Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan; Hamed Delam; Amir Mansouri; Mozhgan Jokar; Esmaeil Kavi; Omid Soufi
Abstract
Background: Since psychological well-being can predict the individuals’ suicidal ideation, therapeutic interventions such as reminiscence can be helpful for these persons. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of reminiscence intervention on psychological well-being among individuals with ...
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Background: Since psychological well-being can predict the individuals’ suicidal ideation, therapeutic interventions such as reminiscence can be helpful for these persons. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of reminiscence intervention on psychological well-being among individuals with a history of suicide attempt.Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. The population of this study consisted of individuals who had attempted suicide and referred to public hospitals in Shiraz. The sample size in each control and experimental group was estimated to be 20 people.Results: The comparison of the mean score of depression in the intervention and control groups showed that the two groups did not have a significant difference before the intervention (P=0.414), while immediately after the intervention (P<0.001) and one month after it (P=0.003) a significant difference was observed. Also, the mean score of anxiety immediately after the intervention and one month after the intervention was significantly different between the intervention and control groups (P<0.05). In the stage immediately after the intervention, the comparison of the mean scores of self-esteem in the intervention and control groups showed a significant relationship (P=0.019).Conclusion: It can be said that this intervention has been effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression and increasing the self-esteem of people who have a history of attempted suicide.
Sima Rafiei; Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan; Samira Raoofi; Maryam Masoumi; Omid Elahifar; Maryam Doustmehraban; Zahra Hosseinipalangi; Sepideh Rezaei; Mahmoud Nasiri; Ahmad Ghashghaee
Abstract
Background: Depression and anxiety are the psychological problems that have intensified during Covid-19 and have affected the psychological well being of people. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Middle East countries.Methods: In this review, ...
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Background: Depression and anxiety are the psychological problems that have intensified during Covid-19 and have affected the psychological well being of people. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Middle East countries.Methods: In this review, we searched for studies aiming to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic among the general population in databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar from January 2020 to February 2021. We used the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis-2 software for data analyses and generated forest plots of the summary pooled prevalence.Results: In this systematic review, 55 articles with a total sample size of 28128 people were included. The pooled analysis of depression and anxiety amid the pandemic was estimated at 41% and 39%, respectively. Based on the study results, Iraq and Egypt had the highest prevalence rates of depression at 88% and 82%, respectively. Regarding anxiety, the highest and lowest prevalence rates were reported for Egypt with 91% and Qatar with 17%.Conclusion: To effectively provide mental health services for people, particularly the ones who are suspected of higher risk of depression and anxiety, it is necessary to identify individuals who are more likely to be suffered from psychological problems.
Asiyeh Pirzadeh; Zahra Abotalebi; Roya Riahi
Abstract
Background: Mental disorders have become especially important in the current stressful world. Among these disorders, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent. Stress is also a very common phenomenon. Given the teachers’ prominent roles in the education department and the importance of their ...
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Background: Mental disorders have become especially important in the current stressful world. Among these disorders, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent. Stress is also a very common phenomenon. Given the teachers’ prominent roles in the education department and the importance of their mental health, the present study aimed to determine stress, anxiety, and depression among teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020.Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 210 primary school teachers in district 3 of Isfahan province in Iran, using multi-stage random sampling. Data were collected by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale- 42 Items (DASS-42). Also, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 20 and conducting pearson test, t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression.Results: The results indicated a high level of stress, anxiety, and depression among the teachers. Findings also showed that teachers’ depression was significantly associated with their age, work experience, type of housing, and student behavior (P<0.05). Further, teachers’ anxiety was significantly associated with their work experience and student behavior (P<0.05). Moreover, teachers’ stress was significantly associated with their history of mental diseases (P<0.05). Teachers’ depression, anxiety, and stress were not significantly correlated with their marital status, spouse’s job, education level, and Relationship with other colleagues (P>0.05).Conclusion: Given that stress, anxiety, and depression affect teachers’ mental health, and consequently the quantity and quality of their work, holding training courses and sessions to discuss teachers’ problems, provides practical and effective solutions, and offers them administrative and organizational support, can be an effective step towards improving their mental health.
