Modeling the structural relationships between trauma exposure with substance use tendency, depression symptoms, and suicidal thoughts in individuals with earthquake trauma experience: the mediatory role of peritraumatic dissociation and experiential avoidance.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that studies indicate that earthquake trauma is associated with numerous psychological consequences, the mediating mechanisms leading to these outcomes have not been well-studied. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between trauma exposure with substance use tendency, depression, and suicidal thoughts, with the mediating role of peritraumatic dissociation and experiential avoidance. METHODS: The descriptive-correlational approach was employed in this study. The participants were people who had experienced the Kermanshah earthquake in 2017. A total of 324 people were selected by convenient sampling method. The Traumatic Exposure Severity Scale, the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, the Iranian Addiction Potential Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory [BDI-II], and Beck's Suicidal Thoughts Scale were used to collect data. The gathered data was analyzed| using structural equation modeling in |SPSS Ver. 24 and LISREL Ver. 24. RESULTS: The study findings indicated that the intensity of the trauma exposure is directly and significantly associated with depression symptoms, peritraumatic dissociation, and experiential avoidance. The severity of exposure to trauma had a significant indirect effect on the tendency to use substances through experiential avoidance. This is while the severity of the trauma experience did not directly correlate with substance use and suicidal thoughts. In addition, peritraumatic dissociation did not act as a mediator in the relationship between the severity of trauma exposure with substance use, depression, and suicidal thoughts. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of exposure to the earthquake was associated with symptoms of depression and these findings indicate the importance of experiential avoidance in predicting the tendency to use drugs. Hence, it is essential to design and implement psychological interventions that target experiential avoidance to prevent drug use tendencies and to establish policies that lower depression symptoms following natural disasters.

Exploring expected reward and efficacy in enhancing cognitive control in patients with depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with impairments in cognitive control. Considering the lack of mechanistic models accounting for cognitive control deficits in depression, the expected value of control (EVC) theory offers a mechanistic view for allocating cognitive control emphasizing motivational components (efficacy, value). Efficacy refers to the possibility that an effort leads to a special outcome and reward refers to the value (amount) associated with the outcome. This study aimed to examine the role of the EVC in depression. METHOD: This study used a within-between-subject design. Participants with depression (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 31) completed a clinical diagnostic interview, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and a computer-based incentivized Stroop Color-Word Paradigm in which levels of efficacy (high vs. low) and the amount of rewards (high vs. low) were presented as cues before target stimuli. RESULTS: We found significant interaction effects of group × efficacy and efficacy × reward in terms of reaction time in the Stroop Paradigm. Follow-up analyses indicated the Depressed group were significantly slower than Controls on high efficacy trials, but the two groups did not differ significantly on low efficacy trials. Additionally, on high efficacy trials, reward did not influence performance, but on low efficacy trials, high reward improved performance in both groups. LIMITATION: Lack of neurological measures and eye tracking techniques. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings suggest that reward and efficacy may jointly improve cognitive control allocation and highlight the need for further research examining EVC theory as a mechanistic account of cognitive control deficits in depression.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy combined with repetitive transracial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on information processing and working memory of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: MS is a demyelinating disease that can result in significant disability. Along with physical complications, this disease is associated with significant psychological complications, including cognitive decline. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in combination with rTMS on information processing and working memory in patients with MS. Methods: The current study used a single-case experimental design and included a follow-up (A-B-A). The statistical population of the present study was all MS patients in Tehran who referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in 2020. The present study sample consisted of 5 MS patients selected by the sampling methods available. Subjects were assessed three times before, during, and after the intervention using the Zahlen-Verbindongs and n-back tests in the two-back position. Subjects received cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and rTMS at a frequency of 10 Hz. Visual and graphical recovery percentage and effect size methods were used to analyze the data. Results: The current study's findings indicate that combining mindfulness with rTMS has a beneficial effect on the information processing and working memory of MS patients. Overall, 67.24% recovered following the intervention stage, 53.64% recovered following the follow-up for information processing, 104.04% recovered following the intervention stage, and 76.98% recovered following the follow-up for working memory. Conclusion: The study shows the effect of mindfulness combined with rTMS on cognitive problems in MS patients. Significant improvements in MS patients' information processing, working memory, and therapeutic outcomes were observed throughout the follow-up period.

