Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Volume:19 Issue: 1, Mar 2025

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can lead to difficulties in various aspects of adult participation.

This present study aimed to investigate executive function, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful activities among adults with and without ADHD. Additionally, the study explored the relationships between executive function, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful activities in adults with ADHD.

In this cross-sectional study, 70 adults aged 18 to 40 with ADHD and 68 healthy peers were recruited from various clinics and centers across Tehran. Executive function and sensory processing were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version (BRIEF-A) and the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile Questionnaire (AASP), respectively. Participation in meaningful activities was evaluated using the engagement in meaningful activity survey (EMAS). Independent samples t -tests were used to compare adults with ADHD to healthy adults. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were utilized to explore correlations. A stepwise linear regression model was applied to assess the predictive effects of various variables.

Significant differences were observed in executive function, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful activities between adults with and without ADHD. Significant correlations were found between participation scores and all subscales of executive function and sensory processing.

The findings indicate that individuals with ADHD exhibit significant differences in executive function, sensory processing, and participation in meaningful activities compared to their non-ADHD peers. Executive function and sensory processing in adults with ADHD appear to impact their participation in meaningful activities. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Lack of self-acceptance is one of the most pervasive factors threatening people’s psychological well-being.

This study aims to explore the roots and underlying causes of a lack of self-acceptance through the lived experiences of psychologists specializing in the field of self-acceptance.

A reflexive thematic analysis, based on the approach by Braun and Clarke, was conducted using 30 in-depth interviews. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling methods. To enhance the trustworthiness of the research, Lincoln and Guba's criteria were applied.

The overarching theme identified was “Tripartite adversities involved in the formation of a lack of self-acceptance.” This theme comprised intrapersonal factors (“Existential Insecurity”), interpersonal factors (“Deficits in Nurturance,” “Restricted Autonomy,” “Disrupted Trust,” and “Exposure to Strict Standards”), and socio-cultural factors (“Minority Group Status”).

The findings demonstrate that the roots of a lack of self-acceptance are complex and multifaceted. Addressing this issue has significant implications for improving self-acceptance, which is an integral component of many contemporary therapeutic modalities targeting trans-diagnostic factors such as perfectionism, self-criticism, and shame.

Interpersonal emotion regulation is a crucial skill that underpins the emotional dynamics in couples' relationships. In regulating interpersonal emotions, couples not only focus on their own emotions but also consider the emotions of their partner.

The study aimed to explore the role of interpersonal emotion regulation in couples' relationships.

This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory strategy. Married women and men from Yazd (2021) who met the inclusion criteria participated in semi-structured interviews conducted through purposeful sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. A total of 20 individuals (13 women and 7 men) were included in the study. Data were analyzed using MaxQDA 2020 software.

Collecting and coding the data with the Strauss and Corbin method, as open, axial, and selective coding, gave us 229 open codings, 32 axial codings, 7 selective codings, and one nuclear or core category under the title of safe attachment. The major categories included: Personal development, emotional safety, emotional self-awareness, empathic attunement, comprehensive support, comprehensive improvement of quality of life, and promotion of the spousal-safe base. A paradigm model was drawn from the components of the central phenomenon, causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences.

The specification of effective factors in the formation of interpersonal emotion regulation and the research paradigm model enables the accurate identification of strategies for interpersonal emotion regulation and their consequences in couple relationships, facilitating the progression of couples towards safe attachment. It is suggested that family counselors and therapists use these results to help couples.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is recognized as a challenging condition with unclear underlying factors. Despite the difficulties in treatment, psychological factors are thought to contribute to its symptoms.

This investigation sought to examine the correlation between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and CP/CPPS.

We assembled a case group comprising 30 patients diagnosed with CP/CPPS and a control group consisting of 30 healthy individuals without the condition. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to assess the prevalence of OCD in both groups. In contrast, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was used to evaluate the severity of CP/CPPS symptoms.

The findings revealed no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of OCD between the group of individuals with CP/CPPS and the healthy control group. However, patients with CP/CPPS had significantly higher Y-BOCS scores compared to the control group. Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between Y-BOCS scores and NIH-CPSI scores, suggesting that increasing OCD symptoms were associated with increased disease severity, pain, and decreased quality of life. Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing Y-BOCS scores independently predicted CP/CPPS symptom severity.

Our findings highlight the importance of considering psychological factors, including OCD, in the management of CP/CPPS. The results suggest that addressing OCD symptoms may be an important adjunctive treatment approach for improving symptom outcomes in patients with CP/CPPS. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions targeting OCD in this population.

