Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial examining improvements in emotion regulation, defense mechanisms, quality of life, and IBS symptoms.

Studies have provided evidence for the effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in treating medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of ISTDP on individuals living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in terms of, emotion regulation (ER) abilities, defense mechanisms, quality of life (QOL), and IBS symptoms. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with IBS were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. Pre- and post-treatment assessments were conducted, along with a follow-up assessment after ten weeks. Repeated measures analyses of variance were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that ISTDP led to significant improvements in ER, defense mechanisms, and QOL, as well as a reduction in the severity and frequency of IBS symptoms. These results provide further support for the efficacy of ISTDP as a treatment modality for individuals with IBS.

A network analysis of ICD-11 Complex PTSD, emotional processing, and dissociative experiences in the context of psychological trauma at different developmental stages.

Objective: Traumatic experiences are a significant risk factor for psychological disturbances, including disorders such as complex posttraumatic stress disorder, emotion-processing problems, and trauma-related dissociative experiences. The present investigation examined the coexistence of these symptoms using a network analysis model. Method: This study included a sample of 406 people referred to comprehensive health centers in Tehran from September to December 2023 with psychopathological syndromes. Variables were assessed using The International Trauma Questionnaire, International Measurement of Exposure to Traumatic Event checklist, Baker Emotional Processing Questionnaire, and Dissociative Experiences. A regularized partial correlation network and Glasso algorithm, in combination with Extended Bayesian information criteria, were applied to estimate the network structure. Results: Signs of unprocessed emotions and disturbance in self-organization symptoms were the most important symptoms in the symptom network, forming strong connections with other nodes. Thereby, these two symptoms can be regarded as the most important clinical manifestations in the symptom network following traumatic experiences. Three distinct symptom communities were identified: the community of traumatic experiences (childhood, adolescence, adulthood), the community of dissociative experiences (amnesia, depersonalization/derealization, and absorption), and the community of emotional processing (suppression, unpleasant emotional experience, Signs of unprocessed emotions, avoidance, and emotional control, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and disturbance in self-organization symptoms). The strongest edges observed were between childhood trauma-adolescence trauma (0.473) in the community of traumatic experiences, between amnesia and depersonalization/derealization (0.644) in the community of dissociative experiences, and between disturbance in self-organization symptoms and unprocessed emotions (0.324) in the community of emotional processing, indicating the recurrent occurrence of these symptoms. Conclusion: In this study, disturbance in self-organization symptoms was identified as the central psychopathologic symptom in individuals experiencing traumas at different developmental stages. It seems that adolescent trauma and not childhood trauma plays a more decisive role in the symptoms that a person manifests after traumatic experiences. Also, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and disturbance in self-organization symptoms were recognized in the cluster of emotional processing symptoms and can have substantial roles in prioritizing therapeutic measures.

Effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for Tension-Type Headache (TTH): A randomized controlled trial of effects on emotion regulation, anger, anxiety, and TTH symptom severity.

Research has demonstrated the potential efficacy of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in addressing medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). However, the specific application of ISTDP for tension-type headache (TTH), a prevalent and common MUS, has not been extensively studied. In light of this gap in the literature, the current study investigated the effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in treating TTH. The study assessed ISTDP's impact on emotion regulation (ER) capacities, levels of anxiety and anger, and TTH symptoms. 30 patients from the neurology clinic at Hazrat Rasool Hospital in Tehran were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations were conducted, followed by a ten-week follow-up assessment. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analyses of variance. The results indicated that ISTDP led to significant improvements in ER, reductions in anxiety and anger levels, and a significant decrease in TTH symptoms (ps < 0.001). Findings underscore the effectiveness of ISTDP as a valuable therapeutic approach for addressing TTH.

The effectiveness of short-term dynamic/interpersonal group therapy on perfectionism; assessment of anxiety, depression and interpersonal problems.

Perfectionism is acknowledged as a core vulnerability and a perpetuating factor in several psychopathologies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of short-term psychodynamic/interpersonal group psychotherapy for perfectionism and perfectionism-related distress such as anxiety, depression, and interpersonal problems. This study is a quasi-experimental study applying clinical trial method and contains pre-test, post-test, follow-up periods and control group. The study population included students and the sample consisted of 30 people with extreme perfectionism, who were assigned in two groups of 15 people, experimental and waiting list groups using randomized block design. Research instruments included Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Perfectionistic Self Presentation Scale, Perfectionistic Cognition Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-32. In order to analyse the collected data, mixed analysis of variance and Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance were used in SPSS software version 22. The results show that the intervention in the experimental group compared to the waiting list group caused a clinically and statistically significant decrease in the mean scores. This result is observable and evident in all levels of perfectionism and psychological distress (anxiety, depression and interpersonal problems), except for the subscale of Non-Display of Imperfection from the Perfectionistic Self Presentation Scale. These results were preserved through the follow-up periods. These results show that short-term dynamic/interpersonal group therapy is effective in treating most of the components of perfectionism and concerning its effectiveness; it reduced psychological distress and showed that the components pertaining to perfectionism are factors of vulnerability in this regard.

