Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology
Volume:8 Issue: 2, May 2021

Rational, emotional, and behavioral skills include self-awareness, as well as critical and creative thinking, which assist individuals in acquiring a deeper understanding of their personality, weaknesses, strengths, emotions, values, and identity. The present research aimed to compare the effect of the rational-emotional theory and strict discipline on rational, emotional, and behavioral skills among high school second-grade students.

The current study was conducted based on a pre and post-test design on three groups, including one control and two test groups. The statistical population consisted of  90 male second-grade high school students in Tehran during 2019-2020. The G*Power software was used to calculate the sample size. A number of 75 second-grade students were recruited for this study via the convenient sampling method. After that, the participants were assigned to three groups of 25 students. A self-made questionnaire of life skills, similar to Saatchi, Kamkar, and Askarian, was employed for data collection. Fifteen experts in curriculum planning confirmed the internal and external validity of the questionnaire. Moreover, its reliability was confirmed, rendering a Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient of 0.92. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using multi-variant analysis of the covariance and Scheffechr('39')s Post Hoc test.

Based on the results, the rational-emotional method had a more significant effect on studentschr('39') rational (F=11.56, P<0.001), emotional (F=20.33, P<0.001), and behavioral skills (F=16.67, P<0.001), compared to the strict discipline.

It can be concluded that life skill training through rational-emotional theory brings about a marked increase in studentschr('39') rational, behavioral, and emotional skills. Nevertheless, the strict discipline method revealed no significant association between training students on life skills and increased rational, behavioral, and emotional skills.

A flavonoid kaempferol (KM) exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and is reportedly capable of preventing metabolic diseases. Nonetheless, a limited number of studies have been carried out on the antinociceptive effects of kaempferol.

The present study aimed to investigate the involvement of serotonin receptors in the antinociceptive-like activity of KM in male Wistar rats using the tail-flick test.

The compounds (i.e., KM, morphine, and diclofenac) were intracerebroventricularly administered to rats for the examination of central effects on the thermal pain using the tail-flick test. For the evaluation of the involvement of serotonin receptors in the possible antinociceptive effects of kaempferol, several antagonists (i.e., tropisetron, ketanserin, GR113808, WAY 100635, and penbutolol) were used. Additionally, locomotor activity and motor responses were investigated by the rotarod test after KM treatment.

The intracerebroventricular microinjections of KM showed antinociceptive effects using the tail-flick test. The pretreatment with tropisetron as a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist at 1 and 10 mg completely reversed the KM-related antinociception. Furthermore, ketanserin (5-HT2A receptor antagonist) and GR113808 (5-HT4 receptor antagonist) both at 10 mg reduced KM-related antinociception; however, 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100635 and 5-HT1B antagonist penbutolol did not decrease KM-related antinociception. All KM doses were not observed with a significant effect on locomotor activity or motor reactions.

The results of the current study suggested that serotonergic receptors (i.e., 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, and 5-HT4) are effective in the KM antinociceptive activity in male rats.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable and one of the most important life-altering diseases which gradually leads to disability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on psychological capital and emotional expression styles of female patients with MS in the Iranian MS Society during 2019-2020.

The statistical population of the study consisted of all females with MS who were members of the Iranian MS Society in 2019. In total, 36 patients were selected voluntarily who were randomly divided into three groups (ACT, placebo, and control). The intervention was held in eight 90-min weekly sessions for the intervention and the placebo groups at the office of the Iranian MS Society, Tehran, Iran[A1] . All groups were re-evaluated at the end of the intervention and also two months later (i.e., follow-up stage). The obtained data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Based on the results, ACT affected the components of hope and resilience at the significance level of 0.01 and the components of self-efficacy and optimism at the significance level of 0.05, compared to the control group. Moreover, the ACT was able to increase the components of hope and resilience at the significance level of 0.01 and the component of optimism at the significance level of 0.05 in comparison with the placebo group.

The ACT increased psychological capital components, including hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy in patients with MS.

