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Background and Aim : The mutual relations between Quality Of Life(QOL) and Marital Adjustment(MA) is well documented in general population and in patients with specific types of chronic illness. However, there is no evidence in this regard in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. This study was conducted to assess the correlation between Health-Related QOL (HR-QOL) and marital adjustment in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Method & Materials : Seventy-six (76) patients with chronic viral hepatitis type B (N = 63) or C (N = 13) who were referred to Tehran Hepatitis Center(THC) at summer 2007 were consequtively enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic data (age, sex, marital status and level of education) as well as illness- related data (the type of viral agent, illness duration, treatment history and history of cirrhosis co-morbidity) were collected. The 36-item short-form of HR-QOL questionnaire (HR-QOL-SF36) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale Revised form (DAS-R) were then administered to respectively assess QOL and MA. Findings : Mean scores of many HR-QOL-SF sub domains such as role limitation due to physical problems, body pain, social functioning, general mental health, vitality and physical health were correlated with mean DAS-R total score, as well as all its subscores but marital cohesion. Domain scores of role limitation due to emotional problems and general health perception were correlated with total DAS-R score and two of its subscores(marital satisfaction and affection expression). Total HR-QOL-SF36 mean score was correlated with mean DAS-R total score and two of its subscores (consensus with spouse and affection expression). The mean score of physical functioning domain of HR-QOL-SF36 was not correlated with any of the DAS-R subscores. Conclusion : Considering the correlation between HR-QOL and different aspects of MA, family seems to play an important role in the life of patients with chronic viral hepatitis. So, psychological and psychiatric consultations for improving marital adjustment should be focused as a part of approach to these patients. Keywords : Marital relationship, Health-Related Quality Of Life, Chronic Viral Hepatitis.

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Introduction: The aim of this survey was to assess psychometric properties of GHQ-28 in Iranian psychiatric population and appropriating it as a screening instrument for assessing general health in this population. Method and Materials: This was a psychometric study executed on 80 psychiatric patients and 80 matched normal participants. The assessments consisted of a psychiatrist’s interview based on DSM.IV criteria, and administration of GHQ-28 and a demographic questionnaire. Data was analyzed using factor, discrimination and regression analysis methods, as well as Pearson’s correlation co-efficient, Spearman- Brown’s and Guttmann’s split tests.  Findings: Four factors were extracted from the GHQ-28, of which the first three explained the most percenttage of variance. Clinical cut-off point, sensitivity, specificity and classification error were found to be 24, 0.80, 0.99, 0.10 respectively. Criterion validity Chronbach's alpha and split reliability co-efficient were found to be 0.78, 0.97 and 0.90 respectively.  Discussion: Factor analysis revealed that the four factors which are the basics in this questionnaire have a high internal consistency. The calculated optimal clinical cut-off point for screening general health in Iranian population was 24 which ensure optimal psychometric indices. Coefficients of criterion validity, structural validity and reliability showed that GHQ-28 is one of the most valid instruments for screening general health. 

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Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder which results in severe impairments in job, education and family relationships. We compared different domains of Quality Of Life (QOL) in schizophrenic patients with those in healthy persons.  Methods and Materials: In a descriptive analytic study, a total number of 160 participants, including 80 schizophrenic patients (case group) and 80 healthy persons (control group) were studied. They were 15 to 45 years old. In order to get them matched regarding the psycho-socio-cultural status, we selected the control group participants from the patients' family members. We also matched the two groups for age, marital status and educational level. Patients’ were in the remission phase and 2 years or more had passed from the onset of their psychiatric disorder. We applied Hawthorne & Richardson QOL questionnaire for assessing QOL. Data were analyzed using T student test by SPSS-software.  Findings: Each group contained 48 men and 32 women. A number of 39 participants were married and the others were single, divorced or widowed. Mean age of the patient group (38.2±4.3 years) was not significantly different from the control one (40.5±3.1 years). Mean score of QOL was 33.9±4.75 in the case group and 54.6±1.12 in the control one, which indicates a significant difference. The case and the control groups’ scores for different domains of QOL were respectively as follows: (the domain of) disease (4.5±15 vs. 10.8±0.98), independent life (8.10±1.14 vs. 10.9±0.83), social relations (6.4±1.97 vs. 11±0.77), bodily sensations (8.7±1.49 vs. 10.90±0.70), and psychiatric rehabilitation (6.2±1.89 vs. 11±0.9). The mean score of each domain showed a significant difference between the two groups. Discussion: Schizophrenic patients were found to have a lower QOL than healthy individuals. This was true in all of the QOL domains. The patients’ lowest score was in the disease domain and their highest score was in the bodily sensation domain. This can be considered in determining priorities for pharmaceutical, psycho-logical and social interventions. 

