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Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on cognitive fusion and social anxiety in women suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Methods: This study was an applied, quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, including a control group. The population consisted of all women with generalized anxiety disorder who attended counseling centers in Sari city. The sample included 30 women with generalized anxiety disorder, selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group receiving ACT for social anxiety disorder (Hayes, 2012) and a wait-list control group. Data were collected using the Social Anxiety Questionnaire (Watson & Friend, 1969) and the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (Gillanders, 2014). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS-26 software. Findings: The results showed significant differences between the ACT treatment group and the control group. ACT was effective in reducing cognitive fusion (F = 15.25, p < .001) and social anxiety (F = 38.86, p < .001) in women with generalized anxiety disorder (p < .001). Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may serve as an effective intervention method for improving cognitive fusion and social anxiety in women with generalized anxiety disorder.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the structural relationship between metacognitive beliefs, stress, attachment styles, and anorexia nervosa mediated by self-image. Methods: This research is a descriptive correlational study and is a type of modeling research; the study population included female middle school students from Tehran in the 2022-2023 academic year. The research sample was collected through convenience sampling. Participants included 215 female students who completed online questionnaires on Anorexia Nervosa (Stice et al., 2004), Body Self-Image (Rue & Associates, 1999), Anxiety, Depression, Stress-21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), Metacognitive Beliefs-30 (Cartwright et al., 2004), and the Adult Attachment Styles Questionnaire (Besharat, 2005). Data were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares method in SPSS and Smart-PLS software. Findings: The results showed that the modified structural relationship model of metacognitive beliefs, stress, and attachment styles with anorexia nervosa mediated by body self-image had the necessary fit. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that body self-image played a mediating role in the relationship between metacognitive beliefs, stress, and attachment styles with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: The current research was conducted with the aim of studying and investigating the role of tests and tools in the accurate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Methods: A total of 83 children (56 boys and 27 girls) diagnosed with autism or one of the comorbid diagnoses were selected and underwent the GARS-3 scale and the Psycho-Educational Profile Revised (PEP-3) diagnostic test. Additionally, parents were asked to complete a checklist provided by the researcher. The age range of the individuals with autism was between 2 and 7 years, with an average age of 6.5 years. Findings: The results of the statistical analyses of the data from this study indicated a significant role of diagnosis tools. Conclusion: So, the proper and timely use of diagnostic tests plays a significant role in the accurate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and also in determining the severity of these disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and emotion-focused therapy on attachment patterns, communication patterns, and lifestyle of incompatible couples who referred to counseling centers. Methods: This study is applied research in nature and quasi-experimental in execution, utilizing a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples with incompatible spouses who referred to counseling centers (Behesht Counseling Center) in Isfahan in 2022. From this population, 45 individuals were selected using convenience and purposive sampling and divided into three groups: two experimental groups (each with 15 participants) and one control group (15 participants). The first experimental group underwent Goodwin's positive psychotherapy (2018) in ten sessions, and the second experimental group underwent Johnson's emotion-focused therapy (2006) in eight sessions. The questionnaires used in this study were Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Questionnaire (1987), Christensen and Sullaway's Communication Patterns Questionnaire (1984), and Miller-Smith's Lifestyle Questionnaire (2003). Findings: Using covariance analysis, the results indicated that, after controlling for pre-test levels, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups of incompatible couples in terms of attachment patterns (secure, avoidant-insecure, and ambivalent-insecure), communication patterns (constructive mutual), communication pattern (demand/withdraw), communication pattern (avoidant), and lifestyle. The effect size was 0.48 for emotion-focused therapy. Similarly, significant differences were observed for positive psychotherapy with an effect size of 0.41. There was a significant difference in the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and emotion-focused therapy on attachment patterns (secure, avoidant-insecure, and ambivalent-insecure). Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that emotion-focused therapy has a greater impact on attachment patterns (secure, avoidant-insecure, and ambivalent-insecure) compared to positive psychotherapy. Significant differences were also observed in the impact on communication patterns (constructive mutual, demand/withdraw, and avoidant) and lifestyle, with emotion-focused therapy showing a greater effect.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) on marital commitment, love schemas, and emotional schemas in couples with extramarital affairs. Methods: This research employed a semi-experimental single-case design with a multiple baseline method. The statistical population of this study included all couples with experience of extramarital affairs who referred to family courts and the prevention unit of the welfare organization in Dezful city in the year 2022. A total of 4 couples (8 individuals) were selected through purposeful sampling. The EFCT process was conducted in three baseline stages, across 8 sessions of 90 minutes each, with a two-month follow-up. Participants responded to the Marital Commitment Questionnaire by Adams and Jones (1997), the Love Schema Questionnaire by Yarahmadi-Vaseli et al. (2020), and the Leahy Emotional Schema Scale (LES) (2002). Data were analyzed using visual inspection, reliable change index, and percentage improvement formula. Findings: The results indicated that EFCT led to an increase in marital commitment in couples with extramarital affairs (P<0.05), and the effects persisted until the follow-up stage. Additionally, the results showed that EFCT resulted in an increase in adaptive emotional schemas and a decrease in maladaptive emotional schemas in these couples (P<0.05). EFCT had a significant impact on secure love schema, unstable love schema, clingy love schema, avoidant love schema, and unserious love schema (P<0.05), with effects lasting until the follow-up stage. Furthermore, the results indicated that EFCT did not have a significant impact on reducing unserious love schema and uninterested love schema (P>0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, EFCT