Investigating the Efficacy of Theta Binaural Beat on the Absolute Power of Theta Activity in Primary Insomniacs.

Introduction: The brain waves pattern in primary insomniacs is different from healthy subjects. Studies have shown that binaural beats can alter the pattern of brain waves in healthy individuals; however, the efficacy of binaural beats in altering the pattern of brain waves in primary insomniacs has not yet been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of theta binaural beat on the absolute power of theta activity in primary insomniacs. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial with experimental and control groups. The primary insomniacs received theta binaural beats in the experimental group while the control group received white noise. Their brain waves were recorded by electroencephalogram for 25 min; the first 5 min was without stimulus (first block), the next was followed by 15 min of receiving stimulus (binaural beat or white noise), and the last 5 min without stimulus (fifth block). The Matlab software, version R2019a, EEGLAB toolbox, and SPSS software, version 24 were used to analyze the data. Results: The absolute power of theta activity in the experimental group was significantly higher in the last block compared to the first block in all brain lobes (P<0.05). The largest changes in theta activity were in the temporal and parietal lobes, and the last one was in the prefrontal lobe. In the control group, none of the brain lobes showed significant differences in the last block compared to the first block. Conclusion: Theta binaural beat can alter the absolute power of theta activity in primary insomniacs. The implications of the study are discussed. Highlights: Theta binaural beat can be effective in changing the brain wave pattern of primary insomniacs.The amount of changes in the absolute power of theta wave activity in different brain regions of primary insomniacs under the influence of theta binaural beat was not the same.The effect of theta binaural beat on temporal and parietal was higher than other brain areas, whereas the prefrontal and occipital had the least significant changes in the absolute power of theta activity. Plain Language Summary: Different people experience different brain waves based on the type of activity they do in their life at the same time. This brain wave pattern can change especially after a person decides to go to bed and experience an ideal sleep. Theta brain wave, which plays a role in important activities such as memory, deep relaxation, and day-dreaming, helps a person to change from wakefulness to sleep faster. Research literature has shown that people with insomnia have different brain waves than healthy people, especially in the theta brain wave. Accordingly, many interventions have been carried out to improve the sleep quality of these people and change their brain waves. It has been shown that binaural beat as a low-cost method based on sound waves, can change the brain waves of healthy people, but so far, no study has been done to investigate the effect of these sound waves (especially theta waves) on the brain waves of people with insomnia. The current study was conducted with the aim of investigating a non-invasive method (theta binaural beat) to improve the brain wave pattern of people suffering from insomnia. The findings of this study showed that theta binaural beat can be effective in changing the brain wave pattern of people suffering from insomnia.

The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for social anxiety disorder: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Acceptance and commitment therapy has been used to treat anxiety disorders recently. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for psychological symptoms in students with social anxiety disorder, including difficulty in emotion regulation, psychological flexibility based on experiential avoidance, self-compassion, and external shame. METHODS: This study was a semi-experimental clinical trial. Twenty four students with social anxiety disorder were randomly divided into two groups after initial evaluations: an experimental group (12 subjects) and a control group (12 subjects). The experimental group received 12 treatment sessions based on a protocol of acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety disorders, and the control group was put on a waiting list. Self-Compassion (SCS), Difficulty in Emotion Regulation (DERS), External Shame (ESS), Social Anxiety (SPIN), and Acceptance and Action (AAQ-II) questionnaires were used to assess participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Acceptance and commitment therapy was shown to be effective at the post-test and follow up stages for reducing external shame, social anxiety, and difficulty in emotion regulation and its components, and for increasing psychological flexibility and self-compassion (p < 0.05). The largest effect size of treatment was for increase of psychological flexibility and the lowest efficacy was for the components "difficulty in impulse control" and "limited access to emotional strategies" at the post-test and follow-up stages, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acceptance and commitment therapy may be an appropriate psychological intervention for reducing the symptoms of students with social anxiety disorder and helping them to improve psychological flexibility. Emotion and related problems can be identified as one of the main targets of this treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20180421039369N1.