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Aim and Background: This aim of this study was to determine the relationship between psychological health and emotional intelligence with job burnout of nurses of state hospitals in Tabriz. Methods and Materials: In this correlative descriptive study, 300 nurses of Tabriz state hospitals who had more than 5 years work experience were chosen by cluster random sampling method. They accomplished General Health Questionnaire, Bradbury-Graves Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and Maslach Job Burnout Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and Pearson correlation and multiple regression statistical tests. Findings: Mental health and emotional intelligence had significant role in predicting job burnout changes of nurses, these variables predicted 12 % variance of job burnout. There was significant correlation between mental health and emotional intelligence (r = -0.196, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Considering the results of our research, increased attention to nurses&#039; burnout through emotional intelligence education and focus on their mental health is recommended.

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Aim and Background: According to the self-transcendence model, interventions to promote the level of self-transcendence can in turn improve physical health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-transcendence and perceived physical health in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) attending peer support groups. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used pretest and posttest to investigate the relationship between self-transcendence and perceived physical health in 33 patients with confirmed MS. Patients participated in three peer support groups (10 males in the male group, 11 females in female group and 12 males and females in the mixed group). Participants were required to attend 8 weekly sessions comprising 2 hours each. Data was collected by the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) and physical health section of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI). Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman and Pearson coefficients were used for data analysis. Findings: Comparing mean scores of self-transcendence (pretest: 44.57 (8.2); posttest: 53.21 (6.2); P = 0.001) and physical health status (pretest: 151.84 (33.3); posttest 171.58 (37.5); P = 0.009) showed significant differences after attending peer support groups. There was a positive relationship between self-transcendence and physical health status (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The&nbsp;results showed that promoting self-transcendence would lead to enhanced physical health status and the quality of life in general.

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Aim and Background: Previous studies suggest that mental stress may influence serum lipid levels. This study was conducted on adult population living in rural and urban areas in central Iran to assess the correlation between stress levels and lipid profile disorders. Methods and Materials: Data was extracted from final evaluation of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) in 2008. Multistage cluster random sampling was used. The study population consisted of 9752 adults aged &ge; 19 years living in 3 cities of Isfahan, Arak and Najaf Abad. Demographic data, age, and sex were recorded. Blood samples were taken to determine lipid levels including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride. Stress levels were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Logistic regression analysis and chi-square test were used for statistical analyses. Findings: After adjustment for age and sex, the odds ratios of high stress in individuals with high levels of TC and LDL-C and low levels of HDL-C were respectively 1.11 (1.08, 1.27), 1.13 (1.04, 1.24), and 1.12 (1.08, 1.28) compared to normal individuals. Conclusions: According to the relationship between lipid profile disorders and stress levels, special attention needs to be paid to psychological and environmental issues to treat lipid profile disorders.

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Aim and Background: Appropriate and comprehensive response to problems and needs of mental health services requires to employ participatory approaches. Therefore, this literature review study aimed to assess interprofessional collaboration as one of the beneficial methods of delivering mental health services. Methods and Materials: In this review study, data was collected by searching electronic resources including Google search engine and scientific databases as well as searching printed library resources. Findings: The results showed that various studies have depicted many benefits for the complex concept of interprofessional collaboration. The beneficial effects of the approach were found to be related to receiving more sophisticated services by the clients and also to improved health professionals&#039; satisfaction and facilitated services. Conclusions: considering the importance of interprofessional collaboration in mental health services, it is necessary for health sciences students and health professionals to get ready to employ the approach.

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Aim and Background: Stress is one of the risk factors for heart diseases. It also reduces general health in patients with heart diseases. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management interventions on general health among patients with heart diseases. Methods and Materials: A total number of 26 patients with heart diseases were selected by convenience sampling method from the rehabilitation unit of Cardiovascular Research Center (Isfahan, Iran). The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental (n = 13) and control (n = 13). The experimental group received 8 weekly sessions of cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was completed in the pretest and posttest phases by the patients of the two groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Findings: The results of ANCOVA showed that mean general health scores of posttest significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that cognitive-behavioral stress management interventions can be used as a useful interventional method for patients with heart diseases.

