Psychological interventions in health and diseases
Hasti Chalabi; Hosein Zare; Mahdieh Rahmanian
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to present and investigate the structural model of the effectiveness of the cognitive-based intervention on cortisol and lipid profiles, with the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility and behavioral brain systems in overweight people with high stress.Method: The ...
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Objective: The present study aimed to present and investigate the structural model of the effectiveness of the cognitive-based intervention on cortisol and lipid profiles, with the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility and behavioral brain systems in overweight people with high stress.Method: The research design was experimental with a control group, pre-test-post-test, and follow-up design. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. The statistical population of this research was all 190 people referred to the cosmetic surgery clinic in 2023. The research sample consisted of 30 people (15 for the experimental group and 15 for the control group) selected through the purposeful sampling method and according to the research inclusion and exclusion criteria. The respondents answered the Behavioral Activation / Inhibition Systems Scale (Carver & White, 1994) and Connor and Davidson’s Flexibility Questionnaire (2003). A semi-structured interview was used to measure stress.Results: The results of univariate covariance analysis showed a significant difference between the two experimental and control groups in the variables of brain-behavioral systems (F = 3.824, P = 0.035) and cognitive flexibility (F = 4.958, P = 0.032). Also, the effectiveness of the cognitive intervention on cortisol was 0.70. It means that 79% of the changes obtained in the post-test scores of the experimental group were due to the intervention.Conclusion: We can conclude that stress leads to an increase in overweight and a reduction in an individual's flexibility and positive attitude toward body image. Therefore, using Yoga, breathing exercises, cognitive therapy, and treating overweight people to manage their stress correctly is necessary.
Psychological interventions in health and diseases
Mohammad Bagher Hassanvand; Maedeh Asadi Rajani; Saeed Yousefi
Abstract
ObjectiveThis study explored how group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help improve the mental well-being of mothers who have children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).MethodThe research method was semi-experimental with a pre-post-test design and a control group. Thirty ...
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ObjectiveThis study explored how group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help improve the mental well-being of mothers who have children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).MethodThe research method was semi-experimental with a pre-post-test design and a control group. Thirty mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: 15 mothers participated in seven weekly ACT sessions, while 15 mothers formed the control group. We measured mental well-being using the Mental Comfort Questionnaire and analyzed the results using ANCOVA to account for initial differences.ResultsMothers who attended the ACT sessions showed significant improvements in several areas of mental comfort, including positive emotions, self-confidence in coping, elevated feelings, family support, communication within close groups, and overall mental well-being (all p< 0.05). Effect sizes were moderate to large (η² between 0.12 and 0.65). Social support showed a trend toward improvement (p = 0.07), but no significant changes were observed in mental control or social connection.ConclusionsGroup ACT appears to be an effective approach to enhance various aspects of mental comfort among mothers caring for children with ADHD, promoting greater psychological flexibility and better interpersonal relationships. However, challenges in mental control and social connection suggest that additional or combined therapies might be necessary. These findings support ACT as a flexible, culturally adaptable method to support caregiver mental health.
Psychological interventions in health and diseases
Monirosadat Hosseini; Hengameh Boloorsaz Mashhadi
Abstract
Objective: Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, which, if not properly managed, can lead to numerous psychological and social consequences in addition to physical health issues, ultimately reducing quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotion ...
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Objective: Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, which, if not properly managed, can lead to numerous psychological and social consequences in addition to physical health issues, ultimately reducing quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotion regulation-based therapy on anger rumination and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with primary hypertension.
Method: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of all women diagnosed with primary hypertension who were referred to Moheb Hospital in Tehran in 2025. Using convenience sampling, 30 participants were selected and randomly assigned to two equal groups (15 participants each). Data were collected using a demographic information checklist, the Anger Rumination Scale, the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a digital upper arm blood pressure monitor. The intervention group received emotion regulation-based therapy based on Gross’s protocol, delivered in 8 sessions (twice weekly, each session lasting one hour). Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. All ethical issues were addressed in this study, and the authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Results: Emotion regulation-based therapy had a significant effect on reducing anger rumination (F = 89.365, p < 0.015), Reduction in systolic blood pressure (F=22.621 and p<0.011), Reduction in diastolic blood pressure (F=40.076 and p<0.006), and improving health-related quality of life (F = 97.943, p < 0.002) in patients with primary hypertension. The effect sizes for anger rumination and HRQoL were 0.36, Systolic blood pressure 0.40, diastolic blood pressure 0.38, and 0.47, respectively. These effects persisted at the two-month follow-up.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that emotion regulation-based therapy can effectively enhance behavioral outcomes, blood pressure, and improve quality of life in individuals with hypertension. It is recommended that such psychological interventions be integrated with pharmacological treatments in rehabilitation and care programs to enhance the psychological and behavioral functioning of these patients.
