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Dementia Day Care Centres (DDCCs) are defined as services providing care and rehabilitation to people with dementia associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) in a semi-residential setting. According to available evidence, DDCCs may decrease BPSD, depressive symptoms and caregiver burden. The present position paper reports a consensus of Italian experts of different disciplines regarding DDCCs and includes recommendations about architectural features, requirements of personnel, psychosocial interventions, management of psychoactive drug treatment, prevention and care of geriatric syndromes, and support to family caregivers. DDCCs architectural features should follow specific criteria and address specific needs of people with dementia, supporting independence, safety, and comfort. Staffing should be adequate in size and competence and should be able to implement psychosocial interventions, especially focused on BPSD. Individualized care plan should include prevention and treatment of geriatric syndromes, a targeted vaccination plan for infectious diseases including COVID-19, and adjustment of psychotropic drug treatment, all in cooperation with the general practitioner. Informal caregivers should be involved in the focus of intervention, with the aim of reducing assistance burden and promoting the adaptation to the ever-changing relationship with the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, many important articles are published that make valuable contributions to the field of psychotherapy. It is helpful to remain informed about recent developments in the field, and respect the useful refinements that are being proposed in various journal articles. Unfortunately, with so many journals in the field, it can be challenging to find the best articles, and some important papers may be overlooked. In recent years, the situation has become even worse with the expansion of many new and often predatory journals, publishing inferior papers. The Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy awards program has two main goals. First, the review of the recent literature helps to highlight the useful papers published during the previous year. Second, the awards program helps to praise the best and inspire the rest, aiming to motivate the field to publish high quality papers. The awards selection process involved a review of numerous academic articles published during 2018 in 60 different professional journals. Then, a panel of judges reviewed 52 finalists for ten possible awards. Adequate agreement was found to provide awards for nine different categories of research studies or review articles. Each winning paper is reviewed, and most authors provide a behind-the-scenes look at the work involved in their valuable contribution to the field of psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychosocial factors in cardiovascular diseases are increasingly acknowledged by patients, health care providers and payer organizations. Due to the rapidly increasing body of evidence, the German Cardiac Society has commissioned an update of its 2013 position paper on this topic. The German version was published in 2018 and the current manuscript is an extended translation of the original version. Methods: This position paper provides a synopsis of the state of knowledge regarding psychosocial factors in the most relevant cardiovascular diseases and gives recommendations with respect to their consideration in clinical practice. Results: Psychosocial factors such as low socioeconomic status, acute and chronic stress, depression, anxiety and low social support are associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Psychosocial problems and mental comorbidities should be assessed routinely to initiate targeted diagnostics and treatment. For all patients, treatment should consider age and gender differences as well as individual patient preferences. Multimodal treatment concepts should comprise education, physical exercise, motivational counseling and relaxation training or stress management. In cases of mental comorbidities, brief psychosocial interventions by primary care providers or cardiologists, regular psychotherapy and/or medications should be offered. While these interventions have positive effects on psychological symptoms, robust evidence for possible effects on cardiac outcomes is still lacking. Conclusions: For coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension, and some arrhythmias, there is robust evidence supporting the relevance of psychosocial factors, pointing to a need for considering them in cardiological care. However, there are still shortcomings in implementing psychosocial treatment, and prognostic effects of psychotherapy and psychotropic drugs remain uncertain. There is a need for enhanced provider education and more treatment trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many useful articles are published every year, and these scholarly works can help to improve and advance the field of psychotherapy. However, as the field has grown and the number of academic journals has expanded, it has become difficult for the average mental health professional to remain abreast of the best publications in the field. The present article provides a concise review of the published literature that is relevant to the field of psychotherapy. The rationale behind the 12 criteria that were used for selecting the most valuable papers are described. The nomination process initially identified 48 of the most useful articles distributed across 12 award categories. A panel of judges, recruited from the Journal's editorial board, voted for the most valuable contribution in each category. Due to a lack of consensus across the judges, awards are given in eight of the 12 topical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Psyche Awards were developed to recognize the best journal articles published during the previous year. Each award confronts a specific topic within the field of mental health care, identifying articles that integrate the science and practice of psychology. For the current awards, 161 journals were screened, and 223 relevant articles were identified. The papers were then narrowed down to 46 papers distributed across 11 award categories. A panel of four expert judges read each article and rated all papers for their contribution to the field. The current award categories highlight some of the best articles published during 2021, capturing important information about psychological assessment, treatment of depression, working with suicidal clients, technology-assisted psychotherapy, the impact of Covid-19 on mental health, lessons from a review of history, recent innovations in the field, and strategies to expand the integration of science and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper benchmarks the recognition performance on the provided dataset using three state-of-the-art Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) recognition systems. A deep convolutional-recurrent network is first trained on a set of existing face datasets, and then fine-tuned on the TBI dataset via transfer learning. Recent advances in technology have boosted the development and release of active assistive living devices, based on wearable and/or non-obtrusive visual and multi-modal signals for e-health and welfare support. