Form Of Psychological Treatment Research Articles

When Disaster Strikes in Time of War: Traditional Healing and Psychosocial Training Help Divided Communities Mourn Together

ABSTRACTIn December 2004 a tsunami destroyed the whole coastal line, killing more than 10,000 people in the district of Ampara alone and left many injured and homeless. But even before 2004 the whole population had faced 20 years of civil war, and in 2006 this war started again. People suffer from the separation from loved ones due to death or disappearance through natural disaster, man‐made disaster and destruction, or separation from displacement out of poverty. A systematic long‐term training program for trauma counseling in Sri Lanka was started soon after the tsunami in the beginning of 2005. Located in the Ampara District, a Center for Psychosocial Care was created to address the special needs of children and youth. The program taught basic developmental psychology, special affects of traumatization on children, sequential traumatization, and forms of psychological interventions and psychotherapeutic approaches. Western concepts were discussed in respect to case stories from eastern Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan cultural practices and beliefs. An amalgamation of Western theoretical knowledge and Sri Lankan traditions and history created a new, culturally appropriate approach for working‐through trauma and grieving. Mindful intervention by Westerners and recognition of social and political climates, allowed for our students to own the program and individuals to control their own healing processes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Internet-based treatment after pregnancy loss: concept and case study

The loss of a child during pregnancy results in significant psychological stress for many women, and may lead to long-lasting grief and psychological illnesses. However, only a small percentage of those affected seek or receive traditional forms of psychological treatment, and therefore novel treatment approaches and methods are required. This article introduces an Internet-based psychotherapy programme for patients after pregnancy loss. The five-week intervention comprises two components: structured writing disclosure and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Communication between the therapist and patient is text-based and asynchronous. The writing protocol consists of three treatment phases: self-confrontation, cognitive reappraisal and social sharing. A case report is presented to illustrate the course of the treatment and clinical considerations associated with delivering Internet-based interventions to patients after pregnancy loss.

Psoriasis as a psychodermatology disease

<p>Skin lesions have a strong influence on the mental health. Literature indicates the complex interrelationships between psychosocial factors and psoriasis, which substantially reduce the quality of life of these patients. These interrelationships are based on numerous interactions that exist between the immune, nervous and endocrine systems and they are the basis of interactions that exist between mental and somatic health and the environment. Psychodermatology was developed as a new interdisciplinary field, a connection between psychiatry and dermatology. More than just cosmetic disfigurement, psoriasis is associated with various psychopathological problems that may have an impact on patients, their families and society. Numerous psychological disturbances occur in patients with psoriasis. Also, a significant psychiatric comorbidity was found in patients with psoriasis. Exacerbation of psoriasis leads to a deterioration of mental health. The treatment of psoriasis requires an interdisciplinary approach of a dermatologist and a psychiatrist. Various forms of psychological interventions have been proposed as a potentially useful addition to a standard pharmacological treatment of psoriasis. </p>

A intervenção do psicólogo em contextos de educação especial na grande Florianópolis

A educação especial tem sido um contexto de inserção do psicólogo na área educacional. À luz das políticas de inclusão vigentes, a atuação do psicólogo se volta à promoção de práticas educacionais que favoreçam a participação e aprendizado de todos os alunos. A formação de profissionais na área da educação demanda o estudo das necessidades sociais que irão atender. Somente a partir de dados concretos acerca do contexto e das possibilidades de intervenção pode-se identificar os conhecimentos que deverão ser ensinados. Entretanto, são raros os estudos que investigam as formas contemporâneas de intervenção da psicologia na educação especial. Assim, reunir dados sobre essa atuação permite instrumentalizar a reflexão sobre a formação em psicologia educacional. Esse trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa qualitativa e exploratória que objetivou descrever as características da atuação de psicólogos da Grande Florianópolis vinculados à instituições de educação especial. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. As categorizações foram decorrentes do dialogo estabelecido nas entrevistas e, portanto, constituídas posteriormente. A análise dos dados permitiu verificar a sobreposição das três formas de intervenção que historicamente definiram a atuação do psicólogo nessa área, a saber, a segregação, a integração e a inclusão, sendo o foco principal de atuação centrada no aluno com queixa escolar e/ou com suspeita de deficiência intelectual. Diante disso, conclui-se esse estudo ressaltando a importância dos psicólogos refletirem sobre as implicações das políticas inclusivas para sua prática profissional.

