[Effect of preparatory information on general surgical operation]

The aim of this project was to evaluate the effect of preparatory information on anxiety and physical recovery of patients undergoing hernia, hemorrhoid, and cholecystectomy surgical operations. 180 patients in the study, scheduled for surgery were randomly allocated to experimental [n=86] and control [n=94] groups. All patients completed Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire in two sessions, once the day before and then again one hour before the operation.Information through education in written and oral forms was provided regarding surgical operation and usual nursing practices only for the experimental group. Data were analyzed by statistical t-test and analysis of variance. This evaluation indicated that provision of information for the experimental group reduced patients' level of state anxiety, improved the rate of recovery process, and decreased the amount of pain and use of sedatives. Giving information reduced not only the patients' anxiety, but also lowered physiological indications such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate.Information reduces anxiety, enhances predictability, and along with increase in patients' [responsibility], it accelerated the rate of physical recovery

[Semantic network disorder in schizophrenia: semantic priming with simultaneous presentation of two primes]

Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the automatic activation of semantic priming in schizophrenic patients

Method: 36 schizophrenic patients and 36 normal subjects participated in two experiments. In experiment one, the effect of semantic relation on identification of degraded targets was examined between a series of single prime words and single target words presented in a typical semantic priming paradigm. To restrict the priming to automatic processes, in experiment two, series of two primes were presented simultaneously instead of one. Both primes were related to the target, and the effect of semantic relation between two primes on identification of degraded targets was examined

Finding: In experiment one, both groups demonstrated semantic priming effect for related words there was no significant difference between the two groups. In experiment two, semantic relation between two primes resulted in a significant priming effect in normal subjects, but not in schizophrenic patients

Results: This study showed that schizophrenic subjects have difficulties in automatically activating related words in their semantic networks. Restricting semantic priming to automatic processes can suggest a way to resolve the inconsistencies in studies with schizo-phrenic subjects

[Cognitive biases in infertility]

Problems in cognitive processes were reported in infertile persons. The present study has focused on biases as a type of cognitive vulnerability in these persons. The aim was at first, to determine whether there are memory, attention and problem-solving baises in these persons., and then which type of processing there are involved? One hundred ten subjects participated in the study including 55 infertile [30 females and 25 males], and 55 fertile [30 females and 25 males]. In memory, subjects were asked to listen to a list of words including 12 infertility related words, 12 neutral words and 12 animal names. They were given free recall test to remember as many word as possible and then they were asked to recognize target words among 36 distractor words. In attention, the subjects were required to name the color of 34 words [17 infertility related and 17 neutral] as fast as possible. The subject's reaction time was recorded by computer. In problem solving, the subjects were required to complete 10 words [5 infertility related and 5 neutral] which were fragmented by some letters. Repeated messure analysis variance was used, in memory, the design was 2 groups [fertile, infertile] X2 sex [male, female] X3 type of word [infertility related, neutral and animal name] and in attention the design was 2 group [fertile and infertile] X2 sex [male, female] X2 type of word [infertility related and neutral], in problem solving independent T test was used for comparison between fertile and infertile women. The results of memory tests showed that infertile women as compared to fertile men recalled and recognized more infertility related words than other type of words. In attention test, there was no significant difference in reaction time between infertile and fertile groups in infertility related words and neutral words. In problem solving test in neutral words, infertile women as compared with fertile men, completed fewer words significantly, but in infertility related words there was no significant difference between them. Since, memory and problem solving the processes are deep and strategic and in attention are automatic, the results of memory and problem solving, showed that infertile women process the infertility related stimulus in controlled, strategic, and deep manner, and on the basis of attention results, they do not show the automatic and uncontrolled processing. Thus in treatment of psychological consequence of infertility, cognitive methods are the best method, because they focus directly on conscious thought

Psychosocial aspects of infertility from viewpoint of infertility treating physicians

Infertility phenomenon extra to medical science territory has been studied in the fields of behavior and social sciences. Infertility as a psychological crisis, has a lot if stress on infertile couples and in different ways, has threatened their mental health. Considering high expenses of fertility in Iran with its socio-cultural aspects, especially for women, has propounded special importance for studying of infertility phenomenon from psychological-social aspects. This research, as preliminary study, has studied viewpoint of Iranian physicians and specialists involved on infertility which have beneficial experiences in regard if infertile couples, as one if most important and reliable resources for cultural-social studies of infertility. This study is a purposive research which by design of psychological-social primary problems in infertility, it investigate the recognition if role if psychological-social factors from view point of Iranian physicians and recognition rate of importance of psychological-social problems with these physicians. In this way infertile couples get more psychological-social supports and also in respect of economical it prevent expending unnecessary time and expenses or performing improper medical treatments and it can accompany the medical treatments with more effective results. After validity inspection of sandbi questionnaire [1997] in primary study, for studying psychological-social factors involved in infertility, questionnaire with 40 questions was prepared and was delivered to 120 physicians and specialist of different fields involved in infertility affairs [Obs and Gyn, Urology, Embryology, Infectious disease and General practitioner]. Findings of this descriptive research showed that infertile on the viewpoint of Iranian physicians of infertile community in Iran, which needs more attention. Also, from their point of view, infertile communities belong to families with low income and infertility treatments enforce high expenses to them. Most common emotional and psychological problems of infertile couples were despair, frustration, fear and anxiety. It is has been accompanied in less cases with rage and violence. These problems, with familial and social problems, such as suspension of marital relations and conflicts such as second marriage, separation and divorce are of important matters, which make the psychological consultation services very important and vital. Hopelessness and despair, fear and anxiety, are important psychological factor diseases. Women are more than men patent to psychological hams in this regard. In view point of physicians, stress and glumness in causing infertility, consultation and psychological treatment and awareness of details of diagnostic and remedial proceedings in treatment and improvement of infertility, has effective role and presence of psychiatrist and consultant seem to be necessary in different treatment and clinical infertility wards. In this way, necessary psychological interventions will be provided in all process of before, during and after treatments

[Psycho-social aspects of infertility]

In this review article, the research conducted on the social and psychological aspects of infertility have been divided into two groups: The first group of studies believe that infertility may have psychological causes [such as differences in personality and experiencing stress between infertile and non-infertile people]. The second group of studies examine the psychological Consequences by both qualitative and quantitative methods. In general, the qualitative studies describe infertility as a devastating experience, especially for women. The qualitative studies try to measure the psychological consequences hypothesis by standard tests. The studies have shown that infertile subjects are different from non-infertile subjects with respect to psychological distress, stress, depression, self-steem, marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. However, in the quantitative studies compared to qualitative studies, there is more inconsistency in the literature. This may be due to both methodological problems [such as sampling, temporal dimension, control groups and cross-cultural variation] and theoretical [conceptual] problems. In the end, gender differences in infertility experience have been discussed and the review articles show that, in addition to psychololgical factors, we need to pay more attention to social and psychological aspects of infertility