Intervention programs focused on character empowerment provide teachers with the tools to achieve personal well-being and develop resilience in challenging situations.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of character empowerment training on the emotional responses of primary school teachers in Yazd city during the 2021 - 2022 academic year.

The research employed a semi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest approach and a control group. The statistical population consisted of primary school teachers in Yazd, from which 30 individuals were selected using convenience sampling. These individuals were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (15 teachers) or the control group (15 teachers). Teachers were first paired based on their teaching experience, prior participation in similar courses, and educational level. One individual from each pair was then randomly allocated to the experimental group, and the other to the control group. The research instrument used was the Teachers' Emotions Questionnaire. The experimental group underwent character empowerment training over two months, comprising 12 sessions of 50 minutes each. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26, employing an ANCOVA model and MANCOVA test.

The findings revealed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the emotions of pride (32%), anxiety (18%), and anger (47%). Specifically, character empowerment training increased the emotion of pride (P < 0.01) while reducing anger and anxiety (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups regarding the emotion of enjoyment (P < 0.01).

Enhancing awareness of character empowerment and integrating it into daily practices can help teachers experience heightened pride, reduced anger, and lower anxiety levels, while also enabling them to recognize and appreciate their positive attributes.

This research discusses the diagnostic validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fifth edition (WISC-V), in students with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The primary research question is whether the WISC-V possesses diagnostic validity for students with ADHD.

The study employs a psychometric design. The research population includes all students with ADHD enrolled in the first, second, and third grades of elementary school during the 2022 academic year. These students receive educational therapeutic services in private and public centers. A sample size of 250 students was selected using a purposeful sampling method. The instrument used is the WISC-V. Additionally, 250 individuals from the normative population (non-ADHD) were included as a comparison group. The confidence interval method was applied to determine the diagnostic validity of the tests.

Data analysis indicated that among the WISC-V subscales, only the "processing speed" subscale demonstrated diagnostic validity (P < 0.001). The other four subscales — "visual-spatial", "fluid reasoning", "working memory", and "verbal comprehension" — did not exhibit adequate validity in distinguishing between students with and without ADHD.

The findings indicate that the WISC-V has favorable diagnostic validity for the processing speed scale in students with ADHD. This scale can be effectively utilized for the clinical assessment of students with ADHD within the field of exceptional individuals.

This study aimed to predict functional disability (FD) in functional somatic syndromes (FSS) among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) based on personality traits (PTs) and illness perception (IP), with the mediating role of self-compassion (SC).

The present study aimed to investigate the roles of PTs and IP in FD, considering SC as a mediating factor.

This applied cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in 2022. The statistical population consisted of all CAD patients in Amol, Iran, from which 250 individuals were purposefully selected. Data collection instruments included the World Health Organization disability assessment schedule, McCrae and Costa’s Personality Traits Questionnaire, Broadbent’s Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Neff’s Self-compassion Scale. The data were analyzed using latent-variable structural equation modeling with SPSS (V. 26), AMOS (V. 24), and R (V. 4.2.0).

The results indicated that IP, SC, and all five PTs had a significant direct role in explaining 70% of the variance in FD (P < 0.05). Additionally, SC had a significant mediating role in the relationship between FD and four PTs (extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) as well as IP.

The FD in FSS among CAD patients can be predicted based on PTs and IP, with SC as a mediator. Psychologists, counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists are encouraged to consider the role of SC in improving the mental health and treatment outcomes of CAD patients.

Recently, some theories and research have introduced another type of envy, which includes both the positive (benign) and negative (malicious) aspects of envy. It seems that primarily the malicious dimension of envy is the subject of much existing research. Therefore, a scale that can measure another dimension of envy, such as malicious envy, can be an attractive measure for research in this field.

The purpose of this study was to validate and investigate the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale (BeMaS).

The current research is of a descriptive-correlation type. A total of 429 people (138 males and 291 females) participated in the study. The participants answered the questions of the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, BeMaS, Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI), and achievement motivation test (AMT). The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS version 22 software. This study was conducted in 2021, and the questionnaires were designed and distributed online using the Porsline platform.

