Sex Reassignment Surgery in Iran, Re-Birth or Human Rights Violations against Transgender People?

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Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Occupational Stress and Anxiety of Nurses Caring for Patients With COVID-19 in Tehran

Background: This research aims to evaluate the impact of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the occupational stress and the anxiety of nurses. Methods: This was an experimental study with pre-test post-test design with a control group. We included all nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in governmental hospitals in Tehran during six months of 2020. Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Steinmetz Occupational Stress Questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: Box’s test (P=0.225) showed that the covariance-variance matrices were homogeneous. Levine’s test also indicated that the assumption of variance equality was observed. The amounts of ETA square root showed that 66.3% of the anxiety variance and 51.3% of the occupational stress variance could be predicted in the posttest through ACT. Conclusion: The rate of occupational stress and anxiety of the test group significantly decreased compared with the control group after the intervention. Therefore, ACT could decrease the occupational stress and anxiety of nurses and the therapists could use this approach for improving the mental health of nurses

The relationship of plasma cortisol level with processing speed and working memory in methamphetamine users

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Role of Sexual Function in Prediction of Anxiety, Stress and Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is one of the most serious causes of neurodevelopmental disorder in young adults, which can reduce libido, self-esteem and emotional reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of sexual function in predicting anxiety, stress, and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis.  Method: The present study was a cross-sectional study. The data of the present study were collected during April to July 2018. For this purpose, 132 patients were selected through purposive sampling method among women with Multiple Sclerosis under the coverage of MS Society of Iran. Demographic checklist, structured clinical interview, self-esteem scale, female sexual function index, and depression, anxiety and stress scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test, linear regression analysis and step-by-step analysis in SPSS software environment.  Results: Data analysis showed that sexual function among patients was a predictor of anxiety and stress (all B's > 2.44; all p's <0.035), but failed to predict depression (p>0.05).  Conclusion: The results of this study reflect the difference in the fundamental and multidimensional nature of depression compared to anxiety and stress indices. This findings showed sexual function in predicting depression index is insignificant. In fact, depression index is more complex than anxiety and stress, although they have common pathologic base. The results of this study can be used to design new pathologic approaches  Declaration of Interest: None

Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Improving Mental Health and Quality of Life of Spouses of Patients under Methadone Maintenance Treatment, a Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Drug abuse by a family member is associated with adverse psychological consequences for other family members. The research background indicates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on the psychological components of addiction. This study was conducted aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on improving mental health and quality of life of the addicted spouses. Methods: In double-blind randomized clinical trial, from April to September 2016, 30 patients under methadone maintenance treatment were selected through respondent-driven sampling and randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups by block randomization. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was presented to the experimental group in the form of a classic protocol in eight weekly sessions and the control group was merely received routine treatments of the center. Data were collected at two intervals of before and after treatment by two mental health and quality of life questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed using covariance analysis in the software environment of SPSS 22. Results: The primary outcomes showed that the mental health index was significantly improved in the experimental group (0.000). Also, the secondary outcomes showed an increase in the scores of quality of life (0.000). Conclusion: The results of this study, while confirming the research background on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on the psychological indices of families with an addicted member, can be used in designing of treatment interventions in the field of addiction. However, further studies are needed in this regard

The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy on Anxiety and Academic Achievement among Children with LD

Introduction: The slow progression of academic achievement is one of the symptoms of children with learning disabilities (LD), which can be regarded as an obstacle to achieve educational goals along with anxiety. Play therapy is a way of changing the behavior of the child that is based on the interaction between parents and the child. This aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral play therapy on reducing the anxiety and academic achievement of children with LD. Methods: In a double blind randomized clinical trial, 30 students with learning disabilities were randomly selected through targeted method and were assigned into two experiment and control groups through completely randomized blocks method. Play therapy was presented based on Landreth's protocol to the experimental and the control group received merely the training of motivational skills. Subjects were evaluated in two time intervals of pre-test and post-test by the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and three mathematical, dictation, and Persian courses. Data were analyzed by covariance analysis through SPSS software. Results: Primary outcomes indicated that play therapy was effective in reducing the anxiety index. Also, secondary outcomes indicated intervention based on play therapy was associated with increased academic performance (p<0.000). Conclusion: These results can be of importance in influencing psychological interventions as an independent or complementary approach along with other therapies in children with special needs. . Declaration of Interest: Non

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Addiction Severity Index: A Single Case Experimental Design in a Case of Methamphetamine Abuser Patient With Trismus Syndrome