Early psychological interventions to treat acute traumatic stress symptoms.

The amelioration of psychological distress following traumatic events is a major concern. Systematic reviews suggest that interventions targeted at all of those exposed to such events are not effective at preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recently other forms of intervention have been developed with the aim of treating acute traumatic stress problems. To perform a systematic review of randomised controlled trials of all psychological treatments and interventions commenced within three months of a traumatic event aimed at treating acute traumatic stress reactions. The review followed the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration. Systematic searches were performed of of CCDAN Registers up to August 2008. Editions of key journals were searched by hand over a period of two years; personal communication was undertaken with key experts in the field; online discussion fora were searched. Randomised controlled trials of any psychological intervention or treatment designed to reduce acute traumatic stress symptoms, with the exception of single session interventions. Data were entered and analysed for summary effects using Review Manager 5.0 software. Standardised mean differences were calculated for continuous variable outcome data. Relative risks were calculated for dichotomous outcome data. When statistical heterogeneity was present a random effects model was applied. Fifteen studies (two with long term follow-up studies) were identified examining a range of interventions.In terms of main findings, twelve studies evaluated brief trauma focused cognitive behavioural interventions (TF-CBT). TF-CBT was more effective than a waiting list intervention (6 studies, 471 participants; SMD -0.64, 95% CI -1.06, -0.23) and supportive counselling (4 studies, 198 participants; SMD -0.67, 95% CI -1.12, -0.23). Effects against supportive counselling were still present at 6 month follow-up (4 studies, 170 participants; SMD -0.64, 95% CI -1.02, -0.25). There was no evidence of the effectiveness of a structured writing intervention when compared against minimal intervention (2 studies, 149 participants; SMD -0.15, 95% CI -0.48, 0.17). There was evidence that individual TF-CBT was effective for individuals with acute traumatic stress symptoms compared to both waiting list and supportive counselling interventions. The quality of trials included was variable and sample sizes were often small. There was considerable clinical heterogeneity in the included studies and unexplained statistical heterogeneity observed in some comparisons. This suggests the need for caution in interpreting the results of this review. Additional high quality trials with longer follow up periods are required to further test TF-CBT and other forms of psychological intervention.

The development of psychological intervention after disaster in China

The first part of this paper considers the development of psychologists' ideas about the most appropriate forms of psychological interventions needed after natural disasters. The second section considers how far China has gone to date in developing its psychological intervention response plan for disasters. This is followed by some comments based on personal experience of attending the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake in 2008. Finally, there are some reflections about what might be useful for Chinese psychologists' and counsellors' future planning for post-disaster interventions in China.

Indications for psychological intervention in patients with psoriasis

Various forms of psychological interventions have since long been proposed as potentially helpful adjuncts to standard pharmacological therapy of psoriasis. All studies investigating the effectiveness of psychological intervention in psoriasis reported its positive impact on the patients' psychological well-being and some studies also reported improvements in the skin condition as a result of psychotherapy. When making a decision about the referral of a given patient to the psychologist, both clinical (psoriasis-specific) and general (psychotherapy-specific) indications should be taken into consideration. This can allow a better identification of those psoriasis patients who are in real need for psychological intervention and who are most likely to benefit from it.