The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for social anxiety disorder: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract Objective Acceptance and commitment therapy has been used to treat anxiety disorders recently. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for psychological symptoms in students with social anxiety disorder, including difficulty in emotion regulation, psychological flexibility based on experiential avoidance, self-compassion, and external shame. Methods This study was a semi-experimental clinical trial. Twenty four students with social anxiety disorder were randomly divided into two groups after initial evaluations: an experimental group (12 subjects) and a control group (12 subjects). The experimental group received 12 treatment sessions based on a protocol of acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety disorders, and the control group was put on a waiting list. Self-Compassion (SCS), Difficulty in Emotion Regulation (DERS), External Shame (ESS), Social Anxiety (SPIN), and Acceptance and Action (AAQ-II) questionnaires were used to assess participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results Acceptance and commitment therapy was shown to be effective at the post-test and follow up stages for reducing external shame, social anxiety, and difficulty in emotion regulation and its components, and for increasing psychological flexibility and self-compassion (p < 0.05). The largest effect size of treatment was for increase of psychological flexibility and the lowest efficacy was for the components "difficulty in impulse control" and "limited access to emotional strategies" at the post-test and follow-up stages, respectively. Conclusion Acceptance and commitment therapy may be an appropriate psychological intervention for reducing the symptoms of students with social anxiety disorder and helping them to improve psychological flexibility. Emotion and related problems can be identified as one of the main targets of this treatment. Clinical trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20180421039369N1.

Factorial Structure and Construct Validity of an Iranian Version of the Fear of Compassion Scale: A Study in Nurses.

BACKGROUNDS: Fear of compassion is one of the psychological variables in the nursing profession that can be a barrier to providing appropriate services to patients. This research was done in order to assess psychometric properties, construct validity, reliability of fear of compassion scales and to introduce suitable measures for experts and researchers in the healthcare-related fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 216 nurses (117 males and 99 females) were chosen with a multistage cluster sampling method between June 2016 and Feb 2017. Lisrel-8 and SSPS-18 were used for data analysis. The construct validity of the fear of compassion scales was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. To assess the divergent and convergent validity of the fear of compassion scales, the compassion for others, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaires were used. RESULTS: The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the single-factor model of fear of compassion scales (for others, from others, and for self) is a better fit to the data. Furthermore, these three scales had a positive and significant correlation with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and unhealthy cognitive-emotion regulation strategies, and negative and significant correlation with compassion for others and healthy cognitive-emotion regulation strategies. In addition, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for fear of expressing compassion to others was 0.85, and 0.95 and 0.96 for fear of responding to compassion from others and fear of self-compassion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence for the psychometric properties of fear of compassion scales in Iranian nurses.

The relationship of severity of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress with sleep quality in earthquake survivors in Kermanshah.

BACKGROUND: Earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. A 7.3" Richter earthquake happened at 5km from the town of Ezgeleh in Kermanshah province in 2017, which caused several physical and mental injuries. The present study was conducted to investigate the sleep quality and mental health difficulties of those affected by earthquake and predict sleep quality according to severity of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in the township of Sarpol-e Zahab, which suffered the most damage. METHODS: A total of 999 earthquake survivors living in temporary tents and camps were assessed in terms of sleep quality and pattern using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and severity of psychological symptoms using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale 10 days after the disaster. RESULTS: According to the results, poor sleep quality was experienced by 20.61% of survivors, severe stress by 60.5%, and severe depression by 41.5%, and moderate anxiety by 74%. The subjective quality, efficiency, daily dysfunction, use of hypnotics, and total sleep quality had a positive and significant relation with severity of experienced depression, anxiety, and stress. Sleep latency had a positive and significant relation only with stress, and sleep disturbance with depression and stress. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of depression, anxiety, and stress can predict changes in total sleep quality of those affected by earthquake. Stress can be considered as the sole predictor of total sleep quality and the only factor that can explain components of sleep quality. The implications of the present study are debatable.