The results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) support the two components of envy based on the original version (GFI = 0.95, CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.08). The results showed a statistically significant value (P < 0.001) with χ² (df) values of 87.32. A significant relationship was observed between benign envy and achievement motivation (r = 0.18, P < 0.01), but no significant relationship was observed with fear of failure (r = 0.09, P > 0.01). Unlike benign envy, malicious envy has a moderate significant positive relationship with fear of failure (r = 0.35, P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with achievement motivation (r = -0.28, P < 0.01). The Cronbach’s alpha for benign envy was found to be α = 0.672, and for malicious envy, it was α = 0.745.

The BeMaS showed good internal consistency in an Iranian adult sample. As a result, the Persian version of the BeMaS has good reliability and validity for assessing envy in the Iranian population.

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is associated with neurobehavioral impairments, including antisocial behavior, anxiety, and cognitive deficits. Several studies have shown that rutin, a flavonoid compound, has neuroprotective effects against behavioral and memory disorders.

In this experimental study, the effects of pretreatment with rutin on social behavior, anxiety-related behavior, and cognitive dysfunction induced by MA were evaluated.

Male Wistar rats were pretreated with intraventricular injection of three different doses of rutin (25, 50, or 150 nM) or saline 30 minutes prior to MA administration. Methamphetamine (4 × 4 mg/kg) or saline was administered subcutaneously at 2-hour intervals. Rectal temperature was measured 1 hour after the last MA administration. Behavioral and cognitive evaluations, encompassing open field, Y-maze, social interaction, and elevated plus-maze assessments, were performed three days subsequent to the final injection to assess locomotor activity, spatial working memory, sociability and social memory, as well as anxiety-related behaviors, respectively.

Methamphetamine induced hyperthermia (P < 0.001) and hyperlocomotion (P < 0.05) in rats compared to the control group. Although pretreatment with rutin reduced MA-induced hyperthermia and hyperlocomotion, this reduction was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In addition, MA impaired working memory (P < 0.001) and increased anxiety-related behaviors (P < 0.001), while rutin improved working memory impairment (25 and 50 nM; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) and reduced anxiety-related behaviors (50 and 150 nM; P < 0.001). Methamphetamine also induced social memory impairment (P < 0.001), while rutin (25, 50, and 150 nM; P < 0.001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively) showed remarkable efficacy in ameliorating MA-induced social memory impairment. Sociability remained unchanged in the social interaction test. Our results also showed that the dose of 50 nM rutin performed better than doses of 25 and 100 nM in reducing MA-induced behavioral disturbances (P < 0.05).

These findings suggest that rutin exerts a neuroprotective effect against MA-induced neurobehavioral and cognitive deficits. Therefore, rutin supplementation may be a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate MA-induced neurotoxicity.

Limited studies have investigated the brain changes of individuals with different personality traits during emotional stimuli, and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings have often been conducted without considering personality traits.

This study aimed to determine the effect of five audiovisual emotional stimuli on the brain activity of healthy individuals based on the big five personality factors.

This observational study recruited 62 young participants using random sampling. Initially, the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was administered to the qualified participants to determine their personality factors. Subsequently, EEG was performed in the eyes-open resting state and while watching emotionally stimulating videos that induced sadness, happiness, anger, fear, and an emotionally neutral state. The changes in the absolute power of brain waves relative to the resting state were analyzed.

Significant moderate correlations (ranging from 0.41 to 0.60) were observed between brain wave power and personality factors, particularly in men. Multiple regression analysis revealed that personality factors in men accounted for up to 29.1% of the variance in brain wave changes across different regions. The most substantial effect was observed when males watched the fearful video, where the theta band of the frontal area, particularly at the frontal region (Fz) point, was predominantly influenced by personality factors, accounting for a notable 29.1% change. Among these factors, extraversion was found to be the most influential.

Changes in brain waves while watching emotional videos in men relate to their personality traits, whereas no such relationship was found in women.

The critical changes and emotional fluctuations associated with puberty often lead to conflicts and communication challenges between adolescents and their parents. Adolescent girls, in particular, tend to experience more conflicts with their parents, especially their mothers, due to the sensitive nature of puberty and the involvement of heightened emotional dimensions. This underscores the importance of educational interventions aimed at improving communication skills to resolve conflicts and enhance parent-adolescent relationships.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of virtual communication skills training for mothers, utilizing the interaction analysis approach, on the life satisfaction of girls and the quality of parent-adolescent relationships.

This randomized controlled quasi-experimental study employed a parallel design, incorporating pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments. The study which was conducted in 2022, involved 66 mothers who were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Participants completed the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Questionnaire at three time points: Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one month post-intervention. The intervention consisted of eight consecutive weeks of virtual communication skills training using an interaction analysis approach, delivered to the mothers in the intervention group. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.

