Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology
Volume:10 Issue: 2, May 2023

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and hope therapy based on a positive psychology approach in psychological well-being and improvement of mental health among medical staff during the Covid1-19 pandemic.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted based on a pre-test post-test control group design. In this research, the statistical population included all the medical staff (nurses and doctors) of Valiasr (A.S.) and Samen Ala'mh hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic, and 90 subjects were selected from each hospital via available sampling. They were assigned randomly to four groups, two experimental groups and two control groups (n=30 in each group). The first experimental group (ACT) received 8 sessions (one session per week for 120 min), and the second experimental group received 10 sessions of hope therapy based on positive psychology based on Seligman's treatment protocol, 2011) (one session every week for 90 min).  The tools used in this research were psychological well-being and general health questionnaires. The information obtained in the pre-test and post-test phases were analyzed in SPSS software (version 25) using covariance analysis

 The results pointed out that the therapy of acceptance and commitment and hope therapy based on a positive psychology approach was effective in psychological well-being and improvement of mental health of the medical staff in Valiasr (a.s.) and Saman Al-Aimeh (a.s.) hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic (P<0.01).

As evidenced by the results of this study, the mental health and psychological well-being of the medical staff can be improved by new psychological solutions. These treatments are effective to a large extent in improving employees' individual and social performance.

 Adolescence is a very sensitive period in terms of mental injuries. The assessment of important variables during this period plays a significant role in the prevention of mental injuries in adulthood. The present study aimed to predict self-criticism and cyber-bullying victimization based on mindfulness in adolescents.

 This research was conducted based on a descriptive and correlational design. The statistical population of the study included adolescents aged 14-18 years old in the senior secondary school of Zanjan in the fall of 2022. The sample consisted of 380 youths who were selected from girls' and boys' senior secondary schools using the available sampling method. The research tools were Mindfulness Scale, the Self-criticism questionnaire, and Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences Questionnaire. Finally, the data were analyzed in Spss software (version 26) using a correlation matrix and linear regression.

 The results of the data analysis indicated that the researcher's hypothesis was confirmed at the 0.95 confidence level. Mindfulness inversely predicted self-criticism (β= -0.365, P=0.000), and mindfulness inversely predicted cyber-bullying victimization (β = -0.261, P=0.000).

 As evidenced by the obtained results, mindfulness was reversely correlated with reduced self-criticism and bullying of cyber victims in adolescents.

Chronic alcohol use adversely impacts the gut, including increased intestinal permeability and alteration in gut microbiota. Recent research has pointed to the association between alteration in gut microbiota and the induction of alcohol cravings. The term “psychobiotics” has been coined for microorganisms that, when ingested in sufficient amounts, may have beneficial effects on psychiatric illnesses. This letter to the editor highlights the possible mechanism underlying the therapeutic role of psychobiotics in addictive disorders and urges the scientific community to direct research focus on this avenue.

 Self-efficacy is a concept that refers to a person's beliefs or judgments about his abilities in performing tasks and responsibilities. It affects the choice of behavior, effort, perseverance, and pursuit of goals and determines how to face obstacles and challenges. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of Transactional Analysis training on self-efficacy and self-evaluation.

The semi-experimental study was carried out with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all patients aged 18 to 30 years referring to the Pendar Behavior Analysis Training Center. The samples (n=30) were randomly selected and then completely randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the Transactional Analysis package in twelve 90-minute sessions once a week. The control group did not receive any training or counseling package. After the completion of the training course, the research questionnaires were implemented simultaneously among the two groups. The required data were collected through two standard self-efficacy questionnaires and a self-evaluation questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed in SPSS23 software using MANCOVA and ANCOVA tests.

 The results demonstrated that Transactional Analysis training had a positive and significant effect on the linear combination of self-efficacy and self-evaluation. The impact of Transactional Analysis training on self-efficacy and self-evaluation was 41% and 46.8%, respectively. Moreover, the results of the MANCOVA test showed that Transactional Analysis training had a significant effect on the linear combination of self-efficacy and self-evaluation. The effect of transactional analysis training on the linear combination of self-efficacy and self-evaluation 0.758 (ȵ2=0.831, Lambda=0.169, F 53.956=(3.25)[WU1] , P<0.05).

 Transactional Analysis training had an effect on self-efficacy and self-evaluation.

 Adolescence is a critical period of social, psychological, and physical development. Adolescents make important choices about health, growth, attitudes, and health behaviors that will affect their adulthood. Therefore, this research was conducted to compare the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy and metacognitive therapy on attachment styles and dimensions of identity transformation in adolescents.

 This semi-experimental study was performed with a pretest-posttest follow-up design and a control group. The research population included all adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 years in District 1 of Baharestan City who were studying in the seventh to tenth grades in the academic year of 2022-2023 and were referred to the education counseling center in 2022. Out of this population, three groups of 20 people were selected using the availability sampling method and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The required data were collected through Hazan and Shaver's (1987) Attachment Styles Questionnaire and Berzonsky’s Identity Style Inventory (1992) in three pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. The subjects in the experimental groups underwent dialectical behavior therapy and metacognitive therapy in one 60-minute session per week; however, the control group received no training. The data were statistically analyzed in SPSS software using the repeated measures ANOVA. The significant level was considered < 0.05.

The results were indicative of the significant effects of dialectical behavior therapy and metacognitive therapy on attachment styles (P=0.017) and the dimensions of identity transformation (P=0.023).

According to the results of this research, the goal of dialectical behavior therapy and metacognition therapy was to increase behaviors that would probably lead to a safe and healthy attachment style and healthy identity transformation in adolescents, and these rewards are internal or external.

Psychological flexibility is a person’s ability to fully communicate with the present as a conscious and aware human being and his ability to change or continue his behavior in the direction of his values with responsibility and consideration. The result of self-behavior, reliability, and trustworthiness in behavior, as well as the sense of commitment, are related to the larger social structure. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Reality Therapy on psychological flexibility and responsibility in divorced women.

This semi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest control group design and a follow-up. The research population included all divorced women in Hamedan City, Iran, who referred to the family court of Hamedan city between 2018 and 2022 and got divorced. Out of this population, 3 groups of 20 people were randomly selected and assigned into two experimental groups and a control group using the availability sampling method and completed the Hayes Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (2000) and Goff's Responsibility Questionnaire (1982) in three pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. The experimental groups underwent weekly 90-minute group training sessions focused on skill-building using acceptance and commitment, while the control group received no training. The data were statistically analyzed in SPSS22 software using the repeated measures ANOVA and a significant level of p < 0.05.

The results showed that the effects of both Reality Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy were significant on psychological flexibility (P=0.010) and responsibility (P=0.015). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, compared to Reality Therapy, significantly increased psychological flexibility in divorced women.

According to the results of this research, it can be said that the goal of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Reality Therapy was to improve behaviors that would probably lead to psychological flexibility and responsibility in women, which was the internal or external reward