International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Winter 2019

Psychotherapy is, on the one hand, a certain form of helping people in personal need and, on the other hand, it is a profession, a service. The development towards a profession includes the development of certain quality criteria, structures, and regulations for the training as well as the social anchoring of the activity and its recognition. However, it also includes professionalization, this is to be understood as the development of a general ethics and personal ethos. Both are value systems that give orientation to both the therapist and the patient. Professional and personal (self-) reflection are indispensable to achieving professionalization. The development of an ethics code also has an effect on psychological science.
 

The aim of the current essay is to present the focal points of what Niklas Luhmann describes as human consciousness. Luhmann recognizes consciousness as an entity and reality, which cannot be reduced to other disciplines such as biology or sociology. The whatness and features of consciousness become clear through identifying the internal structures, procedures, elements, and logic of consciousness itself. Luhmann attempted to show all of these through having a systemic view of consciousness. He recognizes consciousness as an autopoietic system whose rule-governedness and specific boundaries separate it from biology and society.

 The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on health-related quality of life (QOL) and self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

 The present experimental field study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population of this study included all patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Isfahan, Iran, in 2018. From among the statistical population, 30 patients were selected as the sample 15 of whom constituted the experimental group and 15 the control group. The measurement tools used included the Health-Related Quality Of Life Questionnaire (SF-36) and the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale. First, the pretest was performed in both groups. Then, the experimental group took part in 8 sessions of mindfulness training twice a week, each time for 1.5 hours. After the intervention, the posttest was conducted in both groups. The follow-up was performed 45 days later. Data analysis was performed using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

 The findings showed that the mean (standard deviation) of QOL of the experimental group was 79.8 (10.2) in the pretest, and increased to 82.8 (8.8) in the post-test (P < 0.01). However, the mean (SD) of QOL in the control group was 77.7 (9.2) and 77.8 (9.5) in the pretest and posttest, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean (SD) of self-efficacy in the experimental group was 27.5 (8.1) in the pretest and increased to 33.4 (9.4) in the posttest (P < 0.01). However, the mean (SD) of self-efficacy in the control group was 26.1 (4.9) and 27.7 (6.6) in the pretest and posttest, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.05).

 This study showed that MBCT has an effect on health-related QOL and self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Mindfulness training is an effective therapeutic approach that is possible in the form of group work. Moreover, MBCT can provide a conceptual framework to help clients to adapt and accept their problems.

 Disorders and pain anxiety in adolescents with leukemia are very important. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on catastrophizing and anxiety associated with pain in adolescents with leukemia.

 A field experiment was conducted with a pretest and posttest design and control group. The statistical population of this study included all adolescents with leukemia in Isfahan, Iran, in 2016. Of these, 30 adolescents were selected as the sample (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group). The study tools used were the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)‎ and the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS-20). First, the pretest was conducted in both groups. Then, the experimental group was subjected to 8 sessions of MBCT twice a week and each time for 1.5 hours. After the intervention, posttest was conducted in the two groups. Follow-up was conducted in both groups ‎45 days after the completion of the intervention. Data analysis was performed using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

 The results showed that MBCT decreased catastrophizing and anxiety associated with pain in adolescents with leukemia, and this reduction persisted at the follow-up stage.

 The present study results showed that MBCT decreased catastrophizing and anxiety associated with pain. MBCT is an effective therapeutic approach that is possible in the form of group work. This method can provide a conceptual structure to help clients adapt to and accept their problems.

 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disease. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)‎ based on pain severity, perceived stress, and aggression in patients with MS.

 This experimental research was conducted with a pretest-posttest design. The study population included all patients with MS referred to health centers in Isfahan, Iran, in 2016. The study participants consisted of 60 patients selected using convenience sampling. The participants were divided into two groups (30 patients in the experimental group and 30 patients in the control group). The data collection tools included the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ)‎ and Perceived Stress Scale (‎PSS)‎. Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

 The results showed that ACT was effective in reducing pain (F = 28.22; P < 0.01), perceived stress
(F = 5.16; P < 0.03), and aggression (F = 6.86; P < 0.01) in patients with MS, and these results were persistent in the follow-up period.

 ACT is effective in reducing pain, perceived stress, and aggression in patients with MS.