Akram Farhadi; Hamed Javadian; Pouya Farokhnezhad Afshar
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been around for more than a year as a global problem, the nurses being among the first groups involved in treating epidemics. In addition to becoming infected and dying from the disease, nurses also suffer from death anxiety. This study aimed to predict mental health ...
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been around for more than a year as a global problem, the nurses being among the first groups involved in treating epidemics. In addition to becoming infected and dying from the disease, nurses also suffer from death anxiety. This study aimed to predict mental health by religious orientation and the mediating role of death anxiety among nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The present descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on 208 nurses working in the Central Hospital for the Treatment of COVID-19 patients who enrolled in the census in the Persian Gulf Martyrs Hospital in Bushehr. Data collection tools were the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and the Revised Religious Orientation Scale (ROS). Data were analyzed by SPSS v.22 software using the Pearson correlation test and multiple regression analysis (α=0.01).Results: According to the findings, death anxiety significantly and negatively affected mental health (P<0.001, β=-0.54). Intrinsic religious orientation led to a reduction in death anxiety (P=0.01, β=-0.16) and improved mental health (P<0.001, β=0.40), while extrinsic socially-oriented religiousness resulted in increased death anxiety (P<0.001, β=0.19) and decreased mental health (P<0.001, β=-0.20).Conclusion: More than half of the nurses had death anxiety in the COVID-19 epidemic, which decreased their mental health. This study revealed that the intrinsic religious orientation positively reduced death anxiety and promoted mental health.
Mohsen Poursadeqiyan; Nayyereh Kasiri; Behzad Khedri; Zahra Ghalichi Zaveh; Amin Babaei Pouya; Somayeh Barzanouni; milad Abbasi; Maryam Feiz Arefi; Farahnaz Khajehnasiri; Naser Dehghan
Abstract
Background: People’s participation in more efficient control of the disease and public awareness about the risk of COVID-19 affect their preventive behavior. This study examines the level of fear of COVID-19 infection in Iranian society after returning to social activities and business reopening. ...
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Background: People’s participation in more efficient control of the disease and public awareness about the risk of COVID-19 affect their preventive behavior. This study examines the level of fear of COVID-19 infection in Iranian society after returning to social activities and business reopening. Methods: This Cross-Sectional study consisted of urban dwellers in Iran, and the data gathering tool was a researcher-designed questionnaire. To design the instrument, the authors interviewed experts and ordinary people to determine the key questions . Then, the questions were modified and finalized based on the experts’ feedback and a reexamination by the experts after two weeks. An online version of the questionnaire was disseminated using social networks. 168 people were included in the study by the available sampling method. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics methods. Quantitative data as mean and standard deviation were reported, and the qualitative data were reported as numbers. Chi-square test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used to examine the relationship between questions related to COVID-19 infection fear and demographic variables. Data analyses were done in SPSS 20. Results: The study was carried out on 168 participants, and 78 of them were employees of different offices. The participants believed that among the ways of spreading the disease, kissing and hugging (n=142, 84.5%), shaking hands (n=127, 75.6%), contact with the saliva of an infected person (n=116, 69.0%), and spread through the air (n=60, 35.7%) had the highest frequencies. Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 infection in the participants was at moderate and above moderate levels. The participants also hoped that the vaccine would be found and made available to the public. Policy-makers in the health sector can use the results.
Ahmad Baleshzar; Zeinab Rasouli Kahaki; Zahra Rojhani
Abstract
Background: Productivity plays a fundamental role in the global economy. Human resources are the most important factor, causing an increase or decrease in the productivity of an organization. Ergonomics is the scientific theory that studies the relationship between individuals and other elements of a ...
