The effect of 8-week mindfulness counseling on sexual self-efficacy of women suffering from human immunodeficiency syndrome: A randomized controlled trial in Iran.

Background and Aims: Sexual self-efficacy refers to a woman's belief that she can be sexually active and attractive for her sexual partner and has acceptable sexual function. One of the issues that may negatively affect sexual self-efficacy is HIV infection. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of counseling based on mindfulness on sexual self-efficacy of women affected with HIV. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial involving 62 HIV-positive women in their reproductive age. Women in the intervention group were further divided into four groups. Each group received eight sessions of counseling based on mindfulness, while the control group received no intervention. A demographic questionnaire and sexual self-efficacy questionnaire were used to collect the data. The independent t test, χ 2, and repeated measure tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean change of total score of sexual self-efficacy in Week 8 compared with before intervention was 37.04 (95% CI: 31.38-42.70, p < 0001) and in Week 12 compared with before intervention was 36.97 (95% CI: 31.59-42.34, p < 0.0001), while in the control group, it almost remained unchanged. The score of readiness for sexual relationship, sexual self-stimulation, intimacy without sexual intercourse, and orgasm improved significantly 8 and 12 weeks after intervention (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant differences were observed in these dimensions in the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that 8 weeks of counseling based on mindfulness could significantly improve all dimensions of sexual self-efficacy and its total score in women affected with HIV. Thus, this method of counseling is recommended for HIV-positive women.

Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Aggression in Autistic Children.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the obligatory intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The main aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between aggression in autistic children with infection by T. gondii. METHODS: The research design was an analytical (comparative) cross sectional study. The participants included (N = 100) subjects (50 autistic and 50 normal children) between 3 and 12 years old. They were matched for age, socioeconomic status, lack of physical and mental illness. The instruments were preschool aggression scale and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedure to essay the blood sample test. Five milliliters of blood samples were collected to assess the presence of T. gondii infection. RESULTS: The results showed that autistic children had a higher rate of infection by T. gondii than normal children. Furthermore, children infected with T. gondii were more aggressive than the noninfected group. CONCLUSIONS: In autistic children, T. gondii infection was significantly higher than in the normal group. Also, autistic children who were infected with the parasite were more aggressive.

The effectiveness of cognitive- behavioral therapy on quality of life in women with hypothyroidism in the reproductive age: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, hypothyroidism affects 3.7% of the population, and is associated with impaired quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT) on the quality of life in women with hypothyroidism. METHODS: 96 women with hypothyroidism randomly allocated into two groups: CBT group (n = 48) and control group (n = 48). Women in the CBT group were classified into four sub-groups of 12, and each sub-group received eight sessions of counseling (each session lasting 90 min). We collected data using a demographic questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF 36) for measuring the quality of life. We used the independent t-test, chi-square test and ANCOVA to analyze the data. RESULTS: Five women from each group withdrew from the study, leaving 43 women in each group. The scores on physical functioning, physical health problems, social functioning and pain improved in the CBT group after the intervention, but the differences between the two groups were not significant. The scores on emotional health, emotional health problems, energy and emotions, and general health were significantly better in the CBT group than those in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Counseling using CBT can improve some aspects of quality of life, including emotional health, emotional health problems, energy and general health in patients with hypothyroidism. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Iranian Registry for Clinical Trials: 20190323043101 N1. https://www.irct.ir/.