Introduction to the special section on adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse researchers need to use more complex models of abuse and more sophisticated research designs for studying long-term effects and for evaluating treatment programs. The articles that comprise this special section integrate the study of sexual abuse with perspectives on adult victimization, developmental psychopathology, and attachment theory and also offer specific methodological suggestions for improving research on long-term effects and therapy with the abuse survivor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on measuring cognitive products in research and practice.

This article introduces a special section of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology titled "Measuring Cognitive Products in Research and Practice." The practice of cognitive behavior therapies—and research on their effectiveness and the validity of the models of psychopathology and therapy associated with these treatments—requires valid assessment of cognition. Cognitive variables can be considered at several levels; the main focus of the articles in this special section is on techniques suited to measurement of cognitive products, thoughts, and images of which people are conscious. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to special section: The role of longitudinal data with child psychopathology and treatment: Preliminary comments and issues.

Longitudinal data can play an important role in child psychopathology and treatment. This article introduces a review of some of the research questions that longitudinal designs can answer and how longitudinal studies have been used in evaluating traditional syndromes in child clinical psychology. The articles in this special section are then introduced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on developing guidelines for the evidence-based assessment (EBA) of adult disorders.

The goal of this special section is to encourage greater awareness of evidence-based assessment (EBA) in the development of a scientifically supported clinical psychology. In this introductory article, the authors describe the elements that authors in this special section were asked to consider in their focused reviews (including the scope of available psychometric evidence, advancements in psychopathology research, and evidence of attention to factors such as gender, age, and ethnicity in measure validation). The authors then present central issues evident in the articles that deal with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and couple distress and in the accompanying commentaries. The authors conclude by presenting key themes emerging from the articles in this special section, including gaps in psychometric information, limited information about the utility of assessment, the discrepancy between recommended EBAs and current training and practice, and the need for further data on the process of clinical assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adult attachment in a nationally representative sample.

The explosion of adult attachment research in the last decade has been limited by its reliance on college student and distressed samples. Using a large nationally representative sample of American adults, the authors examined the relation of sociodemographics, childhood adversity, parental representations, adult psychopathology, and personality traits to adult attachment in an effort to replicate previous findings and extend the theory. Distribution of adult attachment styles was similar to that in prior studies: 59% secure, 25% avoidant, and 11% anxious. Adult attachment was associated with several sociodemographic variables (e.g., income, age, race) not previously studied. Childhood adversities of an interpersonal nature were strongly related to insecure adult attachment. Various types of adult psychopathologies and personality traits were also strongly related to adult attachment. Implications for adult attachment theory and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special issue: Psychology in the 21st century.

Introduces this special issue of Psychological Bulletin. When this journal was founded just after the turn of the century, the discipline of psychology was in its infancy. The knowledge base of the emerging discipline was quite limited, and the contributors to it were few. During the past century, research and theory on psychological issues have increased exponentially. This special issue of Psychological Bulletin includes articles on a select number of topics that are of broad interest and importance and that are likely to be viewed as fundamental issues for psychologists in the coming years. In these articles, scholars who are leaders in the field offer their insights into what is known about these topics and what issues are of central importance to address in the future. The articles in this issue offer compelling examples of behavioral research that integrates theory and methods within and outside of psychology. The topics discussed contribute to an understanding of a broad range of basic psychological processes, including issues related to positive adjustment and psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section.

Areas of research are invigorated by new methods, approaches, and theoretical perspectives. The integration of psychological and biological approaches to psychopathology research is a major theme in research at this time. This special section consists of three articles relevant to biopsychological studies of schizophrenia. The first article provides an overview of cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia. The second article considers the topic of high-risk group research. The third article deals with a longstanding problem in schizophrenia research—the effects of pharmacotherapy. Pharmacotherapy has important beneficial effects on measures of theoretical interest in psychological studies of schizophrenia, but it may also produce impairments in cognitive processes. The cognitive psychopharmacology of schizophrenia is a topic of both theoretical and methodological relevance in psychopathology research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on cognitive processes and psychotherapy.