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Background: Productivity plays a fundamental role in the global economy. Human resources are the most important factor, causing an increase or decrease in the productivity of an organization. Ergonomics is the scientific theory that studies the relationship between individuals and other elements of a system and the profession applies theories, principles, evidence, and methods to design to optimize human well-being and productivity of the organization. This study aims to investigate the effects of ergonomic features and anxiety on the productivity of office workers. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 176 office workers (133 female and 43 male) of a university with three years of work experience were randomly selected. Data collection tools included demographic surveys, an inspection checklist, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) checklist, the productivity measurement questionnaire, and Beck anxiety inventory. Results: The study results showed that 70% of workstations need to be changed through ergonomic interventions and changes. According to the results obtained from the linear regression model between productivity and working posture, anxiety, and work environmental factors, there is a positive relationship between working environment conditions and productivity (P=0.002). Conclusion: The main contribution of this research is that productivity should receive attention through changing working environment. The chairs are a vital element of an ergonomic and productive work office
Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan; Hamed Delam; Maasumeh Elahi; Sahar Akbarpoor; Zohreh Faramarzian
Abstract
Background: The mental health of healthcare workers has been a concern during the outbreak of 2019 novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19). Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the anxiety of the healthcare workers during Covid-19 epidemic and to discover the factors affecting it.
Methods:The ...
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Background: The mental health of healthcare workers has been a concern during the outbreak of 2019 novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19). Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the anxiety of the healthcare workers during Covid-19 epidemic and to discover the factors affecting it.
Methods:The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. In this study, the anxiety of 124 nurses, operating room staff, midwives and anesthetists working in different wards of Imam Reza Hospital in Lar in 2020 was assessed using the Corona Anxiety Scale Questionnaire.
Results: The results showed that most of the samples were female, married, with a bachelor's degree and an average age of 33 years. 53 (42.8%) participants had mild anxiety and 34 (27.4%) had severe anxiety. Comparison of anxiety levels based on demographic variables of participants in the study showed that there was no significant relationship between anxiety levels with gender, marital status, education level, and field of study (P> 0.05).
Conclusion:According to the results of the study and the worsening of the COVID-19 epidemic, there is a need to strengthen the awareness and address the issues related to mental health of healthcare workers.
Hamed Delam; Safoura Izanloo
Abstract
In December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China led to its spread around the world and became one of the major international concerns (1). The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that COVID-19 has become a global health concern and causes severe respiratory infections ...
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In December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China led to its spread around the world and became one of the major international concerns (1). The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that COVID-19 has become a global health concern and causes severe respiratory infections in humans (1, 2). Human-to-human transmission has been described through droplets, and contaminated hands and surfaces. Early diagnosis, quarantine, and supportive care are essential in treating the patients (1). With the spread of COVID 19 worldwide (3) and also because of the lack of specific antiviral treatment and clinical pressure of treatment, thousands of severe cases of the disease die every day in the world (4). COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of social life, including mental health and physical health(5), and the direct and indirect psychological and social effects of COVID-19 epidemic disease are now apparent. It can affect the mental health now and in future (5). Concerns such as fear of death are increasing among patients in epidemics(6). By forcing several directives, including house arrests and quarantine, to deal with the spread of the virus, patients, health professionals, and the general public are under unbearable psychological pressure. COVID-19 appears to be a serious mental health challenge(7, 8). Some groups, such as the elderly, may be more vulnerable than others(9). The world's growing elderly population highlights the need to pay more attention to the psychological problems of the elderly, such as death anxiety(10). One of the important issues of the elderly health is its psychological dimension, which requires special attention and prevention of disorders such as anxiety(10). Anxiety is one of the most common psychological problems in old age because people face all kinds of deficiencies and disabilities at this stage of life. Studies show that older people are more likely to be anxious because of low self-esteem, reduced activity and movement, loss of friends, reduced financial and physical independence, and chronic illness. Their most common anxiety is death anxiety(11). Death anxiety is a natural experience, and having a low degree of death anxiety throughout life is necessary to lead us to positive activities, but high abnormal death anxiety may lead to incompatibility. Such anxiety exacerbates the stressful situations and creates feelings of emptiness and frustration about life(12). The elderly people face various life challenges day by day that is inevitable. Approaching death and anxiety about death is one of the topics discussed in the elderly health. On the other hand, since home quarantine is known to be the best way to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that stress, including death anxiety, increases in people, especially the elderly.
