درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Objective: Psychological defense mechanisms reflect how individuals cope with conflicts and stress. This study aimed to describe defense mechanisms in medical interns and their correlation with spiritual health. Method: This cross-sectional study, characterized by its descriptive nature, was carried out among medical students during the 2019-2020 academic year. The participants were 168 medical interns who met the established study criteria and completed two questionnaires: The Defense Mechanisms Questionnaire (DSQ-40), devised by Andrews et al. (1993), and the Spiritual Health Questionnaire by Paloutzian and Ellison (1982). Data analysis was conducted utilizing SPSS version 25, employing Pearson correlation, t-tests, and ANOVA for statistical evaluation. Results: The mean score of mature defense mechanisms (43.31±16.83) among medical interns was higher than immature (98.52±52.8) and neurotic (36.75±18.3) defense mechanisms. The immature defense mechanism was significantly higher in males than in females (99.43±23.41 vs 108.47±23.21, p=0.014). Also, the mean score of immature defense mechanisms in single individuals was considerably higher than in married ones (106.66±24.02 vs 93.12±19.56, p=0.001). The spiritual health of interns had a significant and direct correlation (r=0.249) with mature defense mechanisms and a significant negative correlation (r=-0.336) with immature defense mechanisms. Conclusion: Higher spiritual health in medical interns is associated with greater use of mature defense mechanisms and lesser use of immature defense mechanisms.

Objective: Somatic symptoms consist of a wide range of symptoms and until yet clustering them has been very challenging for researchers and therapists. The present study aims to explore underlying psychological factors of various functional somatic symptoms and determine if there are any similarities or differences in these factors that could help classify these symptoms as one syndrome or discrete ones. Method: This study adopted an association rule mining method based on data mining. 643 participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using the checklist of somatic symptoms (Lacourt et al., 2013), Attachment Questionnaire (Hazan & Shaver, 2017), Defense Style Questionnaire (Andrews et al., 1993), and Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (Lane, 2006). Results: Cognitive, gastrointestinal, and fatigue symptoms are related more to immature defense mechanisms. Musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiac symptoms are associated with neurotic defenses. Fatigue symptoms are associated with ambivalent attachment and musculoskeletal symptoms are related more to avoidant attachment. Indeed, it could be said that there are two clusters of somatic symptoms, one of which is attachment and the other is defense mechanisms. This supports the splitters’ view about somatic syndromes. Conclusions: These findings show various types of somatic symptoms have qualitatively different risk factors. Our findings imply that psychotherapists should consider the kind of syndromes a patient has and their underlying psychological predispositions to manage the problem better.  

Objective: In this study, the intervention of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on resilience, rumination, and dysfunctional attitudes in infertile couples is studied.Method: The research design was quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test and a one-month follow-up with control groups. The statistical population of the study consisted of infertile couples referred to Ibn Sina Infertility Center in Tehran, where 30 infertile couples aged 24-40 were selected as research samples by using a purposive sampling method based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were then randomly assigned into two groups of 15 couples. The research instruments were Connor and Davidson's (2003) Resilience Questionnaire, the Nalen and Huxma (1991) rumination, and the Weissman and Beck (1978) dysfunctional attitude questionnaire that were provided to both groups to collect the required data. The control group stayed on the waiting list, and the mindfulness training was performed for the experimental group during eight weekly sessions (two 90-minute sessions per week), according to Segal, Williams, and Tisdale MBCT Protocol (2018). The sessions were performed online and on Skyroom's platform. The research data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).Results: The results showed that MBCT treatment improved resilience and reduced rumination and dysfunctional attitudes in the experimental group and the post-test and follow-up phase (P<0/001).Conclusion: According to the results, employing this approach for infertile couples is helpful and it can be suggested for improving their psychological conditions. 

Objective: This research was conducted to study the role of sleep quality moderators in the relationship between depression and treatment compliance.   Method : The research design was descriptive and correlational, and the research population included all patients with multiple sclerosis living in Tehran. 229 subjects with Multiple Sclerosis were selected in a convenient method, and they were asked to answer Morinsky's treatment compliance, Petersburg sleep quality, and Beck's depression questionnaires using the pencil and paper method. Results : Evidence of the predictive role of depressive symptoms for poor adherence to treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis was found. In addition, evidence of the predictive role of sleep quality in treatment adherence was found, but its mediating role in the relationship between depression and treatment adherence was not found. Conclusion : The findings indicated the importance of depression symptoms and sleep quality in the treatment compliance of multiple sclerosis patients. Considering the importance of treatment compliance in the prognosis of the disease, it is suggested that doctors consider this issue to formulate treatment plans to target cognitive and emotional problems parallel to the main treatment of the disease and thereby increase treatment compliance.  

