Iranian Journal of War and Public Health
Volume:7 Issue: 27, 2015

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive - behavioral instruction techniques on reducing the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in PTSD veteran's women.Method and materials: The method of this research was semi-experimental with pre-test - post-test and control group. Sample size was estimated by Kohn method (in each group 12 participants). The statistical population consisted of PTSD veteran's women, admitted to Sadr hospital in Tehran in 1392. After screening, twenty fore veteran's wives, that attained high score (38 or more) in questionnaire of secondary traumatization, were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Experimental group were trained for 13 sessions. Participants completed 2 questionnaires: secondary traumatic stress (STS) and DASS. Data were analyzed with ANCOVA and MANCOVA tests. The results showed that cognitive - behavioral techniques instruction effect on reduction of the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in PTSD veteran's women (with controlling of depression, anxiety and stress via DASS questionnaire) (p<.05). Method of teaching the cognitive – behavioral instruction techniques is an effective strategy for reducing the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress. Keywords: Behavioral-Cognitive instruction, Secondary Traumatization, PTSD Veteran's spouses.

The aim of present research was to study the effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy on mental health of war soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder under long-term pharmaceutical treatment. In a quasi-experimental study with pretest- post test with control group design a sample of 20 war soldiers with PTSD history and under pharmaceutical treatment were selected using available sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. After providing informed consent, subjects of both groups completed the General Health Questionnaire before any experimental intervention. Then 8 sessions of group cognitive-behavior psychotherapy administered on subjects of experimental group, whereas no intervention received by control group subjects. Both groups were asked again to fill the GHQ questionnaire afterward. Data extracted from questionnaires and were analyzed by MANCOVA statistical analysis. significantly decreased scores were evident for subjects of experimental group than control group in symptoms of mental illness in soldiers with PTSD under long-term medication. It could be concluded that group CBT therapy is an efficient clinical intervention for improvement of residual symptoms of soldiers with PTSD and similar chronic diseases and may help to their quality of life and mental health.

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of Music Therapy intervention on mental health of chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D) veterans. This research was based on a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test and control group respectively. The population also included chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D) veterans Isfahan in 2013. In order to perform this study, 60 members of chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D) veterans who were available selected (each group consisting 30). The tool of this research was Beck's questionnaire of depression (Beck et. al, 1966) was used in two phases pre-test and post-test. The results were analyzed by ANCOVA showed that Music Therapy intervention had a significant effect on depression in chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D) veterans in post-test on experimental group (P≤0.05). Based on these results, music therapy can use as an effective and low cost treatment for decreasing of depression on chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (P.T.S.D) veterans.

During the past five decades, the landmines have been identified as the major cause of traumatic amputations in war-torn countries. The aim of this study was to investigation the use of orthotics and prosthesis in children survivors of landmines and unexploded ordnances(UXOs)in border provinces of Iran In this study our population was all the less than 18 years old adolescents that injured by landmines and UXOs in 5 border provinces of Iran, namely West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Ilam, and Kurdistan(n=78). The identified victims participated in a social- health camp for collecting their health status. Demographic data were collected by a designed-researcher questionnaire. For checking the status of limbs, diagnosis the requirement for using orthotics and prosthesis, replacement or repair these devices if required and satisfaction of the prosthesis. The mean age of these cases at the time of study was (16.11 ±1.99). The mean height and weight of survivors were 165±10.47 and 54.25±12.74 respectively. The rate of amputation among the victims was 41(52.56%). Require to the prosthesis, orthotics and other assistive mobility devices were, 38 (48.71%), 18 (23.1%) and 8 (10.25%),respectively. At the time of study 21(26.92%) of the cases were using assistive mobility devices. Most of the victims that using prothesis had lower than the average of satisfaction 15(71.42%). The low level of satisfaction indicated the more attention to the education, health programs and rehabilitation for raising victims awareness and knowledge in the using of assistive mobility devices.

War veterans have different physical and mental problems due to exposure to variety of traumatic events and stressors and these problems effect their quality of life. One of the nonmedical treatment that can improve their quality of life is exercise and physical activities. Aim of the present study was to determine the effect of group exercise program on quality of life in war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method & Materials: In this single blinded, controlled trial, quality of life of a convenience sample size of war veterans with PTSD (n=30) in a hospital in Ahwaz city was measured in 2 equal groups. Treatment protocol consisted of group exercise program occurred 45 minutes a day, 2 days a week for 12 weeks. Measures were conducted pre, post and 3 months after the treatment period by 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Data analysis was indicative of significant difference in experimental group compared to control group in mental scale of quality of life (P=0.031), physical scale of quality of life (P<0.01) and total score (P=0.012). Group exercise program can improve quality of life in war veterans with PTSD.

marital commitment is one of the effective factors in increasing the quality of life among married people. The aim of current research is the surveying the role of sexual satisfaction, spiritual health, psychological distress and self- esteem as predictive factors in marital commitment of Veterans Wives. the research method is correlation. The number of 120 Veterans Wives of Piranshahr in the summer of 2014 were selected by available sampling method and responded to the marital commitment, sexual satisfaction, spiritual wellbeing, DASS-21 and self- esteem questionnaires. The gathered data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. the results of showed that there exist a negative and significant relation between psychological distress and marital commitment (P>0/01). Also the results indicate that the relation between spiritual health, self- esteem and sexual satisfaction with marital commitment were positive and significant (P>0/01). The stepwise regression analysis showed that the predictive variables could significantly predict 37 percent of variance of marital commitment. the results of current research in consistent with other studies indicate that psychological distress, self- esteem, spiritual health and sexual satisfaction have an important role in marital commitment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Metacognitive therapy (MCT) on working memory and verbal memory in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental research was conducted with pre-posttest design with control groups. The statistical population consisted all patients with a diagnosis of PTSD were referred to the center therapy in Esfahan and Najafabad city. For this purpose, 30 patients with PTSD were selected with available sampling and were randomly divided to an experimental and control group. All patients were assessed by demographic information Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Wechsler test of verbal memory WMS-II & N-backat pre and posttest. The experimental group received 8 Metacognitive therapy sessions. Analysis of covariance showed that at post test, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in working memory, and verbal memory(P<0.05). Also the experimental group did not show significant differences in the components of a simple verbal memory and second level of working memory. According to the findings about the effect of Metacognitive therapy on improves working memory and verbal memory, the treatment can be used for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.

So far، several statistics of the number of victims suffering from chemical damage have been reported in the Iran-Iraq war. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological situation of the Iranian chemical victims on the basis of information contained in the Martyr Foundation and Veterans Affairs. In this descriptive study، data of the chemically injured veterans proved by Medical Commission of Martyr Foundation and Veterans Affairs، extracted and analyzed. By the end of 1392، 564،108 veterans were registered in Martyr Foundation and Veterans Affairs، including 79 335 patients (1/14%) with proved chemical exposure. Their mean age at the time of the study was 50/1 ± 8/15 and 98/2 percent of them are men. late complications and illnesses resulting from exposure to chemical agents specially sulfur mustard result in increasing number of chemical injuries in recent studies، and it is expected a larger number of military or civilian personnel who have been exposed to chemical agents is identified later.