Theoretical models featuring cognitive processes have played a fundamental role in advancing knowledge of psychopathology and its treatment and have emphasized the importance of cognition in psychotherapy. Recognition of the importance of cognition in psychotherapy has led to a number of questions that are addressed by the articles in this special section of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Cognitive therapy is well represented in the articles in this special section, but therapeutic procedures that do not represent typical cognitive therapy are also examined. The articles in this special section focus on homework in the modification of cognition, cognition in the treatment of anxiety in adults and in children, change in depressive cognitions in children, cognition and rapid change in the treatment of depression, and the role of cognition in the treatment and prevention of depression that is recurrent. Examination of these types of questions holds the possibility of advances in existing treatments and the possibility of innovations in new treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on attachment theory and psychotherapy.

In this introduction to the special section on attachment theory and psychotherapy, the editors briefly describe the key points of attachment theory (J. Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980) and its relevance to psychotherapy. They then outline their criteria for the selection of papers and briefly describe their emphasis. The aim of this section is to present novel and thought-provoking research that highlights the ways attachment theory principles contribute to understanding psychotherapy practice and outcome. It was the editors' goal to ensure breadth of coverage in terms of specific problems, range of populations, and types of treatments represented and to emphasize attachment-based treatments and outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical adolescent psychology: What it is, and what it needs to be.

This commentary on the special section on clinical adolescent psychology (G. Holmbeck & P. Kendall, 2002) reviews and critiques the conceptual and empirical articles that this compilation comprises. As articulated in the conceptual contributions to this collection, two fundamental principles should guide research on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of psychological disorder and dysfunction during adolescence: First, drawing on the field of developmental psychopathology, the study of clinical adolescent psychology should focus on the trajectories of disorder that precede, characterize, and follow adolescence. Second, drawing on the literature on normative adolescent development, the study of clinical adolescent psychology must proceed with an explicit recognition of the unique biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and contextual features that define adolescence as a developmental period. Although the study of clinical adolescent psychology, as evidenced by this collection of articles, is appropriately grounded in the broader enterprise of developmental psychopathology, less progress has been made with respect to die integration of the study of clinical phenomena in adolescence with the study of normative adolescent development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Commentary: Progress and problems in the cognitive approach to clinical child psychology.

Comments on articles included in the special section "Meta-analysis and Psychotherapy" in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Problems related to preventive programs are discussed in light of the finding that early development in childhood tends to be fluid in many instances rather than fixed. Difficulties in accounting for psychopathology in terms of cognitive variables and developmental delay are presented. Advantages and disadvantages of having diverse approaches to cognition are noted. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to special section on clinical intervention in child sexual abuse.

The purpose of this special section is to further research, clinical practice, and teaching in the area of child sexual abuse. Although most of the articles are written by psychologists and are relevant to research, practice, and teaching by psychologists, the articles have relevance to other professionals as well. The special section is composed of seven articles. The first focuses on the effects of child sexual abuse. The next five articles have relevance for assessment and treatment. The last article focuses on teaching clinical intervention in child sexual abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attachment, psychotherapy, and assessment: A commentary.

This article, a commentary, discusses questions and issues generated by 7 articles (see records 2006-22003-002, 2006-22003-003, 2006-22003-004, 2006-22003-005, 2006-22003-006, 2006-22003-007, 2006-22003-008) on the relationship between attachment theory and research, and psychotherapy and clinical assessment. The issues include the following: attachment-based therapeutic interventions for adults and child-caregiver dyads, change in attachment status as an outcome goal of therapeutic intervention, attachment pattern as a moderator of treatment outcome and therapeutic approach, clinical use of attachment measures, narrative/discourse and self-report measures of attachment patterns, and application of attachment theory to new areas. In the discussion of each of these issues, suggestions are made for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Searching for secure bases in attachment-focused group therapy: Reaction to Kilmann et al. (1999).

