الهه عافی

Children with Attention–Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) suffer from a wide range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems. Mindfulness–Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a method of teaching sustained attention and regulated thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Furthermore, Neurofeedback (NF) is a self–regulation technique in which the current parameters of Electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded from the subject’s head are presented to a subject through visual and auditory modality, while the subject is supposed to voluntary or involuntary alter these parameters to reach a more efficient mode of brain functioning. MBCT is self–regulated while NF is machine–aided. In recent years, non–pharmacological treatments have been developed to solve these problems. The current study aimed to compare the efficacy of MBCT and NF on the emotional self–regulation of children with ADHD. 

This was a quasi–experimental study with a pretest–posttest and a control group design. The study population included all 9– to 12–year–olds referring to counseling and psychology clinics in Tabriz City, Iran, in the year 2018. After observing the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the research and implementing the Child Symptom Inventory–4 (CSI–4) (Gadow & Sprafkin, 1994), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (Achenbach, 1991), Integrated visual and auditory (IVA) (Sandford & Terner, 1994), and Diagnosis by a child psychiatrist and psychologist, 45 ADHD children were selected as the study samples. They were chosen by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into three groups, as follows: MBCT, NF, and controls. All study subjects completed the Emotional Regulation checklist (Shields & Cicchetti, 1998) before and after the treatment. The MBCT group members received treatment in 15 sessions, and the NF group members received 25 sessions of intervention; however, but the controls received no treatment. After 5 months, follow–up tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS–24 using repeated–measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post–hoc test. 

The obtained results indicated that MBCT and NF were effective in emotional self–regulation in children with ADHD (p<0.001). Additionally, MBCT had a greater effect on the improvement of emotional self–regulation in children with ADHD, compared to the NF intervention (p<0.001). The 5–month follow–up results also suggested that this effect was lasting.

Considering the effectiveness of MBCT on the emotional self–regulation of children with ADHD, using this method, along with other approaches, to reduce the symptoms and problems of this condition is important. According to MBCT data, children with ADHD learn to be mindful concerning different situations and control their emotions. They could repeatedly practice this skill throughout the day as they perform various tasks and activities to ultimately improve their emotional self–regulation.

Attention–Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity are the key symptoms of ADHD. ADHD is among the most prevalent childhood psychiatric disorders that could lead to irreversible complications and injuries if not given proper treatment. In terms of the etiology of ADHD, various issues have been discussed based on damage to executive functions. Among the most critical executive functions, working memory and planning ability could be mentioned. Mindfulness–Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a combination of cognitive–behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy, and one of the methods of teaching sustained attention. Mindfulness could be defined as directing attention in a specific, purpose–oriented way in the present and without judgment. Neurofeedback (NF) is another non–pharmacological treatment option, which has recently gained significant experimental support concerning the improvement of the symptoms of ADHD. NF attempts to teach the subject a self–regulation strategy by recording the brainchr('39')s electrical waves and providing feedback. Feedback is usually given to the person through sound or image, which helps to determine if it has made a significant change in their brainwave activity. The present study aimed to compare the effects of MBCT and NF on executive functions (working memory & planning ability) in children with ADHD. 

This was a quasi–experimental study with a pretest–posttest and a control group design. The population of this study included all children aged 9–12 years, referring to counseling and psychology clinics in Tabriz City, Iran. After observing the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the research and implementing the Child Symptom Inventory–4 (CSI–4), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Integrated Visual and Auditory (IVA) scale, and diagnosis by a child psychologist, 45 ADHD children were selected. The study subjects were randomly divided into three groups, as follows: MBCT, NF, and the controls. All subjects completed the Wechsler Memory Scale, Fourth Edition (WMS–IV), and the Tower of London test before and after conducting the treatment. The reliability of the WMS–IV has been reported from 0.65 to 0.95. The validity of this test was also reported from 0.66 to 0.92 (Abedi, Sadeghi, and Rabiei, 2011). The reliability of the Tower of London test was reported equal to 0.80. The researchers also reported the validity of this test as 0.79 (Lezak, Howieson & Loring, 2004). The members of the MBCT group received treatment in 15 sessions, and those of the NF group received 25 sessions of intervention; however, the control group received no treatment. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS–24 using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Bonferroni posthoc test.

The obtained data indicated that MBCT and NF affected the executive functions (working memory & planning ability) in children with ADHD. Findings also revealed that MBCT had a more significant effect on executive functions (working memory & planning ability) in the studied children with ADHD in the posttest phase, compared to the NF group (p<0.001).

Considering the effectiveness of MBCT on executive functions (working memory & planning ability) in children with ADHD, this study highlighted the importance of using this method, along with other approaches to reduce the ADHD symptoms.

Researches in the field of children with learning disabilities show that these children often have disturbances in perception, language, phonological processing, motor disorders and memory. Memory problems of many of children with learning disabilities associated with various auditory and visual processes and memory disorders in these children may be deficient in other cognitive domains. On the one hand, the researches in the field of cognitive rehabilitation show the improvement of executive functions such as attention and memory through this method. Considering the findings and aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in children with learning disabilities (with and without ADHD) in auditory and visual memory improvement, 26 cases of children with learning disabilities (10 with ADHD and 15 without ADHD) was selected and assessed with CSI-4 and rehabilitated through N-back software (21 half-hour sessions) and data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and t-test. Results showed that cognitive rehabilitation for groups have been effective and differences in effectiveness for auditory memory in the two groups was significant and effective for auditory memory in LD children with ADHD was significant compared to the group without ADHD. The difference for visual memory was not significant.

Aims: Several studies indicate high levels of alexithymia and impulsive behavior in schizophrenia patients. The aim of this study was to compare the aspects of alexithymia and impulsive behavior in schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals.
In this causal-comparative study in 2016, 30 male schizophrenia patients, which were hospitalized at Razi Psychiatric Hospital of Tabriz City, Iran were selected randomly and 30 students of Tabriz University, Iran were selected by available sampling method and finally were divided into 2 groups. The research tools were Toronto alexithymia and Barratt impulsiveness scales. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software using independent T, Chi-square, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and LSD post hoc tests.
Findings: The average scores of alexithymia and its components (disruptions in describing feelings, disruptions in identifying feelings and thoughts towards the surface) and impulsive behavior and its components (cognitive impulsivity, motor impulsivity and non-planning) in schizophrenic patients were significantly more than the normal group (p Schizophrenic patients show high levels of alexithymia and impulsive behavior comparing to the normal individuals.

Identifying differences on personality in addicts compared with the normal group can be effective in the addiction prevention and treatment. For this reason and considering the importance of personality factors in addiction, the aim of this study is comparison of personality traits considering NEO five-factor model in normal people and addicts. The Method of this study is descriptive and Causal-comparative. Therefore 100 addicts at the East Azerbaijan Behzisti organization were selected in available sampling and 100 normal individual using matching (in age, academic grade and social & economic status) methods were selected and then responded the revised NEO personality inventory. Data obtained analyzed by using SPSS software and multivariate analysis of variance tests. The results showed that a significant difference between the Addicts and normal people at personality components of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness and also There is no significant difference between the two components of neuroticism and openness. Addicted People show low extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness compared to normal subjects and that could be considered in planning prevention and treatment counselors and therapists.