Exploration of infertile couples' support requirements: a qualitative study

Due to high prevalence of infertility, increasing demand for infertility treatment, and provision of high quality of fertility care, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to explore infertile couples' expectations and needs. Identification of these needs can be a prerequisite to plan the effective supportive interventions. The current study was, therefore, conducted in an attempt to explore and to understand infertile couples' experiences and needs. This is a qualitative study based on a content analysis approach. The participants included 26 infertile couples [17 men and 26 women] and 7 members of medical personnel [3 gynecologists and 4 midwives] as the key informants. The infertile couples were selected from patients attending public and private infertility treatment centers and private offices of infertility specialists in Isfahan and Rasht, Iran, during 2012-2013. They were selected through purposive sampling method with maximum variation. In-depth unstructured interviews and field notes were used for data gathering among infertile couples. The data from medical personnel was collected through semi-structured interviews. The interview data were analyzed using conventional content analysis method. Data analysis revealed four main categories of infertile couples' needs, including: i. Infertility and social support, ii. Infertility and financial support, iii. Infertility and spiritual support and iv. Infertility and informational support. The main theme of all these categories was assistance and support. The study showed that in addition to treatment and medical needs, infertile couples encounter various challenges in different emotional, psychosocial, communicative, cognitive, spiritual, and economic aspects that can affect various areas of their life and lead to new concerns, problems, and demands. Thus, addressing infertile couples' needs and expectations alongside their medical treatments as well as provision of psychosocial services by development of patient-centered approaches and couple-based interventions can improve their quality of life and treatment results and also relieve their negative psychosocial consequences

comparison of acceptance and commitment therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT], selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], and the combination of ACT and SSRIs in the treatment of adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD]. In This experimental study 32 outpatients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for OCD were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: ACT, SSRIs, and combined treatment. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale [Y-BOCS], Beck Depression Inventory-II-Second edition [BDI-II], and Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI] were administered at pre- and post-treatment. Twenty-seven patients completed the study. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance [ANOVAs] and one - way analysis of covariance [ANCOVAs], clinically significant change, and complete remission status. Analyses with ANCOVA revealed that the patients treated with ACT and combined treatment experienced a significantly greater improvement in obsessive- compulsive symptoms at post-treatment as compared to those treated with SSRIs alone. However, there were no significant differences between ACT and combined treatment on OC symptoms. In addition, no significant differences were found between all the 3 treatment groups regarding reduction in the BDI-II and BAI scores at post-treatment. Clinically significant change and complete remission status results also showed that, unlike the SSRI, the ACT and combined treatment lead to more improvement in OC symptoms. ACT and combined treatment are more effective than SSRIs alone in treating OC symptoms. However, it seems that adding SSRIs to ACT does not increase the effectiveness of ACT in the treatment of adults with OCD in the short-term

comparative effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and group cognitive therapy for major depressive disorder

Acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT] is a new method of psychotherapy for major depressive disorder [MDD]. The aim of this experimental study is evaluating the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapy. In this randomized clinical trial, 19 depressive out-patients were randomly divided into 2 groups [acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapy]. Twelve therapeutic sessions administered in consulting center of Tehran University twice a week. All the subjects were tested by Beck Depression Inventory [BDI-II]] and the Ruminative Response Scale [RRS] before and after the treatments. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance [MANCOVA]. The results show no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the variables of depression and rumination. Overall, the results suggest that ACT is an effective treatment, the effectiveness of which appears equivalent to that of CT

[Sensitivity, specificity and cutoff point of the Wechsler intelligence scale for children- revised in diagnosis of learning disorders]

This research aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity and cutoff point of the revised version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children [WISC-R] in diagnosis of learning disorders. Using a cross-sectional descriptive design and multistage cluster sampling, 45 students with learning disorders and 45 students without learning disorders completed a demographical data questionnaire and WISC-R. The data was analysed by Receiver Operating Characteristic [ROC] curve. The cut point 89 can differentiate children with learning disorders in 94.1% of cases with sensitivity of 71.1% and specificity of 95.6% [p<0.05]. Likewise, a score of 44 in Verbal subscale, was differential in 86.7% of cases with sensitivity of 84.4% and specificity of 86.7% [p<0.05]. A Performance subscale score of 44 was differential in 87% of cases with a sensitivity of 44.4% and specificity of 93.3% [p<0.05]. WISC-R can be used to devise diagnostic checklists for learning disorders in children

[Suicide ideation and heritability coefficient among monozygotic and dizygotic twins]

This study aimed to assess suicidal ideation based on gender, age, marital status and heritability coefficient estimate in a sample of 11 to 35 years-old monozygotic and dizygot twins. One hundred and sixteen twins [MZ=66, DZ=50; age, 11-35] were invited to complete the Suicide Ideation Scale [SIS] in the anniversary of Laleh and Ladan. Analysis of variance showed that gender, age and marital status together accounted for 80% of the total variation of suicidal ideation in twins. There were significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation between women, adolescents, and singles in comparison with men, young people, and married people, respectively. The heritability coefficient in adolescent and young twins was 0.49. The findings suggest that women, adolescents and single people, respectively, compared to men, young people and married people are at higher risk of suicidal ideation. Regarding heritability of suicidal ideation, supervising of significant others to people with suicide ideation must be considered in mental health policy making in the field of primary and secondary prevention

[ role of depression, stress, happiness and social support in identifying suicidal thoughts in students]

This study has investigated the predictive value of psychological constructs including stressfulness of life, depression, happiness and social support on the rate of suicidal thoughts in students. The study sample included 1094 boys and girls residing in the Tehran University's student dormitory. The participants completed Suicidal Ideation Scale [SIS], Student Depression Scale [SDS], Student Life Stress Inventory [SLSI], Oxford Happiness Scale [OHS], and Social Support [SS] scale. The statistical data analysis using multiple regression techniques showed that happiness, depression, stress and social support account for 76 percent of the changes in students' suicidal thoughts. In addition, the results showed that depression has the strongest predictive power of suicidal thoughts. Depression and related structural variables could be used for predicting and efficiently identifying students' suicidal thoughts

[Risk and protective factors of drug abuse in high school students]

The present study aimed to investigate risk and protective factors of drug abuse among high school students. The sum of 1124 high school students [573 boys and 551 girls] were selected based on the stratified random and cluster sampling from Tehran's high schools. A number of different scales; American Drug and Alcohol Survey [ADAS], Prevention Planning Survey [PPS], Blings-Moss Copying Responses [CR], Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem Inventory School Form [SEI-SF], Collins-Reed Revised Attachment Inventory [RAI], and Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory [EQI] were administered for data gathering. The data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square, logistic regression and odds ratio models. There were significant differences between students with and without drug abuse in copying styles, self-esteem, attachment style, emotional intelligence, family atmosphere and family substance abuse. Odds ratio of drug abuse for students with family drug use for boys and girls was 11 and 1.63 times more than others respectively. In the recent years, the most important achievement in the areas of theorizing and policy-making for drug abuse preventive programs is to emphasis on risk and protective factors as a descriptive and predictive framework. This study findings emphasized family factors, self-esteem, emotional intelligence and coping styles in this regard