The effect of dialectical behavior therapy on executive function in patients with a bipolar disorder

Background: Bipolar disorder is a debilitating psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent depression, manic and hippomanic episodes. The effect of a dialectical behavior therapy on executive functions in bipolar disorders has not been addressed so far. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the dialectical behavior therapy on executive function in the bipolar disorder. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with a bipolar disorder were randomly assigned to the intervention (the dialectical behavior therapy combined with medication) and control (only medication) groups. The questionnaires and tests were used at baseline, after 12 weeks intervention, and three months after the intervention. Participants in the intervention group received twelve 90-min sessions of the standard dialectical behavior therapy for the bipolar disorder. Results: The results showed that the intervention group had a lower score in mania, and depression. Also, the intervention group had a higher score in executive functions after three months intervention and three months follow-up. Conclusion: The dialectical behavior therapy in combination with medication can lead to reduce manic and depression symptoms, and improve performance of the patients in planning and problem-solving

A Narrative Review of Third-Wave Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies in Addiction

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a prevalent health issue with serious social and personal consequences.SUDs are linked to numerous physical health problems. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders-5th Edition (DSM-V), the essential characteristic of a SUD is a collection of cognitive, behavioral,and psychological manifestations indicative of the subject’s unbaiting substance use despite experiencingsignificant problems due to continued use. Several alternative interventions have been indicated. Amongthem, mindfulness-based therapies are receiving growing attention. This article reviews evidence for the useof third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) in addiction treatment. We have reviewed the literaturepublished from 1990 to 2019. Further research is required to better understand the types of mindfulnessbased interventions that work best for specific types of addiction, patients, and situations. Current findingsincreasingly support third-wave CBTs as a promising complementary therapy for the treatment andprevention of addictio

Nicotine Dependence Severity and Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory: Assessing the Mediating Role of Risky Decision Making Using Path Analysis

Background: Gray’s revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (r-RST) is a neuropsychologicalexplanation of personality that has been broadly used in substance use disorders. Although theBehavioral Approach System (BAS) is strongly related to nicotine dependence, findings inBehavioral Inhibition System (BIS) are controversial and there is little information about therole of the Fight/Flight/Freeze System (FFFS) in nicotine dependence. The purpose of thepresent study was to evaluate the mediating role of Risky Decision Making (RDM) in thisrelationship to clarify the controversy and fill the gap.Methods: The final sample of this correlation study comprised of 347 university students (age,Mean±SD 23.2±6.7) who completed two self-report measures, including the Fagerstrom TestFor Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Jackson-5 questionnaire of r-RST, and a computerizedIowa Gambling Task (IGT) to measure RDM. Pearson correlation and a path analysisframework were used to determine the simple, direct, and indirect effects of r-RST systems onnicotine dependence severity through RDM.Results: Using Amos, path analyses demonstrated significant direct and indirect effects ofBAS and FFFS/BIS on tobacco use. Also, the relationship between BAS/FFFS/BIS andtobacco use was shown to be mediated by RDM.Conclusion: It was demonstrated that the relationship among BAS /FFFS/BIS and tobaccouse can be partly explained using maladaptive RDM strategies, suggesting that decreasingreliance on decision-making in risky situations, while increasing the use of decision-makingskills educations in risky situations, and increasing the use of alternative sensation and funseeking by smoking and emotion regulation and mindfulness-based therapie

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) for fast and ultrasensitive sensing of biomarkers and monitoring of diseases

Through the development of analytical techniques, microscaled devices have displayed attractive advantages, including ultrasensitive detection and analysis, cost-effectiveness, portability, process integrity, multi-process functionality, and in-situ analysis. In the last decade, a new generation of analytical devices has emerged based on the cellulose materials – so-called microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) – a field that will change the face of the diagnosis of different diseases and sensing of a wide range of biological/chemical/biochemical phenomena. The main aim of the current editorial is to highlight the importance of the µPADs in the research and development of diagnostic devices and pharmaceuticals

