Proposing and evaluating a model of depression, stress, resilience and spirituality in relation to pain in women with breast cancer: Investigating the mediating role of mindfulness.

BACKGROUND: Pain experience is one of the most common symptoms of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. It may cause physical and psychological problems and interfere with the treatment process. AIMS: This study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, stress, resilience and spirituality on the pain symptoms of breast cancer patients during chemotherapy and explore the potential mediating role of mindfulness in this association. METHOD: Two hundred and forty women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy from Shiraz University Hospital, were selected and evaluated by a purposive sampling method. The research instruments were Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Questionnaire-2, Mindfulness, Resilience, Spirituality and Pain Questionnaires. The obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software and MPLUS using Spearman correlation coefficient and path analysis. RESULTS: Based on the findings of direct path analysis, depression, stress, and spirituality showed a significant relationship with mindfulness, but resilience had no significant relationship with mindfulness (p < 0.01). Furthermore, depression, stress, resilience, and mindfulness showed a significant relationship with pain, while spirituality had no significant relationship with pain (p < 0.01). Finally, indirect path analysis revealed mindfulness is a significant mediator of stress and pain (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested a model can be useful in better understanding of the psychological components affecting pain in breast cancer patients, after and during their treatments. It also provided an effective framework to develop and investigate pain-focused and non-pharmacological interventions.

A comparison of attentional bias towards drug cues in addicts and non-addicts.

BACKGROUND: According to recent theories on addiction, attentional bias towards drug-related stimuli plays a pivotal role in the initiation of drug abuse. OBJECTIVES: The present study attempted to investigate attentional bias towards drug-related words in addicts and non-addicts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To attain the objectives, following a causal-comparative study, a number of 15 addicts under treatment in anonymous groups, and 15 non-addicts from among students at Isfahan University were selected through available sampling. Both groups were evaluated through Stroop test, and the results were analyzed adopting independent t-test. FINDINGS: as indicated by the findings, a significant difference was observed in the two groups concerning color-naming accuracy (P < 0.05, X(2) (1) = 3.896) as well as reaction time (P < 0.0001, X(2) (1) = 17.404). The calculated difference between accuracy and reaction time for congruent and incongruent stimuli was significant. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the average reaction time of the two groups. In terms of the number of errors, however, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The attentional bias of drug addicts is associated with drug-related cues or the temptation for drug abuse.