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Structural Relationships between Childhood Trauma, Mentalization, and Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Personality Organization in University Students 2 2 Abstract Objective: This study examined the relationships between childhood trauma, mentalization, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms, while evaluating the mediating role of personality organization in a sample of university students. Method: This cross-sectional correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). Participants included 260 students recruited from Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin, Iran, using cluster random sampling. Data were collected using the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF), Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), and Kernberg Personality Organization Inventory (IPO). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 24. Results: Childhood trauma, mentalization, personality organization, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms showed significant associations within the proposed structural model. Mentalization   and Childhood trauma demonstrated both direct and indirect associations with obsessive–compulsive symptoms through personality organization. Similarly, personality organization statistically mediated the association between mentalization and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. The final structural model demonstrated acceptable fit indices. Conclusion: Findings suggest that childhood trauma and mentalization capacity are associated with personality organization, which in turn is related to obsessive–compulsive symptoms in a non-clinical student population. These findings provide preliminary, correlational evidence for the role of personality organization as a potential mediator; causal conclusions cannot be drawn 0 0 2026/04/23 1405/2/3 2026/07/11 1405/4/20 Seyedeh soraya seyed abootalebi Seyedeh soraya seyed abootalebi Department of psychology, Faculty of social sciences, Imam Khomeini international university, Qazvin, Iran Sorayaabi33@gmail.com Esmaeil Shiri Esmaeil Shiri Department of psychology, Faculty of social sciences, Imam Khomeini international university, Qazvin, Iran Shiri@soc.ikiu.ac.ir Alireza Kakavand Alireza Kakavand Department of psychology, Faculty of social sciences, Imam Khomeini international university, Qazvin, Iran ar.kakavand@soc.ikiu.ac.ir Masoumeh Rahimpour Masoumeh Rahimpour Department of psychology, Faculty of social sciences, Imam Khomeini international university, Qazvin, Iran m.rahimpour9622@gmail.com Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms Childhood Trauma Mentalization Personality Organization ## ##

The Effectiveness of Stress Inoculation Training and Mindfulness Skills Training on Metacognitive Appraisals of Dysmorphic Concerns and Self-Acceptance in Female Adolescents with Elevated Body Image Concerns 2 2 Objective: Body image concerns significantly impair adolescent psychological well-being. This quasi-experimental study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) and Mindfulness Skills Training (MST) on metacognitive appraisal of dysmorphic concerns, unconditional self-acceptance, and conditional self-acceptance among female adolescents with elevated dysmorphic concerns. Methods: Conducted in 2025 in Ahvaz, Iran, this study employed a pretest-posttest two-month follow-up design with a wait-list control group. Of 112 adolescents screened, 45 eligible female high school students (aged 14–18 years) were randomly assigned to SIT (9 sessions, n=15), MST (8 sessions, n=15), or control (n=15). Data were collected using the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ), Body Dysmorphic Metacognition Questionnaire (BDMCQ), and Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ). Data were analyzed with mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. No a priori power analysis was performed due to the pilot nature of the study. Results: Both SIT and MST produced significant improvements with large effect sizes (η² ranging from 0.39 to 0.77) in metacognitive appraisal of dysmorphic concerns (reduced scores), unconditional self-acceptance (increased scores), and conditional self-acceptance (reduced scores) from pretest to posttest and two-month follow-up compared to the control group (P<0.001). No significant differences were observed between the SIT and MST groups at any time point, and treatment gains were maintained at follow-up. Conclusion: SIT and MST appear equally effective in reducing dysfunctional metacognitive appraisals and enhancing self-acceptance in this sample. However, findings are limited by the small, female-only sample from a single city and lack of structured diagnostic interviews; therefore, generalizability is restricted and results should be interpreted cautiously.   0 0 2026/04/232026/06/17 1405/3/27 2026/07/112026/07/26 1405/5/4 Fatemeh Asadollah Salmanpoor Fatemeh Asadollah Salmanpoor Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran fatemeh.salmanpoor@iau.ac.ir Fatemeh Sadat Marashian Fatemeh Sadat Marashian Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran fsadatmarashian@gmail.com Sahar Safarzadeh Sahar Safarzadeh Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran safarzadesa@gmail.com Fariba Hafezi Fariba Hafezi Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran fhaffezi@gmail.com Body dysmorphic disorders Mindfulness Adolescent Self-concept Cognitive behavioral therapy ## ##

