Objective: Several studies have explored the correlation between postpartum depression and a weak mother-infant bond; however, fewer studies have analyzed how other postpartum mental health conditions, such as childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or important personal characteristics, including adult attachment styles, affect the quality of the mother-infant bond. This study aims to examine the association between attachment styles and postpartum bonding in mothers, considering the mediating influence of postpartum depression and childbirth-related PTSD. Methods: A total of 150 mothers, 4 to 12 weeks postpartum, completed a demographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh postpartum depression questionnaire, the posttraumatic stress questionnaire related to the birth of a child, the mother-child bonding questionnaire, and the attachment style questionnaire. The posttraumatic stress related to the birth of a child questionnaire was translated into Persian for the first time and was used after confirming its validity and reliability. The proposed model was examined by the structural equation modeling method. Results: The conceptual model’s results showed that the direct and standardized effect of anxious attachment style (β=0.49, P=0.001) and avoidant attachment style (β=0.47, P=0.001) on postpartum depression were significant. Also, the direct effect of anxious attachment style (β=0.59, P=0.001) on postpartum PTSD was significant. However, the coefficient of avoidant attachment style (β=-0.04, P=0.581) was not significant for postpartum PTSD. Also, the coefficients were investigated from the direct effect of postpartum depression, postpartum PTSD, anxious attachment style, and avoidant attachment style. The obtained results showed that postpartum depression (β=0.27, P=0.001), postpartum PTSD (β=0.43, P=0.001), and anxious attachment style (β=0.39, P=0.001) could predict the mother-child bond. However, the avoidant attachment style (β=0.00, P=0.946) could not predict the mother-child bond. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that insecure attachment styles were linked to challenges in forming a strong mother-infant bond. Anxious attachment was also associated with bonding difficulties, which were influenced by symptoms of postpartum depression and childbirth-related PTSD. In contrast, a higher degree of avoidant attachment style was associated with more significant difficulties in bonding, which were mediated by symptoms of depression. Accordingly, if interventions aim to enhance the mother-infant bond, treatment should focus on addressing childbirth-related PTSD, PPD symptoms, and insecure attachment styles.

Introduction: Avoidant personality disorder is a relatively common personality disorder, widely coinciding with other axis I and axis II disorders. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy and cinema therapy in improving early maladaptive schemas and harm avoidance temperament dimension in patients with an avoidant personality disorder. Method: This single-case research used a quasi-experimental multiple-baseline design. Among 18 to 35-year-old patients referred to the Armana Psychological Clinic in 2021, 4 individuals diagnosed with personality disorders based on a semi-structured clinical interview scale were selected by purposeful sampling. The tools used in this study were schema, temperament, and character questionnaires. The therapeutic program was held for 34 sessions of 60-minute, and the follow-up phase was performed 3 months after the end of the intervention. The data were analyzed by drawing charts and calculating clinical significance indices. Results: Participants’ scores in terms of schemas showed a descending trend from baseline to the end of the treatment, indicating slight improvement (25%-49%). Regarding the avoidance temperament variable, the scores showed a downward direction compared to baseline, revealing an improvement percentage of less than 25%. The scores of clinical significance indices (RCI≥1.96) in both variables indicated the effectiveness of the therapeutic method. Conclusion: Schema therapy and cinema therapy were efficient in treating maladaptive schemas in patients with an avoidant personality disorder; however, efficacy was inadequate for correcting the variable of harm avoidance temperament.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has several negative consequences. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation on improving executive functions (planning and problem solving) in children with ADHD and symptoms of this disorder (attention deficit, hyperactivity /impulsivity). Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population of this study was children with ADHD aged 7-12 years who were referred to Armaghane Psychiatric Neurology Clinic, Shiraz, Iran. Thirty individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (15 in each group). The experimental group underwent cognitive rehabilitation. All participants were assessed before and after the intervention using the Snape Scale and the Tower of London Test. Results: Analysis of pre-test and post-test data indicated that the experimental group had improvement in executive functions (planning and problem-solving) and attention deficit, as well as hyperactivity /impulsivity syndrome, compared to the control group. Conclusion: Designing and using cognitive rehabilitation programs for children with ADHD improve executive functions and consequently the symptoms of this disorder.r