Abouzar Raeisvandi, Ladan Mohammadizadeh, Mahsasadat Darb Emamiye, Sakineh Rezaeipoor Kopte, Mahsa Moghanni Yazdi, Elahe Jafari, Marziyeh Amjadi, Zahra Hosseinkhani,
Volume 21, Issue 3 (Vol.21, No.3, Autumn 2025)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Suicidal thoughts and depression during adolescence present significant challenges that have major negative consequences for public health. The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based strategic program for preventing suicide and depression in adolescents.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the winter of 2025 on 36 adolescents with suicidal thoughts and depression in Qazvin province, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received cognitive-behavioral therapy for 6 weeks, while the control group received the standard treatment protocol designed by the Ministry of Health for 4 weeks. Comparisons between groups were made before, immediately after, and three months following the intervention. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation and the Beck Depression Inventory-II were used to assess suicidal thoughts and depression.
Results: The mean difference in suicidal ideation and depression scores (with 95% confidence intervals) in the intervention group compared to the control group was 2.96 (1.19, 4.74) and 5.84 (0.86, 10.81), respectively, immediately after the intervention, and 6.06 (4.51, 7.61) and 11.62 (7.24, 15.99), respectively, at the three-month follow-up. Cognitive therapy had a significant effect only on reducing depression (p = 0.022). Furthermore, the pattern of change in suicidal thoughts over time differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.021).
Conclusion: The cognitive-based strategic program significantly reduced depression levels among adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating cognitive therapy into depression treatment programs in health and medical centers. Additionally, intervention programs aiming to reduce suicidal thoughts should be designed with consideration of changing patterns of suicidal ideation over time.
Parisa Amjadi Zin Hajloo, Mohammad Heidari,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (Vol.21, No.4, Winter 2026)
Abstract
Missing data is a common and unavoidable challenge in medical and epidemiological research, often leading to biased estimates, reduced statistical power, and misleading interpretations when not properly addressed. Despite its importance, accessible and practical educational resources on this topic remain limited in Persian. This educational article provides a clear and structured overview of the fundamental concepts of missing data, including definitions, common patterns (univariate and multivariate), and the three major mechanisms of missingness: MCAR, MAR, and MNAR. A range of widely used approaches for handling missing data is summarized, from basic methods such as case deletion and simple imputation to more advanced techniques including multiple imputation and likelihood-based procedures (EM and MLE). Practical examples and visual illustrations are incorporated to facilitate conceptual understanding. The ultimate goal of this article is to provide a practical framework for researchers and students, enabling them to select the appropriate approach for dealing with missing data in the design and analysis of their research and to prevent analytical errors.
