Modern Psychotherapy Research Articles

Unveiling the Biography of Sigmund Freud With Pediatric Dentistry Insights.

Born in Freiberg, Moravia (now the Czech Republic), Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud was the forerunner of psychoanalysis, a ground-breaking approach to understanding the human mind. Originally studying neurology at the University of Vienna, Freud soon became fascinated with the psychological origins of mental illness.He developed theories on repression, the unconscious mind, and the significance of dreams because he saw dreams as windows into hidden conflicts and impulses. Freud developed the theory and asserted that unconscious impulses, especially those related to sexuality, have a major impact on human conduct. Dream analysis and free association were among his innovative methods that helped modern psychotherapy come to pass. Though they were attacked and divisive, Freud's theories had a major impact on humanities, psychology, and psychiatry. His studies on the human mind challenged conventional wisdom and offered innovative insights into mental health. Freud's writings continue to inspire research and debate; his effect on popular and scholarly opinion attests to his ongoing legacy.

When the Self is Blue: A Journey through the Bhagavad Gita to Spiritual Healing

This paper examines how feelings of depression, characterized by a sense of inferiority and dejection, can be transformed into joy and contentment. The author proposes that by aligning oneself with the inherent cheerfulness of human nature, one can transition from despair to happiness. Drawing upon the metaphor of water's resilience, the paper contends that misery is a temporary state that can be overcome through devotion to the divine. This is exemplified by the natural joyousness exhibited by children. The ancient Indian text, the Bhagavad Gita, is explored as a profound source of wisdom that can guide individuals on the path to mental wellbeing. Depression is an increasingly prevalent mental health concern, characterized by feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and lack of purpose (Bhatia et al.). While modern psychotherapy has developed various techniques to address depression, the application of ancient spiritual wisdom can offer a complementary approach (Bhatia et al) (Dhillon). The Bhagavad Gita, a revered Hindu scripture, presents a comprehensive philosophy for navigating the challenges of the human condition, including the experience of depression (Bhatia et al) (Dhillon). The Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse Hindu scripture, is a part of the epic Mahabharata and depicts a dialogue between Prince Arjun and the Lord Krishna, who serves as his charioteer. The text explores the moral and philosophical challenges faced by Arjun as he prepares for battle. Arjun's depression stems from the anticipated loss of life and moral degradation, leading him to question the justification of the war.

Applications of AI in Psychotherapy: An Innovative Tool

This paper explores the application and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in psychological therapy as well as its implications for Chinese psychotherapy firm "JianDanXinLi" or otherwise known as SimpleTherapy. Through an analysis of several AI psychological therapy service platforms, it reveals the principles of integrating AI into modern psychotherapy and demonstrates that AI technology can serve as a flexible alternative and supplementary means for optimizing data in the therapeutic process. Although AI technology cannot fully replace human services, it can significantly expand and enhance the scope and effectiveness of therapy. Additionally, this paper discusses the challenges faced by AI technology in integrating psychological therapy, especially regarding issues of empathy.

Learning Outcomes of e-Learning in Psychotherapy Training and Comparison With Conventional Training Methods: Systematic Review.

Mental disorders pose a major public health problem in most western countries. The demand for services for common mental health disorders has been on the rise despite the widespread accessibility of medication. Especially, the supply and demand for evidence-based psychotherapy do not align. Large-scale increase of modern psychotherapy is difficult with current methods of training which are often expensive, time consuming, and dependent on a small number of top-level professionals as trainers. E-learning has been proposed to enhance psychotherapy training accessibility, quality, and scalability. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the current evidence regarding e-learning in psychotherapy training. In particular, the review examines the usability, acceptability, and learning outcomes associated with e-learning. Learning outcomes are assessed in different modalities including trainee experiences, knowledge acquisition, skill acquisition, and application of trained content in daily practice. Furthermore, the equivalence of web-based training and conventional training methods is evaluated. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a search from Ovid, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases between 2008 and June 2022 was conducted. Inclusion criteria required studies to describe e-learning systems for psychotherapy training and assess acceptability, feasibility, or learning outcomes. The risk of bias was evaluated for both randomized and nonrandomized studies. Learning outcomes were categorized using the Kirkpatrick model. Effect sizes comparing e-learning and traditional methods were calculated. The search yielded 3380 publications, of which 34 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Positive learning outcomes are generally associated with various e-learning programs in psychotherapy training including trainee satisfaction, knowledge, and skill acquisition, and in application of trained content in clinical practice. Learning outcomes generally show equivalence between e-learning and conventional training methods. The overall effect size, indicating this disparity, was 0.01, suggesting no significant difference. This literature displays a high level of heterogeneity in e-learning solutions and assessment methods. e-Learning seems to have good potential to enhance psychotherapy training by increasing access, scalability, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining quality in terms of learning outcomes. Results are congruent with findings related to e-learning in health education in general where e-learning as a pedagogy is linked to an opportunity to carry out learner-centric practices. Recommendations for conducting psychotherapy training programs in blended settings supported by activating learning methods are presented. However, due to the heterogeneity and limitations in the existing literature, further research is necessary to replicate these findings and to establish global standards for e-learning, as well as for the assessment of training outcomes in psychotherapy education. Research is especially needed on the effects of training on patient outcomes and optimal ways to combine e-learning and conventional training methods in blended learning settings.

