Identifying emotional components of event-related potentials in the brain functioning of individuals with contamination obsessions and comparison with healthy control group.

The present study aimed to examine the emotional components of event-related potentials (ERPs) in individuals with contamination OCD and compare them with a healthy control group. A convenience sample of 45 participants was included, consisting of 30 individuals diagnosed with contamination-type OCD and 15 individuals in a healthy control group. Both groups participated in an ERP study where they encountered a computer-based task presenting both contamination and neutral pictures, while their brain activity was recorded. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (RANOVA) with SPSS-24 and Matlab software. Findings suggest that in P3 amplitude, only individuals with OCD exhibited a larger positive amplitude (p < 0.05) in response to contaminated pictures compared to neutral pictures and in N2 amplitude, only individuals with OCD exhibited a larger negative amplitude (p < 0.05) in response to contaminated pictures compared to neutral pictures in the central vertex (Fz). These findings hold promising implications for the development of more targeted and effective treatments for contamination OCD, emphasizing the importance of emotion-oriented approaches to address the unique neural patterns observed in the frontal vertex.

The Relationship between the Structures of Personality Inventory for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (PID-5) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF).

Objective: The Personality Inventory for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PID-5), is a trait-based measure of pathological personality designed to assess Criterion B of an alternative diagnostic system for personality disorders (PDs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relations among the PID-5 and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF); a commonly used self-report instrument with a hierarchical structure. Method : We examined the joint structure of the PID-5 scales along with levels of the MMPI-2-RF hierarchy to understand whether conceptually expected structures tend to be loaded with each other. Data were collected from 536 participants from the general population of Iran. Results: Findings of Pearson's correlation analyses exhibited the generally expected patterns between the two mentioned measures on most scales, with some divergences. Similarly, although applying a set of joint exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) exhibited some factor loadings for PID-5 facets within the hierarchical framework of MMPI-2-RF scales that were different to what was theoretically expected, both measures were generally loaded in a conceptually expected way, indicating that they have a similar dimensional structure. Conclusion: Our findings provide support for adequate convergence of maladaptive personality traits and psychopathology structures, as well as for utilizing MMPI-2-RF to measure personality psychopathology from a dimensional perspective. The implications of these results are discussed by the authors.

The latent factor structure and assessment of childbirth-related PTSD: psychometric characteristics of the City Birth Trauma Scale-Persian version (City-BiTS-P).

Objective: There is no validated Persian questionnaire to measure childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD) symptoms. To cover this gap, the present study aimed to provide a Persian version of the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS-Pr) and to determine its psychometric properties. Method: Since this is a cross-sectional study, sampling was done using a convenient sampling method. In total, 300 Persian-speaking women took part in this study and completed the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS-Pr), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Anxiety Subscale of the Depression, and the Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). In addition, sociodemographic information was completed. A confirmatory factor analysis of two- and four-factor models and a bi-factor model with a general factor and two specific factors were tested. Fit indices were calculated for all three models. Reliability, convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity also were examined. R v4.2.1 and SPSS v23 were used for data analysis. Results: The four-factor model comprised intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and hyper-arousal showed a poor fit. The two-factor model composed of "birth-related symptoms" and "general symptoms" provided the best results based on all fit indices. The bi-factor result was relatively good, but the loadings indicated that the general symptoms factor is not well defined. Conclusion: The Persian version of the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS-Pr) is a valid and reliable questionnaire for evaluating postpartum PTSD.

Assessing DSM-5 Section II Personality Disorders Using the MMPI-2-RF in an Iranian Community Sample.

The aim of the current study was to examine the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) scales in assessing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth edition (DSM-5) Section II Personality Disorder (PD) symptoms. For this purpose, we first tested the cross-cultural factorial and criterion validity of MMPI-2-RF scales. We used a sample of 536 (327 women and 209 men) community individuals in Tehran, Iran. DSM-5 Section II PD criterion counts were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Screening Personality Questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation modelling analyses revealed that the models reported by Ben-Porath and Tellegen generally fitted the data well. Criterion validity of the MMPI-2-RF scales as well as MMPI-2-RF PDs spectra scales were analyzed with respect to their correlations with DSM-5 Section II PDs, indicating results generally consistent with expectations. Results based on Poisson or Negative binomial regression models indicated that a set of MMPI-2-RF scale hypotheses were supported, with several exceptions that are discussed in detail. These findings have implications for applicability of the MMPI-2-RF across Iranian population.

The effect of a group cognitive behavioral therapy on the quality of life and emotional disturbance of women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: While the rate of survival has increased in the past decade, the diagnosis of breast cancer is an extremely stressful experience for patients and it is associated with the manifestation of several psychological problems. To examine the effect of a group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the quality of life and emotional disturbance of women with breast cancer. METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Samples were 48 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone mastectomy and chemotherapy. Study variables were measured before and after the intervention and 1 month after the end of the intervention as a follow-up. Controls received nothing and were just followed-up. Repeated measure ANOVAs were used to compare the effectiveness of the intervention on the study variables. RESULTS: The results of 32 women were analyzed. The increase in quality of life scores was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There were also significantly lower changes in the depression, anxiety, and stress scores of the intervention group (P < 0.05). However, the changes in the score of death anxiety were not significantly lower in the intervention group in comparison to controls (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Group cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in the improvement of quality of life and decreases some aspects of emotional disturbance. Findings of this study suggest that women with breast cancer can benefit from group CBT. Yet, some aspects of the mental health of these women may need more attention and individualized methods. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: IRCT20100911004728N4.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Internet Addiction Test-Social Networking Sites Version: Dimensionality Assessment of Social Networking Site Addiction.

BACKGROUND: By evaluating the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Internet Addiction Test-Social Networking Sites version (IAT-SNS) in a sample of Iranian university students, this study investigated the dimensionality of SNS addiction for the first time. METHODS: A total of 620 SNS users (414 women) participated in the study. The study questionnaire comprised demographic information, SNS usage patterns, the IAT-SNS, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). FINDINGS: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified the 3-factor structure of the IAT-SNS, namely 'Lack of Control', 'Emotional and Relational Conflict', and 'Preference for online relationships' that explained 54% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) verified the current model. Problematic users on average exhibited higher scores on the whole IAT-SNS and each of the 3 factors as compared to non-problematic users. The IAT-SNS and its factors showed good internal consistency, and strong convergent and concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the IAT-SNS is valid and reliable, and is applicable for measuring the 3 dimensions of SNS addiction among students.

The Effectiveness of Attention Bias Modification with and without Trans Cranial Direct Current Stimulation in Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effect of ABM (attention bias modification) with and without tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) on attention bias, pain intensity, and disability due to pain and pain-related psychological consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Method : Using convenience sampling, 60 individuals who met the criteria for chronic low back pain (LBP) were selected and randomly assigned in to 2 experimental groups and 2 control and sham-tDCS groups. The experimental ABM group received 5 sessions of the dot-probe task, while the second experimental group received 5 sessions of dot-probe task combined with tDCS. Results: The findings indicated that ABM and ABM+tDCS could reduce attention bias and pain-related psychological consequences significantly, compared to the control and sham groups. Also, attention bias and pain outcomes (depression, anxiety, disability due to pain and pain intensity) remained in ABM+tDCS group than in ABM group in a 1-month follow-up. Conclusion: It was found that tDCS + ABM had no additional effects at the end of intervention, but led to more long-lasting effects in 1-month follow-up. Randomized clinical trial registry number: IRCT20171107037306N1.