Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (14691833)49(1)pp. 118-123
Background: Depression has a profound effect on quality of life (QoL) and is associated with rumination, hopelessness and social difficulties. It is important to explore novel intervention techniques that may reduce depression, and also improve rumination, hope and QoL. Aims: In this brief clinical report, we report the findings of two pilot randomized controlled trials examining the feasibility of a potentially important novel clinical technique (MEmory Specificity Training, MEST) on depression, social problem-solving (Study 1), rumination, hope and QoL (Study 2). Method: In Study 1, Iranian women with depression (n = 24) completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Means-Ends Problem-Solving test at baseline, post-training and 2-month follow-up. In Study 2, female students with moderate depression (n = 24) completed the Ruminative Response Scale, Adult Hope Scale and Short-Form Health Survey at baseline and post-training. Assessors were blind to group allocation. In both studies participants were randomly assigned to MEST or a non-active control group. Results: In both studies, MEST was found to be feasible and associated with low drop-out rates and high rates of self-reported patient and group facilitator satisfaction. There was preliminary evidence that MEST may bring about clinical benefit in terms of depression, social problem-solving (Study 1), QoL, rumination and hope (Study 2). Conclusions: MEST is a promising technique in the treatment of depression. © 2020 British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
Cognitive Processing (16124782)22(1)pp. 131-139
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown cause. It affects different organs in the body. Neuropsychiatric manifestations are among the adverse effects of this disease. Considering the importance of neuropsychiatric manifestations, especially memory dysfunction and mood disorders, early neuropsychological evaluation and serious rehabilitation programs are needed. The present study aimed to compare SLE patients and healthy individuals in terms of autobiographical memory, mood, and cognitive emotion regulation. A sample of 30 SLE patients and 30 healthy individuals was selected by the convenience sampling method. The sample was evaluated by tests such as the Autobiographical Memory Test, the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the univariate analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, and the Mann–Whitney U tests. The results of the study revealed a significant difference (p <.01) between SLE patients and healthy individuals in terms of autobiographical memory functioning in retrieving past memories and delay in retrieving memories. A significant difference (p <.001) was also found between SLE patients and healthy individuals in terms of mood. However, no significant difference was observed in terms of cognitive emotion regulation. Based on the results of this study, SLE patients’ memory, especially autobiographical memory, and their mood are adversely affected by the disease-related neurological damage. © 2020, Marta Olivetti Belardinelli and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Shahpouri, M.,
Barakatain m., M.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Mirmosayyeb, O.,
Safaei, A.,
Shaygannejad, V. Neurology Research International (20901860)2020
Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that affects cognitive performance and leads to depression and decreased quality of life (QOL). The current study aims to assess the effects of cognitive rehabilitation versus donepezil therapy on memory, attention, depression, and QOL in MS patients compared to placebo and control groups. Methods. Eighty MS patients were randomly selected from parallel randomized trials and divided into four groups: A: cognitive rehabilitation (10 sessions of 120 minutes), B: control (no intervention), C: donepezil (10 mg daily), and D: placebo. Patients received the intervention for three months. They were assessed for cognitive status, depression, and QOL prior to the intervention and immediately after that using abbreviated mental test (AMT), prospective and retrospective memory questionnaire (PRMQ), everyday memory questionnaire (EMQ), digit span, MSQOL-54, and second edition Beck depression inventory (BDI). We compared scores between groups after the intervention, as well as the progression of scores in every single group. Results. The cognitive rehabilitation group showed improvement in EMQ, RPMQ, digit span, physical and mental health subscales of MSQOL54, and depression (P < 0.05). We observed the same effect for donepezil except for the digit span test (P = 0.15). Intergroup comparison of scores showed the superiority of cognitive rehabilitation over donepezil in digit span, depression, and mental health scores. Conclusion. Both donepezil and cognitive rehabilitation effectively improve memory performance, attention, depression, and QOL in MS patients. Cognitive rehabilitation is superior altogether. This study is registered with the Iranian registry of clinical trials http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/IRCT2016042227522N1. © 2020 Mohammad Mahdi Shahpouri et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Shahpouri, M.,