Ancient medicine for a modern disease: traditional Amazonian medicine to treat substance use disorders

ABSTRACTBackground: There exists an underexploited opportunity to develop innovative therapeutic approaches to SUDs based upon the complementarity between modern and traditional health systems.Objectives: Illustrate the feasibility and potentiality of such an approach through the comprehensive description of Takiwasi Center’s treatment model and program, where health concepts and practices from traditional Amazonian medicine work synergistically with modern psychotherapy and medicine in an intercultural dialog to assist in the rehabilitation of people suffering from SUDs.Methods: The description was built from a review of the literature, institutional data, participatory observation and unstructured interviews with staff, researchers and patients during treatment.Results: Since the foundation of the Takiwasi Center in 1992 in the peruvian Amazon, more than a thousand patients with different socio-cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds have received residential treatment. We present how traditional Amazonian medicine techniques and health concepts cooperate to complement modern psychology in a therapeutic community setting and propose some hypotheses about the neurobiological, psycho-emotional and spiritual healing mechanisms triggered by the program to help people identify and heal the roots of their substance misuse and addictive behavior. We also summarize quantitative outcomes during treatment showing significant improvements in a wide variety of mental health indicators.Conclusion: Takiwasi Center’s program is an option for people seeking non-conventional treatment who are sensitive to traditional Amazonian medicine practices and ready to explore the roots of their addiction. From this intercultural approach, some lessons could emerge toward a broader understanding of SUDs that may result in better patient care.

Weaving Together the Ancient and the Contemporary: Intersections of the Bhagavad Gita with Modern Psychology.

The Bhagavad Gita is a well-known and deeply respected ancient text from the Indian subcontinent. It is widely regarded as a storehouse of spiritual knowledge. This article explores the different ways in which psychologists have approached the study of the Gita and the extent to which it has been acknowledged as providing concepts that can contribute to the creation of mental well-being in modern times. It is important to understand the status accorded to the Gita within psychology and the contributions it can make to the growth of the psychological sciences. Psychology as we know it today developed largely within the academic institutions of Europe and North America and began its steep rise to recognition and fame largely in the first half of the 20th century. Western 'scientific' theories, concepts, and writings were carried to and widely disseminated in countries with diverse cultures. In this process indigenous, cultural and philosophical forms of knowledge that could have been incorporated into the evolving discipline were largely ignored or marginalized. The time has come to begin an exploration of such resources to assess how they can contribute to enhancing psychology's acceptance in different parts of the world. Given psychology's wide base of applications, it would be beneficial to explore its links with the message of the Bhagavad Gita. This study presents an analysis of 24 articles on the Bhagavad Gita that are of psychological significance and have been published in the last 10 years (2012-2022). Three themes addressing the ways in which this text has been approached by contemporary psychologists were elicited: (1) comparisons with modern psychotherapy, (2) preludes to modern psychological concepts and (3) potential for building well-being and resilience. In addition to this analysis, the article explores a powerful message contained in the Gita around seeking support for mental health issues, a message that has not been widely recognized to date.

The unity of cognitive and emotional aspects in modern psychotherapy

This article considers the role of emotional and cognitive aspects in modern areas of psychotherapy. It reveals long-term psychotherapeutic effects of incoherent dealing with client’s feelings and thoughts, based on actual case studies in modern psychotherapy and reflected in the literature on the subject. The analysis of psychotherapeutic texts reveals authors’ statements contradicting the general knowledge of feelings and emotions and suggests ways of eliminating such contradictions and simplifications. The article also considers how warping towards rationality can go unnoticed, to the detriment of dealing with feelings, and how the self-improvement process can lose its integrity, causing a distortion of basic psychological literacy instead of its enhancement. The article outlines and justifies two attitudes that are proposed to be developed among clients in any form and area of psychotherapy: the attitudes to live through their feelings and then release their unwanted feelings. We describe new psychological aspects in the process of living through one’s feelings in general and in the process of psychotherapy in particular. The integration of basic psychological knowledge of emotional intelligence into the theory and practice of various areas of psychotherapy can significantly improve the work of practicing psychologists and psychotherapists with clients and can effectively contribute to the convergence of different areas of psychotherapy.