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Pädiatrie & Pädologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the growing deployment of network representation to comprehend psychological phenomena, the question of whether and how networks can effectively describe the effects of psychological interventions remains elusive. Network control theory, the engineering study of networked interventions, has recently emerged as a viable methodology to characterize and guide interventions. However, there is a scarcity of empirical studies testing the extent to which it can be useful within a psychological context. In this paper, we investigate a representative psychological intervention experiment, use network control theory to model the intervention and predict its effect. Using this data, we showed that: (1) the observed psychological effect, in terms of sensitivity and specificity, relates to the regional network control theoretic metrics (average and modal controllability), (2) the size of change following intervention negatively correlates with a whole-network topology that quantifies the "ease" of change as described by control theory (control energy), and (3) responses after intervention can be predicted based on formal results from control theory. These insights assert that network control theory has significant potential as a tool for investigating psychological interventions. Drawing on this specific example and the overarching framework of network control theory, we further elaborate on the conceptualization of psychological interventions, methodological considerations, and future directions in this burgeoning field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapy relies on a strong integration of theory, empirical research, and clinical experience. Furthermore, publishing journal articles on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness requires creativity, persistence and a scientific approach. The present article examines recent publications on assessment and diagnosis, case conceptualization and treatment planning and generic issues related to the therapeutic alliance. The article includes a review of papers on common diagnostic problems including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, addictions, and personality pathology. In each of ten categories, the best papers are identified that were published during the past year, and the top article is highlighted as an award winner that should be read by all mental health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious medical disputes have been causing a wide range of negative impacts. Medical staff may undergo a variety of psychological crises after encountering or witnessing serious medical disputes. This paper first found through qualitative research that the main cause of psychological crises among medical staff was a decreased sense of security. As a result, the key to solving the psychological crises of medical staff is to analyze the factors affecting their psychological security and propose specific measures to protect their psychological security. Using empirical research, this paper revealed that the security risk of serious medical disputes was negatively correlated with factors such as security check equipment, security staff coping ability, the hospital's external environment, medical staff training, patient qualification, and medical feedback channels. After probing into the antecedents and consequences of serious medical disputes in hospitals, this paper proposes comprehensive measures to reduce the negative impacts of serious medical disputes, as well as to intervene and prevent the psychological crises of medical staff under the influence of serious medical disputes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder (BD) can be especially challenging to treat due to the dynamic nature of its presentation; there is a critical need for a multimodal approach to adequately address patients' symptoms and quality of life concerns. However, most mental health professionals have not implemented a multimodal approach due to limited dissemination of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for BD and bias towards psychopharmacology-centered treatment. This is despite clear findings from numerous studies that medication alone fails to fully address most patients' needs and that psychosocial interventions lead to fewer relapses and a higher quality of life. This paper aims to review the evidence in support of psychosocial interventions as a key component of the treatment of BD and to highlight obstacles to the implementation of psychosocial treatment approaches. Additionally, we aim to make a case for an increase in the utilization of psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life and functioning for individuals with BD and their families, and to mitigate societal costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopted children are often at a risk of experiencing several neurobiological and psychosocial difficulties. Adoptive parents must support these difficulties whilst managing their own idiosyncratic challenges. Family-based psychotherapeutic interventions which promote adoptive family functioning, environments and relationships can mediate these difficulties for adopted families. This review synthesises evidence exploring family-based psychological interventions for adoptive families, appraises the literature's strengths and weaknesses, and reports characteristics of promising interventions. Included studies recruited domestically adoptive families receiving psychotherapeutic interventions delivered to at least one adoptive parent and child. The authors searched seven electronic information databases, four grey literature databases, two journals and five relevant websites up to 12.12.2022. The quantitative Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions tool and the qualitative Critical Skills Appraisal Programme checklist assessed risk of bias. The narrative synthesis presents 20 papers detailing 18 studies involving at least 729 adopted children and 829 adoptive parents. Findings provide preliminary support for integrative interventions which include aspects of sensory activities, attachment-based play, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing with Therapeutic Input provided to adopted children and adoptive parents separately, alongside the adoptive family. However, risk of bias was high, limiting the conclusions. Future research should examine the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of integrative therapeutic approaches for adoptive families to further direct clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the essential non-pharmacological treatments for patients with chronic diseases are psychosocial supports and counselling services such as spiritual psychotherapy. Although several preliminary studies represent the effects of counselling and spiritual psychotherapy on anxiety in patients with chronic diseases, there are various contradictions among the findings. The present meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of counselling and spiritual care programs on anxiety in patients with chronic diseases. For data collection, various databases were searched regarding no time limitation until May 2021, including SID, MagIran, Embase, ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (WoS) using Google Scholar search engine. Inclusion criteria were original research articles, interventional studies, and exclusion criteria were irrelevant assessments, systematic