Congruence/genuineness.

Congruence or genuineness is a relational quality that has been highly prized throughout the history of psychotherapy, but of diminished research interest in recent years. In this article, we define and provide examples of this attribute of the therapy relationship and present an original meta-analytic review of the empirical literature showing its relation to improvement. Analysis of 16 studies (k), representing 863 patients (N), resulted in a weighted aggregate ES (r) of .24 (p = .003; 95% CI = .12 to .36). Moderators of the association between congruence and treatment outcome are examined, and limitations of the extant research are discussed as well. In closing, we advance several therapist practices that are likely to foster congruence and thus improve psychotherapy outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Universal session-level change processes in an early session of psychotherapy: Path models.

The authors used structural equation modeling to investigate universal change processes identified in the generic model of psychotherapy (GMP). Three path models of increasing complexity were examined in Study 1 in dynamic therapy. The best fitting model from Study 1 was replicated in Study 2 for participants receiving either cognitive or interpersonal therapy. Findings provided support for the universality of the GMP constructs in different types of therapy. Positive influences for therapeutic bond, openness, and realizations were observed, as was a surprising negative impact for one aspect of bond. Discussion highlights a complex conception of the therapy relationship that underscores the importance of investigating the multiple functions that the therapy relationship might serve in different psychotherapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-system therapy as an intervention for self-regulatory dysfunction in depression: A randomized comparison with cognitive therapy.

Self-system therapy (SST) is a new therapy based on regulatory focus theory (E. T. Higgins, 1997) for depressed individuals unable to pursue promotion goals effectively. The authors conducted a randomized trial comparing SST with cognitive therapy (CT) in a sample of 45 patients with a range of depressive symptoms to test 2 hypotheses: that SST would be more efficacious for depressed individuals characterized by inadequate socialization toward pursuing promotion goals and that SST would lead to greater reduction in dysphoric responses to priming of promotion goals. There was no overall difference in efficacy between treatments, but patients whose socialization history lacked an emphasis on promotion goals showed significantly greater improvement with SST. In addition, SST patients showed a greater reduction in dysphoric responses to promotion goal priming than did CT patients. The results illustrate the value of a theory-based translational approach to treatment design and selection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Planetary telecommunication development during the next ten years

The past Mariner missions to the inner planets have greatly increased our knowledge about Mars, Venus, and Mercury. The continued success of these missions has been enhanced by the evolution of communication technology, with the main growth in the ground capability. The missions during the next decade will concentrate on the outer planets, with requirements to operate over greatly increased ranges in hostile radiation environments, and for reduced weight to allow the transportation of probes. The communication requirements will be mainly achieved by increases in flight equipment performance, new larger antennas, and operation at higher frequencies. The rate of growth of the communication capability is heavily dependent on the type of missions planned. However, we do have the capability to provide significant data return from the outer planets.     

Kenneth Irwin Howard (1932-2000).

Memorializes Kenneth Irwin Howard for his many contributions to clinical psychology. Throughout his career, Howard and his colleagues produced an impressive corpus of empirical work illuminating psychologists' understanding of psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quantifying livestock effects on bunchgrass vegetation with Landsat ETM+ data across a single growing season

Grassland systems provide important habitat for native biodiversity and forage for livestock, with livestock grazing playing an important role influencing sustainable ecosystem function. Traditional field techniques to monitor the effects of grazing on vegetation are costly and limited to small spatial scales. Remote sensing has the potential to provide quantitative and repeatable monitoring data across large spatial and temporal scales for more informed grazing management. To investigate the ability of vegetation metrics derived from remotely sensed imagery to detect the effect of cattle grazing on bunchgrass grassland vegetation across a growing season, we sampled 32 sites across four prescribed stocking rates on a section of Pacific Northwest bunchgrass prairie in northeastern Oregon. We collected vegetation data on vertical structure, biomass, and cover at three different time periods: June, August, and October 2012 to understand the potential to measure vegetation at different phenological stages across a growing season. We acquired remotely sensed Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data closest in date to three field sampling bouts. We correlated the field vegetation metrics to Landsat spectral bands, 14 commonly used vegetation indices, and the tasselled cap wetness, brightness, and greenness transformations. To increase the explanatory value of the satellite-derived data, full, stepwise, and best-subset multiple regression models were fit to each of the vegetation metrics at the three different times of the year. Predicted vegetation metrics were then mapped across the study area. Field-based results indicated that as the stocking rate increased, the mean vegetation amounts of vertical structure, cover, and biomass decreased. The multiple regression models using common vegetation indices had the ability to discern different levels of grazing across the study area, but different spectral indices proved to be the best predictors of vegetation metrics for differing phenological windows. Field measures of vegetation cover yielded the highest correlations to remotely sensed data across all sampling periods. Our results from this analysis can be used to improve grassland monitoring by providing multiple measures of vegetation amounts across a growing season that better align with land management decision making.     

Change in early sessions of dynamic therapy: Universal processes and the generic model of psychotherapy.

The generic model of psychotherapy is offered as a transtheoretical model of universal change processes. Session 3 change processes are examined in a naturalistic study of dynamic therapy guided by the generic model. Findings replicate and extend earlier work addressing propositions of the generic model in dynamic therapy. Openness and bond contributed to in-session realizations, whereas bond and realizations fostered session progress. Session progress, bond, use of experiential operations, and less frequent use of dynamic interventions contributed to change between Sessions 2 and 4. Discussion outlines a model of change in early dynamic therapy and highlights the usefulness of the generic model for the evaluation of change processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)