The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Emotional Regulation and Psychological Well-being of Iranian Veteran's Homemakers with Secondary Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Background: Problems of emotional regulation and lack of social skills in veterans' families are very common and like psychological complications have unpleasant consequences for them. Therefore, effective and helpful interventions and therapies are highly important. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the improvement of emotional regulation and psychological well-being in veterans' homemakers with secondary posttraumatic stress disorder. Patients and Methods: In the current study, the permuted blocked randomization method was used. Participants were selected from veterans' homemakers referred to the counseling center of veterans in Kashan city (Iran) in 2015. They were randomly assigned into two groups (30 controls and 31 cases). The case group underwent the MBSR treatment. Results: Results showed no significant difference between the two groups at the baseline (P Conclusions: It seems that MBSR significantly affects the psychological well-being, but it has no effect on the emotional regulation except the subscale of emotional response rejection

Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Sleep Quality Among Patients Under Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Background: Patients under Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) are susceptible to several problems, including sleep disturbances and risk of relapse. The present study aimed to assess the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on sleep quality of addicts under MMT.Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 27 male patients who underwent maintenance methadone therapy in MMT clinics of Mashhad City, Iran. They were divided into the experimental and sham groups. The experimental group received seven 20-min sessions of tDCS every other day. In the sham group, the electrical current was delivered for a few seconds, but the electrodes were remained to the end of the session. Sleep quality was measured at baseline, during, and after the intervention by Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics, such as t test, Chi-square, Mann Whitney, and Fischer exact test in SPSS v. 25.Results: The difference between the two groups after tDCS in sleep duration was significant (P=0.04). In the experimental group, the total score of sleep had a reducing trend (P<0.000), while in the sham group, the overall score in 3 phases of evaluation had no significant change (P=0.19). However, the rate of inappropriate sleep quality was not significant between the two groups after the intervention (P=0.12).Conclusion: This trial demonstrated the positive effect of tDCS on sleep quality in patients under MMT programs. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings

Evaluation of health related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome patients

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is an important measure in the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Controversy exists in the findings of studies evaluating QOL in IBS subtypes, and little is known about this issue in Iranian patients. Determination of the factors affecting QOL in IBS patients may influence treatment outcomes. The aims of this study are to: 1) compare QOL between subtypes in a sample of Iranian IBS patients, 2) determine the factors associated with QOL in IBS. Methods: This cross sectional study included two hundred and fifty IBS patients with the mean age ( ± standard deviation) of 31.62 ( ± 11.93) years that were referred to outpatient gastroenterology clinic. IBS patients were diagnosed based on Rome-3 criteria by a gastroenterologist, and then they were categorized into three subtypes according to the predominant type of bowel habit. The “QOL specific for IBS”, “Stait-trait anxiety inventory”, and “Beck depression inventory-2 ” questioners were used to evaluate QOL, anxiety, and depression symptoms, respectively. Results: The mean QOL scores in IBS mixed subtype (71.7 ± 25.57), constipation predominant subtype (80.28 ± 25.57), and diarrhea predominant subtype (76.43 ± 19.13) were not different. (P value: 0.05) In multivariate linear regression analysis, anxiety symptom scores were inversely correlated with QOL scores. [Standardized beta:-0.43, (95 % confidence interval:-0.70,-0.39), P value: < 0.01] Conclusion: It seems reasonable to manage anxiety symptoms properly in IBS patients since this might increase their QOL

A comparison of difficulties in emotional regulations of patients with mild traumatic brain injury and normal controls

Background: Many individuals with traumatic brain injury experience difficulties with social behavior, some of which are attributed to difficulties in regulation of emotions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the difficulties in emotional regulations of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and normal controls. Patients and Methods: In this cohort study, 72 patients with MTBI and 72 normal controls with similar gender were selected. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) questionnaires were completed for both the study groups at the beginning of the study and 6 months later. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression, Chi-square, and paired t-test. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between MTBI patients and normal controls in all subscales 6 months after MTBI, and in the total score of DERS, except for the nonaccepted scale and PANAS (P = 0.001), in which no significant difference was observed. In addition, the results of multivariate regression showed that trauma (β = 0.493), age (β = 0.196), familial history of mental disorders (β = 0.185), and financial status could predict emotional regulation (β = 0.148). Conclusions: It seems that mild traumatic brain injuries may be the cause of problems in social behaviors