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Aim and Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) in which psychological factors play an important role in development and exacerbation of symptoms. The aim of the current study was to compare mental health of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, patients with organic gastrointestinal disorders, and normal individuals. Methods and Materials: In a casual-comparative study, 3 groups of 95 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 95 patients with organic gastrointestinal disorders, and 95 normal individuals were selected using available sampling method. Participants completed the Symptom Cheklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) questionnaire. Data was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Findings: The results showed significant differences between patients with irritable bowel syndrome and patients with organic gastrointestinal disorders and normal individuals in all subscales of SCL-90-R. However, patients with organic gastrointestinal disorders and normal individuals were only significantly different in somatization subscale. Conclusions: The results showed that patients with irritable bowel syndrome have lower mental health than other gastrointestinal patients and normal people. Therefore, the role of psychological factors needs to be considered in etiology and treatment of this syndrome.

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Aim and Background: This study seeks the effect of teaching problem solving on self-efficacy and perceived self-efficacy in adolescents. &nbsp; Methods and Materials: In this quasi-experimental study using three group with pre-test and post-test, on hundred sixty students were randomly selected via multi-stage sampling, and were divided into 64 students of experimental group and 62 students of placebo group and 34 students in the control group. Problem solving was taught to the experimental group in 15 sessions and the placebo group was trained irrelatively in 15 sessions and control group was kept in waiting list. Data were collected through Jeruselem and Schwarzer&rsquo;s General Self-efficacy Inventory (1995), Self-efficacy in Relationship Inventory of Wheeler and Ladd, (1982) and Perceived Self-efficacy Inventory of Ollendick, (1986). Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics indices (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Covariance analysis). Results: the mean score of self-efficacy and perceived self-efficacy in the experimental group, demonstrated the increase in post-test compared to that of pre-test. &nbsp; Conclusion: Teaching problem solving was effective on general self-efficacy and perceived self-efficacy and self-efficacy in relation with peers.

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Aim and Background: Discovering factors associated with mental health of the elderly is an interesting subject in the psychology of aging. This study investigated the relationships of spiritual well-being, existential well-being, and hardiness with mental health in the elderly. Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational research was conducted on the elderly living in the nursing home of Ardabil (Iran). One hundred individuals were randomly selected. Data was collected using questionnaires about spiritual well-being, hardiness, and mental health. The collected data was analyzed with Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. Findings: Spiritual well-being had significant negative associations with anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. However, it had a positive significant relation with hardiness. Existential well-being had significant negative relations with somatization, anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. Its relation with hardiness was positive and significant. Finally, hardiness had significant negative associations with anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Mental health of the elderly can be predicted by spiritual well-being, existential well-being, hardiness, and age. The results of this study imply the importance of spiritual well-being and hardiness in maintaining mental health of the elderly.

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Aim and Background: In this study, the psychometric properties and hierarchal structural validity of short form health survey scale (SF-36) among students using structural equating modeling was investigated. Methods and Materials: A sample with 310 students (158 male and 152 female) from Tehran University were chosen by multistage sampling method. For verifying discernment validity, two clinical sample groups were used. First group had 52 patients with physical disease and second clinical group had 58 students with psychological disorder diagnostics, which were selected from university health centers. To calculate the convergence and divergence validity, the SF-36 was administered and at the same time, the university student depression inventory (USDI), student-life stress inventory (SISI), Oxford happiness scale (OHS), mental health inventory (MHI), and social support (SS), in nonclinical sample was investigated. The first, second, and third hierarchical factorial structure of SF-36 scale was estimated by weighted least squares method, and sufficiency of model fitness was evaluated according to the Root Mean Square Residual, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, Comparative Fit Index, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index, Goodness of Fit Index, &chi; 2 /df, and &Delta;&chi; 2 indices. Findings: The chornbach&rsquo;s alpha coefficients in all subscales were satisfactory and higher than 0.70. The factor structure of SF-36 scale was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis in eight dimensions of first order including physical performance, physical role performance, body pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role performance and mental health. Based on correlation matrix, the SF-36 scale had negative correlation with depression and stress and positive correlation with happiness, mental health, and social support, which imply satisfactory convergent and divergent validity of SF-36 scale. Conclusions: The eight first-order and three second-order factor structure showed better fit with the observed data compared with two second-order and one third-order factor structure of SF-36 scale. The confirmatory factor structure, reliability, and validity of SF-36 scale were acceptable for research and clinical diagnostics application.

