The Investigation of Near-death Experiences, and Necessity of Awareness about its Elements

Introduction: Near-death experience (NDE) is a phenomenon with paranormal elements which follows pervasive and deep personal and social changes for patients. The familiarity of medical staff with the components of this phenomenon, and their appropriate response to patients’ experiences could facilitate understanding and integration process of NDEs for patients. Due to the impact of medical staff reaction to patients’ experiences, and the lack of research on NDEs which described the elements, this study aimed to explain the elements of Iranian patients’ NDEs. Method: This qualitative study was performed using a descriptive phenomenological approach. The subjects of the study consisted of 10 people with NDE. They were selected through purposive sampling method. Data were collected via individual tape-recorded interviews, and simultaneously analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method. Results: Through data analysis, 113 codes were extracted which were classified under 11 semantic codes. Then, the 4 main themes of cognitive, spiritual, emotional, and paranormal were extracted from the experiences of the participants. Conclusion: The findings suggest that some patients, during cardiac arrest and resuscitation operation, have experiences which usually follow inappropriate reactions of medical staff. So, accurate knowledge about the NDEs, and appropriate interventions can help patients in coping with their NDEs. Keywords: Qualitative research, Near-death experiences, Cardiac arrest, Medical staf

Comparison of Memory Deficit in Paranoid & Residual Schizophrenic patients with Normal Subjects

This research attempts to study memory deficits in paranoid and residual schizophrenic patients and compares them with normal subjects. The population consisted of all schizophrenic patients who hospitalized in Ahvaz Salamat Mental Hospital. Normal subjects were randomly selected and recruited from the staff of the same hospital. According to the formal diagnosis of patient already carried out by the hospital psychiatrists, patients were randomly allocated to either residual or paranoid sub-groups, each consisting of 20 male and 20 female subjects. In order to measure memory deficit, Wechsler Memory test (WMT) was administrated to the subjects. Data analysis revealed that the performance of normal subjects on WMT was significantly superior to that of both other groups, i.e., paranoid and residual schizophrenic patients. The comparison of normal male and female subjects with their schizophrenic counterparts indicated that the performance of normal subjects (male and female) WMT was significantly superior to that of male and female paranoid and residual schizophrenic subjects. However, the two schizophrenic groups did not differ from on another significantly

Social skill, life satisfaction and locus of control in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired students

Background and Aim: Some evidence suggests that hearing impairment has negative effect on psychological characters of hearing-impaired adolescences and they are more vulnerable to mental health problems than their hearing peers are. This was a comparative study of social skills, life satisfaction and external and internal locus of control in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired students.Methods: T his multi-stage random sampling method consisted of 50 students with hearing impairment (boy and girls) and 50 matched normal-hearing students. The participants completed Matson evaluation of social skills with youngster, students life satisfaction, and Levenson multidimensional locus of control scales.Results: The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed statistically meaningful differences in social skills , life satisfaction and locus of control between the two groups (p=0.002 for all).Conclusion: Social skills in normal-hearing students were higher than students with hearing impairment and locus of control in normal student was more internally. Training the parents and school-staff on development of locus of control and making it more internally in hearing-impaired students is suggested

The Effectiveness of Transdiagnostic Therapy on Anxiety, Depression, Cognitive Strategies of Emotional Regulation, and General Performance in Women with Comorbid Anxiety and Depression

Background & Objectives: The purpose of the current study was investigation the effectiveness of group transdiagnostic therapy on anxiety, depression, cognitive strategies of emotional regulation, and general performance in women with comorbid anxiety and depression in Ahwaz, Iran. Materials & Methods: The population of this study was all women patients who referred to the Health Services Center of Ahwaz Oil Industry, (from December 2013 to May 2014). The sample consisted of 45 patients with comorbid anxiety and depression who were selected by simple, random sampling method and were assigned to experimental, placebo, and control groups. Prior to the intervention, the questionnaire was completed by all three groups. The experimental group received eight sessions of group therapy. The control group received no intervention, and placebo group, like the experimental group, only attended the eight sessions. Results: The results of MANCOVA and Benferoni post hoc showed that in the experimental group, anxiety, depression, and negative cognitive strategies of emotional regulation decreased and positive cognitive strategies of emotional regulation increased, compared with the placebo and the control groups.  In addition, a significant improvement was achieved in the general performance of the experimental group; however, no noticeable differences were found between the placebo and the control groups in terms of the variables. Conclusion: Group transdiagnostic therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and improving emotional regulation

