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Background and purpose: Leukemia is a group of cancers caused by accumulation of malignant white blood cells in the blood or bone marrow. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of hypnotherapy on pain relief, death anxiety, resilience, and healing of cancer cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with chemotherapy.
Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out in which the research population were 86 patients of whom 26 (aged 30-50 years old) were selected via convenience sampling. They were randomly assigned into either experimental group or control group. Flow cytometry tests were done to confirm acute myeloid leukemia. The McGill Pain Management, Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, and the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale were administered to collect the data. Hypnosis therapy (six sessions) was done in experimental group. Data were analyzed applying analysis of covariance in SPSS V22.
Results: Hypnosis therapy was found to have significant effects on mental dimensions in experimental group compared to the control group (P= 0.039). Follow-up investigations showed more changes in death anxiety compared with other two dimensions in experimental group (6.67). Laboratory results indicated the onset of inflammatory reaction in experimental group.
Conclusion: Hypnotherapy is a powerful method in caring for cancer treatment.
 

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Background and purpose: There are various factors affecting mother’s feelings, pain, and excitement during pregnancy which play significant roles in making decision about terminating pregnancy and reducing its outcomes. This study aimed to systematically review the effect of hypnosis on pregnancy and childbirth outcomes.
Materials and methods: In this systematic review, we thoroughly searched Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scientific Information Database (SID), Cochrane Library, Scopus, Magiran, Registry of Clinical Trial (IRCT), and ProQuest with no time limitations. After removing unrelated studies, 21 English articles were included. The quality of these articles was determined by Jadad Scale. Finally, 13 studies entered into our meta-analysis. To assess the heterogeneity, Q and I2 tests were used and STATA 11 was used for data analysis.
Results: According to the findings, the effects of hypnosis on pregnancy and delivery outcomes were classified into six categories as the following: hypnosis decreases the consumption of pain relief medicines (OR=0.21, CI95%: 0.12- 0.38, P<0.001), it does not decrease the consumption of oxytocin (P=0.880), it does not decrease the rate of Cesarean section (P=0.082), it leads to higher rates of natural vaginal delivery (OR=3.06, CI95%:1.75-5.32, P<0.001), it does not decrease the rate of preterm labor (P=0.051), and it does not increase neonatal Apgar score (P=0.27). 
Conclusion: Hypnosis interventions can reduce the consumption of pain relief medicines, and also increase the rate of normal vaginal delivery.

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Background and purpose: Paying attention to the changing needs of society in health and the need for a responsive education system in line with the needs of society, shows the need to review educational and research structure of medical universities in a country. The purpose of this study was to explain the learned experiences of academic members on the structure of educational and research institutions.
Materials and methods: This qualitative study was performed in 26 faculty members of medical sciences graduated from foreign universities using purposeful sampling. Individual semi-structured interviews were performed and the participants were asked about organizational structure, the function, and organizational hierarchy of the university where they had studied. Interviews were recorded and handwritten, coded, and analyzed according to the conventional content analysis approach.
Results: We extracted four main themes, 12 sub-themes, and 75 items from the data. Main themes included type of organizational structure, strategies, management of resources, and educational infrastructures. The sub-themes were as follows: the organizational structure of educational and research institutions and traditional structure, new structure, entrepreneurship, change management, interdisciplinary insight, human resources, national resources, physical resources, educational centers, educational groups, fields of study, and research centers.
Conclusion: Planning system of every country (centralized/decentralized) was found to affect the type of organizational structure of educational and research institutions. Therefore, universities and research institutions are needed to design a suitable structure consistent with the needs of society and their own goals.

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In the article published in volume 31, issue 199, 2021, the affiliations of Mansour Ranjbar and Siavash Moradi, also, the names of Gholam Ali Godazandeh, Maryam Khazaee-pool, and Armin Allahverdy were published incorrectly, which are now corrected.
 

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Background and purpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a massive challenge for community mental health. Serum zinc and cortisol are suitable biomarkers for assessing the response to a given treatment. In the present study, serum concentrations of these markers were compared between two groups of patients treated with fluoxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Materials and methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 40 female MDD (DSM-V criteria) patients were divided into two groups: fluoxetine therapy (20 mg/daily/3 months, n=20) and group CBT (90-min/once a week/12 weeks, n=20). Severity of depression was studied by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and serum cortisol and zinc concentrations were measured before and after treatments. Data were analyzed in Graphpad Prism 9.
Results: BDI-II scores significantly reduced in both fluoxetine therapy (from 23.2±1.5 to
11.1± 1.1) and CBT (from 26.8±0.6 to 9.5±0.8) groups after treatments. Serum cortisol level did not change in patients treated with fluoxetine, but it decreased in CBT group (from 453 ± 0.09 to 386.4±0.07). Serum zinc level decreased in the fluoxetine group (from 91.6±4.8 to 72.8±2.8) and increased in the CBT group (from 78.9±2.1 to 86.5±2.6). Post intervention inter-group comparison showed greater decrease in BDI-II score and cortisol concentration in CBT group than the fluoxetine therapy group.
Conclusion: The decrease in BDI-II score and cortisol level and increase in serum zinc were higher in CBT group than fluoxetine group. Therefore, CBT seems to be suitable for treatment of MDD. Further studies are needed with larger sample size and longer study periods.

