Effect of short-term psychological intervention on anxiety of pregnant women with positive screening results for chromosomal disorders: a randomized controlled trial

Background and aim Prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormalities is a critical and stressful event for women. Most pregnant women are concerned about fetal abnormalities and screening tests. Due to the importance of anxiety reduction in pregnant women, this study was conducted to determine the effect of short-term psychological intervention on the anxiety of pregnant women with positive screening results for chromosomal disorders. Methods A randomized clinical trial was performed on women referred to Akbarabadi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, who had positive screening results for chromosomal abnormalities. Participants were selected from eligible individuals by a continuous method and were assigned to two groups of cognitive-behavioral training (n = 46) and control (n = 46), using the block balanced randomization method. Participants in the cognitive-behavioral training group received 4 sessions of individual counseling. The control group received routine pregnancy visits. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was completed before the intervention and immediately at the end of the intervention (before receiving the amniocentesis result). The analysis of intervention effects was performed as intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Results There was a statistically significant difference in post-intervention state anxiety scores and trait anxiety scores (p < 0.001) between the intervention and control groups, when their means were adjusted for pre-intervention scores for both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Also, there was a large effect size between the groups in terms of state (ITT: ηp2 = 0.63, PP: ηp2 = 0.71) and trait (ITT: ηp2 = 0.72, PP: ηp2 = 0.75) anxiety scores clinically for both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. The intervention group had a statistically significant and large decrease in state and trait anxiety scores from pretrial to post-trial. In contrast, the control group had a statistically significant and medium increase in state and trait anxiety scores from pretrial to post-trial. Conclusion The results showed that cognitive-behavioral training reduced the anxiety of pregnant women with positive screening results for chromosomal disorders. According to the results, it is recommended to hold cognitive-behavioral training classes to reduce the anxiety of pregnant women with a positive screening result for chromosomal disorders. Trial registration IRCT.ir: IRCT20180427039436N7; date of registration: 24/08/2020 2020-08-24.

A Comparative Study of the Effect of Group Reality Therapy Training and Group Cognitive-Behavioral Training on Empathy and Self-Control and Marital Satisfaction of Women with Marital Conflict

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of reality therapy and cognitive-behavioral training on empathy and self-control of women with marital conflicts. Methods: The design of the present study was a quasi-experimental with pre/post-test and follow-up, and included a control group. The statistical population of the study included all women with conflict with their husbands who referred to counseling centers in 7th district of Tehran in 2020. Among them, 60 people were selected by purposeful sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental groups and a control group (twenty individuals in each group). Initially, all three groups underwent a pre-test, followed by 8 sessions of reality therapy for the first experimental group (Glasser, 2012) and 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral training (Free, 1999) for the second experimental group. At the end, post-test was performed for all three groups and after three months, a follow-up test was performed to confirm the results. Data collection tools included the Sanai and Barati Marital Conflict Questionnaire, the Julif and Farrington Empathy Questionnaire, and the self-control Questionnaire of Tanji et al. Findings: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that both reality group therapy and cognitive-behavioral training had a significant effect on empathy and self-control of women with marital conflict (P<0.01). cognitive-behavioral training has been more effective on self-control than reality group therapy. However, reality group therapy has been more effective on empathy than cognitive-behavioral training. Conclusion: Due to the effectiveness of both methods on research variables, the use of these trainings by psychologists and counselors in the psychological education program for people with marital conflict is recommended. Also, due to the greater impact of each training on one variable, it is suggested that paired training programs be adjusted based on these findings.

Increased Activation in the Fusiform Face Area to Greebles is a Result of Expertise Training, Not by its Face-likeness

In 2011, Brants, Wagemans, & Op de Beeck (JOCN 23:12, pp. 3949-3958) trained eight individuals to become Greeble experts, and found neuronal inversion effects [NIEs; i.e., higher Fusiform Face Area (FFA) activity for upright, rather than inverted Greebles]. These effects were also found for faces, both before and after training. By claiming to have replicated the seminal Greeble training study (i.e., Gauthier, Tarr, Anderson, Skudlarski, & Gore, 1999, Nat Neurosci, 2, 568-573), Brants et al. interpreted these results as participants viewing Greebles as faces throughout training, contrary to the original argument of subjects becoming Greeble experts only after training. However, such a claim presents two issues. First, the behavioral training results of Brants et al. did not replicate those of Gauthier et al (1999), raising concerns of whether the right training regime had been adopted. Second, both a literature review and meta-analysis of NIE in the FFA suggest its unreliability as an index of face(-like) processing. To empirically evaluate these issues, the present study compared two documented training paradigms (i.e., Gauthier & Tarr, 1997, Vision Res, 37, 1673-1682; and Gauthier, Williams, Tarr, & Tanaka, 1998, Vision Res, 38, 2401-2428) and explored their impact on the FFA. The results showed significant increases in the FFA for Greebles, and a clear neural "adaptation" (i.e., decreased activity for faces following Greebles, but not following non-face objects, in the FFA) both only in the Gauthier97 group, and only after training, reflecting clear modulation of expertise following "appropriate" training. In both groups, no clear NIE for faces nor Greebles were found. Collectively, these data invalidate the two assumptions behind the Brants et al. findings, and provide not only the updated support, but also the new evidence, for the perceptual expertise hypothesis of FFA.