Psychoanalysis, Philosophy and Literature- Intersection of Science and Art

IntroductionPhilosophy and psychoanalysis have mutually influenced each other in many ways. Ancient Greek philosophers, Socrates and Plato were frequently cited by Freud in his works and the origins of certain psychoanalytic concepts can be found in their works. The philosophical works of Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Husserl, Sartre and many others had a significant impact on the development of psychoanalytic ideas. The intersection of philosophy and literature was best depicted in Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of the metaphysical novel.ObjectivesThe goal of this presentation is to perform a comprehensive historical review of the relationship between psychoanalysis, philosophy and literature.MethodsDifferent philosophical schools from ancient philosophy to classic German philosophy and philosophy of existentialism have been explored in their relationship with psychoanalysis and world literature. Among world literary classics, we selected only those who best represent the role of psychoanalysis in the modern literary critics and on the other hand the influence of philosophy on literature.ResultsEarly origins of the relationship between philosophy, psychoanalysis and literature can be found in the text of ancient philosophers and writers. The great Sophocles’ tragic drama Oedipus the King was the foundation for Freud’s concept of Oedipus complex. The Socratic dialogue, a technique best elaborated by his student Plato was the antecedent of modern psychotherapy. Later in history philosophical works of Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre and many others had a significant impact on the development of psychoanalytic ideas. There is a number of other philosophical fictions in the world literature written by Sartre, Camus, Kafka, Proust and many others and some of these literary woks may have characteristics of psychological novel as well. Literary critics is an important field for the application of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic theory has been always in forefront of Shakespearean studies. Marcel Proust is a writer who gave a significant contribution to modern literary studies. He wrote about the interactive process between the reader and text and emotional impact of reading. Proust recognized the similar psychological processes that we can see in psychoanalytic setting.ConclusionsThis comprehensive historical review of the relationship between psychoanalysis, philosophy and literature demonstrates that all these disciplines have much in common, particularly in their intention to approach truth from different angles. Psychoanalysis is a science and applies scientific methodology in its theory and treatment. Certain branches of psychoanalysis like Jung’s analytic psychology are sometimes closer to philosophy and art than to science. Philosophy as a humanistic discipline has always been in between science and art.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Neuroscience-based psychotherapy: A position paper.

In the recent years, discoveries in neuroscience have greatly impacted upon the need to modify therapeutic practice starting from the evidence showing some cerebral mechanisms capable of coping with mental health crisis and traumatic events of the individual's life history by redesigning the narrative plot and the person's sense of the Self. The emerging dialogue between neuroscience and psychotherapy is increasingly intense and modern psychotherapy cannot ignore the heritage deriving from studies about neuropsychological modification of memory traces, neurobiology of attachment theory, cognitive mechanisms involved in psychopathology, neurophysiology of human empathy, neuroimaging evidence about psychotherapeutic treatment, and somatoform disorders connecting the brain and the body. In the present article, we critically examined sectorial literature and claimed that psychotherapy has to referred to a neuroscience-based approach in order to adopt the most tailored interventions for specific groups of patients or therapy settings. We also provided recommendations for care implementation in clinical practice and illustrated challenges of future research.

Can Stoicism inspire stuttering intervention? The clinical usefulness of an ancient philosophy.

A range of psychotherapies are effective in managing an individual's personal reactions to stuttering and reducing the impact stuttering has on their lives. Many of these therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, have their origins in Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy founded in 301 bce. Stoicism remains a relatively unexplored topic in the psychotherapy and speech and language therapy literatures. This paper aims to highlight the potential benefits of integrating Stoic principles and techniques into stuttering intervention. This aim is achieved through a discussion on Stoic philosophy and the range of techniques that have informed modern evidence-based psychotherapies that are effective with the stuttering population. This paper initiates an important conversation on the usefulness of Stoicism to the field of stuttering. Key recommendations are provided for the integration of Stoic philosophy into future clinical and research practice related to stuttering. Stoicism offers philosophical guidance for the art of living, but also provides a range of strategies and practical techniques that have potential to expand the clinical toolkit of modern psychotherapy and speech and language therapy. Scientific validation of the clinical application of Stoicism is recommended to exploit its effectiveness with the stuttering population. What is already known on the subject Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that has informed modern-day psychotherapies including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Such therapies are recommended for use with individuals who stutter to target their personal reactions to stuttering and reduce any adverse impacts on their lives. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This paper discusses the principles and techniques of Stoicism with reference to how they align with modern psychotherapeutic approaches and speech and language therapy interventions used with individuals who stutter. Clinical implications and directions for future research are also presented. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Speech and language therapists (SLTs) are recommended to continue their use of psychotherapies such as CBT and ACT with individuals who stutter. In addition, SLTs are advised to explore Stoicism and its range of techniques to better understand the philosophical underpinnings of evidence-based psychotherapies and to expand their clinical toolkit.

