Shift work is an inconsistent and atypical work schedule. This study aimed to investigate the influence of shift work on the Quality of Sleep (QOS) and Executive Functions (EF). Thirty shift workers and thirty day workers first completed a demographic questionnaire. They then were tested using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and EF tests, including the Corsi Block-Tapping Task (CBTT), Berg's Card Sorting Task (BCST), and the Continuous Performance Task (CPT). Results were subjected to non-parametric Chi-Square Tests, the Mann-Whitney U Test, and Independent T-Tests. Shift workers had significantly poorer sleep quality than day workers, which was shown in PSQI global scale (p = 0.001), sleep duration (p = 0.042), habitual sleep efficiency (p = 0.021), and sleep disturbance (p =0.021). Concerning EF tests, shift workers performed significantly poorer on CBTT (p = 0.019) and BCST (p =0.015, 0.047) compared with day workers. Significant differences were also observed between shift workers and day workers in terms of variables of omission errors (p = 0.037) and commission errors (p = 0.041) on CPT, but no significant difference was found between shift workers and day workers in reaction time (p = 0.561). Shift work impaired EF. These findings are related to shift workers' poorer sleep and its detrimental effects on areas of the brain, which are critical for EF, such as the prefrontal area. Our results suggest the evaluation and implication of practices and policies to assuage the consequences of working in shifts.

A stimulus from one category increased the rated similarity oftwo stimuli from another category. In addition, "different" responses, but not "same" responses, to same-category stimuli became slower when they occurred in blocks of trials with a stimulus from a second category. Another experiment employed figural stimuli in which two small disks and a large or very large (extreme) disk were simultaneously present. The extreme disk led to slower "different" and faster "same" responses to the two small disks. Slow "different" and fast "same" responses may indicate high perceived similarity. Consequently, both the second-category stimulus and the extreme disk, although logically irrelevant, may have increased the perceived similarity of more related stimuli. It is concluded that the second-category stimuli and the extreme disk functioned as conventional anchors. The results also call into question memorial and criterial variance theories and support category-superordinate and distance-density theories of the anchor-range effect.

Background: Depression is a widespread disorder that affects all aspects of a person's life. Various psychological and medical interventions have been proposed to help treat depressive symptoms. One effective treatment is object relation therapy based on transference and potential space. Objectives: In the current study, we focus on how clients who suffer depressive disorder understand this type of therapy. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted in 2015-2016 using a content analysis with 18 Iranian participants who were diagnosed with depressive disorder based on the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV, the clinician version (SCID-I/C V) and who had received object relation therapy based on transference and potential space. The study was carried out in an outpatient clinic of the school of behavioral sciences and mental health (formerly Tehran Institute of psychiatry). The data were collected through conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews, which continued until data saturation was achieved. The data were analyzed with the induction method. Results: The analysis of the data resulted in the identification of 2 main categories and 4 subcategories. "Gradual formation of therapeutic alliance" and "use of non-interpretative techniques" were the subcategories of "analytic dyad formation" as the main category; and "in-depth examination of client experience" and "client's emotional expression" were listed under "development of self-awareness and self-expression". Conclusions: Gradual formation of therapeutic alliance is consistent with literature that emphasizes the necessity of new relational experiences and creation of a safe attachment base in therapy. The findings showed that the exploration and awareness of patterns in the context of a secure relationship and transference and extra-transference can produce therapeutic changes. In addition, such safe space can provide a suitable context for releasing built-up emotions.

Background: A few studies on short-term psychodynamic approach have been conducted on social phobia. Objectives: In this study, the effectiveness of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy on the treatment of social phobia has been compared to the effectiveness of sertraline and waiting list. Materials and Methods: In this randomized-controlled trial study, 13 male students were treated with short-term dynamic psychotherapy (McCullough method) lasting 25 sessions, 11 students received sertraline for 12 weeks, and 14 students, as the waiting list, received no intervention for 8 weeks. Participants completed the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) as primary efficacy variable 4 times, and were rated with Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) as secondary efficacy variables. The data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA), analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), general linear model repeated measures analysis of variance and Fisher exact test. Results: ANCOVA showed significant differences between groups based on SPIN scores (F = 23.51, Sig. = 0.001) and Bonferroni test, as post hoc compression, showed means of both short-term dynamic therapy and sertraline therapy groups were significantly different from waiting list mean (STDP-WL:

A brief account of the three stages of development of a new mental health law in Iran is given. At each stage, the expert opinions of mental health professionals and lawyers interested in the rights of psychiatric patients were obtained. The final draft of the law consists of six sections and 50 articles. It has been submitted for ratification by Parliament.