مجله روانشناسی و روانپزشکی شناخت
سال دهم شماره 5 (پیاپی 50، آذر و دی 1402)

Training in a certain skill not only culminates in better motor performance but also leads to neural adjustments and regulations in different brain regions.

The present study aimed to psychologically assess event-related motor potential in motor-related cortical regions during simple and complicated tasks.

The current research was of a semi-experimental type with a single-phase post-test design without a control group. The participants of the present study consisted of all 20-32-year-old right-handed male table tennis players in Tehran, in 2019. A total of 8 samples were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected at the National Brain Mapping Laboratory. Annett Hand Preference Questionnaire (1970), Ocular Dominance Testing Card (1910), the Newgy Robo Pong Model 2050 Digital Table Tennis Robot, and the Specific Test for Table Tennis Stroke (2016) were used to record speed from Radar gun, and cameras and judges’ scoring were also used to measure accuracy. Moreover, the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical test was employed to assess the differences in two levels of task complexity in SPSS software version 24.

The results showed that the motor potential in the primary motor cortex region had a greater range in the simple task than in the complicated task (P=0.012); however, the premotor (P=0.008) and the posterior parietal cortical regions (P=0.026) of the complicated task had larger ranges than the simple task.

According to the results of this study, the motor potential range is dependent on the task complexity level. Therefore, it is suggested that tasks with different complexity levels be taken into account in investigating event-dependent potentials.

One of the consequences of aging in women is menopause, which causes many physical and psychological changes.

This study aimed to the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on sexual responsiveness, body self-esteem, and vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women.

This semi-experimental study, with a pretest-posttest control group design, the statistical population consisted of all women with natural menopause, aged 50-60 years, living in Gorgan, during 2022. A total of 30 women were selected through convenience sampling and were then randomly divided into two intervention and control groups, each consisting of 15 individuals. The intervention group participated in eight weekly sessions one-hour of ACT. The research tools included the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) Lilton (2005), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Rosen (2000), and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) Heinemann (2003). For data analysis, multivariate analysis of covariance was performed using SPSS Version 22.

The results showed a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores of the intervention and control groups in terms of sexual responsiveness, body self-esteem, and vasomotor symptoms (P<0.05). Overall, ACT increased the total score of sexual responsiveness (P<0.03) and reduced negative body self-esteem (P<0.02) and vasomotor symptoms (P<0.01) in menopausal women.

Based on the results, ACT, by enhancing cognitive skills and thought control, improves sexual responsiveness and body self-esteem and reduces vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women. Therefore, this intervention can be suitable for enhancing the mental health of menopausal women.

The psychological inventory of criminal thinking styles (PICTS) plays a significant role in the diagnosis and evaluation of criminal thinking styles. It emphasizes the importance of cognition, particularly in the commission and perpetuation of crimes in the field of psychology.

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the persian version of the PICTS in prisoners.

The current research was a descriptive-applied study of the psychometric type. The statistical population consisted of prisoners in Shiraz city in 2022. The statistical sample included 519 prisoners from Adel Abad prison in Shiraz who were selected through purposive sampling. They completed the PICTS. Data analysis was conducted using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS and AMOS version 22 software.

 The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the eight criminal thinking styles model and the criminal thinking hierarchy model of the PICTS, and the fit indices were favorable. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for overall criminal thinking was 0.91, and for proactive and reactive thinking styles, it was 0.89 and 0.79, respectively. Additionally, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the eight criminal thinking styles ranged between 0.61 and 0.81, and the test-retest correlation coefficient was between 0.63 and 0.86.

The reliability and validity of the persian version of the PICTS has been confirmed. It is recommended that social workers and professionals in the field of criminal psychology use this questionnaire to predict the commission and perpetuation of crimes.

Divorce is one of the most important causes of tension and pressure on children.

The research aimed to develop of early intervention program based on cognitive-behavioral theory for divorced children with emotional-behavioral disorders and its effectiveness in aggression of divorced children.

The research scheme was mixed (qualitative-quantitative). The statistical population in qualitative part consisted of articles and documents related to divorced children and all the professors and specialists in children’s psychological disorders and quantitative part consists of all the girls of divorced families of Astaneh-ashrafiyeh in 2022. Moreever 30 people were selected by purposive sampling and randomly replaced in experimental and control groups. The intervention program was performed in 12 sessions of 90 minutes, two session per week for experimental group. Instruments included Achenbach’s Children Behavioral Check list (2001) and Shahim’s Primary School Aggression Questionnaire (2006). The data in the qualitative part were analyzed by thematic analysis and in the quantitative part by multivariate analysis of covariance.

The results showed the content validity of the intervention program was equal to 0.75 up to 1 and there is significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the groups in aggression (P<0.01). In general, the early intervention program based on cognitive-behavioral theory for divorced children with emotional-behavioral disorders is effective on aggression in divorced children (P<0.01).

Based on findings developed intervention program was effective in aggression of divorced children. Therefore, this intervention program can be used as an effective intervention to reduce aggression of divorced children.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition, characterized by an individual’s excessive and persistent worry about various social situations. It is a common problem which can induce numerous physical and mental alterations in the person affected.