Hellenistic Philosophy in Contemporary Intellectual Culture

The article deals with the place of Hellenistic philosophy in contemporary culture. It is established that the revival of interest in Hellenistic philosophy began at the end of the XX century and was associated with the research of P. Hadot and M. Foucault. The idea of these authors about Hellenistic philosophy as an art of living based on certain spiritual practices has become widespread in modern intellectual circles. It is shown that the philosophical teachings of Hellenism, especially Stoicism and Epicureanism, claim today to be a spiritual guide to life. Modern psychotherapy turns to Stoicism for help in the treatment of psychological disorders. Some ideas of Hellenistic philosophers continue to remain relevant in the field of socio-political relations.

The role of psychotherapy as a medical specialty in public health

I n t r o d u c t i o n . Non-psychotic mental disorders are most prevalent mental disorders with the high relapse rate and onset in the early adulthood the most active period of life, psychosocial factors play essential role in their ethiopathogenesis. Psychotherapy as method influencing one’s mind and through the mind affecting ones organism is considered to play an essential role in the treatment system of this patients group as well as in medico-psychological support of the patients with somatic illnesses.Obj e c t i v e definition of the modern psychotherapy content as independent medical specialty based on the modern data base of its efficacy research systematization, evaluation of its further perspectives development for the provision of the healthcare for the targeted population of the patients with non-psychotic mental disorders as well as organization of the medico-psychological support for the patients with somatic illnesses, taking into account the possibilities offered by digital technologiesМ e t h o d s . WHO, PubMed, Scopus, Pubmed, Medline, Web of Science, Russian Science citation index Science Citation Index search was conducted on non-psychotic mental disorders epidemiology, COVID-19 pandemic impact on mental health, psychotherapy efficacy and psychotherapeutic treatment settings, possibilities of digital technologies implementation in modern psychotherapy.R e s u l t s . The prevalence of non-psychotic mental disorders is constantly growing in the las years, they make a serious impact in the non-communicable diseases burden, with the increase of the treatment costs. The COVID-19 pandemic is characterized by decrease of mental health well-being, growth of the anxiety and depressive disturbances, also because of the somatogenic disorders included in the post-covid syndrome.The recent studies persuasively demonstrated the efficacy of psychotherapy in the non-psychotic mental disorders treatment, combination of psycho- and pharmacotherapy is defined as the golden standard treatment, the ratio of them should be determined personalized in each individual case. Digital technologies active development, computerized psychotherapeutic programs implementation open new possibilities for the research of the psychotherapeutic treatment mechanisms as well as make psychotherapy more available for the different population groups and can substantially decrease treatment costs in the future.Mental health care provision optimization should be aimed at the greater psychotherapists involvement as the main specialists for diagnostic and complex treatment of non-psychotic mental disorders treatment, development of psychotherapeutic offices network, they could be a center of this patient group healthcare system, as well as for patients recovering from novel coronavirus infection with psychoneurological complains, and can be used for the medico-psychological support of the patients with somatic illnesses.Conclusion. Psychotherapy today is recognized as an effective non-psychotic mental disorders treatment method, in the future it can be used as an epigenetic modulator in the personalized medicine framework, it can be considered as an essential part of the medical-psychological support of the patients with somatic illnesses.

Multimodal Sensor-Based Identification of Stress and Compulsive Actions in Children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for Telemedical Treatment.