Comparison of Sexual Intimacy, Life Satisfaction and Coping Strategies with Postmenopausal and Non-Menopausal Women Referring To Health Centers

Introduction: Menopause is one of the stages of women's lives associated with physical and mental changes. The purpose of this study was to compare sexual intimacy, life satisfaction and coping strategies with postmenopausal and non-menopausal women referring to health centers of Ahvaz Oil Industry.   Methods: The research method was a descriptive-analytical one. The sample of this study was 200 postmenopausal and non-menopausal women who were selected via available sampling method in 2016. These groups were from the visitors to the petrochemical treatment centers who were matched by age, marital, economic and social status as well as physical health. The tools consisted of self-report questionnaire such as Bagarrozi intimacy needs questionnaire, life satisfaction questionnaire, and a Lazarus coping strategies questionnaire. SPSS18 was used for data analysis and the significance level was 0.05.   Results: The mean of sex intimacy score (P=0.001), life satisfaction (P=0.004), emotional coping strategies (P=0.04), and problem-oriented coping strategies (P=0.01) were significantly different in two groups.   Conclusion: After the onset of menopause, sexual intimacy and life satisfaction are reduced and preferably, according to psychological and physical changes, postmenopausal women use emotional-focused strategies to cope with stressful conditions

The effect of Spiritual Resources on Turnover Intention and Workplace Well-beingin Employees: The mediation of Emotional Exhaustion and Work Engagement

Spiritual resources is one of the important factors that could affect job outcomes. The purpose of this research was to design and test the effect of spiritual resources (sacred calling to the work, secure attachment to God, and collaborative religious coping)  on turn-over intention and work-place well-being with the mediation of emotional exhaustion and work engagement. turnover intention and work well-being as job outcomes of spiritual resource in Khuzestan Steel Company employees. Therefore, through convenient sampling, 315 employees were selected and and asked to complete the following qustionnaires: Dik, Eldridge and Steger Calling and Vocation Scale, Beck and McDonald Attachment  to God Scale, Pargament, Kennell, Hathaway, Grevengoed, Newman, and Jones Religious Problem Solving Scale, Schaufeli, Bakker, and Salanova Work Engagement Scale, Bozeman and Perrewé Turnover Intention Scale, Schaufeli, Leiter, Maslach, and Jackson Emotional Exhaustion Scale, and Zheng, Zhu, Zhao, and Zhang Workplace Well-being of Employee Scale. Statistical data was  analyzed  using structural equation modeling. Mediator effects were tested using the bootstrap method. The results showed that the spiritual resources both directly and indirectly through emotional exhaustion and work engagement have significant effects on the work well-being of employees and turnover intention. The results also indicated that spiritual resources, despite cultural and religious differences, can increase the perception of control, the sense of meaning and calling and flexibility in the employees, thereby reducing emotional exhaustion and increasing work engagement

Comparative effects of group metacognitive therapy versus behavioural activation in moderately depressed students

