دکتر مهدی پوراصغر

Background and

A pandemic can negatively affect both mental and social health. The aim of this study was to evaluate stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders experienced by dentists during COVID-19 pandemic.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on all dentists in Sari (290 dentists). Corona Disease Anxiety Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used as questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS V26.

A total of 126 dentists completed the questionnaires. The mean values of stress and anxiety score for general dentists and specialists were 12.4 and 11.5, respectively which were classified as mild level. There was no statistically significant relationship between sex, anxiety, and stress (P=0.09 for general dentists; P=0.13 for specialists). The prevalence of sleep disorders was 78% and 72% for general dentists and specialists, respectively. The mean value of sleep disorders was 6.8 for general dentists and 6.1 for specialists which was considered as low and inappropriate. There was no statistically significant relationship between sleep disorders and sex (P=0.4 for general dentists; P=0.9 for specialists).

The dentists' stress and anxiety level was mild during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevalence of sleep disorders was high and sleep quality was poor and unsuitable for both general dentists and specialists.

Hernia disease occurs when an area of an organ or tissue protrudes through a weak muscle layer. The most common treatment of this disease is hernia surgery, which is performed with anesthesia in two ways, open and closed. Anesthesia in older people with underlying diseases will be risky. In this case study, due to the high age of the patient candidate for hernia surgery, the patient was anesthetized through hypnosis.

Case Report: 

The case was an 87-year-old woman who was admitted to a hospital in Sari with the diagnosis of inguinal hernia and was discharged from the hospital one day after surgery with the help of hypnotic anesthesia. Hypnosis was performed by a psychiatrist and a psychotherapy fellowship who had completed a hypnotherapy course at the Iranian Clinical Hypnosis Association.

Since there is no medical treatment for hernia and its definitive treatment is surgery, the complications caused by anesthesia medications are high in the elderly. So, using hypnotic anesthesia is a suitable way to reduce the complications caused by anesthesia. Using hypnotic anesthesia is recommended for other high-risk patients who are candidate for surgery.

Borderline personality disorder is one of the most common disorders of mental health conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transference-focused psychotherapy and acceptance and commitment treatment on neuroticism and impulsivity in individuals with borderline personality disorder.

In an applied quasi experimental study, we used single subject design involving ABA design in which a behavior is studied at baseline (A), during treatment (B), and after treatment (A). The statistical population included all patients with borderline personality disorder attending Sari Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Sari Mana Clinic in May to June 2020 (n=32). Eleven patients
were selected using convenience sampling and were randomly allocated to transference-focused psychoanalysis (n=4), acceptance and commitment-based therapy (n=4) or control group (n=3). Data were collected in five stages: baseline, mid-stage, progress stage, treatment termination stage, and follow-up for one year (100 sessions) using the NEO five-factor personality questionnaire and Barat impulsivity questionnaire. Data analysis was performed applying repeated measures and Kruskal-Wallis test.

In the repeated measurement test, a significant difference was seen in cognitive impulsivity between the two groups compared to the control group (P=0.025). According to Kruskal-Wallis test, transference-focused psychoanalysis was prioritized.

Considering that these two treatment methods do not aim to reduce symptoms, our final results showed that transference-focused psychoanalysis was more effective. But, further studies are need to generalize current findings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of analytical psychotherapy based on object relationships (transference–focused) on personality organization and defense styles of individuals with a borderline personality disorder. The research method was A-B-A single-subject design. The statistical population included all people with borderline personality disorder who were referred to the outpatient department of Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Mana Sari in the period from May to June 2019, which were 32 with the approval of a psychiatrist, of which 7 were selected by the targeted sampling method. And in two groups of analytical psychotherapy based on object relationships, 4 people and 3 people in the control group were randomly assigned and treated for 100 sessions. Data were collected in five baseline stages, intermediate stage, treatment progress, termination, and follow-up during one year, using Cronberg IPO Personality Organization Questionnaire (Kernberg, 2002) and DSQ-40 Defense Styles (Andorz & et al., 1993) Was collected. For statistical analysis, graph analysis, stable change, and recovery percentage were used. Findings showed that analytical psychotherapy based on object relationships (transference–focused) can have favorable results on the psyche of personality organization and defense styles of people with borderline personality. Successful treatment of borderline patients is much more complex than research literature shows, and treatment outcome is not successful versus failure but covers a number of functional areas. We also need more research to generalize the results

Borderline personality disorder is a common mental disorder that is associated with high suicide rates, severe functional impairment, high rates of associated mental disorders, overuse of treatment, and high costs to society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of analytical psychotherapy based on transference-focused psychoanalysis on neuroticism and impulsivity in people with borderline personality.

