The Relationship of Decision-Making Styles and Attributional Styles in Addicted and Non-addicted Men

Abstract Background: One of social problems which has affected our society and resulted in problems for different groups of people is drug abuse. This issue indicates a serious psychological, physical and social problem in community. Social skills have positive and successful influences in prevention of substance abuse. This includes the ability to explain events correctly and then appropriate decision making. This study compares decision making styles and attributional styles between addicted and non addicted men to recognize their role in addiction. Methods: In this study, 200 addicted and non addicted men were randomly selected. Decision-making style and attributional style questionnaires were used. Data analysis was performed by independent Student’s t and Pearson correlation tests. Findings: The study population included 81 addicted and 90 non-addicted men. Addicted and non addicted men were significantly different in rational decision-making style (P < 0.05). Negative relationship was found between rational decision making and optimistic attribution style (r = -0.305, P < 0.01) and direct relationship was found between rational decision making and learned helplessness (r = 0.309, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Our study showed that addicts are less rational in decision making and addicts that developed learned helplessness were less rational and did not have optimistic attribution style. These issues show that addiction institutions and therapists have to pay attention to cognitive factors for addiction prevention

The Relationship of Early Maladaptive Schemas, Attributional Styles and Learned Helplessness among Addicted and Non-Addicted Men

Abstract Background: Addiction is considered as one of the major problems in family and community in the world. According to cognitive view, organizing the experiences determines how to behave. Due to their importance in interpretation of special situations, cognitive schemas and attributional styles have a significant role in cognitive theories. The aim of this study was to compare early maladaptive schemas and attributional styles in addicts and non-addicts to recognize their role in addiction. Methods: In this causal-comparative study, 200 addicted and non-addicted men were randomly selected. Young early maladaptive schema and attributional styles questionnaires were used. Data analysis was performed by independent t-test, Pearson correlation and regression. Findings: The study population included 81 addicted and 90 non-addicted men. There were significant differences between early maladaptive schemas and attributional styles in the two groups of addicted and non-addicted men (P < 0.001). In addition, addicts had higher levels of learned helplessness. A direct relationship was found between learned helplessness and frequency of addiction treatments (r ═ 0.234, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that addicts suffer from high levels of early maladaptive schemas. They had a more pessimistic attributional style. Moreover, addicts who developed higher levels of learned helplessness were less successful in addiction treatment and more likely to use drugs again after treatment. These issues show that addiction institutions and therapists have to pay attention to cognitive factors for addiction prevention

Effect of electrode distance in grid electrode: Numerical models and in vitro tests

Electrochemotherapy is an emerging local treatment for the management of superficial tumors and, among these, also chest wall recurrences from breast cancer. Generally, the treatment of this peculiar type of tumor requires the coverage of large skin areas. In these cases, electrochemotherapy treatment by means of standard small size needle electrodes (an array of 0.73 cm spaced needles, which covers an area of 1.5 cm2) is time-consuming and can allow an inhomogeneous coverage of the target area. We have previously designed grid devices suitable for treating an area ranging from 12 to 200 cm2. In this study, we propose different approaches to study advantages and drawbacks of a grid device with needles positioned 2 cm apart. The described approach includes a numerical evaluation to estimate electric field intensity, followed by an experimental quantification of electroporation on a cell culture. The electric field generated in a conductive medium has been studied by means of 3-dimensional numerical models with varying needle pair distance from 1 to 2 cm. In particular, the electric field evaluation shows that the electric field intensity with varying needle distance is comparable in the area in the middle of the 2 electrodes. Differently, near needles, the electric field intensity increases with the increasing electrode distance and supply voltage. The computational results have been correlated with experimental ones obtained in vitro on cell culture. In particular, electroporation effect has been assessed on human breast cancer cell line MCF7, cultured in monolayer. The use of 2-cm distant needles, supplied by 2000 V, produced an electroporation effect in the whole area comprised between the electrodes. Areas of cell culture where reversible and irreversible electroporation occurred were identified under microscope by using fluorescent dyes. The coupling of computation and experimental results could be helpful to evaluate the effect of the needle distance on the electric field intensity in cell cultures in terms of reversible or irreversible electroporation

