majid mahmoud alilou dr

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality-based worry exposure therapy on the severity of symptoms and cognitive avoidance in patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. This study was conducted in the framework of a single-subject experimental design using multiple baselines with a 6-week follow-up. Three women with GAD were selected through a structured clinical interview based on the criteria of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5 (DSM5) by Convenience Sampling among those who referred to the Counseling centers in Tabriz. The protocol of this study followed the manual by Becker and Margraf (2002) which describes imaginal exposure for GAD applied in 15 sessions. The only difference was that in this research exposure to virtual reality replaced with imagination. In this study, three 360-degree films were made by the researcher used for the exposure. The content made in the form of 360-degree videos and displayed to patients through virtual reality tools. The scales to assess changes in Gad symptoms and cognitive avoidance include the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire by Spitz, Kroenke, Williams, Lowe (2006) and the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire by sexton and Dugas (2009). Data analyzed with visuals inspection, improvement percentage, and reliable change index strategies. Results showed that virtual reality-based worry exposure therapy has significant efficiency in the reduction of GAD symptoms and cognitive avoidance clinically and statistically (p<0.05). virtual reality-based worry exposure therapy has appropriate efficacy in reducing GAD symptoms.

The earthquake is one of the largest and most devastating natural disasters, which has various physical and psychological effects on people, especially children and adolescents.
Aim: The aim of this study, was to compare the coping strategies, happiness and hope for the future in the adolescents survivor of Bam earthquake with normal adolescents.
In this study 143 adolescents survivor of Bam earthquake and 207 normal adolescents were selected by multistage claster sampling and answered to Lazarus coping strategies, Oxford happiness and Snyder hope for the future. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance and T- independent group.
Findings showed that survivors of earthquake use less problem-focused coping strategies and use more emotional-focused coping strategies, as well as happiness and hope for the future in them is lower than normal adolescents. Also, gender differences were observed in the studied variables.
Based on these findings, by providing appropriate psychological measures and training in coping strategies, the level of vulnerability of earthquake people can be significantly reduced.

The looming maladaptive style is a cognitive variable that increases the individual’s vulnerability to anxiety. Looming cognitive style is assessed by the Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire (LMSQ-R). This study investigated the structure, validity, consistency, and stability of a Farsi translation of the LMSQ-R in a sample of Iranian students. Three hundred and forty three students (152 men, 190 women) were included in this study. The participants completed the Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire-Revised (LMSQ-R), the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and the Depression scale of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42). Results provided evidence from factor analyses confirming a two-factor model of this scale (social and physical threat). Also, the results of partial correlations for assessing convergent and discriminant validity showed that LMSQ-R was independently associated with symptoms of generalized and social anxiety but it was not independently associated with depression. Furthermore, The LMSQ-R exhibited a good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. With respect to the findings of the present study, the Farsi version of the LMSQ-R has shown good psychometric properties in Iranian samples.