Barakatain m., M.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Badihian, S.,
Shaygannejad, V. International Journal Of Preventive Medicine (20088213)11(1)
Cognitive impairment is one of the debilitating consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS) with negative effects on daily life, individual and social activities, quality of life (QOL), and depression. No approved medication is introduced so far for affected individuals. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of donepezil on cognitive performance, QOL, and depression in MS. Methods: This is a double-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted on 100 patients with MS during 2018. Patients were assessed prior to intervention abbreviated mental test (AMT), prospective and retrospective mental questionnaire (PRMQ), everyday memory questionnaire (EMQ), digit span test, Beck depression inventory (BDI), and MSQOL questionnaire. Then patients were randomly divided into two groups of treatment (daily regimen of 10 mg donepezil) and placebo for 3 months. Subjects were reassessed using the same instruments at the end of intervention. Results: Fifty patients remained in each group at the end of study. The mean age in donepezil and placebo groups was 31.9 ± 5.89 and 30.65 ± 5.43 years, respectively. EMQ, PRMQ, digit span test, MSQOL, and depression scores improved following donepezil therapy (P < 0.001) while no statistically significant difference was found in the placebo group (P > 0.05). Comparison of two groups also showed more favorable scores in donepezil group with respect to all assessment tools (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Donepezil could effectively improve cognitive impairment in MS patients. Also, its positive effect on QOL and depression could result in a smaller number of interventions in this group of patients. © 2020 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Shahpouri, M.,
Barakatain m., M.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Sanaei, S.,
Shaygannejad, V. Journal Of Research In Medical Sciences (17357136)24(1)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can involve cognitive entities, including memory, attention, performance, and information processing. Furthermore, MS causes depression and negatively affects the quality of life (QOL). This study was aimed to assess the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation on cognitive entities of MS patients. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial study conducted on 56 MS patients in 2016-2017. Patients were randomly divided into two Groups of A (cognitive rehabilitation) and B (control group). Patients were evaluated in terms of memory, attention, QOL, and depression. Questionnaires included Abbreviated Mental Test, Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, Everyday Memory Questionnaire, Digit Spam test for attention assessment, QOL-54 questionnaire, and Second version of Beck questionnaire assessing depression. They were filled through an interview before the study initiation, and then, the intervention group underwent ten sessions of cognitive rehabilitation and questionnaires refilled within 3 months after study initiation. Outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results: Memory, attention, QOL, and depression improved significantly following the intervention in cases (P < 0.05), while no significant change was observed among controls (P > 0.05). Comparison of cases and controls in the second evaluation showed a significant difference between cases and controls (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ten sessions of cognitive rehabilitation could significantly improve MS patients' cognitive performance. Moreover, this approach affected their QOL and sense of depression in a decisive trend. It can be concluded that cognitive rehabilitation can successfully affect numerous aspects of MS patients, while numerous medical therapies may be required for treatment of each mere aspect. Further evaluations are strongly recommended. © 2019 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.