The Usefulness of Short Physical Performance Battery Score for Predicting the Ability of Toilet Activity in Hospitalized Older Patients

Background: It has been still unclear whether the cut-off value of the short physical performance battery for predicting the ability of the toilet activity in the hospitalized older patients. The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between the short physical performance battery and the ability of toilet activity, and also to determine the cut-off value of the short physical performance battery score for the ability of toilet activity in the hospitalized older patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 71 hospitalized older patients were recruited. The short physical performance battery and the ability of toilet activity using the Barthel index (BI) were measured. The patients were split into two groups, according to the ability of toilet activity (Group 1: 10 point; Group 2: 5 point or less in BI score). A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the two groups. Moreover, the cut-off value for dividing into two groups, (Group 1 and Group 2) using the short physical performance battery score, which was calculated by a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The short physical performance battery score was an independent explanator for the ability of toilet activity using multiple logistic regression analysis. Besides, the cut-off value of the short physical performance battery for the ability of toilet activity was set in this study. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the cut-off value of the short physical performance battery score could be a useful index to predict the ability of toilet activity in the hospitalized older patients. &nbsp

The Role of Self-esteem in Tendency towards Drugs, Theft and Prostitution

Abstract Background: Addiction, theft and Prostitution are of the most important problems of contemporary society. On the other hand, self-esteem is one of the most important variables and concepts that might have a meaningful influence on these problems. This study aims to investigate the role of self-esteem in the individuals’ tendency to addiction, theft and prostitution in Kerman city, Iran. Methods: The statistical population of this study is those individuals who had a record of addiction, theft and prostitution in Kerman prison, and the ordinary individuals. The research sample consisted of 300 individuals, 200 of whom were those with record of addiction, theft and prostitution in the central prison of Kerman city, and 100 ordinary people. Because some of the research questionnaires were not returned, only 283 questionnaires were analyzed. The instrument for determining the respondents’ self-esteem was Eysenck Self-esteem Inventory. Findings: Self-esteem had a meaningful role in the individual’s tendency to addiction, theft and prostitution. Conclusion: On the basis of the research results, it can be concluded that those who are involved in addiction, theft and prostitution have a lower self-esteem compared with the ordinary person. Thus, it is necessary to increase an individual’s self-esteem in order to decrease their tendency to addiction, theft and prostitution

An evaluation of a walking and socialization program in long-term care: Impact on injurious falls

The effects of a walking program in long-term care (LTC) are affected by multiple comorbidities and the LTC milieu. We randomly assigned residents 60 years and older into three groups (walking, socializing and control). Interventions were delivered five days weekly up to 30 minutes daily. Measurements were performed at baseline, 8, 16, 24 and 32 weeks, and included falls, grip strength, Berg Balance Scale, Senior Fitness Test, and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form. Survival analysis with 168 participants for time to first injurious fall showed a significant (p=0.001) interaction between age and sex, with fall risk increasing with age in females, but lowest in the oldest age group in males. The hazard ratio for first injurious fall was more than doubled by the use of an antidepressant (HR=2.198, p=0.005), decreased by the score on the Berg Balance high fall risk rating (HR=0.471, p=0.010), but not affected by the activity-socialization intervention. The increased hazard of injurious falls related to antidepressants, but not depressive symptoms, suggests that the high prevalence of antidepressants in LTC needs re-evaluation. Further research efforts will need to control for alternate physical activities. This work was supported by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Health Research (SHRF) Team Grant.&nbsp;Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0127780

Efficacy of Integrating Stress Coping Skills Training with Detoxification on Social Adjustment of Addicted Women

Abstract Background: Addiction as a biopsychosocial problem has been dramatically increased in our country. Adverse consequences of the addiction in women have been shown to be more than men, which in turn can affect family members’ health and wellbeing. The current study examined the efficacy of stress coping skills training in addicted women referring to an outpatient centre of addiction prevention located in Welfare Organization of Gorgan, Iran. Methods: 30 women with low levels of social adjustment measured by Social Adjustment Scale were randomly assigned to coping skills training with detoxification treatments (experimental) or detoxification alone groups. Both groups (n = 15) completed pre-post assessments of Bell’s adjustment Inventory. Experimental group received coping skills training program in ten sessions, each session last 90 minutes. Findings: Social adjustment was considerably improved more in addicted women who followed coping skills training program with detoxification treatment in comparison with the women who was undergone only detoxification treatment. Conclusion: Skills training program can help addicted women to better cope with their adjustment problem and these skills should be integrated into detoxification programs for this populatio

