The role of fatigue and depression in illness perception of patients with Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and depression affect the illness perception of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of fatigue and depression in illness perception of patients with MS.METHODS: The present study was a descriptive correlational research. The target population was all patients with MS who referred to the Iranian MS Society. The sample consisted of 138 patients who were selected using convenience sampling. Data were gathered using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) and were analyzed via stepwise regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient.RESULTS: Based on study findings, fatigue and depression had a statistically significant relationship with all subscales of illness perception. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that fatigue and depression predict disease outcome, personal control, therapeutic‎ control, identity, concern, illness recognition, and emotion regulation among patients with MS.CONCLUSION: The findings of this research showed that illness perception, as an effective indicator in patient's quality of life (QOL), appears to be predicted by fatigue and depression

Identifying the effective factors on depression in patients with multiple sclerosis using structural equation modeling approach: The role of stress, self-esteem, and mindfulness

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the effective factors that are related to depression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).METHODS: This study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. Statistical population of this research included all patients with MS in Mazandaran Province, Iran, in 2016. The sample consisted of 147 patients who were selected via the available sampling method. For data collection, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory-Short Form (FMI-SF) were administered for all patients. Then the data was analyzed via SPSS and AMOS software using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM).RESULTS: The results of the CFA to review the construct validity of the questionnaires indicated that the model was consistent with the data. SEM indicated that self-esteem served as a mediator between both stress and depression. Also, mindfulness had the role of mediator variable in the relationship between self-esteem and depression.CONCLUSION: This study adds to the existing literature by providing SEM for depression in patients with MS. Theoretical and practical implications of presented results and model are also discussed

The role of fatigue and depression in illness perception of patients with Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and depression affect the illness perception of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of fatigue and depression in illness perception of patients with MS. METHODS: The present study was a descriptive correlational research. The target population was all patients with MS who referred to the Iranian MS Society. The sample consisted of 138 patients who were selected using convenience sampling. Data were gathered using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) and were analyzed via stepwise regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Based on study findings, fatigue and depression had a statistically significant relationship with all subscales of illness perception. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that fatigue and depression predict disease outcome, personal control, therapeutic‎ control, identity, concern, illness recognition, and emotion regulation among patients with MS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this research showed that illness perception, as an effective indicator in patient's quality of life (QOL), appears to be predicted by fatigue and depression

Strategic Differences in Visual Scanning between Field Dependent and Field Independent individuals on the basis of Eye Tracking Measures

Introduction: According to previous findings, visual scanning approaches may play a main role in cognitive styles, which is also important in learning processes. This study aimed at comparing field dependent (FD) and field independent (FI) groups in their visual scanning indicators during performance on a set of stimuli.Methods: 68 undergraduate students of Shahid Beheshti University participated in this study through purposive sampling method. Participants were assigned into FD and FI groups through the scores of Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). Participants’ eye movements, including fixation details, were tracked by a binocular remote eye-tracking system (SMI-RED120Hz) during their performance on the GEFT.Results: Mixed MANCOVA analyzing was used in this study. Comparing to FD group, FI group fixated their eyes more on the stimuli in shorter time. Revisits were less in FI group and they had longer fixations. Moreover, there were some significant interactive effects among groups and different areas of GEFT.Conclusions: It seems that FI individuals use some practical strategies in their visual scanning which enables them to succeed in differentiating components of a whole picture. These strategies are related to time management and taking new perspectives from which, they can probe the stimuli in more effective methods.Declaration of Interest: Non

A Six-Year Follow-up of People Who Use Cannabis in Iran – A Case Series

Background: Frequent cannabis use is associated with adverse health-related outcomes. This study followed up individuals who used cannabis to assess their use and adverse event status. Methods: The eligible individuals, recruited in the Iranian Mental Health Survey (IranMHS), were contacted via telephone calls six years after the index interview. The frequency of cannabis use and the occurrence of selected adverse events were recorded. The baseline status was extracted from the index survey. If any individual was inaccessible, his/her vital status was assessed.  Findings: Of the 50 eligible individuals (all male), two had died. Moreover, from among 25 reached participants, 19 reported abstinence from cannabis in the past year, and 18 reported at least one adverse event in the past six years. Violence and imprisonment were the most common events reported.  Conclusion: Six years after the index interview, most of the participants abstained from cannabis. Besides, adverse events were common, emphasizing the need for further investigations on larger samples of cannabis users

Relationship Between Coping Strategies and Locus of Control With the Anxiety of Death in Old People

Objectives The prevalence of death anxiety in older adults is high. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between coping strategies and locus of control with death anxiety in older adults. Methods & Materials In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 113 elderly adults older than 60 years were recruited from the city of Tehran via available sampling method. For data collection, the Coping Strategies Inventory, Locus of Control Inventory and Death Anxiety Scale were employed. Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS.v21 software and statistical tests such as Pearson correlation coefficient and Stepwise regression. Results The mean (SD) age of the participants was 65.19 (3.93) years. The mean scores of problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, avoidance-focused coping, internal locus of control, external locus of control, and death anxiety were 48.20&plusmn;7.45, 50.93&plusmn;6.92, 50.39&plusmn;8.67, 17.85&plusmn;5.70, 61.51&plusmn;6.08 and 8.67&plusmn;2.31, respectively. Based on study findings, there was a statistically significant relationship between coping strategies (P < 0.05) and locus of control (P < 0.05) with death anxiety among older adults. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that avoidance and emotion oriented coping and external locus of control significantly predict death anxiety (P < 0.01). Conclusion Death anxiety is one of the key factors in the mental health of older adults. With regards to our findings, coping strategies and locus of control have an important role in death anxiety in older adults. Therefore, by designing psychological interventions based on coping strategies and changing locus of control from external to internal, death anxiety among the older adults can be improved

Evidence for an increase in cannabis use in Iran – A systematic review and trend analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance globally. In this systematic review, we examined the prevalence and trends of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder in Iran. METHODS: We searched International and Iranian databases up to March 2021. Pooled prevalence of use among sex subgroups of the general population, university and high school students, combined youth groups, and high-risk groups was estimated through random-effects model. Trends of various use indicators and national seizures were examined. RESULTS: Ninety studies were included. The prevalence estimates of last 12-month cannabis use were 1.3% (95%CI: 0.1–3.6) and 0.2% (95%CI: 0.1–0.3) among the male and female Iranian general population, respectively. The prevalence of cannabis use disorder among general population in national studies rose from 0% in 2001 to 0.5% in 2011. In the 2016–2020 period, the pooled prevalence estimates of last 12-month cannabis use were 4.9% (95% CI: 3.4–6.7) and 0.3% (95% CI: 0.0–1.3) among males and females of “combined youth groups”, respectively. The linear trend of last 12-month cannabis use among males of "combined youth groups" and among female university students increased significantly from 2000 to 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of cannabis use in Iran is low compared to many countries. However, there is strong evidence of an increase in cannabis use among the youth and some evidence for an increase in cannabis use disorder