Marital infidelity is a major factor that affects the strength, durability, and mental health of families. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of marital satisfaction in the causal relationships between forgiveness and the feeling of loneliness with attitudes toward marital infidelity in married students.

 This causal-correlational and field study was conducted on 211 married students who were selected from Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran, during the academic year 2018-2019 through convenience sampling. The data were collected using the Interpersonal Forgiveness Inventory, Russell’s Loneliness Scale, Whatley’s Attitude towards Infidelity Scale, and ENRICH marital satisfaction questionnaire. Furthermore, the data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 24) through descriptive and inferential statistics, including mean±SD, Pearson’s correlation, and path analysis.

A direct and negative relationship was observed between forgiveness and attitudes toward marital infidelity (β=-0.181, P=0.013); feeling of loneliness and marital satisfaction (β=-0.252, P=0.001); and marital satisfaction and attitudes toward marital infidelity (β=-0.418, P=0.001). Furthermore, there was a direct and positive relationship between forgiveness and marital satisfaction (β=0.517, P=0.001). Eventually, there was no significant direct relationship between the feeling of loneliness and attitudes toward marital infidelity (β=-0.029, P=0.652). The results of path analysis indicated that marital satisfaction had a mediating role in the relationship between forgiveness and attitude towards marital infidelity (β=-0.165, P=0.001), as well as the association between the feeling of loneliness and attitude towards marital infidelity (β=0.138, P=0.002).

The results showed a good fit for the proposed model in this study. Moreover, marital satisfaction played an important role in the relationship between forgiveness and the feeling of loneliness with the attitude toward marital infidelity.

Abuse of androgenic-anabolic steroids is associated with cognitive impairment in athletes; however, the beneficial effects of herbs and exercise on memory improvement have been reported in this regard.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance training (RT) with Tribulus Terrestris (TT) consumption on avoidance and working memory in rats exposed to stanozolol (S).

In this experimental study, 35 male rats were divided into seven groups of five animals including: 1) sham (normal saline) (Sh), 2) S, 3) S+100 mg/kg TT (STT100), 4) S+50 mg/kg TT (STT50), 5) S+RT (SRT), 6) S+RT+100 mg/kg TT (SRTTT100), and 7) S+RT+50 mg/kg TT (SRTTT50). During eight weeks, groups 5-7 performed three sessions of weekly RT at an intensity of 30% to 100% of body weight, and groups 3, 4, 6, and 7 received 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg TT peritoneally per day. The avoidance and working memory were measured 24 h after the last training session using shuttle box and Y maze tests, respectively.

The step-through latency (STL) and percentage of non-repetitive alternations were significantly higher in the RT (P≤0.05), STT100 (P≤0.05), and SRTTT100 (P≤0.05) groups. Additionally, the time spent in the dark compartment (TDC) was shorter than that in the S group. Moreover, PA levels were significantly higher in the SRTTT50 group, compared to that in the S group (P≤0.05). The RT and 100 mg/kg TT significantly increased the STL, reduced TDC, and increased the non-repetitive percentage of alternation (PA) (P≤0.05). Moreover, RT with 100 mg/kg TT significantly increased STL, decreased TDC, and increased PA (P≥0.05), while RT with 50 mg/kg TT only increased PA (P≥0.05).

The RT and TT consumption have a synergistic effect on memory improvement in rats exposed to S; however, it should be noted that the TT consumption is dose-dependent.

Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common diagnosis among patients with gastrointestinal diseases and can adversely affect their quality of life. In this regard, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-efficacy-based training on depression, self-care behaviors, and the quality of life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

This applied quasi-intervention study was conducted based on a pretest-posttest design with a control group and follow-up. The statistical population included all patients with irritable bowel syndrome who referred to Khorshid Hospital in Isfahan, Iran from September to November 2019. The samples were selected using the convenience sampling method. In total, 30 patients with irritable bowel syndrome were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The data were collected using Beck depression inventory, self-care questionnaire, and quality of life questionnaire. The intervention group received four sessions of self-efficacy training (one session per week for 90 min), while the control group did not receive any training. Two months later, the follow-up period was completed. The collected data were analyzed using repeated measures of analysis of variance in SPSS software (version 22).