Psychological Intervention Following Implantation of an Implantable Defibrillator: A Review and Future Recommendations

The medical benefits of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are unequivocal, but a subgroup of patients experiences emotional difficulties following implantation. For this subgroup, some form of psychological intervention may be warranted. This review provides an overview of current evidence on the efficacy of psychological intervention in ICD patients and recommendations for future research. We searched the PubMed and PsycInfo databases in the period between January 1980 and April 2007, using a set of a priori determined keywords. Based on the search and a hand search of the reference lists of the included articles, we identified nine studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies used a randomized controlled trial design, but studies varied considerably in sample size, response, attrition rate, and type of intervention. However, most interventions were multifactorial, using cognitive behavioral therapy as one of the mainstays of treatment. Overall, psychological interventions seem to have little impact on shocks and heart rate variability. Some studies found a decrease in depressive symptoms and gains in quality of life, but the most notable effects are seen in improved exercise capacity and reductions in anxiety. Effect sizes for changes in anxiety in the intervention group ranged from small to large compared to small in the usual care group, using Cohen's effect size index. Preliminary evidence from small-scale intervention trials suggests that psychological intervention is worthwhile in ICD patients. Nevertheless, large-scale, well-designed trials are warranted to substantiate these findings. A multifactorial approach using a cognitive behavioral component paired with exercise training is likely to be the most successful.

Review of The Mind in Therapy: Cognitive Science for Practice.

KATHERINE D. ARBUTHNOTT, DENNIS W. ARBUTHNOTT and VALERIE A. THOMPSON The Mind in Therapy: Cognitive Science for Practice Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2006, 432 pages (ISBN 0-8058-5675-7, US$49.95 Paperback) Reviewed by DAVIDJ. A. DOZOIS Cognitive science has undoubtedly contributed importantly to our understanding of adaptive and maladaptive human functioning and will increasingly continue to do so. Basic cognitive science offers a tremendous wealth of knowledge about various processes and mechanisms that are fundamental to a client's functioning, a therapist's efficacy, and the client-therapist interaction. Among other forms of psychological interventions, cognitive therapy has explicitly adopted constructs and adapted methodologies from cognitive science and has evolved conceptually and clinically as a result of this empirical work (cf. Clark & Fairburn, 1997). As McFaIl and Townsend (1998) cogently argued, however, most clinical psychologists focus on idiographic solutions to a client's problems and pay less attention to the nomothetic solutions that pertain to a broader range of issues: It is as if the two worlds of psychology not only moved in independent orbits, but also occupied different corners of the universe. Many clinical psychologists seem unaware of and unaffected by developments and discoveries in the nomothetic world, even when these potentially could help them understand, assess, treat, predict, and prevent psychopathology and other suffering (p. 325). Clinical science and practice, they contend, would benefit from greater integration with cognitive science. In The Mind in Therapy: Cognitive Science for Practice, Arbuthnott, Arbuthnott, and Thompson attempt to bridge this gap by grounding in basic cognitive science. They do not intend to do so in the way that empirically based treatment does (i.e., by demonstrating what works for which particular psychiatric difficulties or by examining what are the effective ingredients of therapy) ; rather, their text applies the conceptual underpinnings of cognitive science, and its empirical findings, to particular practical issues. This book is thus timely, innovative, and interesting. In 16 chapters, the authors review different areas of cognitive research and emphasize findings relevant to the theoretical and applied aspects of psychotherapy. An overarching objective of the book is to better inform practitioners about some of the key cognitive variables that impact clients, therapists, and the therapy process. Each chapter begins with general definitions of key terms and explains how various cognitive constructs, and the research literature surrounding them, are important to psychotherapy. Many chapters also include case illustrations to translate these concepts into application. In Chapter 1, the authors make the case that cognitive processes are essential to all forms of in that they provide the pathways for treatment change or set up constraints to psychotherapeutic intervention. In the second chapter, Arbuthnott and her co-authors contextualize the processes and methods of within the framework of problem-solving. They review the literature on what facilitates effective problem-solving and how to overcome deficits and impasses. Chapter 3 provides a good review of memory retrieval and priming. The issue of how past memories are activated is described, vis-a-vis an associated network, and recommendations are made for how therapists might elicit and reframe a client's autobiographical memories in the most effective manner possible. The literature pertaining to autobiographical memory, the lifeblood of psychotherapy (p. 55) is further elaborated upon in Chapters 4 and 5. Common errors in autobiographical memory (e.g., overconfidence, schematic knowledge errors) are also described and the implications for therapists highlighted. In Chapter 6, prospective memory is discussed in the context of between-session extratherapy tasks. …