Impaired complex theory of mind and low emotional self-awareness in outpatients with borderline personality disorder compared to healthy controls: A cross-sectional study.

Studies on the theory of mind (TOM) and alexithymia in borderline personality disorder (BPD) have yielded inconsistent results. Also, the relationship between TOM abilities and alexithymia facets as two domains of social cognition has not been studied in BPD. This study aimed to fill this gap. Participants were 50 outpatients with BPD and 50 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Assessments performed using Reading the Mind in Eyes Task (RMET), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Faux Pas Task (FPT), and Digit Span subtest of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Results showed that BPD patients scored lower on overall FPT (p < .001) and its cognitive (p < .001) and affective TOM (p < .001) subtests but were comparable with healthy controls in emotion recognition ability assessed by RMET (p = .241). The BPD group also scored significantly lower in overall alexithymia (p < .001) and subscales of difficulty identifying feelings (DIF; p < .001) and difficulty describing emotions (DDF; p = .001). However, they performed similarly to the healthy control group in externally oriented thinking (EOT; p = .164). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between EOT and RMET in the BPD group (r = -0.33, p < .05). No association, however, was found between FPT and RMET. This study suggests that BPD patients are impaired in the complex TOM abilities and have lower self-awareness of emotions, but their recognition of others' emotions is intact. Also, the results demonstrate that a heightened level of EOT is associated with difficulties in facial emotion recognition in BPD patients.

Posttraumatic growth in women with breast cancer: emotional regulation mediates satisfaction with basic needs and maladaptive schemas.

Background: Despite the negative consequences of breast cancer, many women experience positive changes after diagnosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of emotion regulation between post-traumatic growth (PTG), satisfaction of basic needs and maladaptive schemas. Method: A total of 210 female patients diagnosed with breast cancer for at least six months were assessed using measures of the PTG Inventory, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The collected data was analysed using structural equation modelling by SPSS and Amos 23.0. Results: Basic needs and maladaptive schema paths to emotion regulation and PTG, and emotion regulation path to PTG were significant. In addition, maladaptive schemas path to emotion regulation was insignificant. Conclusion: The current results show that focusing on satisfaction of basic needs and using positive emotion regulation strategies positively affect PTG. Additionally, activating maladaptive schemas and using negative emotion regulation strategies have a negative effect on PTG.

Antecedentes: A pesar de las consecuencias negativas del cáncer de mama, muchas mujeres experimentan cambios positivos después del diagnóstico.Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar el rol mediador de la regulación emocional entre el crecimiento postraumático (PTG, por sus siglas en ingles), la satisfacción de las necesidades básicas y los esquemas desadaptativos.Método: Fueron evaluadas un total de 210 pacientes mujeres con un diagnóstico de cáncer de mama de al menos 6 meses empleándose las medidas del Inventario del PTG, la Escala de Satisfacción de Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas, la forma abreviada del Cuestionario de Esquema de Young y el Cuestionario de Regulación Emocional. Los datos recolectados se analizaron usando modelos de ecuaciones estructurales mediante el SPSS y Amos 23.0.Resultados: Tanto las redes de las necesidades básicas y de los esquemas desadaptativos hacia la regulación emocional y el PTG, como la red de la regulación emocional hacia el PTG fueron significativas. Además, la red de los esquemas desadaptativos hacia la regulación emocional fue insignificante.Conclusión: Los resultados actuales muestran que focalizarse en la satisfacción de las necesidades básicas y en el uso de estrategias de regulación emocional positivas afecta positivamente al PTG. Adicionalmente, la activación de esquemas desadaptativos y el uso de estrategias de regulación emocional negativas tienen un efecto negativo en el PTG.

Emotionally valenced and modality-specific dual tasks: Effects on voluntary reminding and proactive interference in trauma-exposed individuals suffering from PTSD.