Merghati-khoei, E.,
Taleghani, F.,
Noroozi, M.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Gholami, A. Journal Of Qualitative Research In Health Sciences (26456109)8(3)pp. 280-289
Introduction: Youths are considered as a susceptible group in terms of engagement in pre-marital sexual relationships. Therefore, this study was conducted to explain factors protecting youths in engagement in pre-marital sexual relationships. Method: This qualitative study was performed on 30 youths as well as 17 other participants (other than the youths) living in Isfahan in 2013. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using qualitative conventional content analysis. Results: After data analysis, two themes including "having a strong and secure personality" and "obeying the religious beliefs and principles" were obtained. Conclusion: According to the results, having a healthy personality and obeying religious beliefs play an outstanding role in protecting youths in engagement in pre-marital sexual relationships? The results of this study can pave the way toward interventions for internalizing religious values as well as developing healthy personality in youth, which help their sexual health promotion. © 2019, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
Dementia e Neuropsychologia (19805764)11(3)pp. 255-261
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is one of the cognitive profiles of aging. Objective: In this study, Memory Specificity Training (MEST) was used as cognitive training in patients with amnestic MCI to understand the effectiveness of the intervention on memory dimensions. Methods: Twenty patients that met the criteria for amnestic MCI were selected and randomly assigned to experimental (n=10) or control (n=10) groups. The experimental group received five sessions of training on memory specificity while the participants in the control group took part in two general placebo sessions. Participants were assessed before, immediately after, and three months after, the treatment using the Autobiographical Memory Test, the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results: Results from both post-test and follow-up treatment indicated that MEST improves working and prospective memory (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings support the effectiveness of MEST for MCI patients as a viable cognitive intervention. Also, the findings have implications for the role of brain plasticity in the effectiveness of this intervention. © 2017, Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. All rights reserved.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School (10277595)35(434)pp. 677-685
Background: Nonepileptic seizures are of serious neurological disorders associated with a combination of neurological symptoms and psychological conflict. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of emotion regulation on quality of life, cognitive emotion regulation, and frequency of seizures in patients with nonepileptic seizures in Isfahan City, Iran. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest, post-test and follow-up stages. Among patients admitted to Noor and Ayatollah Kashani Hospitals, 16 patients with nonepileptic seizures were selected and randomly assigned to two groups of experimental and control (n = 8). Twelve 90-minute sessions of emotion regulation group therapy intervention was implemented for the experimental group. Quality of life questionnaire from World Health Organization, cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire designed by Garnefeski, and demographic questionnaire designed by the researcher were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using repeated measure analysis via SPSS software. Findings: Regulation of emotion intervention showed a significant difference in aspects of quality of life, cognitive emotion regulation, and number of seizures between the 2 groups. In addition, changes were persistent in one-month follow-up period (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Emotion regulation intervention improved the quality of life, increased use of positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and reduced negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies and the frequency of seizures in patients with nonepileptic seizures Isfahan City. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.
Taleghani, F.,
Merghati-khoei, E.,
Noroozi, M.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Gholami, A. International Journal Of Community Based Nursing And Midwifery (23224835)5(1)pp. 91-98
Background: Youth’s sexual behaviors have various consequences such as unwanted pregnancy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted infections. Little information is available about the impact of mass media in the development of premarital sexual relationships. This study aimed to explore the role of mass media on premarital sexual relationships among Iranian youth. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 26 single boys and girls aged 18-24 years who were living in Isfahan, Iran and have already been started their sexual relationships. Also, 12 other participants who were involved in such an experience were recruited in this study. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and the observation of youth’s sexual interactions in different fields. Conventional content analysis method was used for data analysis. Results: Three main categories were developed: “foreigner media as the role model”, “the ease of access to sexual contents and materials” and “the ease of interactions and relationships with the opposite sex”. Conclusion: The prominent role of mass media in the formation of premarital sexual relationships was described in this study. This issue needs to be taken into consideration by policy makers for taking necessary actions for reducing the impact of mass media on the youth’s engagement in premarital sexual relationships. © 2017, Nauka. All rights reserved.
Barakatain m., M.,
Alavirad, M.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Emsaki, G.,
Maracy, M.R. Journal Of Research In Medical Sciences (17357136)21(7)
The nonamnesic type of mild cognitive impairment (na-MCI) is predementia state with subtle decline incognitive domains except memory. Although cognitive rehabilitation (CR) has been investigated in amnesic type of MCI, we could not find any trial that rehabilitated na-MCI exclusively. We studied the effectiveness of CR on na-MCI. Materials and Methods: This study was a blinded, randomized clinical trial. Individuals with age of 60 years or more, complete self-directedness and diagnosis of na-MCI, based on Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive assessment tool, were selected. The 51 patients were randomly assigned into three groups: CR, lifestyle (LS) modification, and the control group (CG). Neuropsychological tests for executive functioning were assessed at the baseline, after the interventions, and 6 months later. Results: The mean score of the “design fluency” test increased significantly in CR, compared to LS and CG (P = 0.007). In “five-point” test, mean score increased significantly in CR (P = 0.03). There was higher mean score of Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function for adults in CR (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Consideration of the MCI subtypes allows us to target specific cognitive domains, such as information processing, for better CR outcome. CR may result in better performance of executive functioning of daily living. © 2016 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.