Health-Related Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents With Extreme Obesity Presenting for Bariatric Surgery

We sought to document health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment and depressive symptomatology in adolescents with extreme obesity considering surgical weight loss. A retrospective review of clinical data was conducted for 33 consecutive extremely obese adolescents presenting for evaluation at a bariatric surgery program for adolescents. Adolescents completed the PedsQL and the Beck Depression Inventory. Mothers completed the parent-proxy PedsQL and the Child Behavior Checklist. HRQoL scores from both informants were markedly impaired relative to published norms on healthy youth. Moderate agreement was found for self-reported and parent-proxy HRQoL. Approximately 30% of youth met criteria for clinically significant depressive symptoms when based on self-report and 45% of youth when based on mother report. Only 21% of youth were currently engaged in some form of psychological treatment (eg, medication or therapy). The day-to-day life of adolescents with extreme obesity seeking bariatric surgery is globally and severely impaired. However, only some of these adolescents demonstrate clinically significant levels of depressive symptomatology. These data will be critical to the development of more informed patient selection criteria and more efficacious treatment paradigms for this vulnerable pediatric subgroup.

Präoperative Psychoedukation bei einem schwer traumatisierten Kind

N., an 8-year-old girl with a long term history of severe sexual abuse and maltreatment with consecutive mental disorders, was scheduled for surgery of clubfeet. The team consisting of an anesthesiologist, a psychologist and a pediatrician decided to prepare the girl for surgery without time pressure. In a first step we applied psychoeducation to obtain a certain degree of confidence. Psychoeducation is a special form of psychological treatment aiming to define cause and goal of surgery together with the patient and relatives. In a further step the anesthesiologist familiarized her with the surgical procedure and the operating theatre. Finally a careful anesthesia with a pain-free postoperative period was applied. Even extremely traumatized children can be prepared for surgery by the help of psychoeducative methods, without time pressure, a careful and pain-free anesthesia and an experienced team of doctors.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: diagnosis, aetiology, treatment and prognosis

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are episodes of altered movement, sensation or experience resembling epileptic seizures, but associated with pathopsychological processes and not with ictal electrical discharges in the brain. The prevalence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures is equivalent to about 4% of that of epilepsy. The early recognition of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures is important if delays in the treatment of underlying or associated psychopathology and iatrogenic harm due to inappropriate treatment of seizures with antiepileptic drugs are to be avoided. The most helpful pointers to a diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures rather than epileptic events are perhaps seizures which occur in stressful situations (for instance seizures in front of a doctor), seizures of long duration (especially if they cause recurrent admissions to hospital), prolonged atonic seizures and closed eyes during tonic-clonic-like seizures. If the diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures is suspected or the diagnosis of epilepsy is in doubt, the recording of a typical event with video-EEG should be considered. Seizure provocation techniques can be helpful in making a firm diagnosis in patients with infrequent seizures in whom no spontaneous event could be recorded with video-EEG monitoring. There is no single pathway to psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. A range of predisposing, precipitating or perpetuating factors can be identified. Childhood trauma (especially sexual abuse), stressful life events, a dysfunctional home and social environment, psychiatric comorbidity, personality pathology, epilepsy, learning disability and other organic brain disorders and abnormalities can all play an aetiological role. Different factors may interact with each other. Precipitating factors may allow patients to accept that there is a link between their emotions or thoughts and seizures. This can help clinicians to engage them in a therapeutic relationship. Perpetuating factors are often the main focus of treatment. Ongoing abuse, unresolvable dilemmas, poor coping strategies and communication, psychiatric comorbidity, low IQ and social status as well as financial and social illness gain commonly perpetuate psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. In view of the diversity of possible aetiological factors, treatment has to be tailored to individual patients. It should, however, share some common elements: the non-confrontational, sympathetic communication of the diagnosis and an offer of psychological treatment or case management for more intractable patients. There is no information about which form of psychological treatment is best at present. In the wider field of the psychological treatment of medically unexplained symptoms the evidence is strongest for variants of cognitive behavioural therapy, but psychoanalytical approaches have also been used. Medication has a limited (and usually purely supportive) role. Antidepressants can be used to modify emotional dysregulation and low-dose neuroleptics can be useful in some patients with distressing dissociative symptoms. At present, social and seizure outcome are poor. Over two thirds of patients continue to have seizures 12 years after manifestation and over half receive social benefits. The fact that many patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures continue to be treated with antiepileptic drugs by nonepilepsy specialists after a clear diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures has been made suggests that specialist follow-up should be offered more widely to facilitate regular critical review and (if appropriate) retention of the diagnosis. It is hoped that earlier identification, improved communication of the diagnosis and the offer of appropriate psychological treatment to more patients will improve the outcome in the future.

