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‘Free from BFRB’: Efficacy of Self-Help Interventions for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Conveyed via Manual or Video
We examined the efficacy of three self-help techniques for BFRBs: habit reversal training (HRT), decoupling (DC), and decoupling in sensu (DC-is) and also tested whether a video demonstration is more efficacious to written instructions. A total of 224 participants with at least one BFRB were randomly assigned to two intervention groups (video, manual) receiving access to all techniques or a wait-list control group (1:1:1). A 6-week follow-up assessment was conducted. The Generic Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Scale (GBS-9) served as primary outcome. The intention-to-treat analysis showed significant improvements for the ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - December 26, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Broken Narratives by Stressful Life Events: An Intervention for Narrative Identity Reconstruction
AbstractThe present paper aims to introduce a constructivist narrative intervention for Narrative Identity Reconstruction (NIR) in working with clients with a history of stressful life events (SLE). This intervention is based on a proposed conceptual framework explaining how SLE affects narrative identity. First, we provide a conceptual model to show the theoretical links between SLE and narrative identity through the three functions of making meaning, unity, and purpose. The present conceptualization proposes that concepts of meaning-making, self-concept clarity, and agency should improve for narrative identity reconstruc...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - December 2, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Commentary: EMDR, RCTs, and the Proliferation of Trademarked Acronyms
AbstractEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), while recognized as evidence-based, continues to be viewed as a novel and controversial treatment. At the same time, numerous alternative eye movement therapies have been introduced, each of which requires its own set of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess remarkable claims of cure. The present situation is untenable in our opinion because any clever entrepreneur can claim a new method and trademark a new acronym. Recommendations are made for more stringent criteria to establish science-based methods that guide clinical practice. (Source: Journal of Co...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 29, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

The Efficacy of Using Psychotherapy Interventions to Minimize Symptoms of Trichotillomania and Trichophagia: A Scoping Review
AbstractTrichophagia, or eating one ’s own hair, commonly occurs in individuals with trichotillomania. Minimizing the symptoms of trichotillomania and trichophagia and maintaining remission can encourage them to have healthy lives. Conduct a scoping review to investigate the efficacy of using psychotherapy interventions to minimize symptoms of trichotillomania and trichophagia among individuals with trichotillomania. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines to screen 19,552 studies published between 2010 and 2022. A total of 19 studies that fulf...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 22, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Vicious Relational Circles and Chronic Couple Conflictuality: An Empirical Study
AbstractThe study aims to empirically assess the control-mastery theory hypothesis that considers chronic couple conflictuality as the repetition of relational vicious circles —that is, interactions where both partners test their pathogenic beliefs and fail their reciprocal tests, confirming their reciprocal pathogenic beliefs. In addition, the study aims to verify if interpersonal guilt is more activated during couple conflicts. Our study involved 11 couples treated by four experienced therapists and nine trained, independent judges who, after reading verbatim transcripts of the couples’ psychotherapy sessions, used t...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 22, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Getting Unstuck from PTSD: Using Cognitive Processing Therapy to Guide Your Recovery by Patricia A. Resick, Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, and Stefanie T. LoSavio
(Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy)
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - October 30, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

A Toolbox for Use During the Post-Pandemic Era: Preparing Youth for Re-entry
AbstractWhile most individuals hope that the COVID-19 viral global pandemic is over, waves of infection and multiple mutating variants persist prompting considerable uncertainty. Re-entering previously familiar routines is especially difficult for youth challenged by excessive intolerance of uncertainty and accompanying anxiety. Therefore, constructing a conceptual map to explain these stressors and a viable skill set to cope with their anxiety are potentially helpful tasks. This is the exact focus of this article. A review of the past and current impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents ’ lives sets the proper con...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - October 25, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Therapist Adherence to Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Routine Practice: Common Challenges and Recommendations for Improvement
AbstractDelivering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with adherence to the manual is a critical aspect of quality assurance and leads to better outcomes for clients. However, DBT is a challenging treatment to deliver adherently as it requires therapists to learn many strategies and to know when and how to apply them effectively. To date, little is known about the degree to which therapists in routine care deliver DBT adherently or what adherence challenges may be most common in these settings. This paper presents data from two studies in which the DBT Adherence Coding Scale (Linehan, M. M.,& Korslund, K. E. (2003).Dia...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - October 19, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Trauma Practice: A Cognitive Behavioral Somatic Therapy (4th Edition)
(Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy)
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - October 16, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Art History Therapy: The Role of Art History in the Psychotherapy Process
AbstractUnconscious processes lead to maladaptive behaviors, while people use various defense mechanisms to cope with stressful and traumatic memories. Bringing the unconscious to consciousness is essential for treating such inner conflicts. Art history therapy, which brings together art history and psychology, aims to accelerate clients ’ self-disclosure to the therapist by bringing their unconscious to consciousness through artworks, thereby establishing the therapeutic alliance. As objects of art history, artworks can trigger associations with childhood experiences in clients. Discussing an artwork can enable clients ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - October 10, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Pitfalls and Opportunities of the Therapist ’s Metacommunication: A Self-determination Perspective
AbstractPsychotherapy research identifies alliance ruptures and their resolutions as significant events in psychotherapy, influencing outcome. However, we know little about the process how such events influence outcomes, only assuming if clients stay in therapy that the rupture was resolved, and the outcome will be positive. The purpose of this paper is to problematize this assumption against the backdrop of self-determination theory, introducing motivation and relational positioning as relevant theoretical concepts for understanding rupture resolution and the effect on outcome. A therapeutic transcript demonstrating best ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - September 20, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Group-Based Treatment in Patients with Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: A Multisite Naturalistic Study
This study was retrospectively registered with ISRCTN (Identifier 13532466). (Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy)
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - September 9, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Efficacy of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy for the Alleviation of Psychological Distress and Amelioration of Psychological Well-Being Among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients
AbstractEnd-Stage Renal disease patients experience a drastic change in physical, psychological, emotional and quality of life after the diagnosis. Various psychotherapeutic interventions were found to be effective in reducing the singular anxiety, depressive, and sleep related issues, however, an integrated approach is required to cater the psychological distress in a collective fashion, and enhance the psychological well-being of end-stage renal disease patients. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy has been found to be effective in catering to the needs of various chronic disease patients. Therefore, the current study aime...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - August 31, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Collusion Revisited: Polyadic Collusions and Their Contextual Determinants
AbstractAt the core of collusions are unconscious unresolved issues shared by two or more participants, interlocked in a defensive maneuver. The issue at stake is avoided at an intrapsychic level and externalized in the interpersonal space. Unresolved issues may pertain to control, intimacy, loss, dependency, domination, boundaries and so on.This critical narrative review is based on a comprehensive consultation of the psychoanalytic, general system theory, family therapy and social psychology literature and is informed by our experience as psychotherapists, supervisors, and researchers. When working with the concept of co...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - August 24, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Individual Target Problems, Self-Observation and Change in Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
The objective of this study was to analyze and illustrate the relationships between different expectations for psychotherapy, quality of self-observation and change in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. To conduct this, two patients from the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study were selected for qualitative analysis. The selection was based on the patients ’ responses on the Target Complaints (TC) questionnaire, i.e., reasons for seeking psychotherapy, completed as part of the pre-treatment patient assessment. TC responses were classified as psychiatric symptoms or personality and functioning problems. The data for further ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - August 22, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research