Psychology and Neuroscience (19843054)8(1)pp. 75-81
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Color Trail Test (CTT) in an Iranian sample. Six hundred seventeen healthy participants (311 male [50.4%] and 306 female [49.6%]) were assessed. The stepwise regression analysis showed that age and education significantly predicted completion time on the CTT. The percentiles for the 2 parts of the CTT (CTT-A and CTT-B) are presented based on age and education. The older subjects who had less education had lower test completion times. To determine the reliability of the CTT, the participants were tested again 4 weeks later. The correlation coefficients between the first performance and retest were.909 and.912 for the CCT-A and CTT-B, respectively. These results suggest that the CTT is a valid and reliable tool that can be applied in Iranians. © 2015 American Psychological Association.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School (10277595)33(332)pp. 1-11
Background: Cognitive deficits are common complaints voiced by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Several studies have confirmed these deficits. In the other hand, depression has considerable evidence in these patients; whereas, depression can affect the cognitive performances; it is possible that some of these confirmed cognitive deficits had been caused by depression. This study investigated and compared the cognitive performances of depressed and non-depressed patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls. Methods: In this causal-comparative research, 52 patients with multiple sclerosis (26 depressed and 26 non-depressed patients) from Kashani hospital in Isfahan, Iran, and 26 healthy controls were selected. They were assessed through the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Color Trail Test (CTT), verbal memory test and visual memory test. The data was analyzed using covariance method. Findings: There were significant differences in attention, immediate and delayed (recall) verbal memory performance between the depressed patients with multiple sclerosis and the two other groups (P = 0.002). In additon, there were significant differences in delayed (recall and recognition) visual memory performance between healthy group and the two other groups (P = 0.020). But, there were no significant differences, in immediate visual and delayed (recognition) verbal memory performances, between the three groups. Conclusion: The cognitive performance of the patients with multiple sclerosis not only is affected by neurologic injuries but also it is affected by depression. Depression can cause or intensify the cognitive deficits of the patients with multiple sclerosis. © 2015 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.
Noroozi, M.,
Merghati-khoei, E.,
Taleghani, F.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Gholami, A. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal (20741804)17(2)
Background: There are restrictions as well as lawful and religious prohibition for sexual relationships in Iranian society. Objectives: This study explores the varied experiential reality of Iranian youth and their risky sexual experiences. Patients and Methods: Data collection is based on semi-structured interviews with 30 single young men and women. Observation of interactions of youth in different settings has been another source of information. Interviews were microscopically content analyzed. Results: The accounts of risky sexual experiences included gendered behavioral, cultural, and cognitive factors. In the re-contextualizing process, these accounts were categorized by two main themes: “gendered sexual script” and “cultural scenarios of interpersonal interactions”. The notion of “male power” was evident in the responses provided by the participants. Women seldom asked for condom use due to limited knowledge about STIs-HIV/AIDS and unpleasant experiences with condoms. Men had limited knowledge about various sexual modes of HIV and STIs transmission and did not use condoms consistently because they had not seen themselves at risk of STIs or HIV as well as their belief about the decrease of sexual pleasure. Conclusions: Rising youth awareness, creating a positive attitude, and appropriate knowledge about safe sex practices are seminal. It is also vital to ensure access to gender specific sexual and reproductive health services for youths, empower women, and strengthen their sexual assertiveness as well as the elimination of all forms of gender-based inequalities. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School (10277595)32(302)pp. 1546-1556
Background: Cerebral malaria is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. This disease is more common in children than adults. Cerebral malaria could cause neurologic injuries and cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to assess cognitive function in children with cerebral malaria and to compare them with healthy children in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. Methods: The population of this causal-comparative study was children aged 7 to 12 years in Sistan and Baluchestan province. 30 children with cerebral malaria and 30 healthy children were selected from Razi hospital in Saravan, Imam Ali hospital in Chabahar and centers for children in these two cities. They were assessed through the Color Training Test (CTT), Working memory subscale of Wechsler Intelligence test for Children (WISC-IV), Rey visual memory test, Rey Auditory Memory Test and The executive functions Tower of London Test. The data were analysed using multivariate analysis of variances (MANOVA). Findings: There were significant differences between the two groups in attention (P < 0.001), working memory (P < 0.001), immediate visual memory (P < 0.001), delay visual memory (P < 0.001), immediate auditory memory (P < 0.001), delay auditory memory (P < 0.001) and executive functions (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Findings indicated that cerebral malaria causes deficits in cognitive performance of children with this disease. © 2014, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.
