cognitive behavioral therapy

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder. Its prevalence in women is twice that of men, which seriously affects the mental health of this group. Therefore, it is very important to adopt treatment methods to reduce it. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on coping styles and quality of life of depressed women. This research was a semi-experimental method of pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study was made up of all women who referred to counseling centers in Mashhad city in 2017, who scored higher than 13 in the Beck depression test. 30 of them were selected as a sample by purposive sampling method and then randomly divided into two control and experimental groups (15 people in the experimental group - 15 people in the control group). Beck depression inventory (BDI-II), the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance. The findings showed that there is a significant difference between the two experimental and control groups in the post-test stage in emotional and avoidant coping styles (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the problem-oriented coping style (P<0.05). Also, the results in the quality of life section show a significant difference between the two groups in the variables of social, psychological, physical and environmental quality of life (P<0.05). As a result, it can be said that cognitive behavioral therapy can be used as an efficient treatment method to reduce emotional and avoidant coping styles in depressed patients in the clinical environment. Also, the use of this treatment method increases the level of quality of life in these patients.

Objective: This study attempted to use resilience-based cognitive-behavioral intervention (R-CBT) through online learning to reduce COVID-19 anxiety and improve psychological well-being. Method: Fourteen Payame Noor University Telephone Counseling Center students with Corona anxiety, who were selected by volunteer sampling, received nine sessions of R-CBT using a learning management system (LMS). The participants completed the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (Alipour et al.020) and Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-being (Ryff, 1989) in pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Finally, the data were analyzed using repeated measures. Results: The results demonstrated the significant effect of R-CBT on COVID-19 anxiety and psychological well-being (p<0.0001). LSD post-hoc test indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) among the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages regarding COVID-19 anxiety. Accordingly, the level of anxiety decreased in the post-test and follow-up stage. The results also revealed a significant difference among pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages in regarding psychological well-being (p<0.05) . Accordingly, the level of psychological well-being increased in the post-test and follow-up stage. However, no significant difference was observed between the post-test and follow-up stages, which highlighted the non-stability of the effect of the intervention over time. Conclusion: According to the results, it could be concluded that online sessions of R-CBT were effective likewise in-person sessions and could be used in pandemic conditions or long-distance therapy to improve psychological condition of anxious patients .

Background: Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience various psychosocial challenges, which negatively affect their quality of life (QOL). The current study examines the outcomes of women living with HIV (WLWH), who receive cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) for improving quality of life in Tehran, Iran. Methods: The design of the study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Sixty women living with HIV were randomly assigned into a control and an intervention groups, 30 participants for each group. A 10-session cognitive behavioral group therapy was provided only to the intervention group. The control group participated in 3 sessions without special training. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, quality of life was measured using Multidimensional Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV/AIDS (MQoL-HIV) before and one month after intervention delivery. Pre-test and post-tests were compared using t-test analysis. Results: After 10 weeks training, the Mean±SD QOL score significantly increased in the intervention group. Based on covariance analysis, the intervention group had significantly higher QOL score than the control group after the intervention P<0.05. Conclusion: Due to the low quality of life among WLWH, CBGT can be helpful in providing psychological rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of this group.

Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom among older adults, significantly impacting their quality of life and functional capacity. The relationship between serotonin and fatigue in aging is complex, involving multiple neurobiological pathways that influence sleep, mood, cognitive function, and energy metabolism. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective management strategies. This review aims to elucidate the role of serotonin in the development of fatigue in elderly individuals and evaluate potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate this condition. A comprehensive review of recent literature was conducted, focusing on the neurobiological mechanisms linking serotonin to fatigue, the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and future research directions. Studies were selected based on their relevance to serotonin’s role in aging and fatigue management. Serotonin plays a critical role in regulating various physiological and psychological functions that impact fatigue. Age-related declines in serotonin synthesis, receptor sensitivity, and transporter function contribute to increased fatigue through disrupted sleep, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and altered energy metabolism. Pharmacological treatments, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), have shown efficacy in alleviating fatigue related to depression and chronic pain. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exercise, sleep hygiene, and dietary modifications, are also effective in managing fatigue. Combining these approaches may offer the best outcomes for elderly patients. Addressing fatigue in older adults requires a multifaceted approach that integrates both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. Personalized treatment plans considering individual patient profiles and preferences can enhance therapeutic efficacy. Future research should focus on exploring novel therapeutic targets within the serotonergic system, developing personalized medicine approaches, and evaluating the long-term impact of combined therapies.