comparative study of mindfulness efficiency based on Islamic-spiritual schemes and group cognitive behavioral therapy on reduction of anxiety and depression in pregnant women

Background: Anxiety and depression during the pregnancy period are among the factors affecting the pregnancy undesirable outcomes and delivery. One way of controlling anxiety and depression is mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of mindfulness based on the Islamic-spiritual schemas and group cognitive behavioral therapy on reduction of anxiety and depression in pregnant women

Methods: The research design was semi-experimental in the form of pretest-posttest using a control group. Among the pregnant women in the 16th to 32nd weeks of pregnancy who referred to the health center, 30 pregnant women with high anxiety level and 30 pregnant women with high depression participated in the research. Randomly 15 participants with high depression and 15 participants with high anxiety were considered in the intervention group under the treatment of mindfulness based on Islamic-spiritual schemes. In addition, 15 participants with high scores regarding depression and 15 with high scores in anxiety were considered in the other group. The control group consisted of 15 pregnant women with high anxiety and depression. Beck anxiety-depression questionnaire was used in two steps of pre-test and post-test. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 20, and P?0.05 was considered as significant

Results: The results of multivariate analysis of variance test and tracking Tokey test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of anxiety and depression in the two groups of mindfulness based on spiritual- Islamic scheme [P<0.001] and the group of cognitive behavioral therapy with each other [P<0.001] and with the control group[P<0.001]. The mean of anxiety and depression scores decreased in the intervention group, but it increased in the control group

Conclusion: Both therapy methods were effective in reduction of anxiety and depression of pregnant women, but the effect of mindfulness based on spiritual- Islamic schemes was more

[Comparison of general psychological wellbeing schedule between patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and healthy controls]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases related to the psychological status of the patient. The aim of this study is to assess the relation of GERD with general psychological wellbeing [GPWB]. This population study was performed among adult residents of Tehran, Iran in 2013. We invited high school and university educated healthy appearing subjects who were members of a health surveillance study in district number 11 of Tehran to reply to the GPWB query. Participants were divided into two groups, GERD patients and controls. We compared the dimensions of GPWB among these two groups. A total of 135 persons with a mean age of 35.5 +/- 13 years were recruited for study participation. Approximately 30% of men and 23% of women had at least weekly GERD symptoms. Anxiety was significantly more common among GERD patients than controls. General health and positive well-being were significantly impaired among GERD patients. Assessment of self-representation of wellbeing and distress in GERD patients and consideration of new, relevant therapeutic avenues are important for the control of GERD

Lipid profile improvement after four group psychological interventions in combination to nutritional and physical activity instructing among overweight and obese individuals

Research background approved weight loss would result in improvement of lipid profile. Nowadays, weight management is attained by modifying psychological mediators, as well as dieting and making individuals do more physical activity. Hence, This research was performed to compare effectiveness of different psychological interventions on lipid profile improvement among individuals with overweight and obesity. Using quasi- experimental design, 68 participants with mean age 26 years and 9 months [ranged from 20 to 43] were randomly assigned into 4 groups [including LEARN, CBT, CT, and MCT], and eventually 61 participants completed the treatment protocols. BMI was calculated by Omron digital body composition instrument, and blood lipids and glucose concentrations were measured prior to and after all interventions. Data analysis by using t- test for dependent groups analysis revealed lipid profile, FBS, and BMI were significantly modified after applying 4 interventions comparing baseline and post treatment mean differences [P<0.05]. Furthermore, repeated measure design analysis showed there were significant mean differences [P<0.05] in HDL cholesterol, TG levels and FBS levels among 4 groups. Scheffe test revealed more detailed significant differences among four groups in HDL cholesterol, and FBS concentration varieties [P<0.05]. Adding psychological interventions to dietary plans and regular physical activities in overweight management would consider as a valuable step in optimizing physiological outcomes and that's because of correcting mind- body interactional pathways among obese and overweight individuals

Associations between self-reported anxiety and serum lipid, lipoprotein concentrations and platelets in healthy men

Objective: High blood cholesterol is one of the signifi cant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Increased cholesterol levels contribute to atherosclerosis, which causes platelet aggregation and increases the risk of blood clots in the arteries. Previous research has investigated relationships of elevated serum cholesterol with anxiety disorders. The current study aims to assess levels of serum lipid, lipoprotein concentrations and platelets in individuals with high and low anxiety. Methods: Of a total of 1,038 subjects, 142 healthy men were randomly selected. All participants were asked to complete the Spielberger’s self-reported state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). Participants with scores higher than 46 and lower than 34 were included in high anxiety group (n=28) and low anxiety group (n=69), respectively. Levels of fasting serum lipids, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and platelets were compared between the two groups. The data were analyzed using independent samples t-test and correlation coeffi cient test. Results: The levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were signifi cantly higher in the high anxiety group (P<0.001). There were no signifi cant differences in the levels of triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and platelets. Conclusion

Substance abuse disorders in the parents of ADHD children, and parents of normal children

The objective of the study was to compare the attention-deficit/ hyperactivity, and substance abuse disorders background in the parents of children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], and the parents of normal children. The available sampling method was used to choose 400 parents of children [200 parents of children with ADHD and 200 parents of normal children], the ages of children were 6-18 years old. The data were collected through the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [SADS] for parents and the Kiddy Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version [K-SADS-PL], Connors Adult ADHD Rating Scale [CAARS] and the Wender Utah Rating Scale [WURS] for adult ADHD. The results were analyzed by using SPSS-17 software, based on two-variable Chi-Square and t-tests.and P value in all disorders were equals to P<0.05. The results indicated that substance abuse in parents of children with ADHD is 21% more prevalent, and parents of children with ADHD compared to parents of normal children have 2% ADHD, 9% attention deficit disorder, and 1% hyperactivity disorder more in their background. Therefore, we conclude that there exists a significant difference between the above mentioned disorders in the parents of children with ADHD, and parents of normal children. The high prevalence rate of disorders and background of ADHD in families of individuals with ADHD shows the probability of effect of inheritance in the disorder. Also, it shows that parents of children with ADHD have more substance abuse and history of ADHD in their background