Effectiveness of adapted cognitive behaviour therapy for dysthymia: An evidence based case study.

Several empirical researches imply that cognitive behaviour therapy can be effective in treating psychiatric disorders. In the context of Pakistan, some researches with Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy were found to be effective for depression, anxiety, bipolar and psychotic disorders. The present study theoretically underpinned the model of Adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ACBT) based on the inclusion of Tasbeehs (Rosary) derived from the Quran and Sunnah to be fruitful in producing the desirable change in a single case of Dysthymia with anxious distress which was assessed with the help of the Urdu versions of Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS). ACBT produced profound differences in pre-test and post-test scores in a patient. The Tasbeeh or Rosary could provide a therapeutic means for treating psychiatric illnesses irrespective of the religious and cultural differences.

Association Between Fear of COVID-19 and Emotional Distress in Nurses With Mediating Role of Socio-Demographic Features.

Objectives: To determine the predictive association between fear of COVID-19 and emotional distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) in frontline and non-frontline nurses. To explore the mediating role of socio-demographic features. Methods: Correlational cross-sectional research design was implied. A total of 500 on-duty male and female, frontline and non-frontline, nurses were included from five major hospitals in Gujrat (Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital, City Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Akram Hospital, and Gujrat Hospital). Fear of COVID-19 scale and the Urdu version of depression, anxiety, and stress scale - 21 (DASS-21) were used to measure variables of interest. Descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling (SEM), linear regression, and t-test were carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21. Result: Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed a significant predictive link between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, and stress (goodness of model fit; NFI = 0.93, GFI = 0.914, AGFI = 0.93, CFI = 0.936, and IFI = 0.936). Furthermore, a significant mediating effect of certain demographic features was discovered by SEM (CMIN/DF = 1.11, NFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.98, GFI = 0.08, AGFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.029, CFI = 0.99, and IFI = 0.99). Results of linear regression analysis also revealed a momentous predictive association between fear of COVID-19 and emotional distress (R = 0.860). In comparative analysis, the results of t-test explored the statistical significant difference in fear of COVID-19 and emotional distress between frontline (mean = 25.775, 36.147 and SD = 1.75, 2.23) and non-frontline nurses (mean = 21.702, 27.353 and SD = 4.607, 10.212), with t (130) =7.111, 6.92. Conclusion: Managing the mediating effect of demographic characteristics and reducing the fear of COVID-19 can help nurses to overcome emotional distress, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Further, this will increase the productivity among nurses.

Predictive Relationship Of Narcissism And Psychopathy With Relational Aggression Moderated By Age Among Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Relational aggression stresses on the application of one's link to interfere the someone else relationships. Narcissism is manifest by heavenliness, a feeling of being advantaged, and a nonappearance of compassion while psychopathy is a personality issue that is about reduced regret, debilitated sympathy, and critical reserved behaviours. Present study was designed to assess the predictive relationship of narcissism and psychopathy with relational aggression among adolescents moderated by age. METHODS: Cross-sectional correlational research design was implied. Study was conducted at department of Psychology University of Gujrat from August 10th 2017 to 5th January 2018. 612 students from diverse academic institute of Gujrat, with age range 12-19 year were selected. Urdu version of dark triad personality scale short version was used to assess narcissism and psychopathy while diverse adolescent relational aggression scale, Urdu version was used to gauge relational aggression. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis was carried out to find out the combined effect of narcissism and psychopathy on relational aggression among adolescent students. Findings revealed significant predictive relation among the variables (p<0.01). Result further indicated that one unit in narcissism will increase the relational aggression by .333 unit (ß=.333) while on unit increase in psychopathy will increase the relational aggression by .374 unit (ß=.374). Furthermore, results support the moderating effect of age in the relation among narcissism, psychopathy and relational aggression (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Narcissism and psychopathy have predictive relationship with relational aggression moreover age play moderating role in afore said association.

