[Forgiveness and marital satisfaction in combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and their wives]

Stress caused by various events such as war is regarded as one of the factors threatening mental health. Stressful life events and their consequences may result in post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] which, in turn, will cause destructive effects, including marital mal-adjustment between couples. However, factors such as positive psychological sub-components, including forgiveness will have positive effects on symptoms of PTSD. The present research aims at predicting marital satisfaction in men suffering from PTSD and their wives, based on severity of PTSD symptoms in men and the rate of forgiveness shown by partners. In order to achieve the objectives of the research, first 103 patients under treatment in Jannat specialized hospital for psychiatric patients in Shiraz were chosen. In the next step, they were assessed through PTSD Scale. Based on the cut-off point by this scale, 42 of the patients and their spouses were selected in order to be assessed for forgiveness and marital satisfaction through forgiveness, and dyadic marital adjustment scales. Finally, the data was analyzed by stepwise regression method. The results showed that the higher score in forgiveness and the lower severity of PTSD symptoms can predict marital satisfaction in men suffering from PTSD and their wives. The findings of this research are in agreement with other studies conducted in various group particularly in combat related PTSD. This study emphasizes the role of forgiveness desire in increasing marital satisfaction and adjustment among combat related PTSD patients and their wives. The results of this study can be used to design and formulate programs and marital interventions based on forgiveness training for partners

[ study of factor structure, validity, reliability and standardization of borderline personality scale [STB] in Shiraz University Students]

The borderline traits scale [STB] was developed at Oxford by Claridge and Broks [1984]. As outlined in detail in Claridge and Broks, STB scale was based on the criteria for borderline personality disorder, and was set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual -3rd edition [DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980]. Recently this scale was revised by Rawlings et al [2001]. In this study STB corresponded with DSM-IV-TR's criteria for borderline personality disorder. This scale represented one form of a more general 'borderline' condition, referring to unstable modes of interpersonal responding, including ambivalence and degree of control of emotional expression. This scale investigates borderline characteristics of normal population on the base of continuity view of psychotic characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate psychometric properties and standardization of borderline personality scale [STB]. A group of 749 normal participants [380 male and 369 female from collages of Shiraz University] and 60 patients [30 with schizophrenia and 30 with major depression disorders] took part in this research. Principal Component Analysis with promax rotation for STB, extracted three factors which were labeled hopelessness, impulsivity and stress related paranoid/dissociative symptoms factors respectively. However for this scale three other types of validity [concurrent validity, differential validity and correlation between subscales and the whole scale and among subscales] and three reliability [test retest, internal constancy and half splitting reliabilities] were reported. Based on these results, it was concluded that STB scale contain good psychometric properties in Iranian population and it be can used, as valid measure, in psychological and psychiatric researches. Finally the result of this study showed standardized information for STB with sample of 749 participants