Comparing the Effectiveness of Behavioral Recognition and Group Stress Surmounting Techniques Instructions on Changing University Students' Positive Attitudes towards Opiate Abuse

Abstract Background: One of the most important strategies in preventing addiction is changing positive attitudes and stabilizing negative attitudes towards opiate abuse. Current research has been comparing the effectiveness of behavioral recognition and stress surmounting techniques instructions on changing students' positive attitudes towards opiate abuse. Methods: To determine the effectiveness of behavioral-recognition and group stress surmounting instructions on changing student’s positive attitudes towards opiate abuse, 90 students (45 boys and 45 girls) who had got good grades in attitude measuring questionnaire were chosen and were randomly assigned in 3 groups (two test groups and the control group) and then, were randomly replaced in 15 person groups with sex distinction. The research data were analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis method. Findings: The results of pot-test analyses showed significant improvement compared with pretest analysis in both training methods and in both genders (P < 0.05). Then, the surmounting methods group training and recognition-behavioral group training both significantly improved positive attitudes towards opiate abuse in male and female students. Conclusion: Behavioral-recognition and stress surmounting techniques instructions brought about changes in students attitudes towards opiate abuse and these changes were more prominent in female students than in males

The Prevalence of Problematic Internet Use and the Related Factors in Medical Students, Kerman, Iran

Abstract Background: Although problematic internet use (PIU) is a growing problem among adolescents, few studies have examined its prevalence among university students in Iran. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of PIU and its potential risk factors among students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data was collected from 976 university students. PIU was assessed by the 18-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire. In addition, information on demographics and Internet usage pattern was also collected. Findings: A total of 920 students completed the survey (response rate = 94.8%). Of them, 98% were Internet users. Overall, 21% of the students were identified as problematic Internet users. Logistic regression analysis showed that spending more time online, having a history of psychiatric disorders, and using the Internet for chatting and playing games were risk factors for PIU. Conclusion: PIU is a common problem among university students. These results suggest the need for preventive and interventional strategies for this vulnerable group

Comparing the Early Maladaptive Schemas, Attachment and Coping Styles in ‎Opium and Stimulant Drugs Dependent Men in Kerman, Iran

Abstract Background: Today, the society’s need to find the roots of a few thousand-year old substance abuse and the drugs addiction crisis has increased to the extent that it has become a problem within our country. The problem of substance dependence is not only about drug abuse, but it is actually the interrelationship of the person and the dependency on drugs. This study aimed to compare early maladaptive schemas, attachment styles, and coping styles in men dependent on opiates and stimulants in Kerman, Iran. Methods: This was a comparative descriptive study. The study population consisted of men dependent on opiates and stimulants who referred to addiction treatment clinics in Kerman. Therefore, 150 patients (75 opium addicted men and 75 men dependent on drugs) were selected. The participants completed the Young schema questionnaire-short form (YSQ-SF), adult attachment scale (AAS), and Young coping styles questionnaire (YCSQ). The research data were analyzed using independent t-test and SPSS software. Findings: Mean age of patients using opium was 27.9 ± 3.35 years and mean age of patients using stimulant drugs was 25.6 ± 3.41 years (18-60 years old). The results showed that there was no difference between the early maladaptive schemas and coping styles in men dependent on opium and stimulants. However, there was a significant difference between attachment styles in men dependent on opium and stimulants. The mean score of avoidant and ambivalent styles in men dependent on stimulants was higher. Conclusion: Knowledge on the distinctions of early maladaptive schemas, attachment styles, and coping styles in substance abuse patients helps the therapists to conduct more effective treatment strategies tailored to the type of substance used in order to provide behavior modification. Keywords: Early maladaptive schemas, Attachment styles, Coping style