Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy in Motivational Structure of Hepatitis B Patients

Background: It is essential to understand and support hepatitis B patients to minimize their challenges and limitations and provide them with appropriate treatment. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate training and consulting programs to prepare for and identify various aspects of the disease. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive-behavioral group therapy (MiCBT) in the motivational structure of hepatitis B patients in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The study sample consisted of 28 hepatitis B patients selected from all patients visiting specialist clinics in Tehran in 2020. Following the interviews and completion of the Personal Concerns Inventory, 14 patients were selected per group using simple random sampling and were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. A posttest was conducted after 12 sessions of MiCBT (one 90-min group session weekly for three months). Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS software. Results: The results revealed a significant increase in adaptive motivational structure (P < 0.001) and a significant decrease in maladaptive motivational structure (P = 0.012) in hepatitis B patients following the therapeutic intervention. Conclusions: The study indicated the MiCBT effectiveness in increasing adaptive motivational structure and decreasing maladaptive motivational structure in hepatitis B patients. As a therapeutic approach, MiCBT can make the motivational structure of hepatitis B patients more adaptive.

Comparison of Routine Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis in Arab and Lor Patients

Background: The awareness of the risk factors of atherosclerosis and attempts to correct and control them can effectively reduce the risk of complications. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the risk factors for routine atherosclerosis in patients with symptoms of heart disease in the Arab race, compared to those of Lor patients. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 200 patients with symptoms of heart disease. A food frequency questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Out of 200 patients, 101 (51.5%) and 99 (48.5%) participants were Lor and Arab, respectively. Significant differences were observed between the two races for cholesterol and fasting blood sugar levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, no significant difference was observed between different quarters of following dietary patterns and lipid-glucose factors (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, are multifactorial. Various factors can effectively affect the prevalence of this disease in each region, which necessitates the identification of risk factors to take steps to correct risk factors and improve the quality of patients’ life.

Evaluating the Relationship Between Emotion Regulation and Pain Self-efficacy with Psychosocial Adjustment in Athletes with Chronic Pain Considering the Mediating Role of Mental Fatigue

Background: Pain is a pervasive and disabling barrier for the injured athlete threatening his/her ability to participate in sporting events and professional goals. However, psychological factors in the treatment process of chronic diseases are an important factor in involving the patient in treatment and making treatment decisions. Objectives: This research aimed to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation and pain self-efficacy with psychosocial adjustment in athletes with chronic pain, considering the mediating role of mental fatigue. Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive correlational study was all athletes with chronic pain referred to the Iranian Sports Medicine Federation. Using the convenience sampling method, a total of 200 injured athletes were selected as the sample size. For data collection, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS), Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Pain Fatigue Scale (PFS), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-short) were used. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, and path analysis (structural model) were used to analyze data. Also, SPSS (v21) and AMOS (v23) software were used to analyze the data. Results: According to the results, pain self-efficacy (β = 0.18), adaptive emotion regulation (β = 0.27), and mental fatigue (β = -0.19) had a direct positive and significant impact on psychosocial adjustment. Also, the direct effect of pain self-efficacy (β = -0.19), maladaptive emotion regulation (β = 0.17), and adaptive emotion regulation (β = -0.12) on mental fatigue was significant. In addition, the indirect effect of pain self-efficacy and maladaptive emotions on psychosocial adjustment via mental fatigue was significant. Conclusions: Mental fatigue plays a good mediating role between pain self-efficacy and emotion regulation with psychosocial adjustment of athletes with chronic pain.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Factors in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) referring to the gastrointestinal and endocrinology clinics of Golestan and Imam Khomeini Hospitals, Ahvaz. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was performed on patients with NAFLD referring to the gastroenterology and endocrinology clinics of Golestan and Emam Khomeini hospitals, Ahvaz in the second half of 2020. Demographic information included age, gender, lumbar posture (while standing and the waist be in the upper edge of the iliac crest at the end of a normal exhalation using a non-elastic meter), grading fatty liver evidenced by ultrasound, and blood pressure and laboratory parameters, including triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was recorded in the checklist. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software. Results: This study was performed on 130 patients with an average age of 46.22 ± 14.27 years. Patients comprised 42 men (32.8%) and 88 women (67.2/%). Also, 63.84% of the patients with NAFLD had metabolic syndrome, and 56.2, 69.6, and 81.8% with grades 1, 2, and 3 of fatty liver, respectively had metabolic syndrome. There was a significant difference in terms of mean height and weight in both gender. There was a significant relationship between age and FBS, so that the levels of FBS increased statistically significantly with age (P < 0.05). Gender had a statistically significant relationship with HDL and waist circumference (P = 0.038). There was no statistically significant relationship between blood pressure, TG, HDL, FBS, and waist circumference, and different grades of fatty liver (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The current study showed a significant number of patients with NAFLD had metabolic syndrome, so that the most common symptom of metabolic syndrome was low HDL levels, followed by high FBS levels, blood pressure, and TG levels and waist circumference size. Nevertheless, it was not probable to assess whether NAFLD precedes the progress of metabolic syndrome.