The appropriateness of P. R. Kilmann et al.'s (see record 1999-13879-006) treatment intervention is reviewed in light of attachment theory. As is widely known, J. Bowlby wrote extensively about childhood antecedents of later psychopathology. Not so widely known are Bowlby's insights regarding an attachment–theoretical understanding of therapy and therapeutic change. Bowlby's therapeutic perspective is described, beginning with the notion of the "secure base" and its special relevance for therapy, followed by a discussion of general and specific goals for successful therapy. Kilmann et al.'s treatment is then analyzed with respect to Bowlby's ideas, with suggestions for future research on attachment-focused intervention with individuals experiencing relationship difficulties. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to community psychology in Canada: Past, present, and future.

The introduction to the special section on community psychology in Canada provides background information about the field in Canada and provides summaries of the four articles and the commentary that comprise the issue. The articles address (a) theory, research, and practice in community psychology; (b) training in community psychology; (c) community psychology practice; and (d) a vision for the future of community psychology in Canada. These articles highlight the many contributions of Canadian community psychologists to a field that is growing throughout the world to address pressing social problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on “translational models of prefrontal cortical function”.

Impaired functioning of the prefrontal cortex is particularly prominent in many forms of psychopathology and in degenerative brain diseases. Because it is challenging to draw causal links between specific brain abnormalities and impaired cognition in these conditions, research using nonhuman animals has a key role to play in elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms of prefrontal cortex function and aiding the search for treatments. This role is clearly illustrated in the review articles and original research reports in this special section. Taken together, these papers demonstrate the insights that have already been gained from research with nonhuman animals as well as the work that still needs to be done to attain the goal of understanding human prefrontal cortical function in both health and disease. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Taxometrics in Psychopathology Research: An Introduction to Some of the Procedures and Related Methodological Issues.

This article introduces a special section on the use of taxometrics to examine the categorical versus the dimensional structure of various forms of psychopathology. Paving the way into the special section, this introduction briefly describes 3 taxometric methods--mean above minus below a sliding cut (MAMBAC), maximum covariation (MAXCOV), and maximum eigenvalue (MAXEIG)--and discusses possible threats to statistical conclusion validity that often emerge when such techniques are applied in psychopathology research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A prospective longitudinal study of attachment disorganization/disorientation

The research explores the antecedents and consequences of attachment disorganization from a prospective longitudinal perspective. The relations of attachment disorganization/disorientation to endogenous (e.g., maternal medical history, infant temperament) and environmental (e.g., maternal caregiving quality, infant history of abuse) antecedents and to behavioral consequences from 24 months to 19 years are examined. For the 157 participants in the longitudinal study, attachment disorganization was correlated significantly with environmental antecedents (e.g., maternal relationship and risk status, caregiving quality, and infant history of maltreatment), but not with available endogenous antecedents. Infant history of attachment disorganization was correlated with consequent variables related to mother-child relationship quality at 24 and 42 months, child behavior problems in preschool, elementary school and high school, and psychopathology and dissociation in adolescence. Structural models suggest that disorganization may mediate the relations between early experience and later psychopathology and dissociation. The findings are considered within a developmental view of psychopathology, that is, pathology defined in terms of process, as a pattern of adaptation constructed by individuals in their environments.     

Introduction to special section: Mental retardation and mental illness.

Historically, the perceived relation between mental illness and mental retardation has undergone substantial changes. During the past 2 centuries, clinical observations and systematic research addressing these 2 constructs have developed along separate lines. Consequently, the pathogenesis and treatment of psychopathology, emotional disorders, and behavior problems experienced by individuals with mental retardation have not been the purview of mainstream clinical psychology. This article initiates a special section on mental retardation and mental illness to provide up-to-date summaries of various key clinical and research issues regarding this population (i.e., individuals with "dual diagnoses"). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)