The Role of Emotional Exhaustion and Mental Toughness in Predicting Psychological Well-being Among Adolescents 2 2 Objective: This cross-sectional correlational study investigated the associations between emotional exhaustion, mental toughness (also referred to as psychological hardiness), and psychological well-being among Iranian adolescents. Methods: A sample of 241 high school students (aged 15–18; 53.1% female) from Isfahan, Iran, was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed the 18-item short form of Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (α = 0.83), the Emotional Exhaustion Scale (ECE; α = 0.84), and the Psychological Hardiness Scale (α = 0.85). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression in SPSS 26. Results: Emotional exhaustion was negatively associated with psychological well-being (r = -0.44, P < 0.01), while mental toughness showed a positive association (r = 0.43, P < 0.01), with the control dimension demonstrating the strongest correlation (r = 0.49, P < 0.01). The two variables together accounted for 26% of the variance in well-being (R² = 0.26, F = 42.67, P < 0.001). Both were significantly associated with all six dimensions of psychological well-being. Conclusion: Findings suggest emotional exhaustion is a risk factor and mental toughness a protective resource in this sample. Strengthening the sense of control may buffer negative associations. However, due to the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be made, and the modest explained variance indicates other important factors. Generalizability is limited to similar Iranian high school populations.   0 0 2026/04/232026/06/172026/06/3 1405/3/13 2026/07/112026/07/262026/07/28 1405/5/6 Zahra Ahmadi Basiri Zahra Ahmadi Basiri Department of Psychology, Khom.C., Islamic Azad University, Khomein, Iran nazanin.malichian@iau.ir Abbas Bayat Asghari Abbas Bayat Asghari Department of Psychology, Khom.C., Islamic Azad University, Khomein, Iran bayatasghari@proton.me Hossein Yazdani Hossein Yazdani Department of Psychology, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran yazdaniihssn@gmail.com Psychological well-being Emotional exhaustion Mental toughness Hardiness Adolescents ## ##

Comparing the Effectiveness of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)-Based Parent Training and Parent Management Training (PMT) on Behavioral Problems in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study 2 2 Although both Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Parent Management Training (PMT) are evidence-based interventions for preschool children with ADHD, direct comparative evidence regarding their relative effectiveness remains limited. This study compared the clinical effectiveness of these two interventions in reducing behavioral problems under identical treatment conditions. The current research was designed as an applied, quasi-experimental clinical study using a pretest–posttest design with a parallel control group. The study population comprised parents of children between 3 and 7 years of age diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who attended psychological and psychiatric clinics as well as mental health centers in Mashhad. Convenience sampling was used due to the limited target population and access to patients. A confirmed diagnosis of ADHD was made according to DSM-5 criteria established by a licensed child psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. The final sample included 54 participants, who were randomly allocated in equal numbers to three study arms: the PCIT group (n = 18), the PMT group (n = 18), and the control group (n = 18). After randomization, baseline data were collected through questionnaires completed by the participating parents. The first group was administered the training experiment (PCIT) according to the treatment plan of Eyberg et al. (2001) derived from the research of Abbasi and Neshat Doost (2013) during 7 90-minute sessions. The second group was subjected to a training experiment (PMT) according to the Kazdin model (2008) based on the research of Divargar and Tehrani (2023) during 6 90-minute sessions. Following the completion of the intervention period, parents in both the intervention and control groups completed the study questionnaires for a second time under the supervision of a psychologist. The resulting data were analyzed using SPSS, with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) employed to evaluate treatment effects across groups and measurement occasions. Both interventions significantly improved behavioral outcomes compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, PCIT produced greater improvements than PMT, with larger effect sizes and more sustained treatment gains at the two-month follow-up (p<0.000, F=18.59, η²=0.686). To identify specific differences between measurement points while controlling for Type I error, Bonferroni-corrected post hoc comparisons were applied. The analysis demonstrated that for the behavioral problems, the mean of the total corrected scores in the test groups of PCIT and PMT in 3 stages of pretest, posttest, and a 2-month follow-up were reduced from (106.47, 110.82) to (70.73, 73.00) and finally (75.00, 87.43), respectively. The results of the pairwise comparisons indicated statistically significant differences between the groups (p < .001). These findings provide novel comparative evidence supporting PCIT as a particularly effective parent-training intervention for preschool children with ADHD. The results have important clinical implications for evidence-based treatment selection and the optimization of early behavioral interventions.   0 0 2026/04/232026/06/172026/06/32026/06/18 1405/3/28 2026/07/112026/07/262026/07/282026/08/1 1405/5/10 Mahsa Hamidi Mahsa Hamidi Department of Psychology, ToJ.C., Islamic Azad University, Torbat Jam, Iran mahsa.hamidi2281@iau.ac.ir Mohammad Hossein Bayazi Mohammad Hossein Bayazi Department of Psychology, ToJ.C., Islamic Azad University, Torbat Jam, Iran mh.bayazi@iau.ac.ir Mansoureh Mirzadeh Mansoureh Mirzadeh Department of Psychiatry, MMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran Mansoureh.Mirzadeh@iau.ac.ir Saeed Teymori Saeed Teymori Department of Psychology, ToJ.C., Islamic Azad University, Torbat Jam, Iran saeed.teymori@iau.ac.ir Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Parent Training Based on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Protocol Parent Management Training (PMT) Behavioral Problems. ## ##