Comparing Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Training and Positive Psychology Training on Psychological Health of Pregnant Women with Pregnancy Anxiety

This study compares effectiveness of cognitive behavioral training (CBT) and positive psychology training (PPT) on psychological health of pregnant women with pregnancy anxiety. We studied forty-five pregnant women with pregnancy anxiety in two experimental and control groups. All participants completed demographic questionnaire, PDQ, ASI, WHOQOL-BREF and CD-RISC in two stages and CBT and PPT were taught for experimental groups. The results showed a significant difference between experimental and control groups in total score of pregnancy anxiety, quality of life, anxiety sensitivity and resilience (F(8,70)=11.63, P &lt;.001, Wilks'Λ = .184, partial η2 = .571) but no meaningful difference between effectiveness of CBT and PPT on psychological health of pregnant women with pregnancy anxiety (P &gt; .001). According to the results, CBT and PPT both have substantial impacts on improving psychological health of pregnant women with pregnancy anxiety; however, there is no statistically significant difference between the efficiency of CBT and PPT.

Teknik Assertiveness Training dalam Penurunan Perilaku Kekerasan pada Pasien Skizoprenia di RS. Jiwa Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ildrem Medan

Violent behavior is a form of aggressive or violent behavior that is shown verbally, physically or both to an object, other person or self that leads to the potential to be destructive or actively causes pain, danger and suffering. Assertiveness training is the application of behavioral training with the aim of assisting individuals in developing direct ways of relating in interpersonal situations. The increasing number of schizophrenic mental patients with violent behavior will have an impact on families and communities in the form of an economic burden and a decreased quality of life in carrying out daily activities. Qualitative research with assertiveness training technique is carried out as an application of behavioral training with the aim of helping individuals develop ways of direct contact in interpersonal situations. Based on the stages of applying assertive training techniques through group guidance, it shows that there is an increase in the patient's ability to express every problem he is facing. So it can be concluded that the implementation of assertive training techniques in revealing real patient problems through group activity guidance in hospitals. Hospital of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ildrem Medan there have been developments and improvements.Violent behavior is a form of aggressive or violent behavior that is shown verbally, physically or both to an object, other person or self that leads to the potential to be destructive or actively causes pain, danger and suffering. Assertiveness training is the application of behavioral training with the aim of assisting individuals in developing direct ways of relating in interpersonal situations. The increasing number of schizophrenic mental patients with violent behavior will have an impact on families and communities in the form of an economic burden and a decreased quality of life in carrying out daily activities. Qualitative research with assertiveness training technique is carried out as an application of behavioral training with the aim of helping individuals develop ways of direct contact in interpersonal situations. Based on the stages of applying assertive training techniques through group guidance, it shows that there is an increase in the patient's ability to express every problem he is facing. So it can be concluded that the implementation of assertive training techniques in revealing real patient problems through group activity guidance in hospitals. Hospital of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ildrem Medan there have been developments and improvements.

Utility of cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce pain in children with sickle cell disease

A clinical decision report appraising: Schatz J, Schlenz AM, McClellan CB, et al. Changes in coping, pain, and activity after cognitive-behavioral training. The Clinical Journal of Pain 2015;31(6):536-47 https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000183 for a child with sickle cell disease.

The Reality to Islamic Behavior and The Quality of Human Resources Performance at The Zakat Fund in Lebanon - Dar Al Fatwa

This research aims to reveal the level of Islamic behavior and the quality of the performance of human resources at the Zakat Fund in Lebanon - Dar Al Fatwa, from the point of view of human resources who were estimated at 125 individuals who served in the institution during the period of obtaining the ISO international quality certificate and to compare the results with some partial studies. A questionnaire was designed and analyzed. It expresses the level of Islamic behavior through its four domains related to its ethical system represented in behavior towards the Almighty God, towards the self, and towards others. Its dimensions were chosen through politeness with God Almighty, integrity, humility, and environmental behavior, within the framework of three main axes that are the work environment, the personal environment and Islamic behavior training. The quality of human resources performance has been measured through the dimensions of the ServQual scale, which expresses the quality of performance. The SPSS program was used to analyze the respondents' estimates. This research clarifies the Islamic view on the necessity to balance behavior and not to contradict it between the work environment, and the personal environment, and the importance of behavioral training. It also points out the need to work on standards of behavior in order to focus on improving performance. This paper attempts to provide a measure to verify the level of quality of performance, and the level of Islamic behavior in line with Islam in its behavioral view that stresses the homogeneity of behavior in the workplace, the personal environment, and behavioral training. This measure will support the civilized view of Islam and its institutions and alleviate Islamophobia.

Developing expert gaze pattern in laparoscopic surgery requires more than behavioral training

Expertise in laparoscopic surgery is realized through both manual dexterity and efficient eye movement patterns, creating opportunities to use gaze information in the educational process. To better understand how expert gaze behaviors are acquired through deliberate practice of technical skills, three surgeons were assessed and five novices were trained and assessed in a 5-visit protocol on the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery peg transfer task. The task was adjusted to have a fixed action sequence to allow recordings of dwell durations based on pre-defined areas of interest (AOIs). Trained novices were shown to reach more than 98% (M = 98.62%, SD = 1.06%) of their behavioral learning plateaus, leading to equivalent behavioral performance to that of surgeons. Despite this equivalence in behavioral performance, surgeons continued to show significantly shorter dwell durations at visual targets of current actions and longer dwell durations at future steps in the action sequence than trained novices (ps ≤ .03, Cohen’s ds > 2). This study demonstrates that, while novices can train to match surgeons on behavioral performance, their gaze pattern is still less efficient than that of surgeons, motivating surgical training programs to involve eye tracking technology in their design and evaluation.