Assessment of prevalence of Anxiety in adult population and development of anxiety scale: A study of 819 patients with anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an indigenous anxiety scale for adults and to assess the prevalence of anxiety among the adults. METHODS: Descriptive explanatory research design was carried out from 1st January 2018 to 31st May 2019 at the Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat. The indigenous anxiety scale for adults was used for data collection. Scale consisted on three sub scales which are used to assess the cognitive symptoms, behavior and physiological symptoms through CFA value and alpha reliability. Sample of adequacy is .965, Confirmatory Factor Analysis value .914, alpha reliability .974 were taken as standard. In cognitive symptoms subscale's alpha was 0.958, Behavior subscale .943 and Physiological symptoms subscale alpha was α .912. RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety in 20-29 years individuals exhibited 17.5% (male 38.8%; female 62.2) symptoms of anxiety. 30-39 Years people showed 12.9% (male =56.9%; female=43.1%) , 40-49 years individuals showed 16.5% of anxiety and in late adulthood 50-60 years old people showed highest level of anxiety 22.10% (male=68.3%; female= 31.7). CONCLUSION: The anxiety scale for adults is a reliable indigenous scale for measuring anxiety in adults. Further, the prevalence rate of anxiety in adult population is alarming indication and middle and late adulthood suffered more anxiety as compare to early adulthood.

Psychological problems in general population during covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan: role of cognitive emotion regulation.

Objectives: To explore psychological problems (Anxiety, Depression and Stress) in general population during Covid-19 pandemic. To find predictive effects of cognitive emotion regulation on psychological problems. Methodology: Convenient sampling technique was used to obtain the sample of 500 participants (Male = 239, Female = 261). Research instrument consists of four parts. First part comprised of consent form, second part was about demographic profile, third part was Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS-21) while Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was the last part of the instrument. Results: SPSS 23.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version was used for study analysis. Descriptive statistics used to summarize the raw data. The inferential statistics such as regression, correlation and t-test were used to calculate the findings according to research objectives. Results indicated that 33%, 40% and 27% individuals were experiencing Depression, Anxiety and Stress respectively during Covid-19 pandemic. Among these participants, 48% (N = 242) were experiencing normal level of all these targeted psychological problems while remaining 52% (N = 258) respondents have mild to very severe level of all these disorders. Furthermore, findings of linear regression analysis illustrated that cognitive emotion regulation significantly predicts psychological problems [R2=.216; F = 51.223, p < .01] and 21% variation in psychological problems is due to cognitive emotion regulation. Conclusion: This study recommended that policy makers must develop and implement some necessary programmes to prevent and cure people from devastating psychological and mental health consequences of covid-19 on priority basis.

Psychological well-being of substance use patient: Role of religious therapy as the treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychological well-being of substance use patients in comparison of combined religious therapy and pharmacotherapy effects with that of pharmacotherapy effects alone and also to assess the psychological well-being of drug addicts in comparison of demographics characteristics. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted at Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat from July 5th 2016 to July 25th 2017. A sample of 140 drug addicted patients was taken from different hospital. The pre and post-test of experimental and control group was done. Experimental group received standard pharmacotherapy along with religious therapy while patients in the control group only induced standard pharmacotherapy. The effectiveness of therapy was judged on their psychological well-being using California Psychological Inventory Well-being sub-scale.. RESULTS: The results of the study confirmed that there was significant difference in the psychological well-being of control and experimental group (p-value <0.01). After the treatment a difference exists in the means of control and experimental (16.24 and 26.44 respectively) groups. An increase in the psychological well-being of those having religious therapy comparing to those not having religious therapy was observed. Further, comparing the demographic variables the means indicated that treatment affected all age groups, marital status and education level equally. Whereas, in the rural area (mean, 27.04) psychological well-being was better than the urban (mean=26.11) and with the income levels of 21,000 to 30,000 (mean, 27.57) there was more improvement as compared with other income levels (mean, 26.35 and mean, 26.03). CONCLUSION: The religious therapy had a significant therapeutic effect on psychological well-being of the substance use patients and it is equally effective for all age group, marital status and educational level.