Structural Relationships of Physical Health and Childhood Trauma with Suicide Risk: The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Stress and Interpersonal Conflicts 2 2 Objective: Suicide risk represents a critical form of self-harm with significant implications for both general and clinical populations. The present study aimed to investigate the structural relationships between physical health, childhood trauma, and suicide risk, with a specific focus on the mediating roles of psychosocial stress and interpersonal conflicts. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the proposed relationships. A sample of 400 participants, aged 18 to 50 years, was recruited from the Tehran and Alborz provinces in Iran using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Psychosocial Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), Interpersonal Conflict Questionnaire (QRI), Physical Health Questionnaire (SF-36), and Suicide Probability Scale (SPS). Data were analyzed using multiple regression and SEM via SPSS-26 and AMOS-24. Results:The measurement model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (CMIN/DF=3.159, CFI=0.920, RMSEA=0.079). The fit indices for the structural model were also satisfactory (CMIN/DF=3.51, CFI=0.918, RMSEA=0.079). Physical health exhibited a significant negative association with suicide risk (β=-0.217, P=0.003), while childhood trauma showed a significant positive association (β=0.385, P<0.001). Bootstrap analyses confirmed that psychosocial stress and interpersonal conflicts significantly mediated the relationships between both physical health and childhood trauma with suicide risk (-0.067, 0.165, -0.032, 0.057, P<0.05). Conclusion: These findings underscore the crucial roles of poor physical health and early-life adversity in conferring risk for suicide, effects that are significantly mediated by psychosocial stress and interpersonal difficulties. The results carry important implications for the development and implementation of targeted, multi-component interventions aimed at mitigating suicide risk.   0 0 2026/04/232026/06/172026/06/32026/06/182026/05/26 1405/3/5 2026/07/112026/07/262026/07/282026/08/12026/08/5 1405/5/14 Fatemeh Farnia Fatemeh Farnia Semnan University farnia13701350@gmail.com Isaac Rahimian-Boogar Isaac Rahimian-Boogar Semnan University i_rahimian@semnan.ac.ir Health Status Adverse Childhood Experiences Suicide. Stress Conflicts ## ##

Child Mental Health During Recurrent Armed Conflict in Iran: A Narrative Review 2 2 Abstract Background Recurrent armed conflict may affect children and adolescents through violence exposure, bereavement, displacement, caregiver disruption, and interruption of protective systems. Evidence on child mental health in Iran remains limited. Objective This narrative review examines developmental, psychological, family, service, and protection pathways linking recurrent conflict to child and adolescent mental health, with attention to Iran’s 2026 context. Methods A focused narrative evidence synthesis was conducted using scientific databases and institutional sources. Evidence was classified as Iran-specific evidence, evidence from other conflict settings, or humanitarian/professional guidance. Results International evidence links conflict exposure with posttraumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, grief, and functional impairment. Iran-specific evidence mainly describes conflict indicators, service responses, and emerging mental-health structures rather than representative outcomes or evaluated interventions. Conclusions Child mental-health responses during recurrent conflict should integrate safety, education, caregiver support, psychosocial services, and specialist care when required. Future research should prioritize longitudinal Iranian data and culturally appropriate stepped-care models. 0 0 2026/04/232026/06/172026/06/32026/06/182026/05/262026/08/9 1405/5/18 2026/07/112026/07/262026/07/282026/08/12026/08/52026/09/27 1405/7/5 Maedeh Parvizi Maedeh Parvizi Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mental Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. parvizimaedeh@gmail.com Elham Shirazi Elham Shirazi Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mental Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. shirazi_elham@yahoo.com child mental health armed conflict Iran psychosocial support war ## ##