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Aim and Background: In recent decades, changes in marital patterns and lifestyles have lead to conflicts between couples, which affects their sense of psychological security and attachment to one another. In such environments, anxiety and depressive disorders are common and may lead to loss of satisfaction of marital life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between couple&#039;s general health and marital satisfaction. Method and Materials: This was a descriptive, correlational study. One hundred 25-45 year old male employees of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, with high school to Bachelor degrees, were selected with c onvenience sampling in 2009. The GHQ-28 and Marital satisfaction Questionnaires were given to them. Data were analyzed by hierarchical regression and correlation between subscales of the questionnaires. Findings: We used hieratical regression in order to predict marital satisfaction by mental health status. Results showed that increase in depression subscale causes a decrease in attraction subscale of marital satisfaction. Moreover, increase in depression was associated with decrease in rapport subscale of marital satisfaction. Increase in anxiety and depression was associated with attitude subscale of marital satisfaction. Increase in bodily factors was associated with increase in investment, but increase in anxiety and depression was associated with decrease in investment. Analyzed results indicate that about 28% of employees were suspected of having brief mental disorders; no relation between age, years of service, birth order and general health were found. In addition there were significant differences between educational level and marital satisfaction. Correlation between age, intimacy, investment attitudes and satisfaction was significant. On the other hand, simultaneous with increase in age and appearance of burnout, marital satisfaction was significantly reduced. Conclusions: Result showed that subscales of marital satisfaction including attraction, rapport, attitude, and investment were associated with bodily factors, depression and anxiety subscales of mental health, and that we can predict marital satisfaction through mental health factors.

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Aim and Background: Due to the occurrence of identity crisis, numerous theorists have asserted that adolescence is the most important stage life-long. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between general health and identity base and status on students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlation study was done on 240 undergraduated students (120 males and 120 females) of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2009 to investigate the relations between general health and identity base and status. Two hundred and forty students from 4 schools (Psychology, Theology, Basic Sciences and Literature Sciences) were selected as the final subjects according to the power analysis with software G*power version 3.1. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and identity situation questionnaire were given to them. Data were analyzed regarding the variables such as gender, course of study, marital status, native or non-native and birth order by correlation and regression analysis using SPSS software. Findings: Regression analysis suggested that status of achievement and diffusion significantly predicted 14% of depression variation, 7% of anxiety and 12% of social function from subscales of general health. Conclusions: It can be concluded that identity status have important role for supporting sources in improving mental health among university students, and mental health of university students reflected the location of individuals on a continuum from identity achievement (interpersonal and ideological bases) to identity diffusion.

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Aim and Background: This meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran. Methods and Materials: In order to assess the relationship between mental health and social support, eight eligible studies with acceptable methodology were selected. Findings: The effect size of the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran was 0.369. Conclusions: Since the effect size of the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran was higher than moderate, social support needs to be strengthened in the country.

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  Aim and Background:  The purpose of this study was comparison of forgiveness and its components together with mental health in normal and ongoing divorce couples in Isfahan. Materials and Methods:The population is consisted of couples who lived in Isfahan city in 1387 (2009). 100 normal couples were selected randomly from 4 parks  in four regions of city and 100 at-divorce couples were selected randomly from couples who referred to divorce centers in Isfahan. Forgiveness and its components was measured by forgiveness scale (FFS) and mental health was measured by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Finding: The results of a factor analysis of variance (MANOVA), showed that forgiveness and its components (Recognition, Reparation, Restitution, Resolution) significantly higher than in normal couples. The couple&#039;s divorce. The findings related to mental health and its subscales (somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, major depression) were obtained Conclusions: The results of this study confirm that, in cases referred for mental health and the relief of divorce can be very important.    