Esmaeil Kavi; Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan
Abstract
The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which belongs to a group of families of viruses, was found in Wuhan, China, on December 29, 2019 and became a highly contagious disease. This unknown disease was introduced with symptoms of fever, cough, myalgia, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, hemoptysis, shortness of ...
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The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which belongs to a group of families of viruses, was found in Wuhan, China, on December 29, 2019 and became a highly contagious disease. This unknown disease was introduced with symptoms of fever, cough, myalgia, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, severe bilateral lung infiltrates, arrhythmia, acute heart injury, impaired renal function, liver dysfunction, and some death cases (1). There is no doubt that COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for humanity and since the World Health Organization warned of a crisis(2), people were faced with a huge amount of right and wrong information published in the cyberspace; despite the few symptoms and possibility of low infection, many people searched the cyberspace to get information for self-care(3). Experience with the results of previous studies also shows that despite the benefits of using the Internet and smartphones by users, checking the health of users on the Internet pathologically when a disease spreads (Cyberchondria) can be worrying, and in such situations, individuals may try to attribute an illness to themselves by examining the Internet sites and social networks(4). However, research conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of "CoV" searches on Google shows that the volume of the searched content on "CoV" about 2019-nCoV is rapidly increasing, and in spite of the fact that much of the information in the social media is invalid, it can raise public concern about the disease. Therefore, searching for information about COVID-19 online and confrontation with such huge information may increase anxiety and distress and cause cyberchondria(5). Therefore, healthcare authorities in different countries, including Iran, must be prepared to face with the health challenges of this emerging disease, address the general anxiety caused by its outbreak, and adopt appropriate programs to manage public opinion during the prevalence of this disease; also, we should expand people's access to the right information to prevent the spread of Cyberchondria, which can be caused by incorrect information received about COVID-19. Finally, it can be said that due to the growing concerns about COVID-19, people may eventually ignore vital information published about this disease by the media because of the fear of knowing.
Hamed Delam; Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan
Abstract
Background: Menopause is one of the female life stages affecting their mental health due to symptoms experienced by them during this period. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between severity of menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study ...
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Background: Menopause is one of the female life stages affecting their mental health due to symptoms experienced by them during this period. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between severity of menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on 120 females aged 45-65 years in the city of Larestan, Iran. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, Beck depression inventory, Spielberger anxiety scale, and the modified Kupperman menopausal complication index. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 25) at 95% confidence level. Results: Out of 120 menopausal females, who participated in this study, 89.2% were married, and their mean age was 53.30±4.24 years. The majority of them (92.5%) were in their diploma level and below. According to the results of the Spearman correlation test, there was a significant relationship between depression score and severity of menopausal symptoms (r = 0.775, P <0.01). There was also a significant difference between the total anxiety score and the severity of menopausal symptoms (r = .0.754, P <0.01). Conclusion: Considering the significant relationship between the severity of menopausal symptoms and the presence of anxiety and depression, the treatment of menopausal symptoms can prevent depression and anxiety in females during this sensitive period.
Hamed Delam; Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan
Abstract
Introduction: Elderly people face many challenges and these problems make them vulnerable to various types of mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of anxiety and depression in the elderly people who referred to the health center of Larestan city in 2019. Methods: ...