review and meta-analysis studies, case reports, letters to the editor, and duplicate papers. I2 test was used to calculate heterogeneity of studies, and the Egger's test was applied to examine the publication bias. According to the inclusion criteria, 26 articles were selected among 612 initial papers with a sample size of 1040 individuals. The mean anxiety scores before and after the interventions were 33.02 ± 3.77 and 25.27 ± 3.66, respectively. The significant (P < 0.05) mean difference before and after the interventions was 1.74 ± 0.23. Counselling and psychotherapy can reduce anxiety in patients with chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic alliance has a robust association with positive outcome in psychotherapy. It is considered a common factor of change independent of the diagnosis and type of therapy. The alliance is commonly defined phenomenologically as a relationship between a client and a therapist characterized by such attributes as agreement on the goals of the treatment, agreement on the tasks, and a personal bond made up of reciprocal positive feelings. There is no commonly accepted mechanistic model of the alliance. In this paper, we present the alliance in active inference terms as an affiliative behavioral strategy meant to decrease the free energy of the participants' generative models of each other and of their social exchange. In this view, the initial apprehension of affiliation with a stranger is a normative reaction in the therapeutic (or any social) encounter. We identify trust and self-efficacy as processes central to the development of the alliance and suggest an active inference model of the alliance based on their interaction and dynamics. The paper concludes with suggestions for the model's practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comment paper reviews Fossa (2022) from the perspective of the semiotics of inner speech. The syntactic and semantic features of inner speech described in Vygotsky, Thinking and Speech, Chap. 7, are, on the one hand, a source of creativity through the affective dimension of inner spech and, on the other hand, a therapeutic function of psychoanalysis and other forms of psychotherapy. The function of inner speech in the pre-reflective dimension is the focus of Fossa's edited volume. In order to reinforce this argument, the present paper takes as its cue the internal forms of words discussed by Potebnya and examines them. The internal form of words has certain primordial features and evokes a figure (образ; picture). Internal forms have figurative properties. Through this context-independent figuration (phonological, visual image, experiential sense of meaning), semantics causes a unit with other words in a loose semantic linkage. As they are not bound by the external form of segmented speech, they bring about a sense of reification, as if the internal form repeats itself in the proximity of semantic sense, even if the manifested expressive content is different. The internal form of words, in which the form conveys meaning as it is, reveals the semiotic character of dreams and free association, which psychoanalysis uses as clinical material. Many psychotherapies actively use pre-linguistic mediating effects, because surrendering to the internal forms that are repeated in inner speech allows the subject to return to a pre-reflective dimension from which a new subject can be recovered. From the above, this paper has shown that in the boundary zone of the transition from inner speech to outer speech situations, exposure to alterity, to intimate unknown, is involved in the constitution of the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every spring, media coverage emphasizes the "award season", highlighting contributions made by musicians, actors, and professional athletes. Unfortunately, psychologists are not included in these gala celebrations. It seems appropriate to take time to praise the hard work and dedication that is required to publish in an academic journal. The present article summarizes the results from the 3rd annual psychotherapy award program designed to highlight the valuable contributions made in eleven different categories. A total of 81 academic journals were reviewed for their articles published during 2019, and 150 papers were found useful and relevant to the field of psychotherapy. The list was then shortened to 44 articles that were organized into eleven award categories, and the best paper in each category was selected by a panel from the journal's editorial board. The hope is that all psychotherapists will value the contributions being made in these articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapy 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 practice for alliance rupture resolution in a brief integrative therapy is critically examined, calling the attention of both clinicians and researchers to the risk of prescribing and blindly following techniques during therapeutic impasses. Our analysis of metacommunication demonstrates how the therapist's use of a certain technique for resolving threats to the therapeutic alliance can lead to the client's external motivation and compliance, negatively influencing therapeutic outcome. Focusing on the therapist's relational positioning we present two alternative courses of therapeutic action, 'mindfulness in action' and 'embracing the patient's ambivalence', for supporting the client's autonomous motivation for the therapy process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review examined studies on interventions for parents and their children with learning disabilities to offer an overview of interventions (psychological and psychosocial therapies) for mental health problems associated with learning disabilities and the risk factors for mental health problems in children with learning disabilities and their parents. CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, APA PsycArticles, ProQuest, Embase, Social Sciences Citation (Web of Science) were searched for scholarly studies published between 2010 and 2021 on psychosocial interventions, and psychological therapies for learning disabilities, and related developmental disorders. Ten papers involving parents and their child with a learning disability were relevant to the review question and the objective of the review as they looked at a variety of interventions namely, cognitive behaviour therapy, problem solving and assertiveness training, individual and group counselling, emotion regulation, stress management, resilience training, and relaxation therapy. These studies demonstrated support for the assertion that parents and their children with learning disabilities present mental health problems including anxiety and depression. Yet, the review revealed that there are few interventional studies addressing the risk factors for mental health problems among parents and their children with learning disabilities. As such, adopting a socio-ecological or contextual approach to identifying the risk and protective factors for psychopathology in families of children with learning disabilities is especially important to the development of interventions to improve behavioural control as well as the motivational and socio-emotional aspects of challenging behaviours exhibited by children with learning disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between psychology and religion has been widely debated in the field of psychology from its foundation as an