Noroozi, M.,
Taleghani, F.,
Merghati-khoei, E.,
Tavakoli, M.,
Gholami, A. Iranian Journal Of Nursing And Midwifery Research (17359066)19(4)pp. 424-431
Background: Sexual behaviors of adolescents and youth are categorized as one of the main health priorities of a society because of high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unwanted pregnancies. Family is an important environment that is associated with a range of social and emotional behaviors of children. This study was aimed at explaining the actions and functions of families in youthsâ engagementin sexual relations. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six single males and females of 18-24 years who were living in Isfahan participated in this qualitative research study. The participants had begun to have some form of sexual activities.Twelve other participants including parents, teachers, school counselors, clinical psychologists, family counselors, and health care providers also took part in the study. Data collection method was based on semi-structured interview and observing the sexual actions and interactions of youths at different levels. In order to analyze the data, the researcher used constant comparison analysis of investigation. Results: The results showed that five main concepts are involved in the formation of sexual relations before marriage, including "parentsâ child-rearing practices", "parentsâ interactions", "childrenâs economic support", "religious beliefs," and "sexual awareness". Conclusions: Based on the prominent role of the family in shaping sexual relations before marriage, it is necessary to educate and support families and also revise the neglected aspects. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
Tavakoli, M.,
Barakatain m., M.,
Doust, H.T.N.,
Molavi, H.,
Nouri, R.K.,
Moradi, A.,
Mehvari, J.,
Zare, M. Journal Of Research In Medical Sciences (17357136)16(11)pp. 1466-1472
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment associated with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has been recognized in multiple studies. We designed this study to find a specific cognitive profile in patients with TLE who were candidates for epilepsy surgery. We also sought to find if neuropsychological assessment could differentiate left TLE, right TLE and normal subjects. METHODS: The sample of this study consisted of 29 patients with right TLE, 31 with left TLE, and 32 subjects without history of seizure as the control group. For all recruited patients and controls, demographic questionnaire, Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-R (WAIS-R) were administered. Multivariate analysis of variance was carried out to reveal differences in memory and intelligence performance between the three groups. RESULTS: All of the mean scores of the WMS-III indexes were significantly higher in the control group in comparison with the right or the left TLE groups (p < 0.001). There were not any significant differences between mean scores of WMS-III indexes of the right and the left. The WAIS-R also showed significantly better mean scores of full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) in the control groups than both of the right and left TLE patients (p < 0.001). Although the verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) mean scores were significantly different between the left TLE and the control group (p = 0.037), there were not any significant differences between the right TLE patients and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that WMS-III and WAIS-R can differentiate patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy from normal subjects. However, the obtained cognitive profile could not differentiate between the right and the left TLE.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School (10277595)29(143)
Background: Approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy are medically refractory to conventional antiepileptic pharmacotherapy. In these patients, recurrent seizure and side effects of drugs interfere with the patient's quality of life and can cause cognitive and behavioral deficits. Neuropsychological assessment plays a vital role in any comprehensive epilepsy program. Methods: We tried to find the most applicable neuropsychological assessments with high validity, reliability by reviewing valid references. Findings: The Wechsler adult intelligence scale, the Wechsler memory scale- III, Verbal learning test, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, Verbal fluency and naming tests, Design fluency test, Continuous performance test, Trail making A and B, Finger tapping, and Grooved pegboard test are of the most applicable tests. Conclusion: Neuropsychological assessment of patients with refractory epilepsy is a complementary section of any Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Findings of these assessments may have great role for treatment plan and prediction of cognitive conse.
