Efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy: Two paradigms, one science.

Comments on M. E. P. Seligman's (see record 1996-13324-001) reanalysis of the 1995 Consumer Reports survey of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The authors express concern that readers may draw from Seligman's arguments the erroneous conclusion that the transition from efficacy paradigms to effectiveness paradigms requires a relaxation of methodological rigor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mommy and I are one: Implications for psychotherapy.

Presents evidence to support the thesis that there are powerful unconscious wishes for a state of oneness with "the good mother of early childhood" and that gratification of these wishes can enhance adaptation. Data come from experiments that used the subliminal psychodynamic activation method with over 40 groups of Ss from varied populations, including schizophrenics, neurotics, and normal students. These studies have reported that the 4-msec exposure of stimuli intended to activate unconscious symbioticlike fantasies (usually the words Mommy and I are one) produced ameliorative effects on different dependent variables in a variety of settings. It is proposed that patient–therapist relationship factors in psychotherapy, seen by many as a common agent of change in different forms of treatment, owe their effectiveness partly to their having activated these symbioticlike fantasies. Further studies are outlined that would provide a more definitive test of this proposition. (107 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emerging breakthroughs in psychotherapy integration: Three predictions and one fantasy.

Integration or eclecticism is the most common theoretical orientation among psychotherapists; however, its meaning is diffuse, its commitment typically philosophical rather than empirical, and its training idiosyncratic and unreliable. The author discusses 3 key breakthroughs he foresees over the next decade in psychotherapy integration. The 1st will be to arrive at a consensual understanding of what psychotherapy integration stands for and against. The 2nd breakthrough will be to conduct prospective outcome research that demonstrates the differential effectiveness of integrative therapies with diagnostically heterogeneous patients. The 3rd will be to establish training programs that insure competence in integrative approaches to psychotherapy or in differential referral. At that point, psychotherapy integration will constitute a conceptually coherent, empirically validated, and educationally sound position for practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Two methods of assessing unconscious communication in psychotherapy.

Explores the relation between 2 quantitative measures of unconscious communication: (1) referential activity, which emerged from the dual-coding model of mental representation, and (2) newness of themes and extent of narrative/imagery, first identified as bearers of derivative material in the communicative approach to psychotherapy. The measures are applied to data from 2 female patients, each of whom was seen separately by 3 out of a group of 6 psychoanalysts in videotaped consultation interviews. Findings include significant correlations between referential activity and both newness of themes and extent of narrative/imagery. Newness of themes and extent of narrative/imagery also correlated significantly with each other. Scores on the measures tended to be lowest with the analysts who spoke most often. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Two unconscious fantasies as mediators of successful psychotherapy.

Describes the role that the concept of the unconscious fantasy—an organized configuration of unconscious ideas and images—has played in psychoanalytic theory. A series of laboratory experiments that demonstrated under controlled "double blind" conditions how the activitation of 2 unconscious fantasies could serve an adaptation enhancing function are described. How they served the same function when they were inadvertently activated in various types of psychotherapy is also discussed. One of the fantasies—the "symbiotic gratification fantasy"—is cited as particularly apt to be activated in systematic desensitization, client-centered therapy, and meditation. The other—the "sanctioned oedipal gratification fantasy"—is cited as most apt to be activated in Masters and Johnson type sex therapy, touching and other body contact therapies, behavior assertiveness training, and encounter treatment. (66 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cohesive and dispersal behaviors: Two classes of concomitant change in psychotherapy.

Differentiates between 2 important classes of behavior that can be identified in any psychotherapy: (a) cohesive behaviors (Type C), which bring organisms together, and (b) dispersal behaviors (Type D), which drive organisms apart. This study examined changes in C and D behaviors that occurred during the 1st 100 hrs of the psychoanalytic treatment of a woman whose presenting complaint was sexual frigidity. Data show improvement in both types of behaviors. In addition, progress in Type D behavior preceded progress in Type C behavior, a relationship that had been predicted by the case formulation. Then, approximately 350 complaints made by the patient during the treatment were identified, complaints of the form "I can't (do something)" and "I have to (do something)." These complaints also declined in frequency during the treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual psychotherapy. Institutional psychotherapy: theoretical-practical aspect

The author describes his experience in institutional psychotherapy, at the Clínica Hospital of Villahermosa, Tabasco. He mentions factors in the patient, in the psychiatrist, in the institution and in the culture, as fostering the success or the failure of institutional psychotherapy. He shows the effectiveness of this type of treatment in this enviroment and describes ways of improving this kind of work.     

Therapist and client: Two views of the process and outcome of psychotherapy.

At termination of their therapeutic relationships, 8 male and 7 female therapists (aged 26–59 yrs) along with their 38 male and 37 female clients (aged 19–40 yrs) each independently and anonymously completed a questionnaire concerning the process and efficacy of therapy. Unlike previous findings, the clients rated therapeutic outcome more favorably than did their therapists. In addition, each group attributed the change to different aspects of the therapeutic relationship. Both the aspects cited and the ratings differed as a function of the sex of both therapist and client. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enhancing lineup identification accuracy: Two codes are better than one.

Ways of improving identification accuracy were explored by comparing the conventional visual lineup with an auditory/visual lineup, one that paired color photographs with voice recordings. This bimodal lineup necessitated sequential presentation of lineup members; Experiment 1 showed that performance in sequential lineups was better than performance in traditional simultaneous lineups. In Experiments 2A and 2B unimodal and bimodal lineups were compared by using a multiple-lineup paradigm: Ss viewed 3 videotaped episodes depicting standard police procedures and were tested in 4 sequential lineups. Bimodal lineups were more diagnostic than either visual or auditory lineups alone. The bimodal lineup led to a 126% improvement in number of correct identifications over the conventional visual lineup, with no concomitant increase in number of false identifications. These results imply strongly that bimodal procedures should be adopted in real-world lineups. The nature of memorial processes underlying this bimodal advantage is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in the patient's level of insight in brief psychotherapy: Two pilot studies.