Psychological Consequences of Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Systematic Review Study

Context: Fibromyalgia is a debilitating syndrome characterized by scattered and multifaceted musculoskeletal pain, the presence of multiple and unstable points sensitive to pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and muscle inflexibility, which were damaged during mental health by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, the present review study was conducted to investigate the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with fibromyalgia. Data Sources: In this review study, published articles on the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in fibromyalgia patients in 2020 (February) and 2021 (July) were reviewed. To access relevant scientific documents, the keywords COVID-19, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Mental Health, Chronic Illness, and Psychological Anxiety in the titles and abstracts of articles published in reputable international scientific databases, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, EMBASE, and PsycINFO, were searched and all related English-language articles were listed. Results: The studies showed that patients with fibromyalgia had high levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Variables such as age, gender, low level of education, sleep quality, marital status, financial status, and loneliness were associated with psychological distress and the exacerbation of symptoms in fibromyalgia patients. In contrast, social support and the use of effective coping strategies led to improved quality of life and mental health of patients. Conclusions: According to the results of studies, patients with chronic pain, including fibromyalgia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced problems in mental health, quality of life, social relationships, and sleep quality, which caused recurrence of the disease and increased anxiety and depression in them.

The Effect of a Training Program Based on Roy’s Adaptation Model on the Adaptation of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft in Intensive Care Units

Background: One of the effective nursing measures for enhancing the quality of life (QOL) and adaptation of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the use of Roy’s adaptation model (RAM). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of a training program based on Roy’s adaptation model on the adaptation of patients undergoing CABG. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 60 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of Imam Khomeini Hospital and Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in 2020. Patients were selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. A four-session training program based on RAM was held for the intervention group. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 22. Results: The mean scores of physiological, self-concept, role function, and independence and interdependence dimensions in the experimental group before the intervention were 48.76 (6.36), 23.76 (4.10), 19.60 (2.93), and 25.60 (3.54), respectively. After the intervention, the mean scores in the mentioned dimensions were 101.26 (5.23), 50.80 (3.82), 39.10 (4.15), and 25.47 (3.99), respectively, indicating an upward trend (P < 0.05). Also, the mean score of total adaptation before the intervention was 117.73 (12.00), which rose to 216.63 (7.88) after the intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that RAM plays an important role in the adaptation of patients undergoing CABG surgery. Thus, this model can provide a suitable framework for examining and providing care for patients undergoing CABG in ICUs.

Effect of Aspirin Dose on Preeclampsia Prevention and Fetal-maternal Complications: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease characterized by abnormalities in the placenta and endothelial cells. The pathogenesis is not fully understood; however, aspirin prescription can be effective to treat the disease and prevent fetal developmental disorders. Methods: This study was performed as a clinical trial in Shahid Akbrabadi Hospital in Tehran city. Eighty patients participated in two groups (n = 40). The first group of patients received the dose of 80 mg, and the second group received the dose of 160 mg aspirin. Then, the fetal-maternal and treatment process complications were examined in the patients. Results: The results showed that the incidence of fetal-maternal complications, including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) was lower in patients treated with 160 mg aspirin than in the other group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P-value > 0.05). Aspirin complications such as bleeding were more in the second group than in the first one (P-value < 0.05). Conclusions: Although the increasing dose of aspirin reduces fetal-maternal complications in PE patients, the problems such as aspirin-induced bleeding should be considered.

Comparison of the Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Neurofeedback, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming on Reducing the Rate of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are the most common mental disorders almost experienced by human beings. Nowadays, due to the coronavirus outbreak, people are becoming more vulnerable to these disorders. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the comparison of the effect of 3 treatment methods, named neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and neurofeedback (NFB), on patients suffering from disorders mentioned above. Methods: The research design selected for the present investigation was a quasi-experimental method consisting of pretest and posttest given to 3 experimental groups [i.e., NFB (n = 15), tDCS (n = 15), and NLP (n = 15)] and 1 control group (n = 15). The statistical population was included patients who had been referred to mental health experts at comprehensive health service centers in Zahedan, Iran (2020). The sampling procedure was based on a simple random method with a population of 68 subjects (60 main samples and 8 alternatives). Following the completion of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire, data were collected and then analyzed step by step using SPSS version 23. Results: The results of the multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) test showed that there would be no significant decrease in the mean scores of depressions, anxiety, and stress between the pre-and posttest scores of the subjects in the treatment groups (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: NLP, tDCS, and NFB were significantly effective in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and stress. Considering the importance of the findings, non-pharmacological methods could be effective in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Comparison of Mental Health, Stress and Coping Methods in Mothers of Children with/without Autism in Ahvaz

Background: The existence of an autistic child causes much mental burden and concern for parents and disrupts their normal functioning in both home and society. Objectives: The present study seeks to compare mental health, stress, and coping styles in mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 120 samples of all mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Actually, from the statistical population of the study, 120 (60 mothers with autistic children and 60 mothers with normal children) were selected using the convenience sampling method. After explaining the objectives of the research to the participants and obtaining a consent form, the questionnaire was answered by them. Stress Questionnaire, Mental Health Questionnaire, and Coping Strategies Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed both descriptively and inferentially (MANOVA and ANOVA) using the SPSS version 21. Results: The results indicate a significant difference between mental health (F = 342.14, P < 0.001), stress (F = 10.71, P < 0.001), and coping styles (F = 156, P < 0.001) regarding the mothers of autistic/non-autistic children. There is also a significant difference between the avoidance coping strategies (F = 143.12, P < 0.001) used by mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Conclusions: As the results showed, mothers of normal children were significantly different from mothers of autistic children in using avoidance-oriented coping styles. We can use the findings of this study in clinical situations in order to help mothers with autistic children to reduce their stress, so they can control their lives better with less stress, and this way, the quality of their lives will be higher.