Introduction.

On the occasion of—and in celebration of—the American Psychological Association's centennial (1892-1992), we offer this special issue in an attempt to identify and describe future trends in psychotherapy. The special issue is divided into three sections: Theoretical Orientations; Formats and Applications; and Directions and Predictions. Section I contains forecasts on the future of psychotherapy from the unique vantage point of diverse therapeutic traditions. Section II consists of articles on therapeutic formats, populations, and applications. Section III represents original papers that survived the peer review process. Throughout, the explicit time frame is the next decade (1992-2001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinicians' theoretical orientations: Selection, utilization, and efficacy.

479 clinical psychologists were surveyed regarding their use of and satisfaction with their theoretical orientations, reasons for the selection of their orientations, and the relative influence of their chosen orientations on psychotherapy practice. Contrary to suggestions that clinicians select an orientation largely on inexplicable or accidental grounds, adoption of an orientation was attributed to personal, deliberate choices primarily predicated on clinical experience, personal values, and graduate training. Of 18 possible influences on therapeutic practice, theoretical orientation was rated the most influential and theory of pathology/personality the 2nd most influential, which suggests that clinical psychologists perceive their orientations as pervasive and efficacious therapeutic variables. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Laboratory measurements of the 36 GHz backscattering cross sectionfrom water waves

The backscattering cross section per unit area σ₀ of a roughened water surface at 36 GHz is needed in the development of new remote sensing instrumentation that will operate at this frequency. One instrument, the multimode airborne radar altimeter (MARA), will illuminate the surface at incidence angles ranging from nadir to 12° off-nadir. Laboratory tests were performed at the Wallops Wind-Wave Tank Facility to determine the variability of σ₀ at these angles and as a function of windspeed. The measurement procedures used in a 6-in.-diam aluminum sphere as the calibration source. The results are compared with earlier measurements at this frequency. Little variability with windspeed was found in the cross-section values for 12° off-nadir, while the cross section decreased with windspeed at nadir. The nadir cross section exceeded the off-nadir result by about 7 dB at a windspeed of 10 m/s (at a 10-m effective height above sea level)     

Psychotherapists' perspectives on treating themselves and their clients for psychic distress.

Investigated the processes of change that psychotherapists report using to help clients overcome psychic distress and the processes therapists report using to overcome their own distress. 299 psychotherapists (mean age 45.4 yrs) responded to either the therapist-treat-client or therapist-treat-self form of the Processes of Change Questionnaire. Results indicate that change processes used for treating clients varied in frequency as a function of the S's orientation. In contrast, there were no discernable differences on any of the change processes for self-change among Ss of diverse persuasions. Findings suggest that psychotherapists recommend medication and facilitative relationships more frequently for clients than for themselves, but they favor counterconditioning, self-liberation, and stimulus control more for themselves than for their clients. It is suggested that (a) therapists may assume that they are healthier than their clients, (b) therapists may believe change processes good for the patient are not necessarily good for the practitioner, and/or (c) salient differences exist between change processes under therapist control and those under self-control. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors.

How people intentionally change addictive behaviors with and without treatment is not well understood by behavioral scientists. This article summarizes research on self-initiated and professionally facilitated change of addictive behaviors using the key transtheoretical constructs of stages and processes of change. Modification of addictive behaviors involves progression through 5 stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance; and individuals typically recycle through these stages several times before termination of the addiction. Multiple studies provide strong support for these stages as well as for a finite and common set of change processes used to progress through the stages. Research to date supports a transtheoretical model of change that systematically integrates the stages with processes of change from diverse theories of psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The face of 2010: A Delphi poll on the future of psychotherapy.

A panel of 62 psychotherapy experts using Delphi methodology predicted psychotherapy trends in the next decade. The observers forecasted changes in theoretical orientations, therapeutic interventions, psychotherapy providers, treatment formats, and future scenarios. Cognitive-behavior, culture-sensitive, cognitive, and eclectic/integrative theories were predicted to increase the most, whereas classical psychoanalysis, solution-focused theories, and transactional analysis were expected to decline. Directive, self-change, and technological interventions were judged to be in the ascendancy. Master's-level psychotherapists along with "virtual" therapy services were expected to flourish. Forecast scenarios with the highest likelihood centered on expansion of evidence-based therapy, practice guidelines, behavioral medicine, and pharmacotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship of extraversion-introversion to visual and kinesthetic aftereffects.

"… these results confirm those previously reported by Rechtschaffen (1958) and fail to confirm Eysenck's hypothesis (1955) that satiation effects in extraverts develop more quickly, reach higher levels, and dissipate more slowly than in introverts." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4BE10N. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)