Trismus is one of the side effects of methamphetamine use which is associated with contractions of the jaw muscles. Acupuncture is a traditional and complementary treatment that is effective in reducing pain and psychological indices. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the acupuncture in a case of trismus caused by methamphetamine abuse. The patient was a 31-year-old man with a history of chronic methamphetamine use, reported to have dependence and severe jaw pain. In a single case study and in an ABAB design with multi-baselines, we used acupuncture for 3 weeks to reduce pain and addiction severity index (ASI). Data were analyzed through a generalized estimating equation (GEE). The results showed that there was no signifcant correlation between severity of addiction and pain (P > 0.05). Due to damage caused in the process of production of tyrosine hydroxylase and mitogen-activated protein kinase and the role of these precursors in the production of dopamine as an effective factor in the acupuncture, the effectiveness of this treatment can be limited

Effect of Magnesium Sulfate Added to Tincture of Opium and Buprenorphine on Pain and Quality of Life in Women with Dysmenorrhea: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: Adding magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to opioid receptor agonists increases the opioid analgesiceffects via blocking this receptor. The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding MgSO4 totincture of opium (TOP) and buprenorphine (BUP) on pain and quality of life (QOL).Methods: In prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, one hundred andsixty-three women with secondary dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis were selected using a respondentdriven sampling (RDS) and assigned into six groups using block randomization. Patients received 50 mg/kgMgSO4 in 100 ml saline by micro set in six monthly menstrual periods and completed the visual analoguescale (VAS) and QOL Questionnaire (QOLQ). Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance(ANOVA) and hierarchical regression.Findings: The primary outcomes showed that pain scores in magnesium (MAG) + opium tincture (OT)[F = 5.7(1,162), P = 0.004] and MAG+ BUP [F = 4.5(1,162), P = 0.006] groups showed a significant decreasecompared with control group. Also, QOL scores in MAG + OT [F = 4.8(1,162), P = 0.005] and MAG + BUP[F = 5.9(1,162), P = 0.003] showed a significant increase. However, there was no significant differencebetween the two groups (P = 0.140) and the changes did not persist until follow-up (P = 0.810). Secondaryoutcomes indicated that the low scores of the two components of QOL including physical and psychologicalcomponents were predictors of pain (P = 0.011, Beta > 3.09).Conclusion: Simultaneous use of MAG with opioids is associated with pain reduction and the improvement ofQOL. However, this hypothesis requires careful handling in a randomized controlled tria

Is parent-child interaction therapy effective on aggression and biological indices in pre-school children with parents who use high-potency cannabis? A double-blind randomized controlled trial study in an Iranian sample

BACKGROUND: Improving interpersonal interactions between parents and the child can indirectly reduce the extrapolation behavioral problems, including aggression in children.METHODS: Among parents who used high-potency cannabis (marijuana or ‘gol’ as it is called in Iran) and lived in Tehran, Iran, sixty four caregivers and an Iranian child were selected through respondent-driven sampling and studied in the form of a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) (TCTR20180804001) with repeated measurements method and a 6-month follow-up. The changes in the aggression and cortisol levels were repeatedly evaluated during 12 weeks of interactive treatment and analyzed by Monte Carlo test, repeated measures correlation (rmcorr), and generalized estimating equation (GEE) via SPSS software. Statistical significance was accepted on the level of P < 0.010.RESULTS: 12 weeks of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) had a significant effect on the reduction of aggression and the salivary cortisol level in children (P < 0.010). However, the results did not remain stable till the 6-month follow-up stage (P = 0.067). Also, results revealed a significant relationship between aggression index and the level of cortisol (P < 0.010).CONCLUSION: Since the core of the damage resulted from illicit drug abuse is reflected in interactive activities, improving social interactions can be considered as the key to the treatment of addiction

The comparison of executive functions between active users of methamphetamine and those in abstinence phase

BACKGROUND: Addiction to stimuli causes malfunction and morphologic changes in the nervous system. Representation of these changes in exclusive functions is accompanied by contradictory findings. This study was conducted aiming to compare the executive functions of two groups of users and non-users of methamphetamine in Tehran, Iran.METHODS: This study was conducted in the form of a case–control study from October 2014 to March 2014. In this regard, 30 men who were active users of methamphetamine and 35 men who were in abstinence phase in Tehran were selected using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method and assigned into two groups. The executive functions of the two groups were evaluated using the software version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the data were analyzed using t-test and chi-square test using SPSS software.RESULTS: The exclusive function index in methamphetamine users significantly decreased in comparison with the control group. Also, the preservation errors in consumer group were greater than the control group (P < 0.050).CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that exclusive functions in stimulant users were associated with significant damage. Considering the importance of executive functions as a mediating factor in the recurrence of consumption, it is desirable to decrease the function of this index in the treatment of dependence to methamphetamine to be on the center of clinical attention