between family dynamics and body image concerns (P-value<0.01). The correlation coefficient of r=-0.736 indicates a strong negative relationship between students' body image concerns and family dynamics. Likewise, the study revealed a notable link between parents' communication styles and body image concerns (r=0.860). A greater emphasis on communication by parents is associated with a reduction in students' body image concerns, demonstrating a strong negative relationship between these factors (P-value<0.01).

It is suggested that primary schools improve communication with parents of students who are dealing with anxiety, body image issues, and nail-biting habits to effectively help them overcome these challenges.

Vitamins play an important role in improving mental health. Healthy diets can significantly influence the development, progression, and treatment of mental health disorders.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between dietary intake and anthropometric profiles with anxiety in female students of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.

This cross-sectional study evaluated 200 female medical students for daily intake of B vitamins, omega-3, anthropometric indices, and their correlation with anxiety. The Food Frequency Questionnaire and Bronze Anxiety Questionnaire were used to examine the relationship between dietary intake and anxiety. The associations between parameters were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation.

The findings revealed that the mean age of the female medical students was 22.60 ± 2.10 years, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23.37 ± 4.01, a waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR) of 0.81 ± 0.11, a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) of 10.55 ± 0.10, and an anxiety score of 44.83 ± 17.71. Positive correlations were observed between BMI (r = 0.89, P = 0.0001), WHpR (r = 0.86, P = 0.0001), and WHtR (r = 0.898, P = 0.0001) with anxiety. The mean anxiety scores were 23.84 ± 4.36, 38.59 ± 4.62, 61.44 ± 13.63, and 74.44 ± 5.96 in underweight, normal, overweight, and obese participants, respectively. A negative correlation was identified between the consumption of vitamins and omega-3 and anxiety scores (r = -0.63, P < 0.001).

This study suggests that a higher intake of dietary B vitamins and omega-3 is associated with lower anxiety scores in Zahedan medical students.

Nurses are exposed to higher stress, anxiety, and depression due to the nature of their work. Considering the differences between specialized and general hospital units, this article focuses on comparing the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among nurses in these two types of units.

This descriptive‑analytical study was conducted in 2023 on 135 nurses in specialized units and 219 nurses in general units selected through stratified random sampling out of 1681 nurses. For this study, 6 public hospitals in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran were selected. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales‑21 (DASS‑21) and analyzed using SPSS software. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for this study.

This study reported that stress, anxiety, and depression affected 72.04%, 46.33%, and 53.68% of nurses, respectively, with mild to extremely-severe intensity levels. No significant differences were observed in stress, anxiety, and depression between specialized and general units (p > 0.05). Among specialized units (ICU, CCU, and dialysis ward), dialysis unit nurses had significantly lower depression scores (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant correlation existed between demographic variables and DASS‑21 constructs (p > 0.05).

The similarities among nurses in specialized and general units outweigh the observed differences. Given the high prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among nurses and the negative correlation with job satisfaction, managers should improve job satisfaction to support nurses’ mental health.

Despite the prevalence of unintended pregnancies, little is known about the connections between psychosocial and sociodemographic characteristics. This study explored the predictors of fetal attachment, worry, anxiety, and stress in unintended pregnancies.

This descriptive, cross‑sectional study was conducted on 229 father and mother pairs from two primary healthcare centers in Fars province in southern Iran. Data were collected in a face‑to‑face survey using the Parents Fetal Attachment Scale, Spielberger State‑Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Parental Worry Scale. The participants were selected using the two‑stage random cluster sampling method from November 2022 to February 2023. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using binary logistic and multiple linear regression tests.

According to the findings, education level and previous parenting experience were found to have a statistically significant effect on the attachment levels of mothers (F4,224 = 5.14; p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the perceived stress of mothers and fathers (p > 0.05). Previous parenting experience significantly affected mothers’ anxiety (odd ratio: 3.20; p < 0.05). The age variable had a significant relationship with the mothers’ perceived stress (p < 0.05).

According to the results, unwanted pregnancy had a significant relationship with fetal attachment, anxiety, stress, and worry. It is recommended that to enhance the mental health of couples who have experienced unintended pregnancy, a platform should be provided for the development of their psychosocial environment.