A quasi-experimental study with A-B-A design was carried out and the study population included patients (n=32) with borderline personality disorder attending the outpatient department in Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Mana House Clinic in Sari, between May and June 2020. Seven patients were selected by available sampling and were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n=4) and a control group (n=3) and were treated for one year. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (2004) and NEO Personality Inventory (2004) were administered. Statistical analysis was performed using graph analysis, stable change, and recovery rate.

Findings showed that transference-focused psychotherapy can be effective on neuroticism and impulsivity in people with borderline personality.

The treatment outcome is not success versus failure, however, it may include improvements in a number of functional areas. Further research is also needed to generalize current findings.

The aim of this study was the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on the organization of personality and defense styles of people with borderline personality. The research method was single-subject design A-B-A The statistical population includes all people with borderline personality disorder who were referred to the outpatient department of Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Mana Home Sari Clinic in June 2016. Among them, 3 people were selected by sampling method and treated for 40 sessions. they got. Data were collected in three baselines: treatment, follow-up, and follow-up over 11 months using the Kernberg  IPO Personality Questionnaire (Kronberg, 2002) and the DSQ-40 Defense Styles (Anders & et al., 1993). For statistical analysis, the shape analysis method, stable change, was used. Analysis of the results in the treatment phase, the first person in the variables of reality testing, total personality score, the second person in the variables of confusion, reality testing, total personality score, progress growth defense, and the third person in personality, immature defense and Mental defense was seen as annoying. The follow-up stage of the first person was seen in the components of reality testing, confusion, the second person in reality testing, confusion, personality score, and the third person in the real testing variables of personality score, growth defense, immature defense. ACT treatment in 10 months I can make changes in a person with a borderline personality, Further research is needed to generalize the findings.

The aim of this study was to the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on five personality factors and impulsivity components in borderline personality disorder. The research method was A-B-A single-subject design. The statistical population included all people with borderline personality disorder who were referred to the outpatient department of Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Mana Sari Clinic during June 2019 From, among them, 3 people were selected by available sampling method and treated for 40 sessions got. Data were collected in three stages of baseline, treatment, and follow-up over 11 months using the Barat BIS Impulsivity Questionnaire (Barat et al., 2004) and the five NEO personality factors (McCreery and Costa, 2004). For statistical analysis, the graph analysis method, stable change, was used. Analysis of the results in the treatment phase was seen in the first person in the agreement variable, in the second person in the variables of agreement, nervousness, total impulsivity score, and in the third person in the variables of cognitive impulsivity, motor impulsivity, and total impulsivity score. In the follow-up phase, changes in impulsive components were seen in the first person, impulsive components in the second person, and impulsive components in the third person in the variables of agreement, nervousness. It can be concluded that treatment based on acceptance and commitment for a period of 10 months can cause significant changes in people with borderline personality, more research is needed to generalize the results of treatment.

Body image and sex desire are among the most important psychological issues for women.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive hypnosis therapy on body image and marital satisfaction of women. This research was quasi-experimental design with pre-test-post-test-follow-up and control group. The statistical population of the study included women suffered from body image and sexual dissatisfaction who attended Babolsar Eltiam counseling center in 2021.From this population, 22 people  selected by available samoling method and then were randomly selected  into experimental and control gropups (each included 11 people). Littleton Body Image Scale (BICI) and Meston & Trapnell Sex Satisfaction Scale(SSSW), were the research instruments. The experimental group received cognitive hypnotherapy weekly for 11 sessions of 90 minutes, while the control group did not receive any training The results of  analysis of covariance illustrated that cognitive hypnosis therapy was effective in increasing sex desire(F -19/54 P <0.001) and improving body image (F = 8.962 P < 0.005) in women. It was concluded that the method of cognitive hypnosis therapy can increase accuracy, concentration, and awareness through eliminating misconceptions and consequently increase sex desire and improve women's body image. and it is recommended to be used as therapeutic method.

Paying attention to the changing needs of society in health and the need for a responsive education system in line with the needs of society, shows the need to review educational and research structure of medical universities in a country. The purpose of this study was to explain the learned experiences of academic members on the structure of educational and research institutions.

This qualitative study was performed in 26 faculty members of medical sciences graduated from foreign universities using purposeful sampling. Individual semi-structured interviews were performed and the participants were asked about organizational structure, the function, and organizational hierarchy of the university where they had studied. Interviews were recorded and handwritten, coded, and analyzed according to the conventional content analysis approach.

We extracted four main themes, 12 sub-themes, and 75 items from the data. Main themes included type of organizational structure, strategies, management of resources, and educational infrastructures. The sub-themes were as follows: the organizational structure of educational and research institutions and traditional structure, new structure, entrepreneurship, change management, interdisciplinary insight, human resources, national resources, physical resources, educational centers, educational groups, fields of study, and research centers.

Planning system of every country (centralized/decentralized) was found to affect the type of organizational structure of educational and research institutions. Therefore, universities and research institutions are needed to design a suitable structure consistent with the needs of society and their own goals.