Living with Multiple Sclerosis: A Phenomenological Study of Worries, Concern and Psychological Problems in Iranian Patients with MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS), as a progressive and degenerative illness, has an impact on different aspects of individual lives and may lead to difficulties, concerns, and worries in patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate concerns, worries and problems in patients with MS. We used a descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach. Participants were volunteers purposively selected based on their availability. We carried out deep interviews with 15 MS patients and analyzed the detailed information obtained from these interviews by using Colaizzi’s method. We extracted six essential themes and thirty-four sub-themes associated with MS from the content of the interviews. The main themes were labelled “Confronting existential concerns,” “Crisis of facing up with the illness,” “Suffering from the illness,” “Relationship,” “Confrontation with spirituality and religion,” “Searching for tranquility.” Results of the present study also reiterated the following: Patients with MS seem to lose meaning of life and this together with problems in dealing with existential concerns, may lead to the “disintegration of self,” hence resulting in considerable psychological disturbance and distress. It is concluded that the illness evokes psychological injury such as existential anxiety, relationship disturbance and hopelessness, and these psychological injuries can lead to relapsing of MS

The Comparison of Tendency to Risky Behaviour, in Secure/Insecure Attachment in Parents

Introduction: The purpose of the present research was comparing tendency to risky behaviors in secure/insecure attachment in parents (mother/father). Methods:  This research followed by a causal comparative method. The Sample were selected by an available method and was consisted of 340 single people (171 girls and 169 boys) living in Tehran, ranging between 18 and 30 years old. The data were collected via using the Young Adult's Risky Behaviors Scale (Zadeh Mohammadi et al. 2010), and Experience in Close RelationshipsRelationships Structure Questionnaire (Frailyet al. 2011). Descriptive methods of statistics such as mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics such as Manova was used as well.  Results: The Results showed that those showing insecure attachment patterns towards the mother were significantly higher at risk to become cigarette smokers, drug persuasion, and alcohol drinkers compared to those with secure attachment patterns. Also those showing insecure attachment patterns towards the father were significantly higher at risk to become cigarette smokers, drug persuasion, compared to those with secure attachment patterns. Conclusion: By considering the high-risk behavior in term of attachment, this research demonstrates that secure attachment creates an internal working model that provides compatible guidelines while encountering the stressful events. Declaration of Interest: None.  

Anxiety disorders in multiple sclerosis: Significance of obsessive-compulsive disorder comorbidity

Background: Considering reports on the associations of symptoms of anxiety disorders with multiple sclerosis (MS), this study aimed to 1) further evaluate various anxiety disorders systematically presenting in patients with MS and 2) compare the results with a control group. Methods: To assess anxiety disorders in patients with MS in a case-control study, 85 registered patients in the Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society (IMSS) were randomly selected according to the inclusion criteria. A group of healthy individuals whose age and gender were matched with the case group were also selected. Both groups underwent a clinical interview based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Results: Frequency of diagnosis of all anxiety disorders in the two groups was 22.4 and 7.1, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference. Frequency of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was significantly higher in the case group (P<0.05). Relation of university education with the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder was significant too (P<0.05). Conclusions: OCD in patients with MS was more frequently observed than in the control group

Factors associated with suicidal attempts in Iran: A systematic review

Context: Suicide prevention is a health service priority. Some surveys have assessed suicidal behaviors and potential risk factors. Objectives: The current paper aimed to gather information about etiology of suicide attempts in Iran. Data Sources: Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc as well as gray literature were searched. Study Selection: By electronic and gray literature search, 128 articles were enrolled in this paper. Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc were searched for electronic search. After reading the abstracts, 84 studies were excluded and full texts of 44 articles were reviewed critically. Data Extraction: Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc as well as gray literature were searched to find any study about etiologic factors of suicide attempt in Iran. Results: Depressive disorder was the most common diagnosis in suicide attempters that is 45 of the evaluated cases had depression. One study that had used Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI) found that Histrionics in females and Schizophrenia and Paranoia in males were significantly influential. Family conflicts with 50.7 and conflict with parents with 44 were two effective psychosocial factors in suicidal attempts. In around one fourth (28.7) of the cases, conflict with spouse was the main etiologic factor. Conclusions: According to the methodological limitations, outcomes should be generalized cautiously. Further studies will help to plan preventive strategies for suicidal attempts; therefore, continued researches should be conducted to fill the data gaps. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

Outcome of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adolescents After Natural Disaster