empirical science to the present day. One author who was interested in the relationship between psychology and religion, the place of the latter in human nature, and its role in psychotherapy was the Viennese neurologist, psychiatrist, and philosopher Viktor Emil Frankl (1905–1997), the founder of logotherapy. This paper presents Frankl's main ideas about religion, the religious nature of the human being, and the relationship between religiosity, psychotherapy, and logotherapy, as well as a review of the main criticisms he has received in this regard. Frankl always defended the differences and limits between religion and psychotherapy, between the priestly cure of souls and the medical cure of souls, and between the salvific objective of religion and the hygienic objective of psychotherapy. In our opinion, critical authors have failed to appreciate Frankl's efforts to expose this distinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapists from all fields perform difficult and challenging work, trying to help their clients gain insight into their problems and make lasting changes in their thoughts and behaviors. Unfortunately, too often the work of a psychotherapist is minimized, neglected, or disregarded. Where departmental or conference awards may be presented regularly, public recognition for evidence-based and clinically-relevant published work is lacking. The present paper aims to acknowledge the most valuable recent accomplishments in the field of mental health assessment and treatment. Nominations were accepted for works published during 2017, papers of enduring value, and most valuable psychologist, and votes were cast by a panel of judges. These valuable contributions are recommended for all psychotherapists who hope to improve their work with clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document introduces a special issue on technological applications in mental health and mental health services research. The advancements in computer technology have allowed for innovative applications in collecting and analyzing data related to mental health. The use of personal electronic devices and the internet provides a rich stream of data that can offer insights into individuals' mental health. The special issue includes papers on topics such as video therapy, measurements in daily life, and automated coding of psychotherapy sessions. These papers highlight the potential of technology in improving mental health outcomes and expanding the accessibility of mental health services. [Extracted from the article]

Based on the questionnaire survey, this paper developed a theoretical model of the factors influencing consumers' purchase behavior for new energy hybrid vehicles using the theory of planned behavior and structural equation modeling techniques. It then used SPSS and AMOS to perform factor analysis, model fitness, and path analysis to reach the following conclusions: perceived behavioral control, behavioral attitude, and subjective norm have a significant positive influence on behavioral intention, and behavioral intention has a significant influence on actual behavior. However, there is no significant effect of perceived behavioral control on actual purchase behavior, but rather an indirect effect on actual behavior through the mediating variable of behavioral intention. The analysis of the multi-group model based on the individual characteristics of consumers showed that the coefficient of subjective norm on behavioral intention was higher for extroverted consumers than for introverted consumers; the influence of behavioral attitude on behavioral intention was significantly higher for introverted consumers than for subjective norm on behavioral intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prepared for the CMP Special Issue on "Embodied Belonging" guest edited by Dominik Mattes & Claudia Lang. A Japanese medical activist observes that residents of I yoseba i , or underclass enclaves in urban Japan, tend to be abandoned by society in ways that leave a "deep hole inside their body" (Kim [17]). Rather, they draw us into zones of encounter that are cultivated, at times even choreographed, by people whose sociopolitical belonging is well-established - Japanese medical activists in one case (Kim [17]), German ethnographer-authors affiliated with a psychotherapy clinic in the other (von Poser and Willamowski [26]). If in Kim's paper we find medical activists enacting radical creativity, in von Poser and Willamowski's this is the task of the ethnographers themselves. [Extracted from the article]

Efforts to spark the dialogue between affective neuroscience and psychotherapy are underway. A biopsychosocial and contextual approach may work as a framework to integrate environmental and genetic pressures regarding neurobiology, affective experiences, and interpersonal motivations. Contemporary conceptual and empirical findings suggest that underlying primary emotional brain processes may be several affective neurobiological systems (e.g., SEEKING/desire system or DISTRESS/separation system) associated with the human affective experience. Also, is suggested that it is through internal narrative processes that experience-based reflections lead to the higher-order symbolic meaning of specific life themes. Several theoretical models and psychotherapeutic approaches describe emotional needs and interpersonal motivational systems as essential to psychological well-being and mental health. Despite conceptual similarities between these constructs, theoretical approximations of emotional needs, interpersonal motivational systems and life themes are still lacking. Thus, a clear rationale for the underlying neural basis for emotional needs has not been made. In this sense, the present paper aims to make a brief theoretical approximation between neurobiology, needs, motivations and life themes. Several theoretical considerations are described along with empirical directions and future proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the Attachment Mapping Protocol (AMP), which is an assessment and treatment tool for use in individual psychotherapy, systemic family therapy and multifaith spiritual care, using a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of care. Attachment theory has a long and significant history in psychology, with an evolving relationship within the above clinical domains. A central aim of this paper will be to recognize and affirm the extension of attachment theory beyond the traditional parameters of nascent parental, guardianship bonds and individual, developmental psychology, to reveal a much broader spectrum of valid attachment considerations for mental health and spiritual well-being. A case study will be applied to the interviewing instrument to demonstrate its utility for broadening assessment beyond attachment figures to include surrogate attachments of other persons, places and things. A model of spiritual discernment derived from the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola will undergird this larger worldview of attachment considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hope is known to be a crucial factor that can facilitate recovery from psychosis. In contrast, hopelessness has been associated with a variety of poor outcomes for people with psychosis, such as low self-esteem, depression, and suicide. While hope is central to recovery, the concept of hope can be challenging to identify and define. Furthermore, little is known