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Introduction: Elderly people face many challenges and these problems make them vulnerable to various types of mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of anxiety and depression in the elderly people who referred to the health center of Larestan city in 2019. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 109 elderly people were selected by convenience sampling from health center of Larestan city. Demographic information, Beck Depression Inventory and Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire were completed by the samples. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using Spearman, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. In this study, a p-value of 0.05 was considered as statistically significant . Results: Out of 109 elderly people who participated in this study, 47 (43.1%) were male and 62 (56.9%) were female. The mean age of the men and women was 65.30±5.013 and 69.34±5.675 years, respectively. Most of the samples were married (79.80%) and illiterate (43.10%). The mean of depression, state and trait anxiety in men was 11.79±5.91, 33.02±11.56 and 34.19±13.50 respectively; also, the mean of depression, state and trait anxiety in women was 15.31±6.65, 40.68±12.44 and 40.82±12.29, respectively. The results of Mann-Whitney U test showed a statistically significant relationship between gender and the level of depression, state and trait anxiety (P value<0.05). There was no significant relationship between depression, anxiety and other demographic variables (P value>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate the high prevalence of depression and anxiety among the elderly under the study, especially among the elderly women; therefore, interventions are needed to reduce the stressors of the elderly people's lives.
Hamed Delam; Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan
Abstract
Background: Anxiety and low self-esteem can lead to feelings of vulnerability and being at risk, which can predict a suicide attempt. This study aimed to investigate stress and self-esteem of suicide attempters referring to hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018.
Methods: ...
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Background: Anxiety and low self-esteem can lead to feelings of vulnerability and being at risk, which can predict a suicide attempt. This study aimed to investigate stress and self-esteem of suicide attempters referring to hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018.
Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical study. In this study, 74 patients were selected through convenience sampling from referring to hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Data were collected through demographic questionnaires, Spielberger anxiety questionnaire, and Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire. After completing the surveys, the data were analyzed. Finally, by defining the scores of the questionnaires, statistical analysis was performed and the results obtained from the study.
Results: Out of 74 suicide attempters, 62.2% were women, and the majority of them were married (70.30%). The state anxiety score showed that 24.3% and 21.6% were in medium to high and severe anxiety, respectively, and the trait anxiety score indicated that the majority of individuals were in moderate to the critical range. Self-esteem scores showed that 54.1% were in low self-esteem range.
Conclusion: Anxiety and low self-esteem can be effective factors in a suicide attempt. Therefore, therapeutic interventions to reduce anxiety and improve self-esteem in such individuals can prevent a suicide attempt.
Ali Kamkar; Mahmoud Golzary; Noor Ali Farrokhi; Shapur Aghaee; Mohammad Fararouei
Volume 3, Issue 2 , April 2015, , Pages 76-82
Abstract
Backgrounds: Anxiety and depression are found to be the major contributors to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The present study aimed to measure the effect of a specifically designed cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program on the severity of the symptoms and quality of life of patients with chronic ...
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Backgrounds: Anxiety and depression are found to be the major contributors to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The present study aimed to measure the effect of a specifically designed cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program on the severity of the symptoms and quality of life of patients with chronic IBS, and also define whether anxiety and depression in patients with IBS at baseline affect their response to CBT. Methods: The participants were randomly allocated to conventional treatment only (n=25, control) or CBT plus conventional treatment (n=25, intervention) group. The intervention group attended an eight session group stress management training course conducted by a psychologist in a meeting room at a gastrointestinal clinic at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. Pre- and post-interventions and 3-month follow-up visits were scheduled and conducted by an experienced healthcare worker to measure the primary outcomes and levels of depression and anxiety in the patients. The study was conducted on 2011. Results: The Raw Group Difference (RGD) and Standardised Mean Differences (SMD) for the post-treatment scores of the intervention group, when compared with those of the control group, indicated a considerable improvement in the severity of IBS symptoms (RGD=−10.48, SMD=−1.23), anxiety (RGD=−9.90, SMD=−0.725), d epression ( RGD=−9.57, SMD=−0.785) a nd patient’s quality of life (MD=−16.81, SMD=−0.469). No association (and interaction with CBT) was found between anxiety/depression at baseline and post-treatment or follow-up scores of the outcomes. Conclusion: Although CBT improved anxiety, depression, severity of IBS and quality of life of patients with IBS, its effect was independent of the initial level of anxiety and depression of the patients. Trial registration number: IRCT201102195868N1