Background: The high incidence and prevalence rates of depression among students identify them as a vulnerable population and make the case for the development of cost-effective treatments. Aims: We aimed to examine the comparative effects of brief group metacognitive therapy (MCT) versus behavioural activation (BA) treatments for depression, anxiety, and emotion regulation in university students. Method: All participants (25 women, 16 men; age range: 18–30 years) fulfilled criteria for major depression and were randomly assigned to MCT (n1⁄415), BA (n1⁄415), or a wait-list control group (n 1⁄4 15). The treatment groups received 8 weekly MCT or BA sessions. Scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used as outcome measures. Results: This pilot study showed that both treatments were equally effective for depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, therapeutic techniques differed with regards to their effects on specific facets of emotion regulation, such as Positive Reappraisal and Catastrophizing, with MCT being more effective compared to BA. BA also showed a stronger relapse at follow-up with regards to Acceptance and Refocus on Planning. Conclusions: Results suggest that groups MCT and BA may be implemented as cost-effective treatments for students with moderate depressio

The effectiveness of cognitive behavior stress management on functional dyspepsia symptoms

Introduction: Functional dyspepsia and digestive disorders are common, debilitating and costly. Little information is available about the role of stress management in terms of cognitivebehavioral treatment of dyspepsia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management on functional dyspepsia symptoms in patients who referred to digestion clinics in Ahvaz. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study, using pretest, post-test and follow-up with control group. The sample size was decided according to availability. For this purpose, 30 patients were selected using Rome-III diagnostic criteria with diagnosis of functional dyspepsia. They were divided with block randomization into two experimental and control groups (Each with 15 subjects). The experimental group received 10 sessions of cognitive behavioral stress management. But, the control group did not receive any intervention. Two groups were assessed at post-test and follow-up after the intervention. Data collection in this study was based on the NDI index. All subjects completed the NDI index for evaluating dyspeptic symptoms in the pre-test phase. At the end of interventions and post-test phase, both groups completed the NDI index. Also, all subjects completed a month after the end of the the NDI index in order to follow the effects of treatment. After the follow-up, the data were analyzed using the SPSS 14 and univariate analysis of variance. The significance level was considered p<0.05. Results: The result of this study showed that there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of functional dyspepsia in the post-test (p=0.000). Also, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of functional dyspepsia in the follow-up (p=0.000). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that cognitive-behavioral stress management strategies are effective in reducing symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia. So, cooperation among gastroenterologists, psychologists and psychiatrists can have positive effects on these patients

Pathways from childhood trauma to suicidal ideation: mediating through difficulties in emotion regulation and depressive symptoms

Abstract Objective Suicidal ideation is a clinical exigency heightening the risk of suicide at different levels of suicidal behavior. This study sought to explore crucial correlates of this phenomenon with a structural equation modeling approach. Accordingly, the mediating role of depressive symptoms and difficulties in emotion regulation between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation were explored. Method The sample consisted of 372 university students (57.3% females, M = 20.75, SD = 2.25) who completed self-report measures examining experiences of childhood trauma, depressive symptoms, difficulties in emotion regulation, and suicidal ideation. Structural equation modeling was employed, and mediation analysis was conducted. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the measurement model of each construct before evaluating the conceptual mediated model. Results Findings indicate that depressive symptoms with difficulties in emotion regulation had the strongest association (r = 0.60, P = 0.001), then depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (r = 0.58, P = 0.001), suicidal ideation with difficulties in emotion regulation (r = 0.45, P = 0.001) then suicidal ideation with childhood trauma (r = 0.39, P = 0.001), difficulties in emotion regulation with childhood trauma (r = 0.36 P = 0.001) and finally depressive symptoms and childhood trauma (r = 0.35, P = 0.001). Regarding indirect paths, difficulties in emotion regulation and depression function together (in a sequential path) to mediate the association between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation ( χ 2 (68) = 216.86, P < 0.01, CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.93, RMSE = 0.077, CI [0.066 to 0.089], SRMR = 0.049). Conclusion Results demonstrate that childhood trauma, depressive symptoms, and difficulties in emotion regulation are linked to suicidal ideation, highlighting the necessity of recognizing and addressing suicidal ideation as well as the factors that contribute to suicidal ideation. Emotion regulation interventions can be effective in reducing the negative effects of childhood trauma and lowering the risk of suicide. These interventions can help in reducing depressive symptoms and improve overall mental well-being, leading to a lower risk of suicide