Reduction in dysfunctional thought processes by the use of cognitive behavioral interventions among Pakistani couples with marital dissatisfaction

Marital dissatisfaction is one of the major issues of our times. The purpose of the study is to assess reduction in this dysfunction by the use of cognitive behavioral interventions. When these interventions are employed to decrease dissatisfaction in marriage the focus is to bring about a change in thinking patterns, cognitive features and style of information processing along with the employment of effective strategies to resolve problems in marriage. It was hypothesized that couples who received cognitive behavioral interventions would be able to reduce the frequency of their dysfunctional thinking [Cognitive Distortions] as compared to couples who did not receive the interventions. For the study 50 married couples were randomly allocated into two equal groups: the experimental group [the couples who received the treatment] and the control group [waited for the treatment to be given]. Demographic information relating to age, gender, educational qualification, number of years of marriage, number of children and the socioeconomic status, was obtained from participants in both experimental and control groups. The mean age of the males in the experimental group was 39.24, and mean age of their spouses was 35.20. Whereas the mean age of males in the control group was 41.64 and the mean age of their spouses was 36.72. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Findings of the study demonstrated that couples who received cognitive behavioral interventions showed marked reduction in distorted thought patterns compared to couples who did not receive the interventions. The study findings have significant implications for clinicians who are dealing with marital issues

Patterns of delusions in male and female schizophrenic patients

The aim of the study was to ascertain the different delusional patterns among male and female psychotic patients admitted in the psychiatry ward of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC] Karachi. Qualitative Study. Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC] Karachi from 2005-06. Twenty five In-patients who were diagnosed as suffering from Schizophrenia as defined in DSM-IV1. 13 females and 12 males, with an average age range of 17-50 years belonging to different socioeconomic status, were taken from JPMC, Karachi through the technique of purposive sampling. The research instrument used in order to investigate different delusional patterns among male and female schizophrenic patients was the Semi-Structured Interview Form designed by the three qualified psychologist at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Grounded theory was used for the purpose of qualitative analysis of the data. In this theory, the researcher makes comparisons during data collection. In this manner, theoretical questions arise that suggest future observations. Therefore, new data are tailored to answer theoretical questions that arise as a result of considering about previous data. Analysis of the data showed that persecutor delusions are more prevalent among schizophrenic patients. As out of 25 cases; 14 cases were of persecutory delusion type which makes 52% of the total cases reported; 6 were of grandiose delusions type which makes 24% of the total cases reported and 6 cases were of mixed and other types of delusion which makes 24% of the total cases reported. In addition to this it was also observed that the contents ofdelusions were different in male and female schizophrenic patients. However, the patterns were same

Success of love and arranged marriages in working women of Karachi: a comparative study

The present study aimed at comparing the fates of Totally Love Marriages with Totally Arranged Marriages in working women residing in Karachi. The success of marriage was determined by the outcome of marriage. A structured interview form was constructed in order to find out the results of the marriages and to collect some biographical information from the individuals. Divorce and Separation were taken as the criteria for unsuccessful marriages and length [individuals who were currently living together and have been happily married for more than five years] of marriages was taken as a criterion for successful marriages. It was assumed that Totally Arranged Marriages will be successful as compared to Totally Love Marriages in working women of Karachi. A total number of 200 married working women either doing office work or serving as nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers at different sites in Karachi participated in the study. Their age range was from 25 to 40 years and their academic qualification was from intermediate to postgraduate professional degrees. A chi-square test was computed for the statistical analysis of the data. The research findings provide the evidence that Totally Arranged Marriages are successful as compared to Totally Love Marriages in working women of Karachi. The result was significant at p < .05 level

Comparing marriage systems with success in marriages in upper-income group and educated class of Karachi

The current research was conducted to compare the marriage systems with success in marriages in upper income group and educated class of Karachi. To explore the relationship scientifically the marriage systems were divided into three categories i.e. [Totally Arranged marriages] [Partially Arranged and Partially Love marriages] and [Totally Love Marriages]. It was predicted that [Partially Arranged and Partially Love Marriages] in Upper Income Group and Educated Class of Karachi will be successful as compared to [Totally love] and [Totally Arranged] Marriages. The success of marriage was determined by the outcome of marriage. The fates of [Totally Love Marriages] and [Totally Arranged Marriages] were compared with the fate of [Partially Arranged and Partially Love Marriages]. A standardized interview form was constructed in order to find out the results of the marriages in Karachi and to collect some biographical information from the individuals. Divorce and Separation were taken as the criteria for unsuccessful marriages and length [individuals who were currently living together and have been happily married for more than five years] of marriages was taken as a criterion for successful marriages. The individuals who completed 14 years or more than 14 years of formal education were considered to be the educated class of Karachi. The individuals whose monthly gross family income is more than 30,000 rupees were taken as the upper income group of Karachi. A chi-square test was computed for the statistical analysis of the data. The research findings provide the evidence that [Partially Arranged and Partially Love Marriages] are successful in Upper-Income Group [N = 173] of Karachi as compared to [Totally Love] and [Totally Arranged] Marriages [. The hypothesis was significant at P < 0.001 level. It was also found that] Partially Arranged and Partially Love Marriages [are successful in Educated Class [N = 120] of Karachi as compared to [Totally Love] and [Totally Arranged] Marriages] and hypothesis was significant at P < 0.05 level

[Investigation of knowledge and attitude of family health workers about IUD, Norplant and DMPA in Health Care Centers in East of Guilan between 2001- 2002]

Introduction: in Iran, the health care is mainly carried out by health networks in the different areas and in these health networks, the urban health care centers and health workers with providing family planning services for women have the main role in the development of family planning programs. Therefore, for providing high quality and varied services, frequent assessment is necessary

Objective: the purpose of this study is to determine knowledge and attitude of family health workers about IUD, Norplant and DMPA in health care centers in east of Guilan between 2001-2002. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive research that was performed in 2001-2002. The number of research samples were 63. Research samples were according to study population. The method of sampling was convenience. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire during one month. Then, for statistical analysis an anova test was used

Results: the majority of subjects [55/6%] had high knowledge about IUD and most of them [79.4%] were well- informed of DMPA and 58/7% of family health workers in this study had average [moderate] knowledge toward Norplant. According to the findings of this survey, the majority of subjects [96/8%], [72/6%] and [84/1%] respectively had positive attitudes about IUD, DMPA and Norplant. Also, knowledge was only related to accessibility of new scientific resources [references] [p<0/005] and attitude was only related to information sources [p<0/05]

Conclusion: with regard to the research findings and low or moderate knowledge of the magority of family health workers about Norplant and considering the statistical relationship between knowledge and accessibility of new scientific data and relationship between attitude and information sources, frequent evaluation and provision of formulated instructions and modern scientific resources and training classes or continuing refreshment course for family health workers are necessary