Objectives: People suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience distressing traumatic memories. Therapeutic methods that apply a secondary task while clients recall a trauma memory may further assist in modifying the vividness and emotionality of the trauma memory and in reducing intrusions. In this experiment, we aimed to investigate whether the emotional valence (positive vs. neutral) and sensory modality (visual vs. auditory) of a secondary task reduces the vividness and emotionality of the trauma memory and the proactive interference. Method: Sixty PTSD patients exposed to road traffic accident traumas were randomized to one of four groups in a 2 (emotional valence: positive, neutral) × 2 (modality: visual, auditory) design. Participants were then exposed to a positive or a neutral clip that was visual or auditory and were required to recall the trauma memory during exposure to the clip. Vividness and emotionality of the trauma memory and proactive interference were assessed before and after exposure to the clip and at a 1-week follow-up. Results: Results revealed that participants who recalled the trauma memory while exposed to the positive clip reported their trauma memory as being less distressing (but not less vivid) and indicated less proactive interference than did participants exposed to the neutral clip. Nevertheless, modality had no significant effect in attenuating the proactive interference under conditions of modality congruence. Conclusion: Inducing positive emotion while performing a dual task may be an effective module in therapeutic approaches. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Predicting the Antiretroviral Medication Adherence and CD4 Measure in Patients with HIV/AIDS Based on the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced the prevalence of diseases and mortality rate caused by HIV; therefore, recognition of the factors affecting the antiretroviral therapy is of great importance. We aimed to investigate the relationship between antiretroviral medication adherence and CD4 with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in patients with HIV. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative, and correlational study. The statistical population included all of the patients with HIV in Shiraz, Fars Province, southwest of Iran in 2013, of whom 220 were selected from the Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center using the convenience sampling method. The measures included Mississippi Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire, Beck-II Depression, and ACTG Adherence (ACTG). The results were analyzed using the Pearson correlation method and stepwise hierarchical multivariate regression. RESULTS: Regression analysis showed that of two mediating variables (age & educational level), only age could predict 5% (P<0.001) and of two predictive variables (depression & PTSD) only PTSD could predict 53% (P<0.001) of medication adherence's variance. Moreover, of two mediating variables (age & disease duration), only age could predict 3% (P<0.004) and of two predictive variables (depression & PTSD) only PTSD could predict 4% (P<0.001) of CD4 variance. CONCLUSION: The posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms could predict the medication non-adherence and lower CD4 levels.

Insecure Attachment and Subclinical Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: A Three-Dimensional Model of Personality Self-Regulation As a Mediator.

Although the effects of insecure attachment on vulnerability, incidence, and developing mental disorders have been confirmed by many studies, the mechanism of this effect is still unknown. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the mediating and moderating role of the three-dimensional model of personality self-regulation in the relationship between insecure attachment and subclinical depression, anxiety, and stress. Four hundred Iranian students at Shiraz University were recruited and completed the following scales: the Revised Adult Attachment, Depression Anxiety Stress, Integrative Self-Knowledge, Mindful Attention Awareness, Self-Control, and Self-Compassion. Results showed that there was a moderate correlation among all the variables under study in the expected directions. Multiple mediating models analyses indicated that regarding the relationship between insecure attachment and depression, the components of integrative self-knowledge, self-control, and self-compassion functioned as mediators. However, regarding the relationship between insecure attachment and anxiety and stress, the components of integrative self-knowledge, mindfulness, and self-compassion relatively functioned as mediators. Further, our results showed that only mindfulness and self-compassion were identified as moderators in the relationship between insecure attachment and depression. It is concluded that insecure attachment may cause psychological damage due to deficiency in the components of the three-dimensional model of personality self-regulation, and that mindfulness and self-compassion may play a protective role in the relationship between insecure attachment and depression.