At the study's outset, the two groups were homogeneous regarding demographic variables. The results indicated a significant difference in the mean score of the parent-adolescent relationship in the intervention group, with scores of 67.94 ± 31.04 before the intervention, 126.19 ± 27.25 immediately after, and 93.06 ± 15.02 one month post-intervention (P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant difference in the mean score of life satisfaction in the intervention group, with scores of 15.06 ± 5.35 before the intervention, 26.63 ± 4.63 immediately after, and 22.44 ± 5.06 one month post-intervention (P < 0.001).

The results of this study demonstrated that virtual training in communication skills for mothers, based on the interaction analysis approach, can enhance girls' life satisfaction and parent-adolescent relationships. Given that "girls' life satisfaction" and "parent-adolescent relationship" are critical psychological components, this approach may be utilized to improve adolescents' mental health and strengthen the relationship between adolescents and their parents.

Recent studies have identified oxidative stress as a potential neurobiological contributor to the development of schizophrenia. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is recognized for its potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of NAC in reducing oxidative stress as a treatment for schizophrenia.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study involved 35 patients with schizophrenia. Patients in the case group received 600 mg of NAC once daily in addition to their routine treatment, while the control group continued their routine treatment with a placebo instead of NAC. Assessments were conducted using the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and the neuropsychiatry unit cognitive assessment tool (NUCOG) at baseline, and 1 and 2 months post-treatment.

N-acetylcysteine treatment resulted in a significant improvement in SAPS and NUCOG indices, as well as an increase in peripheral glutathione (GSH) levels (P < 0.05). Continued NAC use in the second month positively affected NUCOG indices, particularly the Visuo-constructional variable. No significant impact on SANS was observed. The limited side effects of NAC during the study period suggest it is a safe and practical treatment option.

N-acetylcysteine add-on therapy significantly improved positive symptoms and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia but did not affect negative symptoms.

Traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) models for social anxiety typically focus on distorted thoughts. In contrast, a newer emotion-focused approach emphasizes the importance of emotional schemes and the influence of shame and self-criticism in maintaining social anxiety.

This research aimed to fit a model based on the emotion-focused approach to social anxiety and to emphasize the role of negative memories of early life experiences in mediating shame and self-criticism.

This descriptive correlational study utilized structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The population examined consisted of all students enrolled in public universities under the Tehran Ministry of Science during the academic year 2022 - 2023. The study included 420 students from Shahid Beheshti University, selected using convenience sampling. The research tools included Gilbert's Early Life Experiences Questionnaire, Young's Shame/Deficit Schema Scale, Gilbert's Self-criticism Forms, and Connor's Social Anxiety Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 and SmartPLS version 3 software.

The model was significant, explaining 48% of the variance in social anxiety. The goodness-of-fit criteria further indicated the model's adequacy. The indirect pathway from early life experiences through shame and self-criticism to social anxiety was significant, with standardized estimates (β = 0.16, P < 0.001, 95% CI).

The results demonstrated that the emotion-focused approach model for social anxiety has a good fit. Shame and self-criticism significantly mediate the relationship between early life experiences and social anxiety. These findings highlight the importance of addressing early life experiences and emotional factors such as shame and self-criticism in therapeutic interventions for social anxiety. Incorporating emotion-focused strategies may enhance treatment outcomes.

During pregnancy, women encounter various physical and mental challenges, with severity influenced by their physical condition, underlying health issues, socio-economic status, and available support systems.

This study aims to explore the lived experiences of faculty members during pregnancy.

This interpretative phenomenological study was conducted using Max van Manen's phenomenological research methods. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. A total of 7 participants were selected through purposive sampling. The interviews began with the question, "How did you experience your pregnancy?" To ensure rich data, maximum diversity sampling was employed. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. This research was conducted in 2023 at Dezful University of Medical Sciences, focusing on medical faculty members.

The findings revealed that the lived experiences of female faculty members in medical sciences universities in Iran during motherhood encompassed seven themes: Sick and tired body, mental instability, modified role, support failure, wrong policies, spiritual strictness, and resistance against traditionalism.

The research indicates that the lack of family-friendly programs results in numerous challenges for female faculty members, including the financial burden of having children, conflicts between motherhood and professional responsibilities, ineffective demographic policies, pressures from traditional societal norms, and inadequate support systems.