نشریه اصول بهداشت روانی
سال سیزدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 50، تابستان 1390)

The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on using coping strategies and decreasing pain among females with chronic back pain. This research was conducted by using semi- experimental study with pretest-posttest design, using control group. So, from females with chronic back pain who appointed in Imam Khomeini Hospital and a private clinic in Tehran in 2010, 30 participants with mean age 33 years and 7 month were selected and randomly assigned in two equal experimental and control groups. Experimental group experienced 12 weeks over 90 minutes of Turk and Free cognitive behavioral therapy, while control group were just followed. Lazarus and Folkman coping and pain questionnaires were used in pretest and posttest. Data were analyzed by descriptive indices and univariate analysis of variance, using 16th SPSS software. Scores of experimental individuals significantly decreases in all the subscales of maladaptive coping and back pain, compared with control group (P<0.05). Also, scores of experimental individuals significantly increases in all the subscales of adaptive coping (P<0.05). CBT by influencing biopsychosocial components involving to chronic pain, and changing counterproductive cognitions decrease low back pain and using maladaptive coping strategies and increase using adaptive coping strategies

Developing critical thinking is one of the important goals in higher education level and a key element in student's mental health. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between student's critical thinking and mental health in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad city, Northeast of Iran. In a descriptive-correlation research, 357 students (196 girls and 161 boys) in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences during academic year of 2010-2011 were selected by multi-stage clustering method, using Morgan and Kerjcie's table. They completed Goldberger's General Mental Health Questionnaire (1979) and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test-Form B (1994). Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, regression model and MANOVA test. There was a significant correlation of student's critical thinking with their mental health status (P<0.01). Among components of mental health, anxiety (r=-0.17, P=0.01) and depression (r=-0.06, P>0.05) had the highest and the least correlation with mental health, respectively. Variance of student's mental health can be predicted by their critical thinking (P<0.01). Comparing with boys, Girls had a better mental health status, according to the Questionnaire (P<0.001). Both genders had relatively similar level in critical thinking (P>0.05). Considering the significant relationship between critical thinking and mental health, it can be concluded that critical thinking affects mental health. Such relationship is increasingly important in students of medicine and health sciences.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) on depressive symptoms through improves their mindfulness, distress tolerance and emotion regulation. In this semi-experimental study, 20 subjects with depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)≥14) were identified from the students of Ferdowsi University and Mashhad Medical Sciences University (during 2008-2009) using convenience sampling and then were randomly assigned in experimental and control group. For experimental group, DBT manual was performed in 8 sessions while control group subjects were not given treatment. Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) used to assess clients before and after treatment. Follow- up evaluation was performed one month later. Data were analyzed by Repeated measures analysis of variance and Paired-samples T test. The results indicated the efficacy of DBT in decreasing depressive symptoms (P<0.001), with significant increasing in indexes of mindfulness (P=0.001) and distress tolerance (P<0.05). However subjects in experimental group did not show significant decreases in emotion regulation index in comparison of control group. The subjects in experimental group had retained the improvements in one month follow-up. The results suggest that DBT can decrease some depression symptoms through effecting on mindfulness and distress tolerance components.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Lazarus multimodal therapy on expanded disability status of patients with multiple sclerosis. This study was a quasi experimental research administered in 2009. All convenience participants were selected from MS outpatient clinic of Qazvin city. For this aim, some of the patients in Qazvin were selected by convenience sampling. After primary assessments, 40 patients were selected and randomly allocated in two groups (20 in experiment group and 20 in control group). From 20 patients of experiment group, 16 patients completed the treatment. During 3 month Lazarus multimodal therapy was administered in the experiment group in twelve sessions each of them length 90 minutes. Expanded disability status of patients was evaluated by a neurologist before and after treatment. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. The results indicated that Lazarus multimodal therapy had significant effect on EDSS score (P=0.035), bowel-bladder (P<0.0005), and cerebral functional systems (P=0.014). This treatment had not significant effect on pyramidal and visual systems. Lazarus multimodal therapy is effective in decreasing disability of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Epidemiology studies show that prevalence related to mental health problems among university students is the main problem in the higher education system. In this study, the role of locus of control, symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation on the academic achievement of students has been investigated.