can be utilized as a sustainable intervention to enhance marital commitment, love schemas, and emotional schemas in healthcare and therapeutic centers for couples with extramarital affairs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of sexual cognitive behavioral therapy on sexual awareness, psychological functioning, and self-control in married women. Method: The research method was a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The study population included all married female students at the Islamic Azad University, Garmsar Branch, in 2023. Based on the population, 30 participants (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) were purposively selected and randomly assigned. Data were collected using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire by Snell and colleagues (1991), along with Dr. Mehrnaz Aliakbari's sexual cognitive behavioral therapy protocol. Findings: The results indicated that sexual cognitive behavioral therapy significantly and positively affected sexual awareness, psychological functioning, and self-control in married women. Conclusions: Therefore, sexual cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to improve psychological functioning and self-control in women.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate marital satisfaction based on father involvement in parenting, problem-solving skills, and cognitive emotion regulation through emotional empathy in mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: The research design was descriptive-survey and used a structural equations approach. The statistical population included 148 mothers of children with cerebral palsy in the city of Rasht in 2022. Using a census and purposive sampling method, all 148 individuals were selected as the sample. Data were collected using the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire, Alabama Parenting Test (Parent Form), Family Problem-Solving Questionnaire, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Emotional Empathy Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 28) and Lisrel (version 10). Findings: The findings showed a direct relationship between father involvement in parenting, problem-solving skills, cognitive emotion regulation, and emotional empathy with marital satisfaction (p ≤ .01). An indirect relationship was also found between father involvement in parenting, problem-solving skills, and cognitive emotion regulation through the mediation of emotional empathy with marital satisfaction (p ≤ .01). Conclusion: To alleviate or reduce the burden on mothers of children with cerebral palsy, fathers must actively participate in parenting. This collaboration enables both parents to solve problems and control negative emotions while supporting each other with a high level of emotional empathy, thereby fostering and enhancing marital satisfaction.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based psychotherapy on functional flexibility and health hardiness in patients with coronavirus anxiety during the epidemic. Methods: This research utilized a quasi-experimental method with a pre-test, post-test design, including a control group and a three-month follow-up period. The statistical population comprised individuals with coronavirus anxiety who contacted counseling centers in Isfahan for telephone consultations during the summer of 2021. From this population, 33 individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group received mindfulness-based psychotherapy (8 sessions) based on Kabat-Zinn's protocol (2003) over two months. The questionnaires used in this study included the Functional Flexibility Questionnaire (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), the Health Hardiness Questionnaire (Gibbhardt, VanderDerf, & Powell, 2001), and the Coronavirus Anxiety Questionnaire (Alipour et al., 2019). Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA with SPSS23 statistical software. Findings: The results indicated that mindfulness-based psychotherapy significantly impacted functional flexibility (P<0.0001; Eta=0.62; F=52.32) and health hardiness (P<0.0001; Eta=0.65; F=55.09) in patients with coronavirus anxiety. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, mindfulness-based psychotherapy, utilizing techniques such as mindful attitude, mindful activities, addressing problematic emotions, and breathing exercises, can be effectively used to improve functional flexibility and health hardiness in patients with coronavirus anxiety.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of problem-solving skills training based on the theories of Tolman and Bandura on the problem-solving styles of middle school students. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental. The population consisted of all female first-year middle school students in Hamadan, with a sample size of 75 students (three groups of 25), selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. The D'Zurilla, Nezu, and Maydeu-Olivares problem-solving questionnaire (2000) was used for data collection. Problem-solving training sessions based on Tolman's theory followed a protocol provided by Tolman (1932), and those based on Bandura's theory followed a protocol by Bandura (1999), conducted over eight 60-minute weekly sessions for two months. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and the Scheffé post hoc test. Findings: There were differences in the impact of training based on these theories on students' problem-solving styles (P < .01). Training based on Tolman's theory was more effective in reducing the use of negative and impulsive problem-solving styles compared to training based on Bandura's theory (P < .01). Conclusion: These trainings increased the use of positive and logical orientation styles and decreased the use of negative, avoidant, and impulsive styles among students.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of movement-based psychotherapy on couple intimacy. Method: The research employed a single-case experimental design with multiple baselines. The statistical population consisted of all couples who visited counseling centers in Bojnord City in 2021. From this population, three couples who met the inclusion criteria were selected through purposive criterion-based sampling. Measurements were conducted using the validated Couple Intimacy Needs Questionnaire by Bagarozzi (2012). Participants were assessed over three baseline sessions, 12 intervention sessions, and three follow-up sessions. Data analysis was performed using visual analysis at both within-case and between-case levels. Findings: Results indicated an increase in intimacy for all participants. The graph lines demonstrated an upward trend in data changes during the intervention phase, with a high percentage of Nonoverlapping Data (PND) and a low percentage of Overlapping Data (POD). Additionally, in the follow-up phase, intimacy continued to increase for four individuals (two couples) and remained within the intervention range for two individuals (one couple), indicating that movement-based psychotherapy was effective in enhancing intimacy between couples. Conclusion: The results showed that movement-based psychotherapy, by utilizing the body as a tool to access the unconscious and applying techniques such as mirroring and fostering an understanding of each individual’s needs and emotions in their partner, increased awareness and recognition of personal and partner needs, thereby enhancing intimacy between couples. It is recommended that this method be implemented in therapeutic and counseling centers to enrich marital relationships.