Parent training intervention for autism symptoms, functional emotional development, and parental stress in children with autism disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Today, early interventions to treat autistic children through parent training interventions is of outmost importance. Interventions are focused on developmental or behavioral approaches and are mostly individual or group ones. In the present study, both proposed approaches in the form of structured individual and group parent training sessions among Iranian families are investigated. METHOD: This study was a randomized clinical trial which was performed in 2019-2020 in Tehran. Forty four 3-5 year-old children with autism participated in the study and were assigned to experimental (n = 22) and control (n = 22) groups through block randomization method. To evaluate the effectiveness of therapy on autism symptoms, Gilliam Autism Rating and Functional Emotional Assessment Scales were used. Also, Parenting Stress Index and Quality of Life Questionnaire were implemented to investigate the secondary effects of the therapy. After 12 therapy sessions, both groups took the posttest and 3 months later, follow up evaluations were performed. RESULTS: The treatment group manifested significant improvement regarding autism symptoms in both the posttest and follow up (ŋ2 = .77, P < .05) as well as Functional Emotional Development (ŋ2 = .62, P < .05). Comparing the means indicates that the experimental group mean score is significantly higher in quality of life and lower in parenting stress than the control group's. CONCLUSION: Parent training is effective on autism symptoms and functional emotional development. Regarding the fact that the follow-up phase coincided with Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine, it can be concluded that the therapy has been successful in maintaining the attained capabilities.

Effectiveness of the mindfulness-acceptance-commitment-based approach on athletic performance and sports competition anxiety: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Improving sports performance and reducing anxiety is one of the most important goals of athletes. Recurrence of symptoms and treatment cessation are common problems with common interventions. Approaches based on mindfulness-acceptance-commitment (MAC) can be a response to these limitations. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of the present study was to determine effectiveness of the mindfulness-acceptance-commitment-based approach to athletic performance enhancement and sports competition anxiety in students who have had athletic experience for 3 to 5 years. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Faculty of Educational Sciences of Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, from May 1, 2017 to September 15, 2017. A total of 31 students were randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=16). The experimental group received the protocol Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) for 8 sessions. Subjects completed the Charbonneau Sports Performance Questionnaire, Action and Acceptance Questionnaire (AAQ) and Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted by using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) by SPSS-22. RESULTS: The results of the study indicated that the MAC approach increases significantly the performance of basketball playing athletes (p<0.05). Furthermore, the MAC approach decreases significantly experiential avoidance and sports anxiety in athletes (p<0.05). The size of the difference between the groups is moderate (Eta squared). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the mindfulness-acceptance-commitment-based approach is an effective intervention to increasing athletic performance and reducing experiential avoidance and sports anxiety in athletes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: IRCT20170409033333N1. FUNDING: This study has been financially supported by the Research Deputy of Iran University of Medical Sciences (Code: 95-04-185-29333).

Efficacy of short-term anxiety-regulating psychotherapy on love trauma syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study has been conducted to investigate the efficacy of short-term dynamic psychotherapy on Love Trauma Syndrome (LTS) in female students. LTS includes a constellation of intensive signs and symptoms which appear following the breakdown of a romantic relationship after a long time. It interrupts person's function in many areas (academic, social or professional) and leads to maladaptive reactions. METHODS: This study was a multiple baseline single-case experimental study. The sample included five cases who were selected based on purposeful sampling procedure. The intervention was conducted based on McCullough's manual for short-term dynamic psychotherapy. In general, the study consisted of three stages including the baseline evaluation, the intervention period, and follow-up. The instruments included the Love Trauma Inventory (LTI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Global Assessment Function) GAF) of DSM-IV and Millon Personality Inventory MCMI-II the data were analyzed using the clinical significance method and the recovery percent formula. RESULTS: All subjects who completed the treatment showed significant improvement in their symptoms including depression and general functioning. CONCLUSION: It appears that McCullough's short term anxiety-regulating psychotherapy is effective in treating LTS.

The neurological outcome of spinal cord injured victims of the Bam earthquake, Kerman, Iran.

Car accidents and gun-shot injuries are the most common causes of spinal cord injury. Five percent of those patients who have a complete spinal cord injury will experience improvement, to some extent. The lack of specific data in the literature regarding the outcome of earthquake related spinal cord injury justified us to design this study where we evaluated the neurological outcome and related factors of SCI in the Bam earthquake. We retrospectively evaluated the neurological outcome of patients with spinal cord injury who survived the Bam earthquake. In this study all patients with spinal cord injury that resulted from the Bam earthquake who registered in the Welfare Organization of Kerman were studied. The neurological conditions of patients eighteen months after the earthquake were compared with their neurological conditions at the time of the earthquake. A total of 17 (23.9%) patients with grade A impairment based on ASIA impairment Scale (AIS) at the time of the earthquake had significant neurological recovery. In addition, younger patients had better neurological outcomes. Those who had fracture dislocations had a worse outcome. Spinal cord injuries that are due to earthquakes have a better neurological outcome in comparison with other causes of this injury. The patients' ages and types of spinal fractures were significantly related to the neurological outcome.