Paradoxes of Treatment in Juvenile Corrections

Youth offenders who are sentenced to correctional institutions are typically required to participate in various forms of psychological treatment. Despite high costs and poor results associated with these placements, little is known about how psychological treatment strategies are integrated into traditional correctional models or how these essentially competing philosophies operate together. Through field observations and semi-structured interviews, the authors expose several paradoxes of treatment that emerged in a county juvenile correctional facility for youthful male offenders in a large Midwestern American city. The authors provide a critical perspective on the blending of treatment and correctional approaches to juvenile rehabilitation.

Psychosocial Interventions for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

A diagnosis of head and neck cancer, like any cancer diagnosis, is often accompanied by much fear and uncertainty. In addition, patients with head and neck cancer face difficulties in eating, chewing, drinking, breathing, speaking, as well as changes in appearance. Simultaneously, the burden of head and neck cancer is often manifested in psychosocial dysfunction, which can have a negative impact on quality of life. Although a phenomenon well recognized, little is known about many factors that influence or impact psychosocial dysfunction in individuals with head and neck cancer. Even less is known about the effective management of psychosocial dysfunction. To date, there is evidence to suggest that psychosocial interventions generally provide an overall positive effect. Moreover, some intervention studies, such as education alone, have failed to achieve the desired results. In addition, some studies suggest an advantage of cognitive- behavioral therapy over other forms of psychological treatment. With the growing impetus to investigate factors associated with psychosocial dysfunction, and considerable advancement in the development and validation of many global and disease-specific measures, there is an opportunity for further research to develop an appropriate clinical intervention program for such patients.

Different forms of psychological interventions in dementia

Continuing the series on palliative care and dementia, the authors examine a wide range of psychological therapies, including traditional and some newer approaches.

The development and pilot testing of a Focused Education and Psychotherapy Program (FEPP) for treatment of depression in general practice

Background: Studies demonstrating efficacy of psychological therapies have predominantly been conducted in specialist psychiatric settings. Investigation of the effectiveness of these therapies when provided by general practitioners (GPs) in their specific work setting is lacking and much needed. Objectives: To develop and pilot test a new education and treatment program to assist GPs manage patients with a depressive illness. The Focused Education and Psychotherapy Program (FEPP) is intended to provide GPs and patients with a treatment and education program for the management of depressive illness using a psychological intervention within the cost and time constraints of general practice. Methods: Following consultation, we developed a draft program. This program incorporates established psychological therapies, Interpersonal Counselling (IPC) and Cognitive Behavioural strategies with patient education in a general practitioner manual and accompanying patient handbook. FEPP was reviewed by focus groups and was pilot tested using a simulated depressed patient who Mailed the program with four GPs. Results: Consultation and pilot testing of the program identified important issues for both GPs and their patients. These were incorporated into the final version of the program, which includes a 12-week acute phase of treatment followed by a maintenance program and is based on IPC and cognitive behavioural strategies, and patient and GP education utilising a manualised format. Conclusions: A practical and accessible form of psychological treatment for the general practice setting has been developed. Effectiveness of this program now needs to be established.

Care of the Psyche: A History of Psychological Healing.