Psychological interventions in health and diseases
marzieh sarvi; ali ghanaee; mohammad javad Asghari ebrahim abad; sahar khosravan
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of neurofeedback in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in high school deaf girls.Method: A total of 24 deaf female students were randomly assigned to experimental (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. The experimental group received ...
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Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of neurofeedback in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in high school deaf girls.Method: A total of 24 deaf female students were randomly assigned to experimental (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. The experimental group received 15 neurofeedback training sessions targeting the F3 and F4 regions. Both groups completed the DASS-21 questionnaire before and after the intervention..Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance indicated significant reductions in depression (F = 15.680, p<.05), anxiety (F = 5.991, p<.05), and stress (F = 6.100, p<.05) scores in the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusion: Neurofeedback appears to be an effective intervention for improving mental health among deaf adolescents.
Psychological interventions in health and diseases
fatemeh Fazeli Sani; Mahdieh Salehi; Amin Rafiepoor; Javad Khalatbari
Abstract
Objective: Psychological factors play a decisive role in the occurrence and experience of pain disorders. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on alexithymia and difficulty in emotion regulation in patients with pain disorder.Method: ...
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Objective: Psychological factors play a decisive role in the occurrence and experience of pain disorders. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on alexithymia and difficulty in emotion regulation in patients with pain disorder.Method: The method of the present study was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population of the study included all women who were referred to Manoushan and Behsa counseling centers in Tehran with psychosomatic problems and pain. Sixty people from this population were selected and randomly divided into three groups (20 people in each group). Research instruments included the Toronto Emotional Dysfunction Scale (Bugby et al., 1994) and the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) (Gertz & Roemer, 2004). One group received 12 one-hour sessions of emotion-focused therapy, and another group received 10 one-hour sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy. However, the control group did not receive any intervention during the study. In addition to descriptive statistics, mixed variance analysis and Ben Foroni post hoc test were used to analyze the research data. Results: The results for alexithymia showed that the emotionally focused therapy group had a significantly lower mean than the cognitive behavioral group (P= 0.02) and the control group (P 0.001), and the cognitive-behavioral group had a significantly higher mean compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Also, the results for the difficulty in emotion regulation showed that the emotionally focused group and the cognitive-behavioral group have significantly lower means compared to the control group (P = 0.001).Conclusions: The results of the present study, in addition to confirming the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy, indicated that emotion-focused therapy is a more effective treatment for alexithymia. As a result, emotion-focused therapy can be considered an effective treatment that can be used by health professionals to treat pain disorders.
Psychological interventions in health and diseases
Ali Afshari
Abstract
Objective: When individuals encounter stressful and potentially life-threatening situations, they often experience significant tension that can be challenging to manage without adequate emotional regulation and effective coping mechanisms. This study seeks to explore the function of coping strategies ...
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Objective: When individuals encounter stressful and potentially life-threatening situations, they often experience significant tension that can be challenging to manage without adequate emotional regulation and effective coping mechanisms. This study seeks to explore the function of coping strategies as a mediating factor in the connection between stressful experiences and resilience in university students.Method: The research population consists of all university students enrolled in the academic year 2017-2018, characterized by a basic correlation approach. A total of 373 students were chosen using Morgan’s table and a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data collection was done utilizing the resilience questionnaire (CD-RSC), the coping strategies questionnaire (CISS), and the stressful events questionnaire (LEQ-12). Research hypotheses were tested using correlation analysis, path analysis, and simultaneous multiple regression techniques.Results: The findings indicate a significant negative correlation between stressful events and resilience (p < 0.01), while a positive correlation exists between problem-oriented strategies and resilience (p < 0.01). Additionally, there is a negative association between emotion-oriented strategies and resilience (p < 0.01), as well as between avoidance strategies and resilience (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a negative relationship is observed between problem-oriented strategies and stressful events (p < 0.01), alongside a positive correlation between emotion-oriented strategies and stressful events (p < 0.01), and a positive relationship between avoidance strategies and stressful events (p < 0.01).Conclusions: According to the results, teaching coping strategies can lead to increased resilience.