Purpose: The authors evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) among adolescents exposed to the 2004 earthquake in Bam, Iran. Methods: Four months after the earthquake, 135 adolescents as a case group and 33 adolescents as a comparison group were evaluated with the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). Two therapists were trained in CBT in 3-day classes according to a manual provided by mental health services. After conducting CBT in the case group, both groups were evaluated again with IES-R. Results: The severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms significantly decreased among the subjects given CBT in the case group. The improvement in posttraumatic stress symptoms was attributable to improvement in each of three-symptom categories (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal) and in the total score of posttraumatic stress disorder (p < .05). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the efficacy of CBT in alleviating posttraumatic stress symptoms among adolescents after a catastrophic disaster. © 2008 Society for Adolescent Medicine

Relationship between Sex Roles and Marital Instability: The Moderating Role of Orientation in the Sexual Relationship among Women

This study aimed to determine the relationship between sex roles and marital instability and the moderating role played by orientation in women’s sexual relationship. This correlational study is conducted on women living in Tehran. Additionally, 150 people were selected by convenience sampling from different parts of Tehran, who completed questionnaires on marital instability, sex roles and orientation in a sexual relationship. The results showed that orientation in a sexual relationship, except for communal orientation in the role of femininity in women, has a moderating role between sex roles and marital instability. In all cases, greater communal orientation in a sexual relationship reduces the instability of marriage in women. Also, a higher exchange orientation in a sexual relationship increases the instability of marriage in women. Additionally, greater demand in a sexual relationship, except when masculinity is high in women, heightens marital instability in women. In women with higher levels of communal exchange and demand orientation in a sexual relationship, increased sex roles (masculinity or femininity) reduce instability, and in women with lower levels of demand and exchange in sex, increased sex roles (masculinity or femininity) do not change the degree of marital instability. Based on this, the findings of this study can be used to monitor and increase the stability of marriage in Iranian society

Effect of therapeutic intervention on general health of child abused mothers

Background and Objective: Child abuse is a common phenomenon with variety of reasons; the most important one is mother psychiatric disorders. Concurrent interventions in the family can recover the mother and reduce child abuse. This study was done to evaluate the effect of therapeutic intervention on general health of child abused mothers. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 57 children and their child abused mothers whom referred to child psychiatry and pediatric department of Imam Hossien hospital, Tehran, Iran during November 2009- April 2010. Children and their families were visited by a psychiatrist and depend on the child and the family after either pharmaceutical or psychological interventions was taken. Parent management training was done for all mothers in 8 weekly sessions. General health questionnaire were filled by mothers before intervention in the third and sixth months following the intervention. Results: Total score of general health, depression and anxiety of child abused mothers were 31.3±1.90, 5.26±0.66, 8.10±0.46, respectively. It was significantly increased after six months intervention in comparison with pre-intervention (37.3±2.34, 7.48±0.72, 10.44±0.58, respectively). Conclusion: Appropriate therapeutic intervention and parent management training for mothers can improve general health of child abused mothers

Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in abused children and their families

Child abuse is a significant public health and social problem worldwide. It can be described as a failure to provide care and protection for children by the parents or other caregivers. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in abused children and their families.This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the psychosocial support unit of a pediatric hospital in Bandar Abbas, Iran, from 2012 to 2013. The participants consisted of child abuse cases and their parents who referred to the psychosocial support unit to receive services. Services delivered in this unit included parenting skills training, psychiatric treatments, and supportive services. The effectiveness of the interventions was assessed with Child Abuse Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ). Participants were assessed at baseline, at 3, and 6 months follow-ups. ANOVA with repeated measures and Friedman test were used to evaluate the effect of the interventions.A total of 68 children and their parents enrolled in this study, of whom 53% were males. Post-intervention follow-ups revealed significant changes in mothers' general health questionnaire (

The moderating role of perceived attachment style in the relationship between a couple\'s attachment style and their level of forgiveness

Background and purpose: attachment style is one of the effective factors in interpersonal interactions, which is formed as a result of a person's relationships with attachment figures (parents, peers, spouse) and significantly affects the performance and marital relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine the moderating role of the attachment style perceived by parents in the relationship between the couple's attachment style and the level of forgiveness in them. Methods: The research method was correlation type. The data were collected through three questionnaires - family forgiveness scale (FFS), RSQ attachment style questionnaire and attachment style scale towards each parent (Hazen and Shiver) from 200 couples living in Tehran (400 people) using multiple cluster sampling method. It was collected step by step. To analyze the data, statistical methods of correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used. Results: The results obtained from the data analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between the attachment styles towards the spouse with self-forgiveness, with the spouse's forgiveness (P<0.001) and the perception of attachment styles from parents (P<0.001). There is. Perceived attachment styles from parents had a moderating role in the relationship between attachment style to spouse and self-forgiveness and spouse's forgiveness (P<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that these spouses forgive themselves and their spouses more easily. In contrast, people with ambivalent and avoidant perceived attachment style towards mother, avoidant perceived attachment style towards mother and ambivalent towards father are more difficult to forgive their spouse in marital relationship