Contingencies of Self-Worth and Psychological Distress in Iranian Patients Seeking Cosmetic Surgery: Integrative Self-Knowledge as Mediator.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have shown that people applying for cosmetic surgery experience high-intensity psychological distress, important variables that function as protective factors have rarely been the subject of study in this population. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of low and high self-knowledge in experiencing psychological distress and contingencies of self-worth to appearance and approval from others and to identify the mediatory role of the integrative self-knowledge in patients seeking cosmetic surgery. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients seeking cosmetic surgery were selected and completed the contingencies of self-worth and integrative self-knowledge scales, as well as the depression, anxiety and stress scale. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and path analysis using 5000 bootstrap resampling. RESULTS: The results of MANOVA showed that patients seeking cosmetic surgery with high self-knowledge had lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress compared to patients with low self-knowledge. They also gained lower scores in contingencies of self-worth to appearance and approval from others. The results of path analysis indicated that self-knowledge is a complete mediator in the relationship between contingencies of self-worth to appearance and approval from others and psychological distress. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that self-knowledge as a protective factor plays a major role in relation to the psychological distress experienced by the patients seeking cosmetic surgery. In fact, by increasing self-knowledge among this group of patients, their psychological distress can be decreased. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The Role of Psychological Hardiness and Marital Satisfaction in Predicting Posttraumatic Growth in a Sample of Women With Breast Cancer in Isfahan.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. PTG in cancer survivors is related to several psychosocial factors such as psychological hardiness and marital satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the prediction of posttraumatic growth based on psychological hardiness and marital satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 women with breast cancer were recruited from several hospitals in Isfahan using convenience sampling. Participants completed the research questionnaires including the posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI), the Ahvaz psychological hardiness scale and the Enrich's marital satisfaction scale (EMS). Statistical analysis including means, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were carried out using SPSS software (version 16). RESULTS: Results indicated that the majority of patients with cancer experienced posttraumatic growth. Findings also showed that psychological hardiness, marital satisfaction and longer time since diagnosis of cancer significantly predicted posttraumatic growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant role of psychological hardiness and marital support in personal growth of breast cancer survivors.

The Clarification of Depression and Social Support's Contribution to the Prediction of Antiretroviral Medication Adherence and the Rate of CD4 in People with HIV.

With the development of the antiretroviral therapy, the number of the people with HIV is increasing; therefore, identifying the factors affecting HIV is of great importance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the antiretroviral medication adherence and the rate of CD4 with depression and social support in the people with HIV. The research method was a descriptive study kind of correlation. The statistical population included all patients with HIV in Shiraz, of whom, 220 people who had referred to the Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center were selected using the available sampling method. Philips et al.'s Social Support Questionnaire, Beck's Depression Questionnaire II, and ACTG Medication Adherence Questionnaire were used as the research tools. Results were analyzed using the stepwise regression and stepwise hierarchical multiple regression. Regression analysis showed that social support and depression variables could predict totally 47% (P<0.001) of changes of medication adherence variable, and depression could predict only 2% (P<0.01) of rate variance of CD4.

The Effect of Loneliness on Social Networking Sites Use and Its Related Behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: The current research was conducted to examine the effect of "Loneliness", on time spent in Social Networking Sites (S.N.S), main reasons for S.N.S use, and its related behaviors. MATERIALS & METHODS: 156 students of Shiraz University voluntarily participated in this research. Loneliness was assessed usingthe UCLA Loneliness scale. 25% of highest scoring students reported that they were lonely whereas 25% of the lowest scoring students were considered to be non-lonely. The positive and negative reasons of using S.N.S were assessed based on Reasons for Internet Use Scale, and internet behaviors were assessed based on Scale of Internet Behaviors. RESULTS: There was no difference in time spent in S.N.S as well as the positive and negative reasons of using S.N.S (contrary to literature), but internet behaviors showed a significant difference between "lonely" and "non-lonely" individuals. "Lonely" and "non-lonely" individuals showed a significant difference in "social aspect" of S.N.S behaviors. There was also a significant difference between "Lonely" and "non-Lonely" individuals in "Negative impact" of S.N.S behaviors. Yet, there seemed to be no difference in "competency and convenience aspect" of S.N.S behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that there is no difference between lonely and non-lonely individuals in reasons for using S.N.S and time spent in S.N.S. This finding stands contrary to previous research findings and general literature on the subject In other words, what drives people to S.N.S at the first place shows no significant difference between lonely and non-lonely individuals while after attending S.N.S, social behavior of lonely individuals shows a significant difference which is consistently enhanced online. Lonely people also significantly develop internet-related problems in their daily functioning, including interference with real life socializing.