about how psychotherapists can help people with psychosis reawaken a sense of hope that enables them to recover and lead meaningful lives with a severe mental illness. In this paper, the concept of hope is explored based on a selective review of the psychological and philosophical literature and through engagement with first-person accounts of psychosis. Following the review, key principles and interventions are described, including the importance of reckoning with therapist's hope, processing hopelessness, facilitating a sense of belonging, fostering agency, and making meaning of the psychosis and promoting spirituality, that can rekindle a sense of hope. These principles and interventions are transtheoretical and can be applied to a variety of psychotherapeutic orientations. Finally, future directions are considered and possible factors that might enable the formation of hope for people living with psychosis are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The transition to parenthood is a high-risk time in a person's mental health and requires significant psychological adaptation to incorporate the parental role and creates a unique opportunity for intervention. This period has critical significance for infant development and for the emerging attachment relationship. The aim of this review was to identify and describe the effects of psychological interventions delivered in pregnancy which support the transition to parenthood and prepare parents for early parenting. A search of four key databases for papers published since 2000 identified only 13 eligible publications describing seven interventions. The included interventions involved variable treatment approaches, target outcomes and measures, and while they showed important applications of theoretical knowledge in empirical form, the results were highly mixed and aside from one intervention, were not replicated with a variety of samples over time. There are only a limited number of studies available despite strong theoretical and clinical knowledge which suggests these types of interventions would likely to beneficial and extremely important in preventing significant long-term issues. Significantly more research is needed to determine effective interventions which can be implemented in the antenatal period to prepare first-time parents for parenting and to avoid early relational trauma and attachment difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In: 26th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), pp. 1279-1284 (2017) 11 Martins GS, Santos L, Dias J. User-adaptive interaction in social robots: a survey focusing on non-physical interaction. However, when dealing with robots, to make the interaction socially acceptable, legible, and natural from the user's point of view additional challenges arise due to the physical presence of the robot and the required multi-modal interaction and perception capabilities (Rossi et al. [12]). The role of user-adaptive interfaces and interaction is widely recognized in the human-computer interaction (HCI) community to improve the acceptance and naturalness in comparison with non-adaptive ones (Martins et al. [10]). [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents findings of a second trial evaluating telephone-based motivational enhancement therapy (MET) to motivate untreated and unadjudicated men who abuse their intimate partners to explore treatment options. Participants' perceptions of how their abuse is negatively affecting them personally are a highlight of the paper. One hundred forty-one adult men were recruited through social marketing and randomly assigned to the intervention (MET) or comparison (Mail) group. The MET condition consisted of two feedback sessions guided by a personalized feedback report on participants' intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance use. The Mail condition included a mailed educational brochure on IPV and substance use. Results supported the likely effectiveness of MET in short-term reduction of IPV behavior, marijuana use, and increasing motivation for treatment seeking particularly for participants who reported more adverse consequences of IPV to themselves. Findings emphasize the importance of including a focus in interventions on IPV's impact on the abusers themselves. The study's virtual participation and success in reaching and retaining a diverse population of male abusers can contribute to transformative justice and communities looking for alternative early interventions for men of color prior to encountering the criminal justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines a 2006 Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal article (Becker-Weidman in Child Adolesc Soc Work J 23:147-171, ) that purported to show the effectiveness of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). It is suggested that this claim, based only on weak evidence, has been the foundation of a 'woozle' (Nielsen in Psychol Public Policy Law 20:164-180, ), a belief system that persists simply because the original statements have been repeated so often. A history of repetition and republication is traced, and current statements by the UK National Health Service and other sources are presented as evidence that acceptance of DDP began with repetition of the 2006 claims. Suggestions are made for editors and reviewers, who are in a position to prevent the creation of new woozles by carefully examining the claims made in submissions to their journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effectiveness of interventions that aim to improve the mental health of mothers of children with disabilities. Seven databases were searched. Interventions incorporated primarily cognitive-behavioural, psychoeducation, mindfulness or support-group approaches. The Template-for-Intervention-Description-and-Replication guided descriptions. Meta-analyses using a random effect model of randomized controlled trials assessed intervention effects on parenting stress and mental health. Of the 1591 retrieved papers, 31 met criteria to be appraised and 17 were included in the meta-analysis. Cognitive-behavioural approaches reduced parenting stress [2 studies, n = 64, pooled Standardized-Mean-Difference (SMD) = 0.86, 95% CI (0.43, 1.29)] and improved mental health [3 studies, n = 186, pooled SMD = 1.14, 95% CI (0.12, 2.17)], psychoeducation approaches improved mental health [2 studies, n = 165, SMD = 0.60, 95% CI (0.17, 1.03)]. Cognitive-behavioural and psychoeducation interventions are effective. Further research and clinical guidelines are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urgent calls by the younger generation and the scientific community to approach sustainability only seem to scratch the surface of individuals' awareness while ecological destruction moves forward. In this regard, current dominant mindsets claiming a human–nature separation appear to hamper change by not granting nature dignity and her own voice. Therefore, the scientific community is inviting us to embrace Indigenous ontologies and an overall spiritual connectedness with nature in our lives. Yet, in times of crisis, it is unclear how individuals can overcome prevailing mind-action gaps—and instead turn towards sustainable caring human–nature relationships. Against this background, this conceptual paper elaborates, in a first step, individual human–nature resonance as a relational integrative framework to study psychological transformation processes