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Book Forum: PERSONALITY AND ITS DISORDERSFull AccessCare of the Psyche: A History of Psychological Healing,SANDER L. GILMAN, PH.D., SANDER L. GILMANSearch for more papers by this author, PH.D., Chicago, Ill.Published Online:1 Mar 2000AboutSectionsView EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail One of the interesting findings in clinical psychiatry in the past few years is that psychological interventions seem to be about as effective as any other means in treating many forms of mental illness. Neuropsychologists and the new brain science have begun to uncover how the brain “cures” itself through psychological intervention. The power of psychological treatment may well turn out to be the same power found in psychotropic medication.Stanley Jackson, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Medical History at Yale University and the dean of American historians of psychiatry, has now provided a comprehensive history of the models and forms of psychological treatment of mental illness in the West. No matter what the form of psychological intervention, whether Greco-Roman music therapy or psychoanalysis, all stand in the rather straight line of a noninvasive, productive response to the debilitating effects of whatever form of mental illness is defined in the society at any given moment. Whether or not we see the general clinical categories of mental illness as constant over history is not placed at the center of Jackson’s argument here. What is striking about his history is that he focuses on the treatments and not the diseases. Ancient melancholy may not be identical to nineteenth-century depression or late twentieth-century bipolar disorder. What is fascinating in Jackson’s narrative is that, although physicians respond to the illnesses as defined in their time and culture, their psychological approaches have a surprising continuity. The concept of the illness seems somewhat removed from the concept of healing. Psychological treatments are often defined in opposition to forms of somatic intervention, from the potions of the ancient pharmacopoeia, to the “vigorous” cures of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, to modern-day drug therapy.Jackson’s project is a rather daunting one. How can one trace the basic theories and approaches so as to make some sense of the whole? He does this in an elegant and absolutely transparent way. His summaries of major theoreticians are succinct, and they provide material for his argument rather than standing alone as elaborate notes. He stresses the individual contribution of numerous physicians and thinkers, but it is clear that this is in no way a “great man” history of psychological healing. His study focuses on a basic theme: How have we imagined psychological healing over the past 3,000 years, and why does this tradition continue? His conclusion is quite direct: because it works! This is a necessary corrective to the sense of many psychiatrists that psychological healing became antiquated as soon as modern drug therapy became available. Good psychiatry has always consisted of using the full armament of therapies available at any given time. This Jackson elegantly illustrates. One hopes that many practitioners read his argument and take it not only as an elaboration of a historical truth but also as a statement of a basic fact about the treatment of the mentally ill in the past as well as today. Stanley W. Jackson, M.D. New Haven, Conn., Yale University Press, 1999, 504 pp., $45.00. FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited ByNone Volume 157Issue 3 March 2000Pages 479-a-480 Metrics History Published online 1 March 2000 Published in print 1 March 2000

12-Step Programs vs. CBT for Substance Abuse

Twelve-step and cognitive behavioral programs are the two main forms of psychological treatment for substance abuse. Two randomized, controlled studies

Psicoanálisis y salud pública

Psychoanalysis has been excluded from the Sanitary Services Catalog, recently approved by the Spanish Ministry of Health. It is the form of psychological treatment with the longest history and presents considerable developments. In a strict sense, psychoanalysis was never provided by the public health services. Due to its nature and technical applications it was a private practice, since it extends beyond the strict limits of health intervention. Its theory, however, has inspired and inspires various therapeutic orientations that are applicable in the field of public mental health.

The Psychological Complications of Therapeutic Abortion

Psychological or psychiatric disturbances occur in association with therapeutic abortions but they seem to be marked, severe, or persistent in only a minority (approximately 10%) of women. These consist mostly of caseness depression and anxiety. Psychoses are very uncommon, being reported in only 0.003% of cases - most of whom have a history of previous psychiatric illness. Certain groups are especially at risk from adverse psychological sequelae; these include those with a past psychiatric history, younger women, those with poor social support, the multiparous, and those belonging to sociocultural groups antagonistic to abortion. This is not to overlook the fact that, adopting a crisis-resolution framework, subsequent termination of an unwanted pregnancy is itself 'therapeutic'. A better understanding of the nature of the risk factors would enable clinicians to identify vulnerable women for whom some form of psychological intervention might be beneficial.