(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20190710044171N1)
 

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 Background and purpose: Borderline personality disorder is a common mental disorder that is associated with high suicide rates, severe functional impairment, high rates of associated mental disorders, overuse of treatment, and high costs to society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of analytical psychotherapy based on transference-focused psychoanalysis on neuroticism and impulsivity in people with borderline personality.
Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental study with A-B-A design was carried out and the study population included patients (n=32) with borderline personality disorder attending the outpatient department in Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Mana House Clinic in Sari, between May and June 2020. Seven patients were selected by available sampling and were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n=4) and a control group (n=3) and were treated for one year. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (2004) and NEO Personality Inventory (2004) were administered. Statistical analysis was performed using graph analysis, stable change, and recovery rate.
Results: Findings showed that transference-focused psychotherapy can be effective on neuroticism and impulsivity in people with borderline personality.
Conclusion: The treatment outcome is not success versus failure, however, it may include improvements in a number of functional areas. Further research is also needed to generalize current findings.

(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20131007014928N7)
 

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Background and purpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the most common psychiatric diseases. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a suitable biomarker for treatment response. In the present research، serum changes of this biomarker were assessed between the two groups of MDD patients undergoing Fluoxetine therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled trial study, 40 female MDD patients (DSM-V criteria) were assigned to two Fluoxetine therapy (20 mg/d for 3 months) (N=20) and CBT (90-minute sessions، once a week، for 12 weeks) (N=20) groups. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score and serum BDNF concentration were measured before and after the treatment. The data were analyzed at a significance level of P≤0.05 using Graphpad prism 9 statistical software.
Results: The BDI-II score significantly decreased in both Fluoxetine therapy (from 23.2±1.5 to 11.1±1.01) and CBT (from 26.8±0.6 to 9.5±0.8) groups. No significant change was observed in the serum BDNF level in the Fluoxetine therapy group، while it was increased in the CBT group (from 1.13±0.71 to 3 ± 0.72 ). The intergroup comparison after treatment indicated that the BDI-II score decrease and the serum BDNF increase were higher in the CBT group than in the Fluoxetine therapy group.
Conclusion: The BDI-II score decrease and the serum BDNF increase were higher in the CBT group than in the Fluoxetine therapy group. Thus، it seems appropriate for MDD treatment. Serum BDNF is not an appropriate biomarker for treatment response. It is suggested that a study be conducted with a larger sample size and a longer investigation period.

 (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20190710044171N1)

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 Background and purpose: Borderline personality disorder is one of the most common disorders of mental health conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transference-focused psychotherapy and acceptance and commitment treatment on neuroticism and impulsivity in individuals with borderline personality disorder.
Materials and methods: In an applied quasi experimental study, we used single subject design involving ABA design in which a behavior is studied at baseline (A), during treatment (B), and after treatment (A). The statistical population included all patients with borderline personality disorder attending Sari Zare Psychiatric Hospital and Sari Mana Clinic in May to June 2020 (n=32). Eleven patients
were selected using convenience sampling and were randomly allocated to transference-focused psychoanalysis (n=4), acceptance and commitment-based therapy (n=4) or control group (n=3). Data were collected in five stages: baseline, mid-stage, progress stage, treatment termination stage, and follow-up for one year (100 sessions) using the NEO five-factor personality questionnaire and Barat impulsivity questionnaire. Data analysis was performed applying repeated measures and Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: In the repeated measurement test, a significant difference was seen in cognitive impulsivity between the two groups compared to the control group (P=0.025). According to Kruskal-Wallis test, transference-focused psychoanalysis was prioritized.
Conclusion: Considering that these two treatment methods do not aim to reduce symptoms, our final results showed that transference-focused psychoanalysis was more effective. But, further studies are need to generalize current findings.
 

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Background and purpose: A pandemic can negatively affect both mental and social health. The aim of this study was to evaluate stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders experienced by dentists during COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on all dentists in Sari (290 dentists). Corona Disease Anxiety Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used as questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS V26.
Results: A total of 126 dentists completed the questionnaires. The mean values of stress and anxiety score for general dentists and specialists were 12.4 and 11.5, respectively which were classified as mild level. There was no statistically significant relationship between sex, anxiety, and stress (P=0.09 for general dentists; P=0.13 for specialists). The prevalence of sleep disorders was 78% and 72% for general dentists and specialists, respectively. The mean value of sleep disorders was 6.8 for general dentists and 6.1 for specialists which was considered as low and inappropriate. There was no statistically significant relationship between sleep disorders and sex (P=0.4 for general dentists; P=0.9 for specialists).
Conclusion: The dentists' stress and anxiety level was mild during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevalence of sleep disorders was high and sleep quality was poor and unsuitable for both general dentists and specialists.
 

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Mehrdad Jalalian¹,
Mehdi Pourasghar²,
Ahmad Majd³,
Hossein Ghalehnoei⁴,
Zahra Kianmehr<sup>5

1</sup> PhD Student in Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
² Associate Professor,  Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
³ Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
⁴Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
⁵Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran




In the article published in volume 32, issue 207, 2022, the affilifations of Mehrdad Jalalian, Ahmad Majd and Zahra Kianmehr were published incorrectly, which are now corrected.