and their supporting capabilities. In a second step, a ritual-based intervention is elaborated to nurture the quality of this relationship between human and nonhuman nature which is experientially enriched with insights from psychotherapy. Transdisciplinary research in the form of self-experience completes the research process. Eventually, we plead for openness in favor of adopting "lived wholeness" as a solution for sustainability transformations—of ourselves, science, and our relationship with nonhuman nature. Including icons (concept: Müller, design: Bongaerts; IOER 2022) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between biology and the psy disciplines (psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy) is a complex one. Many scholars have criticized how these disciplines have been biologized in the 20th century, especially since the emergence of psychopharmacology, neuroscience, and genetic research. However, biology is not just a laboratory-based science of chemical compounds, scanners, and DNA sequencing, but also a field science based on observations of organisms in their milieus. In this paper, we draw a contrast between laboratory-based biology with a focus on brains and genes, and an ecology-based biology with a focus on lives and niches. Our argument is philosophical in nature – building partly on Wittgenstein as a "philosopher of life" – to the effect that the psy sciences need not just less biologization of the former kind, but also more biologization of the latter kind to avoid a prevalent mentalism. Not least when it comes to an understanding of psychological distress, which can favorably be viewed situationally and coupled to human lives in ecological niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is limited information available regarding the use of trauma modalities within the transgender and gender diverse community (TGD) to address gender-based trauma, including discrimination and invalidation, particularly for adolescents and young adults (AYA). The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel treatment approach to addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms within TGD AYA, inclusive of gender-based trauma. Methods: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) was implemented as a brief intervention for TGD AYA who had a positive screening for PTSD symptomatology. Measures were used to assess PTSD symptoms, as well as changes in self-perceived resilience and positive well-being. Two case vignettes are provided to demonstrate the adaptations made to be responsive to the unique needs of TGD AYA for trauma processing. Results: Preliminary outcomes from two case studies indicate the strength of NET when working with TGD AYA who face multiple traumatic events and continue to experience invalidation. Conclusion: NET shows promise as an effective brief intervention to reduce PTSD symptomology and increase resiliency in TGD AYA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way we conceptualize and understand the human spirit has a direct bearing on how we design research and how we provide clinical interventions for those seeking help from mental health practitioners. Three disciplines contribute to ways we can understand the human spirit: philosophy, theology, and psychology. This paper takes a brief look at contributions made by each of these disciplines and to the two prominent models of human ontology, the two-dimensional (spirit being a component of psyche) and the three-dimensional (spirit being its own dimension, albeit interrelated with psyche and soma). Against this backdrop, the paper sketches the contours of the human spirit, proposing it to be a separate dimension that is interrelated with the other two ontological dimensions. The contours suggest its realm of experience, its functions, and its characteristics. Finally, clinical examples are given that demonstrate the clinical efficacy of using the three-dimensional model in psychotherapy settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who have been removed from their homes as a result of maltreatment and abuse and have been placed in foster care or are in the process of adoption often continue to meet their birth parents by court decision. This contact is often held under supervision. Supervised contact is intended to provide children the opportunity to maintain the parent-child relationship in a safe and neutral setting. Findings have shown that in some cases supervised contact can be harmful, undermining the children's sense of security and placement stability. It has been suggested that agencies have limited practice skills to help build constructive relationships through contact visits, and may thereby be failing to offer sufficient support for supervised contact. While the literature highlights various aspects that need to be implemented to improve visits, there is a lack of a trauma-informed approach, whereby professionals supervising visits can address the traumatic experiences that led to the circumstances of supervised visitation and respond to the difficult emotions of all those involved. This paper provides practice guidelines for professionals accompanying supervised visits using principles of Child-Parent Psychotherapy, a trauma-informed dyadic intervention model for young children. Case vignettes illustrate how professionals supervising contact might address the child's trauma history and help birth parents and foster/adoptive parents respond to the child's attachment needs following trauma, and how professionals can support birth parents and foster/adoptive parents, thereby promoting safety and improving child-parent interactions. Recommendations are offered for attaining the best clinical practices in supervised contact, using seven practical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principles of CBT emphasize the interactions among cognition, emotion, and behavior. CBT's origins lie in Stoicism philosophy and share similarities with the ideas of Confucianism, Taoism, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China. The idea of mind–body regulation in traditional Chinese culture has laid a cultural foundation for the promotion of CBT in China. This paper analyzes the applicability and challenges of CBT in China based on the current development of CBT in mainland China and the learning and practice of CBT therapists. It also explores the potential further development of CBT in China and the integration of CBT with the Chinese culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused concern regarding suicide risk mitigation while requiring many clinicians to transition to telehealth. We hypothesized that this transition would increase suicide intent, suicide desire, and depressive symptom ratings from pre-COVID-19 to peri-COVID-19. Patients at a southeastern US outpatient psychotherapy training clinic reported on suicide risk and depressive symptoms before and after the transition to telehealth treatment. Additionally, the effect of continuation of treatment on suicide risk was also analyzed. Suicide risk levels (n=39) and depressive symptoms (n=25) did not increase following the transition to telehealth. Self-reported suicide desire ratings significantly decreased from pre- to peri-pandemic assessments. Findings suggest that telehealth, among other sociocultural factors, became somewhat of a "port in a storm," such that it may have provided protections from exacerbations of mental health concerns and further