Predicting PTG based upon self-efficacy and perceived social support in cancer patients

Despite the fact that being exposed to traumatic and stressful events could have severe consequences, studies have shown that even in the wake of negative events such as cancer diagnosis, we see some changes and positive impacts in scheme, philosophy of life and self-perception, a process which is called Post Traumatic Growth [PTG]. The aim of the current research is to define share of self-efficacy and perceived social support in the prediction of PTG. The research is a correlation type. For this aim, 95 patients with cancer came to Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan, and Mehraneh Charity Institute, Zanjan in 2012 have been selected based on available sampling and evaluated regarding self-efficacy, and perceived social support and PTG. Data analysis using Pearson correlation and regression analysis [simple and multiple] showed that self-efficacy and Perceived Social Support in cancer patients have direct significant relation with variable of PTG and explain 13.5%, 10.6% and jointly 20.7% of PTG changes respectively. The research findings show that the variables of self-efficacy and Perceived Social Support explain significantly the PTG and these psychological variables can be used to provide improvement plans and mental health and PTG facilities

[ efficacy of cognitive-behavior group therapy on quality of life and anxiety among patients with irritable bowel syndrome]

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system, which is defined as gastrointestinal symptoms without organic causes. Etiology of this disease is unknown exactly, but most people have reported symptoms consistent with psychopathology disorders, abnormal personality and psychological stress. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the efficacy of group cognitive- behavior therapy [CBT] in decreasing anxiety and improving quality of life in patients suffering from IBS. In a semi- experimental study, 15 IBS patients [diagnosed by a gastroenterologist applying the RomeII criteria] referred to the gastro intestinal and liver diseases research center between March 2010 and September 2010 were selected. Patients underwent group therapy in a 2-hour session each week for 8 weeks. Data collection tools were beck anxiety scale [BAI, 1988] and quality of life [SF -36, 1992]. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS software. Consecutive measurement showed significantly lower mean scores in anxiety and higher in quality of life among IBS patients underwent group cognitive- behavior therapy. Our findings support the efficacy of CBT in improving quality of life and decreasing anxiety on the IBS patients

[ effect of papaver rhoeas distillate on learning, memory, corticosterone and anorexia in little laboratory mice under inescapable tension]

Papaver rhoeas plant is a one-year plant that is used in treatment of sleep disorders, cough, and peritonitis. It has analgesic and lenitive effects in human. In this survey, the effect of Papaver rhoeas distillate and tension were studied on the amount of memory and learning, corticosterone, and anorexia. In this empirical study, 64 mature male mice were randomly divided into 8 groups, including control group, witness and empirical ones, in which distillate of Papaver rhoeas is injected via peritoneum in the dose of 15, 30, 60 mg/kg weights of body in the period of one week. The empirical group was under tension for half an hour after injection. At the beginning and the end of the experiment, we were taking blood of animals and the value of corticosterone was measured and T-shape labyrinth is used in order to measure the amount of memory strength and learning. Papaver rhoeas distillate significantly decreased anorexia and increased the corticosterone and amount of learning in empirical group in comparison with control group [p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively]. Moreover, stress results in significantly increasing of corticosterone value and anorexia, and decreasing of memory and learning ability in positive control that received stress [p<0.05]. Tension- related effects of corticosterone, is a central effect acts via hypothalamus and pituitary gland by secretion of CRF and ACTH, respectively. Increasing effect of corticosterone in the essence is a peripheral effect by direct effect on adrenal gland

[Investigating the effects of parents training on decreasing behavioral problems of children suffering from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]]

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] is the most common behavioral disorders among childhood. Due to the problems of ADHD children, different treatment methods such as medication and behavior therapy is used to treat these children. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of training the parents on reducing behavioral problems of children suffering with ADHD. This research is performed by experimental test [pre- post test] as well as cluster sampling method. 32 parents of students with ADHD among the elementary schools [boys] in Tehran were selected. 18 parents were placed in testing group randomly and they were trained in 10 two- hour sessions and 14 parents were placed in control group without any training. The data was collected through the form of Rutter [1967] before and after the sessions in both groups. After 45 days, two tests were performed in both groups for follow up. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and covariance analysis methods. The mean behavioral disorders before and after training of parents was 7.61 and 6.32, respectively. Meanwhile, there was no decrease of problems in control group. On the other hand, a significant decrease in behavioral problems of children was noted among those suffering from ADHD in testing group [P<0.001]. The findings indicated that training of parents causes the reduction of behavioral problems among children suffering from ADHD.

effectiveness of group cognitive- behai.vio.ral instruction on decreasing physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome [PMS] is a disorder with physical, psychological and behavioral changes frequently occurs in the luteal phase of women and causes frustration and dysfunction in daily relations with others. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the impact of group cognitive-behavioral instruction on decreasing headache, gobbler, tender breast, abdominal bloating and extremities edema. In this quasi- experimental study, in a definite region of Tehran, 56 mothers of preschool children who were suffering from this syndrome were selected by volunteer sampling and randomly divided to experimental [n=26] and control [n= 30] groups. Experimental group received 10 sessions of cognitive- behavioral instruction. Cognitive- behavioral instruction had a significant impact on physical symptoms, including headache, abdominal bloating and gobbler, but tender breast and extremities edema were not improved. Cognitive- behavioral instruction is an effective technique in the treatment of physical symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome. So, it is recommended, with or without drug therapy, among patients who don't respond to medical therapy or refuse to take medication