The results showed that self-efficacy training was effective in decreasing depression (P<0.0001, F=35.39) and increasing quality of life (P<0.0001, F=120.30) and self-care behaviors (P<0.0001, F=70.50) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

It can be concluded that training based on self-efficacy theory can effectively reduce depression and increase self-care behaviors and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Cognitive rehabilitation is a way to restore lost cognitive capacities. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy on cognitive functions (working memory, concentration, and attention) of adolescents living in boarding schools in Tehran.

This study was a quasi-experimental research with pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population includes all adolescents living in welfare boarding schools in the age group was 15 to 18 years old, and they were in Tehran in 2018. Out of 100 people, 60 people who had problems in the mentioned variables were randomly selected, and randomly divided into two groups of 30 people. The first group underwent eight individual sessions of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (by NBK software), and the second group, as a control group, did not receive any treatment. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance and Spss.22 software.

The results showed that the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy was effective on cognitive functions (working memory, concentration, and attention) of adolescents (P<0.001).

It can be concluded that cognitive rehabilitation can successfully affect numerous aspects of cognitive functions, while numerous medical therapies may be required to treat each mere aspect. Further evaluations are strongly recommended.

Diabetes affects the central nervous system associated with cognition, especially memory and learning. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics (living microorganisms that provide health benefits) and resveratrol (a polyphenol with potential antioxidant activity) combination on oxidative stress, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), memory, and learning in diabetic rats.

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (six animals per group) of control, diabetic, probiotic-treated diabetic (50×109CFU/kg in drinking water), resveratrol-treated diabetic (10 mg/kg, oral gavage), as well as probiotics and resveratrol-treated diabetic. The treatment procedures lasted for four weeks, and a Shuttle Box test was then performed to evaluate memory and learning. At the end of the study, animals were sacrificed, and the hippocampus was removed to perform biochemical studies.

The levels of malondialdehyde and total oxidative status significantly decreased in the diabetic group treated with combined resveratrol and probiotics (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase significantly increased in the hippocampus of the diabetic group treated with combined resveratrol and probiotics (P<0.05). According to the results, the combined therapy improved memory and learning (P<0.05). In addition, the level of GLP-1 increased in the treatment groups (P<0.05).

Treatment with resveratrol and probiotics significantly normalized pyramidal cell densities in the hippocampus of diabetic rats. This combination also reduced oxidative stress and activated the gut-brain axis in diabetic animals.

Kaempferol (KM) is one of the most important plants with neuroprotection and analgesic effects. In addition, bicuculline (BIC) is a competitive antagonist of the GABAA ionotropic receptor (the most important targets of benzodiazepines and other anxiety suppressants). In this study, intracerebroventricular microinjection of KM on anxiety and its interaction with GABAergic mechanism were investigated in male rats.

In this exploratory investigation, the male rats were divided into the following groups: control (saline), groups treated by KM (0.5 and 2 mg/rat), DMSO (1mg/rat), KM 0.5+BIC1 mg/rat, KM 0.5+BIC4 mg/rat, KM 2+BIC1 mg/rat, BIC groups (1, 4 mg/rat), and KM 2+BIC 4 mg/rat. Besides, an elevated plus-maze paradigm was used for the evaluation of the anxiety.

Statistical analysis revealed that the indices of TTOA in KM groups (0.5 and 2 mg/rat) significantly increased in comparison to the control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Moreover, regarding the involvement of the GABAergic system in the anxiolytic-like activity of KM, it was demonstrated that the TTOA related to co-administration of KM (0.5mg/rat) with bicuculline (1mg/rat) significantly reduced, compared to the control group (P<0.05).

According to the obtained results, the use of KM can likely improve anxiety through GABAergic mechanism(s).