vulnerabilities towards increased suicide risk. This paper concludes with relevant implications and suggestions for community health clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescence is a critical period for social emotional development. The need to focus on social emotional competencies is exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic. Objective: This systematic review paper provides a collective account of mindfulness interventions conducted exclusively with adolescent students in an educational setting (mean age 11 to 18) with the sole focus on social emotional and behavioral competencies primarily as outlined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (Safe and sound: an educational leader's guide to evidence-based social and emotional learning programs, Author, Chicago, IL, 2003, 2011). Method: Mindfulness literature in the past 15 years, i.e., Jan 2008–Feb 2023 was reviewed. Additionally, the type of intervention implemented, dosage, delivery, measures used, and targets of intervention were examined. All the articles were also assessed for their methodological quality using the EPHPP quality assessment tool for quantitative studies (Effective Public Health Practice Project in Quality assessment tool for quantitative studies, Effective Public Health Practice Project, Hamilton, ON, 1998. https://merst.ca/ephpp/). Results: With less than one third of the 30 included studies rated as strong, there appears to be moderate evidence for the effectiveness of MBIs on adolescent social emotional competencies. Overall, there appears to be mixed evidence for the effectiveness of MBIs on adolescents' self-awareness, social awareness, social skills, with relatively more consistent evidence that MBIs positively impact their self-management (e.g., emotional regulation). We classify broader characteristics of the MBIs that could help explain some of the differences in effectiveness into three categories: intervention implementation related (e.g., dosage), method related (e.g., psychometric properties), and participant related (e.g., age and gender). Conclusion: Future work on MBIs in schools needs to consider the quality of and factors known to impact effective implementation and resultant social emotional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In this paper we review the current literature on the clinical problem that some patients do not achieve response after adequately conducted psychotherapy. We explicate our understanding of nonresponse and treatment resistance including the operational definitions, summarize the theoretical explanations and empirical studies and put forward possible study designs and treatment options. Methods: Literature search using PubMed and Web of Science. Results: For the domain of psychotherapy, the term treatment resistance does not seem appropriate; instead, we use the more descriptive terms nonresponse and recurrent nonresponse. Generally, this topic is far less represented in psychotherapy than in pharmacotherapy. Controlled switching studies with a switch from pharmacotherapy to psychotherapy are rare and those switching from one psychotherapeutic approach to another are nearly nonexistent. Building on clinical considerations, we propose a flow-chart for clinical decision making after nonresponse in psychotherapy. Discussion: Learning from errors is highly beneficial. This principle should be more consistently followed up in psychotherapy research as well as in supervision and training. Guidelines should include consensual and evidence-based advice on how to deal with nonresponse and recurring nonresponse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at understanding and improving psychological therapies as they are conducted in clinical routine, practice-oriented research (POR) is now a well-established approach to the scientific foundations of mental health care services. Resting on the accumulation of a wide range of practice-based evidence related to treatment outcome and process, as well as factors associated with the participants of psychotherapy and its context, POR is ripe for new developments – regarding what to investigate and how to investigate it. This paper is the introduction of a series devoted to recent advances and future directions of POR as their pertained to routine outcome monitoring, technologies and artificial intelligence, the integration of constructs and methods from program evaluation and implementation science, and the investigation of populations with limited financial resources across various regions of the world. The series also includes commentaries from two leaders of POR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic case studies are often placed at the low end of evidence-based practice (EBP) due to lack of critical appraisal. This paper seeks to attend to this research gap by introducing a novel Case Study Evaluation-tool (CaSE). First, issues around knowledge generation and validity are assessed in both EBP and practice-based evidence (PBE) paradigms. Although systematic case studies are more aligned with PBE paradigm, the paper argues for a complimentary, third way approach between the two paradigms and their 'exemplary' methodologies: case studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Second, the paper argues that all forms of research can produce 'valid evidence' but the validity itself needs to be assessed against each specific research method and purpose. Existing appraisal tools for qualitative research (JBI, CASP, ETQS) are shown to have limited relevance for the appraisal of systematic case studies through a comparative tool assessment. Third, the paper develops purpose-oriented evaluation criteria for systematic case studies through CaSE Checklist for Essential Components in Systematic Case Studies and CaSE Purpose-based Evaluative Framework for Systematic Case Studies. The checklist approach aids reviewers in assessing the presence or absence of essential case study components (internal validity). The framework approach aims to assess the effectiveness of each case against its set out research objectives and aims (external validity), based on different systematic case study purposes in psychotherapy. Finally, the paper demonstrates the application of the tool with a case example and notes further research trajectories for the development of CaSE tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the premises that the conscious, active and purposeful use of self by the therapist in the therapeutic process is an essential aptitude in establishing an effective therapeutic relationship, and that this therapeutically purposeful use of self can and should be incorporated in the training of all therapists in a explicitly systematic manner. The paper will attempt to identify the contributions of the "what and how" the use of self by therapists contributes to the therapeutic process. First of all, therapists' use of self is meant to be viewed as a Common Factor as defined by Sprenkle, Davis & Lebow (2009), which is a perspective about the effectiveness of therapy that "asserts that the qualities and capabilities of the person offering the treatment are more important than the treatment itself" (p. 4). Secondly, the use of self by therapists emphasizes developing the skill set of the therapist in the conscious, active and purposeful use of self as is in the moment of the therapeutic engagement with clients, and does so without denying the importance of therapists