effect of couple's dialogue technique on marital conflicts and child behavior in Iranian couples

Marital conflicts have great impact on social, economic and cultural aspects of the couples and their children. New Psychological interventions like [Imago Relationship Therapy] [IRT] have been widely used for resolving these conflicts. This study examined the efficacy of couple dialogue technique on marital relationship and children's behavior in Iranian society. In a Clinical Trial study eighty consecutive couples refered to general pediatric clinics due to their children's diseases, randomly allocated to intervention group [couple dialogue technique] and control group [consult usual treatment method] in consultation center. They filled [Distance and Isolation Questionnaire] and [Gottmann Love and Respect Scale] at baseline, post treatment and three months after intervention as follow up all of them. General linear Model with Repeated Measurements was used to analyze the data. In this study, scores of mutual love and respect in marital relationship [Gottmann scale] and scores in Flooding, Loneliness and Retreatment subscales of Distance and Isolation Questionnaire had a better condition in IRT group just after the trial [P < 0.05]; but after three months, the differences between two groups were only marginal significant [P < 0.1]. In Parallel lives subscale, scores were decreased in two groups, but right after trial there was not significant scores of the groups did not difference between scores. Scores after three months in IRT group was significantly lower in compare to control group. Scores of CBCL have not statistically significant differences in both groups at any time [P > 0.05]. This study revealed couple dialogue technique was an effective intervention in solving marital conflicts in Iranian population but had not a significant effect on children's behavioral profile. This may be due to other factors or insufficient duration of intervention and needs more investigation and needs more investigation

Depressive symptomatology in school children of Tehran - Iran [9-11 years old] and its relation to function of their families

During the past decade, as depression was becoming increasingly evident at younger ages, a great deal of attention has been directed towards the diagnosis and treatment of depression in children and adolescents. A considerable amount of research has been focused on the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents in western societies, but researches conducted on non western samples are considerably scarce. The purposes of this study were to estimate the levels of self- reported depressive symptomatology in school children of Tehran and to assess its relationship to some characteristics of children's families. 1054 children 9-11 years of age [521 girls, 533 boys] were randomly selected frame the schools scatted in all five geographical areas of the city of Tehran. [tow schools forereach area]. Assessment of depression was undertaken as a classroom based activity with Children's Depression Inventory [CDI]. The CDI is a 27-item self- report inventory measuring depressed mood in children. All children were tested in their classrooms. Demographic and some Characteristics of their families were assessed with a questionnaire that was designed for parents of these children. With frequent contacts, 896 parents completed the questionnaires. The results of CDI and parents questionnaire were statistically 'analyzed. Considering the standard cut point of CDI [CDI score. 20], 18% of the total sample had positive test [equal to or greater than 20]. The means of the total CDI scores in boys and girls were not significantly different, but the percent of positive test were slightly higher in boys [19%] than that in girls [17%]. The means of the total children's CDI scores were significantly related to the family function in terms of emotional atmosphere of home, the number of marital conflicts and marital satisfaction of parents. In this research, school children of Tehran reported higher levels of depression than children of many western countries [10%] and these levels were comparable to results of similar researches in Russia and Egypt. The scores equal to or above the cut point in the boys were slightly more than those in the girls, which was expected in this range of age. Clearly, it is not being suggested that all children in this sample who scored equal to or above the cut point of the CDI, would meet the DSM-IV criteria for depressive disorders in terms of symptom content and severity. However the high prevalence of self-reported depression in children and the relationship between symptoms of depression and some familial variables indicate the importance of implementing preventive procedures in which these factors should be considered

[Supportive and cognitive behavioral group interventions on Bam earthquake related PTSD symptoms in adolescents]

Psychological debriefing has been widely advocated for routine use following major traumatic events. Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, art supportive therapies, and sport and recreational support activities are other interventions for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder. We assessed the effects of theses methods individually and in combination on reduction posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in adolescents who had experienced Bam earthquake. In a field trial, we evaluated the efficacy of psychological debriefing, group cognitive-behavioral therapy, art and sport supportive interventions in 200 adolescents with PTSD symptoms who survived of Bam earthquake and compare it with a control group. Patients were randomly assigned to one of intervention programs including: group cognitive-behavioral therapy; group CBT plus art and sport interventions; art and sport interventions without group CBT; and control group. Thirty one individuals were excluded because of migration. A statistically significant reduction in overall PTSD symptoms as well as in avoidance symptoms was observed after group cognitive-behavioral therapy. There was no significant difference in reduction of overall PTSD and avoidance symptoms between the other groups. Psychological interventions in form of group cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce the symptoms of PTSD symptoms but we couldn't find the art and sport supportive therapy alone or in combination with group CBT to be useful in this regard

Trauma/Grief Group play therapy effect on Bam earthquake related emotional and behavioral symptoms in preschool children: a before after trial

Depressive, anxious, aggressive and regressive behaviors are the most common psychiatric symptoms following natural disasters in children. Art, play and behavioral techniques are used for reducing these traumatic symptoms. We studied the effect of 12 sessions of group play therapy in children 3 to 6 years old who had been exposed to the Bam earthquake directly. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of 12 sessions of group play therapy with cognitive-behavioral approach for the preschool aged children who had been exposed to the Bam earthquake directly and had lost at least one of their first degree family members. Mental retarded children and those with psychiatric or severe medical problems that needed medications were excluded. Before and after interventions we evaluated post traumatic, emotional and anxiety symptoms by using Yule's PTSD scale and behavioral symptoms by Rutter's questionnaire. Then we compared before and after interventions scores. At first 19 children were included in the study, 13 of them completed at least two thirds of the interventional sessions. We excluded six children who participated in fewer sessions. The mean scores of Yule's PTSD scale and Rutter's questionaire reduced during interventions which was statistically significant. Trauma/grief focused group play therapy may be effective in reducing post traumatic symptoms of natural disasters in preschool aged children

Mental health in the Islamic Republic of Iran: achievements and areas of need

The development of mental health in the Islamic Republic of Iran is described with particular reference to the integration mental health into the primary health care system. The achievements made so far are outlined and the areas of need discussed