Describes 2 studies of the level of insight obtained in 16 sessions of brief time-limited psychotherapy. Four patients (aged 34–58 yrs) were examined using the Pro-plan Insight Rating Scale (PIRS) in Study 1, and 1 patient (aged 34 yrs) was examined using the PIRS—Revised in Study 2. All Ss initially demonstrated insight, but during the course of therapy their insight decreased. Toward the end of therapy their insight again increased. The average level of insight across each therapy was found to be related to outcome. Based on control mastery theory, the results reflect Ss' unconscious plans for working in therapy by testing their pathogenic beliefs in order to change them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The future of psychotherapy with children: Developmental psychotherapy.

Discusses the concept of developmental psychotherapy for children as a way of integrating information about human development, basic biological processes, and psychopathology with knowledge gained from studies of therapeutic change. In developmental psychotherapy, rather than trying to provide a permanent cure, the therapist tries using a variety of methods to help the child regain a footing on a developmental pathway more likely to lead to adequate adaptation in subsequent periods of life. Research in this field should concentrate on continuing refinement of models for developmental pathways leading to specific outcomes in a number of domains, particularly those involving externalizing disorders and substance abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Two halfs may be more than one whole: Category-split effects on frequency illusions.

Splitting an event category into smaller subcategories can increase the subjective frequency of events. Category-split effects are derived from an information-loss model that predicts regressive frequency estimates (rare events are overestimated and frequent events underestimated). The basic regression effect and the overestimation of very low frequencies resulting from category split should increase with information loss in memory. Exps 1 and 2 supported these predictions for graphical stimuli. In Exp 3, the split effect was used to eliminate group-related illusory correlations. Although stimulus split (different subtypes included in the list) and response split (separate judgments for each subtype) are essential, the illusion did not depend on attention to the split during encoding. Implications pertain to many social-inductive processes such as stereotyping, advertising, and media influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transpersonal psychotherapy: Reflections on the genre.

Presents a broad overview of the emerging enterprise of transpersonal ("Fourth Force") psychotherapy. Contrasts are drawn between transpersonal and other major schools of therapy. Within the transpersonal realm of psychotherapy, issues of process, content, stages, goals, and context are discussed, and conceptual distinctions are made. The difference between enlightenment and change is elucidated, and techniques associated with change are described. The optimal attributes of a transpersonal therapist are outlined, and the limitations—especially the problem of proof of transcendent phenomena—of this psychological realm are examined. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual psychotherapy. Institutional psychotherapy. Individual approach

In the psychiatric management of patients where the author works the following factors are given careful consideration: a) source of referral, b) previous information about the illness, c) the content of the first session, d) obstacles for further treatment and e) theoretical basis for the psychotherapy sessions. Bellak and Small outlines are followed to structure brief and emergency psychotherapy at the author's institution.     

Stress treatment: Two aspirins, fluids, and one more workshop.

Early stress research focused on the physiology of the stress response and its relation to health and disease. Recently, there has been widespread application of stress management programs (SMPs) aimed at reducing an individual's stress. We describe and summarize the methods and results of 62 published reports on SMPs from numerous fields. Programs crossed all levels of prevention and most often took place in university, medical, or worksite settings. A meta-analysis of the quantitative results of a sample of these studies yielded mildly encouraging results. However, serious methodological and theoretical issues must be addressed with future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists conducting psychotherapy: New findings and historical comparisons on the psychotherapy division membership.

481 American Psychological Association Division 29 psychologists engaged in psychotherapy returned a mailed questionnaire concerning their characteristics, activities, affiliations, theories, and satisfactions. Results are described and compared with findings of a similar study completed a decade ago. Among the most salient findings were (1) an aging profession that shows high career satisfaction and increased employment in independent practice; (2) 70% endorsement of psychodynamicism or psychoanalysis as a primary or secondary orientation; (3) an escalating proportion of female psychotherapists, whose employment in independent practice is more than 2.5 times greater than in 1981; and (4) a negligible increase in minority therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Foreword: Values in psychotherapy.

Contends that the glory of psychotherapists' "tree of psychology" is that its roots are absolutely philosophical and, therefore, limitless in scope and devoid of absolute proofs. The trunk of this tree is a solid and substantial store of scientific and empirical data. The branches bear a multitude of flowers, many of which are not quite substantial; not made to endure the critical climate of a questioning world. Ultimately, however, these flowers contain the germinating factor, that which allows human knowledge the possibility of continued growth and rejuvenation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reducing psychotherapy dropouts: Maximizing perspective convergence in the psychotherapy dyad.

Reviews 3 decades of research addressing premature termination of psychotherapy. Client, therapist, interpersonal dyadic, and administrative variables have been extensively investigated. Because of a variety of methodological problems, this literature is highly contradictory, and results are difficult to reconcile, with only socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnicity emerging as consistent predictors of dropout. Treatment matching studies have evaluated the effects of maximizing similarity (or convergence) and minimizing perspective divergence within the therapeutic dyad. Research looking at interactive and multidimensional factors such as working alliance, client satisfaction and expectations, client likability, and pretreatment preparation has proven useful. This research suggests that psychotherapy dropouts might be minimized if differences between therapists' and patients' perspectives on therapeutic enterprise are acknowledged and recognized as legitimate targets for intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)