The Role of Olfaction in Memory and Emotional Processing: Implications for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy 2 2 Abstract Objective: Emotion and memory are central to experiential dynamic psychotherapies that value accessing unintegrated emotional experiences. Despite distinctive olfactory connections to emotion and memory circuits, olfaction remains underexplored in experiential dynamic psychotherapy. This narrative review examines olfaction, memory, and emotional processing, proposing a conceptual framework for targeted olfactory stimulation as an evocative sensory cue in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). Methods: This narrative review synthesized English- and Persian-language literature published between 1979 and 2026. PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were searched between June and September 2026 using terms including olfaction, odor, smell, autobiographical memory, emotional processing, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and ISTDP. Searches were targeted rather than exhaustive, and sources meeting explicit eligibility criteria were included. A thematic synthesis integrated findings across cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and psychotherapy, distinguishing established evidence from emerging findings. Results: Olfactory cues can evoke emotionally salient autobiographical memories and engage affective and mnemonic circuits, although specificity, vividness, and intensity vary across individuals and conditions. Olfactory stimulation may influence emotional responses and mood. Preliminary research combining olfactory training with Davanloo-based interventions offers an initial basis for multimodal approaches, yet direct evidence for targeted olfactory stimulation within ISTDP remains limited. Conclusion: Established evidence links olfaction to emotional and memory processing; preliminary studies suggest only the practicability of combining olfactory training with psychodynamic therapy; and targeted olfactory stimulation in ISTDP remains an untested hypothesis. Controlled research is needed to distinguish olfactory training from targeted olfactory stimulation and to evaluate their contributions to therapeutic outcomes. 0 0 2026/04/232026/06/172026/06/32026/06/182026/05/262026/08/92026/08/17 1405/5/26 2026/07/112026/07/262026/07/282026/08/12026/08/52026/09/272026/10/5 1405/7/13 Masoud Rayatdoust Masoud Rayatdoust Ph.D. Student of Psychology,Sha.C, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran. m.rayatdoust@iau.ac.ir Mahboobe Taher Mahboobe Taher Department of Psychology, Sha.C. Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran. Mahboobe.Taher@iau.ac.ir Abbas Ali Hosseinkhanzadeh Abbas Ali Hosseinkhanzadeh Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan,Rasht, Iran. khanzadehabbas@guilan.ac.ir Seyed Mosa Tabatabaee Seyed Mosa Tabatabaee Department of Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Semnan University,Semnan, Iran. s.mosatabatabaee@semnan.ac.ir Olfaction Memory Emotion Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Experiential Dynamic Therapy (EDT) ## ##

Assessing the Contribution of Biological (Chronotype and Sleep) and Motivational Factors to Bipolar Disorder Symptom Severity 2 2 Objective: Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood fluctuations between the poles of mania and depression. Identifying predictors of these fluctuations can contribute to improved diagnosis and treatment. The present study aimed to examine the role of behavioral brain systems (BAS/ BIS), chronotype, and sleep disturbance in predicting mood fluctuations during both manic and depressive phases in individuals with Bipolar I Disorder (male and female). Method: The research design was applied in purpose and correlational in nature, involving systematic monitoring of participants over a three-month period. The study population consisted of all individuals diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder at the Razi Psychiatric Educational and Treatment Center in 2025. A convenience sample of 150 participants was selected (commencing the study with patients hospitalized in the acute manic phase). Data collection tools included the Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ; 1976), the Carver and White BIS/BAS Scales (1994) as baseline measures, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for assessing depressive symptom severity, and the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM) for assessing mania/hypomania symptom y severity over the three-month period. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to determine the variance explained by motivational and biological variables. Result: The results indicated that predictive mechanisms function differently across the two phases of the disorder. In the manic phase, the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) was the strongest predictor (β=0.467, p<0.001), and in the third month, the model explained 35.8% of the variance (R2=0.358). Conversely, in the depressive phase, BIS variables (β=0.328, p<0.001) and sleep disturbance (β=0.377, p <0.001) played a key role in prediction; notably, in the first month, the inclusion of sleep quality led to a significant change in the coefficient of determination (ΔR2=0.089, p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that in the depressive phase, the role of biological variables (sleep) becomes more prominent than that of motivational variables. The results demonstrated that the pathophysiology of mania (BAS-dependent) and depression (BIS- and circadian rhythm-dependent) follows distinct pathways. These results emphasize the necessity of personalizing therapeutic interventions based on the phase of the disorder, prioritizing reward system management in mania and biological rhythm regulation in depression. 0 0 2026/04/232026/06/172026/06/32026/06/182026/05/262026/08/92026/08/172026/08/12 1405/5/21 2026/07/112026/07/262026/07/282026/08/12026/08/52026/09/272026/10/52026/10/13 1405/7/21 Samira Ali Samira Ali Department of Psychology, Naser Khosrow Institute Samiraali.1365061@gmail.com Fatemeh Azadi Fatemeh Azadi Department of Psychology, Naser Khosrow Institute Azadifatemehk@gmail.com Bipolar disorder Behavioral brain System (BAS/ BIS) Chronotype Sleep disturbance Mania Depression. ## ##