Cognitive Psychology Journal

Comparing the effectiveness of mentalizing, positive thinking, and interpersonal problem solving therapies on social problem solving in adolescents at risk for anxiety

keivan kakabraee

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of mentalization, positive thinking, and interpersonal problem-solving therapies on social problem solving in adolescents at risk of anxiety. This study was conducted with a quasi-experimental design and a pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up with a control group. The statistical population included all adolescents at risk of anxiety who referred to counseling and psychotherapy centers in Kermanshah in 1403. The study sample included 80 eligible volunteers (based on inclusion and exclusion criteria) who were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to four groups: mentalization therapy (20 people), positive thinking therapy (20 people), interpersonal problem-solving therapy (20 people), and control group (20 people). The research instruments included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (1988) and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory by D'Zurilla et al. (2002). The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance in SPSS version 26. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the three therapeutic interventions in terms of their effects on social problem solving in adolescents at risk of anxiety. Also, interpersonal problem-solving therapy was more effective in improving social problem solving compared to mentalization and positive therapies. Based on the results, interpersonal problem-solving therapy can be used as an effective intervention to improve the social problem-solving ability of adolescents at risk of anxiety and help improve the mental health of this group by increasing psychological adjustment and improving the way they deal with life challenges. Therefore, it is recommended to consider using this therapeutic approach in preventive programs and mental health interventions for adolescents.

The Effectiveness of Future Event Specificity Training on Reducing Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Depressive Disorder

Niloofar Mikaeili

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Future Event Specificity Training (FEST) in reducing hopelessness and suicidal ideation among adolescents with depressive disorder. This quasi‑experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two‑month follow‑up. The statistical population consisted of middle and high school students in Kermanshah, Iran, during the 2023–2024 academic year who exhibited symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation. Following screening procedures and clinical interviews, 40 eligible participants were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group received six 90‑minute sessions of Future Event Specificity Training, while the control group received no intervention. Research instruments included the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). Data were analyzed using mixed‑design repeated‑measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that Future Event Specificity Training significantly reduced hopelessness and suicidal ideation in the experimental group compared with the control group, and these effects remained stable at the two‑month follow‑up. The findings suggest that this brief cognitive intervention may be useful in therapeutic and preventive programs within psychological and educational settings.

The effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on improving working memory and selective attention in elderly women with mild Alzheimer's disease

mehri rahmani

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on improving selective attention and working memory in elderly women with mild Alzheimer's disease. It was a quasi-experimental study with randomized allocation study with pre-test and post- test and two months' follow up with control group. The population in this study was all women with mild Alzheimer's in Association of Protection of Alzheimer's patients in Arak in 2023-2024. The group was comprised of 36 patients with mild Alzheimer were selected by available sampling. They were randomly divided into experimental, control and Placebo groups (12 patients in each group.The experimental group was trained by computer-based cognitive rehabilitation; the Placebo group received physical rehabilitation intervention, and the control group received no intervention. All participants were evaluated in the first and the last sessions by the STROOP and PASAT Tests. The investigation was done during 21 sessions (5 months) in Arak' Association of Protection of Alzheimer's patients. Data was analyzed by repeated measures and multivariate analysis with SPSS-24 software. Results showed that the main effect of time (pretest, post-test, follow up) is significant on working memory (nη2 =0.583) and Selected Attention scores (nη2=0.720). Also the effect of time interaction in a group is significant on working memory scores (nη2=0.443) and selected attention (nη2=0.604). Conclusion: cognitive rehabilitation is effective on improvement of working memory and selected attention of women with mild Alzheimer's cognitive deficits. Therefore, it is recommended to use this therapeutic intervention in clinical centers in conjunction with other methods.

Identifying Cognitive Biases Associated with Anhedonia in Patients with Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review

Keyvan Salehi

The present study aimed to systematically review research investigating the relationship between diminished motivation and impaired capacity for pleasure (anhedonia) and the cognitive biases that exacerbate it. A systematic documentary review methodology was employed. Data were collected from 29 selected studies published between 2000 and December 2024, retrieved through searches in Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords, including anhedonia, cognitive biases, affective cognitive biases, and depressive disorder. Study quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist, and data were analyzed via deductive thematic analysis. Findings indicated that anhedonia is primarily associated with deficits in pleasure anticipation and is directly linked to attentional, interpretative, memory, and self-referential biases. Consequently, even when individuals retain the capacity to experience pleasure, the presence of these biases disrupts decision-making processes and the effort required to pursue rewards. Furthermore, examining interaction between cognitive biases and anhedonia may inform the development of more precise cognitive–behavioral interventions and the design of evidence-based assessment tools and targeted treatments.