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Aim and Background: The siblings of children with Down syndrome are at risk for psychological disorders.Therefore the aim of this study was to investigae the effectiveness of resiliencetraining on mental health in siblings of children with Down syndrome. &nbsp; Methods and Materials: In the present study a semi- experimental design with pretest-posttest and follow up design was utilized. The statistical population of this research included the whole adolescents (age between 14- 18) having sibling with Down syndrome in Shiraz city, Iran. The sample size was 30 adolescents having sibling with Down syndrome were selected by whole population sampling method assigned for experimental and control groups randomly. Mental Health Inventory (MHI 28) was used for measuring Mental Health that includes two components:psychological wellbeingand psychological distress Results: Analyzing of data using Mix ANOVAs with repeated measure design revealed that wellbeing in siblings of children with Down syndrome in experimental group significantly improved and their psychological distress significantly decreased and these results were permanent in the follow up step. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between subjects on the base of gender. Conclusions: According to the results of this study we can conclude that by training of skills related with resilience, it is possible to enhance the mental health of siblings of children with Down syndrome.

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abstract Aim and Background: This study was conducted with the aim of explaining aspects of conceptual framework of indicators for mental health.Providing mental health indicators conceptual framework could provide for the creation of a unified set of mental health indicators. Methods and Materials: This research was conducted in the method of systematic review and in type of library researching and internet resources.To search for a reputable and well-known databases such as “medline”, “pubmed”, “ psyclit” and other informative sites were used. And the key words to the development, implementation and evaluation of mental health promotion programs were used. Findings: In most systems, health and mental health indicators conceptual framework used to comprehensively based on the following four aspects: health status, mental health factors, mental health system performance, and characteristics of the mental health system and community and health system characteristics.Also, according to the research, mental health indicators should be specific, measurable, reliable, valid, realistic, practical, cost effective, evidence based and ethical. Conclusions: Among the health  indicators conceptual framework, the framework proposed by the Canadian Institute for Health Information )CIHI( is of sufficient breadth and comprehensiveness. And it can be used with slight changes in Iran. based on this framework, a comprehensive general health indicators based on four dimensions: health status, health factors, health system, community and health system characteristics is investigated.

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Abstract Aim and Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of coping skills and mental health with attitude to addiction in high school students. Method s and Materials: The subjects of this study consisted of 600 high school students (300 girls, 300 boys) who were selected by multiphase cluster sampling from high schools in city of Shiraz and were assessed with coping inventory, GHQ-28 and attitude to addiction inventory. The data were analyzed using Pearson multiple regression and t test methods. Findings: Findings showed that there is a significant difference between adolescents who have high score on GHQ (bad condition) and who have low score on GHQ (better condition) in attitude to addiction. Furthermore a positive significant relationship was found between the problem focused coping and negative attitude to addiction. Also between non-effective coping skills and negative attitude to addiction a negative significant correlation was found. Regression analysis showed that non-effective coping skills are the best predictor of negative attitude to addiction. Conclusions: It can be argued that coping styles and general health in students have a great importance in screening and preventive interventions for substance use.  

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Abstract Introduction: Individual&rsquo;s lifestyle affects health. Health-Promoting Lifestyle promotes health and welfare, induces satisfaction, self-persuasion and self-improvement. Physical, mental and spiritual health of students as future human resources of each country has particular importance in order to improve and promote it. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between health-promoting lifestyle, mental health, coping styles and religious orientation among Isfahan university students. Methods and Materials: The study population consisted of the whole Isfahan university students. 94 students (47 females and 47 males), were randomly selected and filled out health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLPII), general health questionnaire-28(GHQ-28), ways of coping questionnaire (WOCQ) and Azarbaijani&rsquo;s religious orientation with reliance on Islam test. The data were analyzed using correlation coefficient, Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and regression. Findings: There was a negative significant relationship between health-promoting lifestyle and mental health and between mental health and religious orientation (P<0.01). Lower scores on the GHQ-28 is indicator of more mental health. There was a positive significant relationship between health-promoting lifestyle and religious orientation. Furthermore, the results showed that there was no significant difference between the scores of males and females in health-promoting lifestyle and mental health, But there was a significant difference between them in rites-beliefs subscale in religious orientation and the emotion-focused coping style (P<0.05). The results of regression showed that the emotion-focused coping style and social dysfunction subscales had significant portion in explaining health-promoting lifestyle (P<0.01). Conclusion: Regarding to the lifestyle evolving in Iran and the situation of health-promoting behaviors among students, it&rsquo;s relation with the religious dimension and coping styles design and implementation of health education programs among different groups of people, especially students, is recommended.