Patients with schizophrenia show deficits on spatial frequency doubling.

There are pieces of evidence indicating that visual deficits in patients with schizophrenia can be attributed to a deficiency in the magnocellular portion of the early visual system. The main objective of this study was to investigate the neurological dysfunction of the magnocellular pathway in patients with schizophrenia using the frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT). The FDT has been developed based on particular neural magnocellular characteristics and can examine the magnocellular dysfunction hypothesis in schizophrenia. Twenty patients with schizophrenia (12 males and 8 females) and 20 normal subjects (10 males and 10 females) participated in this study. The spatial frequency doubling task was presented via the Humphrey perimetry instrument in order to examine the magnocellular pathway of the participants. Patients with schizophrenia showed less visual field sensitivity than normal controls and their standardized age cohort in both eyes (p<0.001). The results indicated impaired visual field sensitivity deficits in patients with schizophrenia that can be attributed to a deficit in the magnocellular neural pathways. This Magnocellular pathway defect may provide a physiological base to explain some of the deficits caused by schizophrenia such as cognitive deficits.

Comparing Iconic Memory in Children with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not process most information due to inattention and loss of the opportunity to save and retrieve information. Therefore, these children experience memory impairment. Although visual memory has been previously studied in children with ADHD, iconic memory in these children has been less evaluated. We aimed to study the possibility of iconic memory impairment in children with ADHD, and compare the results with that of children without ADHD. METHODS: The experimental group of this study were 6-9 year-old children who referred to the Imam Hosein Clinic and were diagnosed as having ADHD by a psychiatrist during 2011-2012 (n = 30).The subjects were interviewed clinically by a psychologist; and in order to diagnose ADHD, their parents and teachers were asked to complete the child symptom inventory-4 (CSI-4). The comparison group were 6-9 year-old children without ADHD who studied in 1st and 2nd educational district of Yazd (n = 30). Subjects' iconic memory was assessed using an iconic memory task. Repeated measure ANOVA was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Based on the iconic memory test, the mean score of ADHD children was significantly lower than that of children without ADHD (P < 0.001). Moreover, the performance of the experimental group differed significantly when the duration of the presentation differed from 50 ms to 100 ms as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The number of correct answers increased in the experimental group as the duration of presentation increased. However, children with ADHD scored less than children without ADHD at 50 ms as well as 100 ms. The means of ADHD children increased as the duration of the presentation increased from 50 ms to 100 ms to 300 ms (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Visual memory is weaker in children with ADHD, and they have weaker performance than normal children in both visual and auditory symbols at presentation durations of 50 and 100 ms. The performance of ADHD children improves as the stimulation time increases.

Psychometric properties of a Persian translation of the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale in an Iranian population.

For the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale, a 12-item measure of predisposition toward auditory and visual hallucinations, internal consistency and concurrent validity of a Persian version were assessed. The Persian version was administered to 182 men (M age = 29.8 yr., SD = 12.4) and 118 women (M age = 28.4 yr., SD = 10.2) from a community population in Iran. Participants were selected at random at the main Shiraz bus terminal for long distance intercity routes. The factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity of the translation were examined. Principal component analysis identified two factors characterized as clinical and subclinical. The current factor structure supported the two-factor model proposed by Serper, Dill, Chang, Kot, and Elliot, but the strength and importance of factors appear to differ between countries and cultures. All scales had good to acceptable estimates of reliability. Data also showed desirable concurrent validity for the Persian version. These findings suggest that the Persian version is, for an Iranian sample, best represented by a two-factor solution.

Irrational beliefs in major depression and generalized anxiety disorders in an Iranian sample: a preliminary study.

Previous research on Rational Emotive Theory using western samples has shown that irrational belief systems are associated with emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. In a replication of this work the present study was conducted to compare the scores of 29 clinically depressed, 31 clinically anxious, and 34 normal controls on the Irrational Beliefs Test in an Iranian sample. Consistent with Ellis's theory, depressed and anxious patients scored higher than the controls on scores for the full scale and all 10 subscales of the Irrational Beliefs Test. Also, the two patient groups differed significantly in their endorsement of 2 out of 10 irrational belief subscales but not in overall score on irrational beliefs. Results were interpreted in light of previous literature.