working to resolve personal issues of theirs that may interfere with the therapist's professional effectiveness. Therapists' use of self gives particular emphasis to the purposeful use of self as is in therapy's relationship, assessment and interventions whatever the therapy model (Aponte & Kissil, 2016). Thirdly, the use of self represents an aptitude that can be developed and refined through well elaborated structures for schooling therapists in the therapeutic use of all they bring of their personal selves to the therapy relationship including through the use of their human vulnerabilities as they exist at the moment of empathic engagement with clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socratic questioning is employed in therapeutic interventions when the beliefs that clients express are critically evaluated using reason and logic. In this paper, that critical lens is turned back on the use of Socratic questioning to examine problems in its philosophical grounding. This critique is informed by our historic and cultural understanding of the life of Socrates. The therapeutic value of a 'not knowing' position is observed, and the question of whether this position is genuine or feigned is explored. Socratic questioning and irony are thereby considered in relation to agency and veiled attacks. A problematic move towards stoicism is identified, in which emotional expression might be devalued in the promotion of a passive and indifferent attitude towards life-experiences. It is observed that, as a form of phenomenological enquiry, Socratic questioning enables an attunement to the facticity of the client's life and interpersonal existence. An ironic edge is valued in maintaining emotive understandings which enable the client to exercise agency. A form of Socratic questioning is recommended, in which the client can take a stance in relation to where it is that they find themselves. Helping them to move into possible and preferred futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early onset psychosis (EOP), referring to psychosis with onset before the age of 18 years, is a more severe form of psychosis associated with worse prognosis. While medication is the treatment of choice, psychological interventions are also considered to have an important role in the management of symptoms and disability associated with this condition. The present review aimed to explore the effectiveness of such interventions. Method: An electronic search was conducted on the Embase, Medline, and PsychInfo databases for papers of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) referring to psychological interventions in EOP. References of identified papers were hand searched for additional studies. Identified studies were quality assessed. Results: Eight studies were included in the present review evaluating cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a family intervention and psychoeducation. CRT was associated with improvement in cognitive function and CBT and CRT seem to also have a positive effect in psychosocial functioning. Symptom reduction appears to not be significantly affected by the proposed treatments. Conclusions: There is some evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychological interventions in EOP. However, most research on adolescents is focused on CRT and its effects on cognitive deficits. More studies on the effects of psychological interventions in EOP are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of suicidal ideation and behavior than their cisgender, heterosexual peers, and these disparities have created a need for academic exploration of the risk factors and protective factors surrounding LGBTQ+ youth suicide (Taliaferro and Muehlenkamp in Acad Pediatr 17:715–722; Toomey et al. in J Youth Adolesc 48:788–801; Ybarra et al. in: Espelage et al. (eds) Youth suicide and bullying: challenges and strategies for prevention and intervention, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014). This paper reviews the research that has been completed on these topics in the last 10 years. A variety of risk factors have contributed to higher rates of suicidal ideation, attempts, and completion: minority stress, interpersonal constructs, race, transgender identity, partner violence, homelessness, school victimization, and a lack of school support (Joiner in Why people die by suicide, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 2005; Meyer in Psychol Bull 129:674–697; Mustanski and Liu in Arch Sex Behav 42:437–448; Van Orden et al. in Psychol Rev 117:575–600). Furthermore, a range of protective factors have been connected with lower rates of suicidal ideation and behavior: gender and sexuality alliances, LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, LGBTQ+ affirming school policies, familial support, peer support, and mental health interventions (Poteat and Rivers in Youth suicide and bullying: challenges and strategies for prevention and intervention, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014; Stone et al. in Suicide Life Threat Behav 45:415–430; Whitaker et al. in J Adolesc Health 58:63–68). Areas for future research are recommended, including examining diverse LGBTQ+ subpopulations and developing standard measurements for LGBTQ+ identities. The paper concludes with highlights from the past 10 years of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapy researchers have developed a body of research on the construct of therapist responsiveness. This literature seeks a clearer picture of how therapists adapt their relational and intervention strategies to their individual clients. The goal of this review was to summarize this literature and generate clinical recommendations. We used the PsycINFO database to identify theoretical papers, case studies, quantitative research, and qualitative research focused upon therapist responsiveness. After exclusion criteria were applied, 75 articles were included in the final thematic analysis. A thematic analysis organized the findings into categories that identified the contextual cues for responsiveness and summarized the clinical recommendations being made. These initial categories then were grouped into three overarching categories that describe responsiveness within the therapeutic relational context, within psychotherapy interventions, and in response to client characteristics. Within the presentation of findings, the methodological forms of support for each claim were examined to provide direction to the field. Based upon the findings, guiding principles were developed to identify contextual markers to guide responsiveness and enhance clinical practice. In addition, suggestions for future therapist training and directions for research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses confusion apparent in the discussion of psychological therapies. Such confusion relates to the differentiation, or lack of, of therapy constructs across categorical levels. Conceptual confusion is identified in terms of an apparent failure to differentiate theoretical frameworks of human functioning, specific therapy packages, and individual techniques from one another. Confusing to which level various concepts belong results in misunderstandings in psychological research, practice and education. The paper further sets out to provide a framework to help delineate these conceptual levels and to highlight the problems arising from confusing them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]