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated transdiagnostic treatment approach in alleviating symptoms of worry, anxiety, and depression and improving emotional regulation in patients diagnosed with GAD.

In this semi-experimental study, a pretest-posttest, control group design with a follow-up was employed. The research population consisted of all clients aged 18-51 years with GAD in Sanandaj, Iran, during 2018. The research sample comprised 20 patients diagnosed with GAD based on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These diagnoses were confirmed through structured interviews conducted by a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist. The samples were selected via convenience sampling and randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. The research utilized several assessment tools, including the Beck Depression Inventory (1961), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (1988), the Pennsylvania Anxiety Inventory (1990), and the Emotional Regulation Inventory (2008). The collected data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance test in SPSS Version 24 software.

According to the results, the integrated transdiagnostic treatment had an impact on reducing anxiety and depression. However, it was not effective in alleviating anxiety and improving emotional regulation in patients with GAD (P≤0.001).

The integrated transdiagnostic treatment method utilized in this study proved to be effective in alleviating worry and depression in patients diagnosed with GAD. Consequently, it is recommended for use in the therapeutic management of worry and depression symptoms in individuals suffering from GAD.

Internet addiction is a global public health problem among adolescents, which is associated with a wide range of negative consequences.

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the pattern of structural relationships of the role of parenting styles and intolerance of uncertainty in the tendency of internet addiction with the mediation of experiential avoidance in adolescents.

The research method was descriptive and correlation based on structural equations. The statistical population of all male students of the second year of high school was studying in the government schools of Ardabil city in the academic year of 2022-2023. From this population, a sample of 180 people was selected using available sampling method and answered the questionnaires of Internet Addiction (1996), Experimental Avoidance (2011), Parenting Styles (1972) and Intolerance of Uncertainty (2007). SPSS version 25 and SmartPLS version 4 software were used to analyze the collected data.

The results of structural equations showed that authoritarian style (β=0.17, P=0.001) and permissive style (β=0.39, P=0.001) and intolerance of uncertainty (β=0.27, P=0.001) have a positive and direct effect on internet addiction, and authoritative style has a negative and direct effect on internet addiction (β=-0.21, P=0.001). Also, the results of indirect effects showed that experiential avoidance mediates the relationship between parenting styles and intolerance of uncertainty with internet addiction (P=0.05).

The results showed that parenting styles and intolerance of uncertainty are important factors of internet addiction that affect internet addiction through the mediation of experiential avoidance; Therefore, psychologists and school counselors are advised to hold workshops aimed at reducing and preventing internet addiction among adolescents.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious and incapacitating disorder that can be managed effectively, despite its chronic progression.

The present study aimed to compare the impact of dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on anxiety and aggression in patients with OCD.

In this quasi-experimental research, employing a pretest-posttest control group design, the study population comprised girls diagnosed with OCD from the first and second level secondary schools in districts 1 and 3 of Tehran, Iran, during 2022. Through convenience sampling, a total of 45 participants were randomly selected and allocated to the experimental and control groups. In order to collect data, the Maudsley’s Obsessive Compulsive Test (1977), the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (1988), and the Bass Perry’s Aggression Questionnaire (1992) were employed. The cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy were administered to experimental groups 1 and 2, respectively. The analysis of the collected data was conducted using SPSS Version 22, employing the method of multivariate mixed analysis of variance.

The results showed that both cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy improved anxiety (F=50.539) and aggression (F=80.878) in people with OCD when compared to the control group (MD=-12.759 and -12.654 for anxiety, respectively; MD=-20.446 and -25.609 for aggression, respectively; P<0.05). Moreover, it was found that dialectical behavior therapy was more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy in alleviating aggression (MD=-5.143, P<0.05).

The two methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy improved the level of anxiety and aggression in individuals with OCD. Therefore, considering the effectiveness of therapeutic methods, they can be used as effective psychological interventions to reduce anxiety and aggression.

While a variety of emotional, personality, cognitive, and behavioral factors are linked to sleep quality during adolescence, a comprehensive understanding of these factors remains elusive.

The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, dysfunctional attitudes towards sleep, and sleep quality among second-year high school adolescents.

The statistical population of this correlational study, which employed structural equation modeling, consisted of all second-year high school students (boys and girls) in Damghan, Iran, during the 2020-2021 academic year. A sample of 329 adolescents was selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling method. To measure the variables under study, the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (1993), the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (1986), the Children's Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (2003), and the Sleep Quality Questionnaire (1989) were administered. The collected data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test and structural equation modeling in SPSS-22 and AMOS-24.

The present results indicated the good fit of the research model for the data. Both adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were found to mediate the relationship between the sleep quality of adolescents and anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs about sleep (P<0.001).

According to the findings, neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies are linked to a poor sleep quality. Conversely, adaptive emotion regulation strategies are associated with a higher sleep quality. Emotion regulation strategies were found to mediate the relationship between sleep quality and factors, such as anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs about sleep. Mental health professionals are advised to consider the components examined in this study as they can play a crucial role in enhancing the sleep quality of adolscentse.