Personality disorders can play a significant role in creating and perpetuating sexual function problems in women. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between personality patterns and types of female orgasms. The method of the present study was correlational, and a sample of 400 women in Tehran was selected by convenience sampling method. Tests used to collect data were Millon 3 questionnaires (MCMI-III), Women's Sexual Function Questionnaire (FSFI), and Orgasm Scale Assessment (ORS). According to the results, the highest disorder was related to the satisfaction subscale, and the lowest percentage of the research sample was in the orgasm subscale (25.9%) in the subscales of desire, arousal, humidity, and pain, respectively. The percentage of the research sample was 31, 32, 26.3, and 31.4%. According to the results, the narcissism and negativity subscales had a significant relationship with the types of orgasm (P <0.05) and the other subscales had no significant relationship. According to the results of logistic regression, avoidance, sadism, and borderline subscales were able to predict the types of orgasms and the coefficients of other paths in the regression model did not have significant coefficients (P <0.05).

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on pain beliefs and dimensions of anger in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Method : The research design was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of women with rheumatoid arthritis referred to medical centers in Tabriz City in 2022. The sample included 25 women with rheumatoid arthritis selected through convenience sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were then randomly assigned to two groups. The research instruments used were Williams and Thorne's Belief in Pain Questionnaire and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Questionnaire, which were provided to both groups to collect the required data. The control group remained on the waiting list, while the experimental group underwent MBSR training over eight weekly sessions (90 minutes per week) following Jon Kabat-Zinn's approach. The research data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results : The results indicated significant differences between the MBSR and control groups in pain beliefs and anger. Specifically, MBSR treatment led to a reduction in pain-related beliefs and anger in the experimental group ( P <0.001). Eta-squared values showed that 76.3%, 71.8%, 74.4%, and 69.6% of the variance in pain beliefs and anger could be attributed to the effects of MBSR, respectively. Conclusion : Based on the findings, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training can be considered as a complementary and protective treatment technique for patients with chronic and painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases. The disease is clinically defined by the involvement of different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) at various times. Its peak incidence is between the ages of 20 and 40. The experience of pain plays an important role in the mental health and quality of life of MS patients. Research also shows that if MS patients have high levels of self-compassion, they can more easily manage negative situations. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training programs on the perception of pain experience and self-compassion in MS patients. Method: >The current research is an experiment with available sampling methods. The sample includes 40 MS patients, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. Mindfulness training programs (Kabat—Zinn), the McGill Pain Experience Scale (MPQ), and the NF Self-Compassion Questionnaire (SCS-LF) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed through the statistical test of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: >The results showed that the average difference between the groups regarding pain experience (F=49.270) and self-compassion (F=51.249) is significant. Therefore, it can be said that increasing self-compassion leads to higher efficiency in facing stressful situations. Conclusion >: Enhancing cognitive processes, particularly self-compassion, through mindfulness training can significantly influence individuals’ perception of pain. It is recommended that families receive appropriate training to develop strategies aimed at strengthening mindfulness skills in individuals.  

Objective : Despite significant antiemetic advances, almost 50 % of treated cancer patients still experience nausea and vomiting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of avoidant coping in the relationships between psychological well-being and chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea in women with breast cancer in Shiraz. Method : The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of this study consists of women with breast cancer in Shiraz with an average age of 51 to 56 years. In this research, a non-random and voluntary sampling method was used; thus, 211 female patients with breast cancer treated by chemotherapy voluntarily completed the relevant questionnaires, which included psychological well-being questionnaire (Ryff, 1989), chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea questionnaire (Rhodes & McDaniel, 1999), and coping style questionnaire (Endler & Parker, 1990). The data were analyzed by AMOS software. Results : Research findings showed a negative and significant relationship between psychological well-being and avoidant coping style, and a positive and significant relationship between avoidant coping style and delayed nausea. The Sobel test confirmed the mediating role of avoidant coping style in the relationship between psychological well-being and delayed nausea. Therefore, it can be concluded that there was a relationship between psychological well-being and delayed nausea, with the mediation of avoidant coping style. Also, psychological well-being had an indirect effect on delayed nausea. Conclusion : Chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea can be reduced by improving coping skills and strategies and the psychological well-being of women with breast cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of neurofeedback in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in high school deaf girls. Method: A total of 24 deaf female students were randomly assigned to experimental (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. The experimental group received 15 neurofeedback training sessions targeting the F3 and F4 regions. Both groups completed the DASS-21 questionnaire before and after the intervention.. Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance indicated significant reductions in depression (F = 15.680, p<.05), anxiety (F = 5.991, p<.05), and stress (F = 6.100, p<.05) scores in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Neurofeedback appears to be an effective intervention for improving mental health among deaf adolescents.