Environmental exposure to natural sour gas containing sulfur compounds results in elevated depression and hopelessness scores.

Some parts of Masjid-i-Sulaiman (MIS) (Khozestan provinces, southwest of Iran) are contaminated with subsurface leakage of natural sour gas containing H(2)S. It is reported that the incidence of suicide by self-burning in MIS is very high. High endogenous H2S levels have been found in the brain and it is involved in the brain functions. Because there is no report about the effect(s) of natural sour gas containing sulfur compounds on the function(s) of human brain, the present study was done. The study was performed on 128 individuals exposed or unexposed to natural sour gas. The exposed group consisted of 64 persons (39 males, 25 females). Unexposed subjects were matched by sex, age, and educational levels. Depression and hopelessness were determined using Beck's depression inventory (BDI) and Beck's hopelessness (BHS) questionnaires. Using multiple linear regression models, the averages of BDI (t=2.637, P=0.009) and BHS (t=3.344, P=0.001) were significantly higher among the exposed subjects than among the control group. In Lali 57.8% and 14.1% of subjects had no depressed mood and moderate to severe depressed mood, respectively, while in MIS 31.3% and 35.9% of subjects had no depressed mood and moderate to severe depressed mood, respectively; the difference was significant (chi2=12.88, df=3, P=0.005). In Lali 35.9% and 12.5% of subjects had no hopelessness at all and moderate to severe hopelessness, respectively, while in MIS 17.2% and 32.8% of subjects had no hopelessness at all and moderate to severe hopelessness, respectively, the difference was significant (chi2=11.49, df=3, P=0.009). Replication is necessary and health implications are discussed.

Psychological consequences of the Bam earthquake on professional and nonprofessional helpers.

This study compared the psychological status of rescue personnel who had formal training (Red Crescent workers, i.e., Red Cross workers, and firefighters) with university student volunteers who had no formal training in handling traumatic situations in the Bam earthquake. One hundred student volunteers, 18 Red Crescent workers, and 36 firefighters participated in this study. Participants completed the Civilian Mississippi Scale, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Helpers without formal training showed higher scores on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and GHQ subscales compared to trained rescue personnel. In addition, a significant number of volunteers without formal training met criteria for a possible PTSD diagnosis by scoring above the cut-off point for the Mississippi scale. Those who had higher scores on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index showed greater adverse psychological effects.

Cerebral lateralization of global-local processing in left- and right-handed people.

Cerebral lateralization of global-local processing of 70 left-handed and 70 right-handed students was compared using a computerized global-local task in a half-visual field paradigm. Analysis showed that left-handed individuals were slower than right-handed individuals in processing Globally Directed stimuli presented to the left visual field (right hemisphere). In addition, left-handed individuals showed smaller local superiority in the left hemisphere to the right-handed individuals. These findings are more consistent with Levy's prediction of spatial inferiority of left-handed individuals than Geschwind and Galaburda's or Annett's hypotheses.

Reliability and validity of the Padua Inventory in an Iranian population.

In order to study the reliability and validity of the Padua Inventory (PI), its items were translated into Persian and then back-translated into English as suggested by Brislin, Lonner, Thorndike, Cross-cultural research methods, Wiley, New York, 1973. Using the translated version of the PI, two studies were carried out. The first study included 219 healthy participants selected from Shiraz city in Iran to examine the reliability and factorial structure of the PI via test-retest, internal consistency and principal component analysis methods. The results of this study showed good reliability for the PI and confirmed its factorial structure reported by previous studies. The second study included four groups of participants as follows: patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), patients with anxiety disorders, patients with depressive disorder and normal individuals. The PI scores were able to differentiate between OCD patients and normal individuals, but failed to differentiate between neurotic and OCD patients. Two subscales of PI-R version of the PI (precision and washing) differentiated depressive and OCD patients.