Marital satisfaction serves as a fundamental predictor of stability and well-being within individuals' lives and families.

This study aims to develop a structural model that predicts marital satisfaction among young couples by examining the interplay between behavioral activation/inhibition systems and attachment styles.

The current study was a description of structural equations. A sample of 370 young couples in Tehran during the year 2021 was selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected through demographic questionnaires, Enrich's Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (1998), the Behavioral Activation/ Inhibition Scale (1994), and the Adult Attachment Scale (2015). Path analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 and LISREL version 8.8 for data analysis.

The results of the path analysis revealed several significant findings. Firstly, the inhibition system demonstrated a direct negative impact on marital satisfaction (ß=-0.16, P<0.05), along with ambivalent insecure attachment (ß=-0.42, P<0.01) and avoidant insecure attachment (ß=-0.19, P<0.05). Conversely, secure attachment displayed a direct and positive effect on marital satisfaction (ß=0.26, P<0.01). Furthermore, the inhibition system exhibited a direct and positive influence on avoidant insecure attachment (ß=0.18, P<0.01) and ambivalent insecure attachment (ß=0.19, P<0.01). Additionally, the activation system had a direct positive effect on secure attachment (ß=0.28, P<0.05) but a direct negative effect on avoidant attachment (ß=-0.30, P<0.01).

The results of the study underscore the direct predictive role of the activation/inhibition system in marital satisfaction, with attachment styles playing an indirect role. Therefore, therapists should consider these variables to enhance satisfaction levels in couples.

Neurotic perfectionism has a variety of psychological consequences that should be considered in psychotherapy applications.   

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on neurotic perfectionism and internalized self-criticism in neurotic perfectionist girls.

This study was conducted using a single-case quasi-experimental design with, concurrent multiple baseline. The research population consisted of neurotic perfectionist girls visiting counseling centers in Ahvaz in 2022. The participants were a sample of 5 girls selected using purposive sampling with a minimum cut-off score of 145 in the Neurotic Perfectionism Questionnaire (NPQ). The acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) (Twohig & et al, 2021) was implemented in eleven 90-minute sessions. The participants completed the Neurotic Perfectionism Questionnaire (1994), and the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (2004). The data were collected in three baseline, intervention, and three-month follow-up phases and analyzed using reliable change index (RCI), recovery percentage, and visual inspection.

The analysis of the recovery percentage showed the participants’ neurotic perfectionism 17.67 and internalized self-criticism 19.73 improved in the intervention phase and their neurotic perfectionism 36.25 and internalized self-criticism 49.90 increased in the follow-up phase. Moreover, the reliability change index of both variables in the post-treatment and follow-up phases was significant (P=0.05).

Considering the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in reducing neurotic perfectionism and internalized self-criticism by increasing psychological flexibility, this therapy can be used as an intervention method in neurotic perfectionist girls.

Fear of guilt is a characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which confirms the centrality of guilt in obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Iranian adaptation of the Fear of Guilt Scale.

This study was applied and developmental in terms of aim and psychometric type,respectively. The population included all the people of the three company in Tehran, Iran, in the year 2022 from which 520 adults, were selected by availabile sampling. The Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (2004) and the Fear of Guilt Scale (2016) were used to collect the data. Besides, mean, standard deviation (SD), exploratory  and confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity and construct validity, SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24 were run to analyze the data.

Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the existence of two factors: "punishment" and "prevention of harm." The scale demonstrated favorable convergent validity. Concerning scale reliability, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated at 0.90 for the entire scale, 0.88 for the "punishment" subscale, and 0.75 for the "prevention of harm" subscale which revealed the convergent and construct validity of this questionnaire.

This study confirms the psychometric properties of the Fear of Guilt Scale in terms of evaluating the features of fear of guilt in obsessive-compulsive disorder .Future researches can use this tool for the purposes of evaluating and investigating the fear of guilt in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.

In the early years of schooling, factors such as being far from parents for 5 hours, academic and social demands can be stressful for children and provide the conditions for creating or intensify some mental disorders. Therefore, it is important to investigate the prevalence of emotional-behavioral disorders and their related factors at this age.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of emotional-behavioral disorders with and without comorbidity in children aged 6 to 8 years, and also to predict the severity of these disorders based on the mother's reaction to the child's negative emotions.

The research method was descriptive-analytical. The population included all the first and second grade primary school students of Malayer city in the academic year 2017-2018, and 454 people were selected by cluster sampling method. In order to collect data, the Child's Behavior Checklist (2002) and the Child's Reaction to Negative Emotions Questionnaire (1990) were used. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 22 software and stepwise linear regression model was employed.

The findings of the present study revealed that, the pure prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders in these children was 8.6% and prevalence with comorbidity of these disorders was 7.3%. In addition, mother's reactions to children's negative emotions could predict the severity of children's emotional-behavioral problems (P=0.001).

In the age range of 6 to 8, the comorbidity of emotional and behavioral disorders of these children is high and the mother's supportive or unsupportive reactions to the child's negative emotions play a significant role in it, so it is suggested that child psychologists and psychiatrists pay special attention to these findings in diagnostic interviews and treatment strategies.