Effectiveness of Group Emotional Schema Therapy on Psychological Distress, Severity and Frequency of Symptoms in Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of emotional schema therapy on psychological distress, severity and frequency of symptoms in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental two-group three-stage (pre and post-test and two-month follow-up) study was done on 30 women of 18-50 years old with IBS. They were randomly assigned to two groups (experimental and control). Psychological distress and Bowel symptoms severity and frequency in the three stages were measured. The emotional schema therapy group was treated for 8 sessions and the control group remained on the waiting list. Results: The mean score of pre-test, post-test and follow-up of emotional therapy schema group in psychological distress were 21.23 ± 8.18, 16.08 ± 6.05 and 14.69 ± 4.05; in symptom intensity 7.46 ± 1.98, 5.23 ± 1.30 and 6.46 ± 1.33 and in symptom frequency 7.46 ± 1.98, 6.08 ± 1.66 and 7.54 ± 2.18 respectively. In the control group, there was no difference between the scores of different tests; in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up, the scores of psychological distress were 20.23 ± 5.39, 20.08 ± 5.59, and 20.38 ± 4.75, in the symptoms severity 7.69 ± 1.49, 7.62 ± 1.33, and 7.69 ± 1.80, and in the symptoms frequency 6.92 ± 2.75, 6.54 ± 2.40 and 6.62 ± 2.63 respectively. In the control group, there was no difference between the scores in different tests. In the pre-test, post-test and follow-up, in psychological distress, the scores were 20.23 ± 5.39, 20.08 ± 5.59, and 20.38 ± 4.75 in the symptom severity 7.69 ± 1.49, 7.62 ± 1.33, and 7.69. ±1.80 and in the symptoms frequency 6.92 ± 2.75, 6.54 ± 2.40 and 6.92 ± 2.75 respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Emotional schema therapy can be used as a complementary psychological treatment to reduce psychological distress and severity and frequency of symptoms in women with IBS.

Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavioral therapy: Is it effective on stress coping strategies in women with multiple sclerosis?

Background: Patients with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer more from psychiatric consequences than others, and their quality of life may be drastically affected, causing syndromes like depression and anxiety. Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (Mi-CBT) seems to improve stress coping strategies in chronically ill patients, but its effectiveness has been little studied in MS. So, in this study, we aimed to assess its effectiveness on stress coping strategies in women suffering from MS in Mazandaran province, Iran. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, we selected 40 women with MS who had been referred to a neurologist in Mazandaran province, Iran during the year 2016 by convenient sampling and randomly assigned to the Mi-CBT and control group with a one-to-one ratio. Patients in the intervention group were under treatment for eight 120-minutes session, while the control group only stayed on the waiting list. After obtaining the ethics committee's approval (IR.IAU.CHALUS.REC.1397.018) and patient's informed consent, both groups underwent a pre-test assessment with a stress status questionnaire developed by Endler and Parker in 1988. The same assessment was done for both groups two times more, one after compilation of all sessions, and one 45 days later. Repeated measures analysis of variance was done using SPSS Version 24 software. Results: There was a difference between intervention and the control group for avoidance-oriented, and problem-oriented stress coping strategies (p<0.01), but there was not a significant difference for emotion-oriented strategy between groups (P=0.22). Conclusion: MiCBT is effective in improving stress coping strategies in women with MS, and overall mental health.

The Relationship between Psychological Wellbeing and Body Image in Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the association between body image and psychological wellbeing during pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 320 pregnant women who were referred to health centers in Isfahan, Iran, during 2016 and had the inclusion criteria. They were selected by nonprobability convenient sampling. Data were gathered using standard psychological wellbeing and body image satisfaction questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software by descriptive and inferential statistical methods. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean (SD) score of psychological wellbeing among participants was 77.50 (10.10) and their mean (SD) score of satisfaction with body image was 89.30 (14.60). Moreover, the results revealed a positive and significant relationship between the scores of psychological wellbeing and body image satisfaction (r=0.354, p <0.001). The results of regression analysis showed that the two variables of self-acceptance (t = 5.6, p <0.001) and personal growth (t = 2.06, p = 0.04)) can predict body image in pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between body image satisfaction and psychological wellbeing. Therefore, the training of positive attitude with respect to body image or increasing the level of knowledge on psychological wellbeing can create a positive cycle for these variables, and thus, make the pregnancy more enjoyable and acceptable.

The relationship between biological cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of parents and the weight of infant at the time of birth in Isfahan.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was connected in order to evaluate the relationship between biological, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of mothers and the weight of infant at the time of birth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to conduct this research a sample of 910 women among recently delivered mothers of Isfahan province in 2009 were selected. From stratified sampling and cluster sampling according to the percentage of population in each of the cities of Isfahan Province was used. The data was gathered with a questionnaire prepared by the researcher in order to evaluate the biological cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of mothers, in addition to the Enrich marital satisfaction test. After collecting data, the analysis of the data was done with SPSS software in two categories of descriptive and inferential statistics by using logistic regression model. RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of low weight infants was 9.5 percent and 38.7 percent of pregnancies was unwanted. Twenty-nine percent of mothers had marital dissatisfaction. 15/6 percent of pregnancies were below 20 years old and 22 percent was above of 35 years old. 38.9 percent of mothers were exposed to cigarette smoke. The average of weight gain during pregnancies was 9 kilograms. Thirty three percent of mothers had high blood pressure during pregnancy, 26.7 percent had history of abortion and 31.9 percent had history of bleeding. 23/1percent of women was employed during pregnancy, 19.8 percent gave twin birth and 21/1 percent of parents were relative of each other, 29.7 percent of deliveries were done in cesarean way. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that severe marital dissatisfaction, abnormal blood pressure during pregnancy, being employed during pregnancy, weight gain less than 5 Kg during pregnancy, pregnancy below the age of 20 can meaning fully increase the possibility of low birth weight in infant (α=0.05). The results were consisting with the previous findings and indicated that some of the applicable benefits of this research can be recording of information about each delivery in the whole country with holding training workshops of before and during pregnancy skills by welfare organization.