For this purpose, Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS), Student Depression (UCDI) and Locus of Control Rotter (LOC) were administrated on a sample includes 250 students of Tehran University in 2008-2009 scholastic years who selected by multistage cluster sampling method. Data obtained from these scales was analyzed by Lisrel software with path analysis method.

Results of correlation between predictor and criteria variables suggests that the direction of relationship in bi-variate correlation matrix for both male and female is the same, but, its strong and explained variances by variables in two groups are different.

Results indicated the necessity of considering to locus of control, depression and academic achievement and their relationship with suicidal thoughts in students. To maintain and promotion mental health, increasing academic achievement and providing appropriate mental health services for university students; effectiveness role of these variables in mental health screening and monitoring of students should be considered.

This study was conducted to investigate motivational structure (MS) and eating behavior of the women, registered in one of the sports clubs in Mashhad city, North East of Iran. In this descriptive study, sixty overweight women (Mean of BMI=29.93 kg/m2, SD=3.71) and sixty normal weight women (Mean BMI=21.36 kg/m2, SD=1.79) completed the Personal Concern Inventory (PCI) and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). To test the hypotheses of the study, MANCOVA, ANOVA and Regression analysis were used. The results showed that, compared with controls, overweight and obese women had a more MS (P≥0.001), and on the DEBQ, they scored higher on emotional eating (P≥0.001) (including confused emotions (P≥0.001) and clearly labeled emotions (P≥0.001)) and external eating (P=0.001). Moreover, overweight and obese women who reported frequent failures with their diet had more maladaptive MS (P≥0.001) than overweight and obese who are successful in their diets. Furthermore, the results of hierarchical Regression analyses showed that motivational structure can predict the participant's BMI (P≥0.001) and the number of dieter's failures (P≥0.001), independent of the effects of age and education. Eating style could predict BMI (P≥0.001). Overweight and obese women had more maladaptive MS than women withnormal weight, and the two groups had a different eating behavior. Overweight and obese women who reported frequent failures with their diet had more maladaptive MS than those with successful dieting history. Moreover, motivational structure could predict the participant's BMI and the number of dieter's failures. Eating style could predict the BMI.

Religious contents indicate that the human being recalls God in threatening conditions. Research in psychopathology also has shown that traumatic and threatening events could cause symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some vulnerable people. So the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between religious attitude and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder in people who experienced the Bam earthquake (Iran). In this correlational and ex post facto study, 117 participants (70 men and 47 women) randomly selected from those Bam people who were present in the Bam earthquake. The participants completed personally the Religious Attitude Scale and the Mississippi Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (Eshel). Pearson correlation coefficient, stepwise regression and t-test were used to statistical analysis. there was a relationship between religious attitude and "difficulty in emotional control" and "depression" components of the Eshel scale inversely. Also, people with mild symptoms compared to those with severe symptoms showed superior religious attitude (P<0.001). Religious attitude is related to a decrease in the intensity of PTSD affective symptoms, but has no effect on automatic features of the PTSD.

Attachment styles are considered as individual resources that can modify levels of stress and adjustment to adverse conditions. According to research findings, attachment styles are very important in predicting mental health. Considering the importance of mental health in people lives, which can be impaired by stress, anxiety and depression and predictive value of Bowlby’s attachment styles for any malfunction in this area, in addition to lack of studies that investigated the relationship between attachment styles with negative emotions, this research try to determine this relationship. This research is a descriptive-correlation study, in which 170 married women, between 15-44 years were selected from Ghaem Hospital and obstetricians’ offices, in Mashhad city, North East of Iran. Data were gathered by using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21 (DASS21), and Female Sexual Function Index. Data were analyzed by calculating Pearson coefficient, using SPSS version 14 and in the significant level of 0.05. Stress, anxiety and depression was negatively correlated with safe attachment style to parents. Correlation of depression with safe attachment style to parents and correlation of stress with safe attachment style to mother, both were significant. Stress, anxiety and depression were positively correlated to distant attachment style to parents in a significant level (P<0.01). According to Bowlby theory, attachment is necessary to development of personality and having normal relationships. It seems that attachment style is the base for mental health.