In modern psychotherapy, digital health technology offers advanced and personalized therapy options, increasing availability as well as ecological validity. These aspects have proven to be highly relevant for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, which is the state-of-the-art treatment for OCD, builds on the reconstruction of everyday life exposure to anxious situations. However, while compulsive behavior pre-dominantly occurs in home environments, exposure situations during therapy are limited to clinical settings. Telemedical treatment allows to shift from this limited exposure reconstruction to exposure situations in real life. In the SSTeP KiZ study (smart sensor technology in telepsychotherapy for children and adolescents with OCD), we combine video therapy with wearable sensors delivering physiological and behavioral measures to objectively determine the stress level of patients. The setup allows to gain information from exposure to stress in a realistic environment both during and outside of therapy sessions. In a first pilot study, we explored the sensitivity of individual sensor modalities to different levels of stress and anxiety. For this, we captured the obsessive-compulsive behavior of five adolescents with an ECG chest belt, inertial sensors capturing hand movements, and an eye tracker. Despite their prototypical nature, our results deliver strong evidence that the examined sensor modalities yield biomarkers allowing for personalized detection and quantification of stress and anxiety. This opens up future possibilities to evaluate the severity of individual compulsive behavior based on multi-variate state classification in real-life situations. Clinical Relevance- Our results demonstrate the potential for efficient personalized psychotherapy by monitoring physiological and behavioral changes with multiple sensor modalities in ecologically valid real-life scenarios.

Comparing Mentalizing Abilities in Older Adults with and without Common Mental Disorders

Introduction: The concept of mentalization is of central importance not only in modern psychotherapy but also in geriatric psychotherapy. In relation to older people, deficits in some aspects of the ability to mentalize, such as the theory of mind (ToM), affect perception, and metacognitive skills, are known. However, little is known about the mentalization ability of older people with mental disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mentalizing abilities of older patients with depressive and anxious symptoms. Methods: In this study, the ability to mentalize using the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), the HEALTH-49 questionnaire, Trail-Making Test (executive functions), and Reading-the-Mind-in-the-eyes-test (ToM) was studied in a clinical (n = 150) and a nonclinical comparison sample of people (n = 150) in different age groups (40–54, 55–69, ≥70). The evaluation of the data was conducted with different statistical methods, especially variance and regression analyses. Results: The clinical sample of all age groups showed significantly poorer mentalizing skills than the nonclinical samples. There were large correlations to health-related aspects. Additionally, in the regression analysis, only the setting variable (clinical vs. nonclinical) had an influence on the MZQ score and neither gender, education, executive functions nor ToM had a significant influence. Age also had no effect and did not correlate with MZQ scores but did correlate negatively with ToM. Conclusions: The results show the importance of mentalization concepts for mental disorders in patients in the second half of life. There are indications of an imbalance of different aspects of mentalizing ability, especially between self- and other-related mentalizing abilities. Improving this balance could be a goal of therapeutic interventions.

The Islamic Concept of Happiness: Psychological Analysis

The article is devoted to the study of the Islamic concept of happiness from the standpoint of psychological science. Two approaches to the understanding of happiness, originating in Antiquity, are considered: hedonistic and eudemonistic; the cultural specifi city of happiness is investigated through the prism of ethnocultural values. It outlines the views on psychological health and well-being in Islam, as well as the views on social and individual predictors of happiness of medieval and modern Muslim scholars. The author concludes that the concept of happiness and the idea of it has its own specifi city in diff erent cultures. The concept of happiness among Muslims is directly related to their religious values and worldview, as well as to the peculiarities of ethnic culture. Since Muslim communities are collectivist, the happiness of an individual is seen as closely related to the public good. For a Muslim, the path to happiness is associated with improving his character and the formation of moral values and behavior. Modern Psychology and Psychotherapy are developing the ideas about moral psychology and the ways of its formation as the basis for the psychological wellbeing of an individual.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Knowledge Dissemination in China

While many Chinese mental health professionals are familiar with modern psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are the mainstream therapy education and practice in today's China. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited evidence-based psychotherapy that was originally developed for the treatment of depression. It has since been supported by over 250 randomized clinical trials in the treatment of various mental conditions including anxiety, and eating disorders. Despite good evidence for efficacy, IPT was not formally introduced to China until recently. This article describes a strategic plan for disseminating IPT knowledge in China and reports on current progress to date. We also summarize the discussion results from recent training lectures and workshops, and present suggestions for cultural adaptation per feedback from many enthusiastic trainees. Challenges and the future of promoting further integration of IPT as another effective psychotherapy option in China are discussed as well.

Application of the cognitive-behavioral approach in psychotherapy for self-harming behavior

This review article discusses research and practical guidelines on the use of the cognitive behavioral approach in psychotherapy for self-harming behavior. Self-harm is an acute problem of modern psychiatry, psychotherapy and clinical psychology, affecting mainly young people. A significant part of the research on assistance is devoted to cognitive behavioral therapy and related areas. Given the complexity of the phenomenon of self-harm, the first part of the article considers the theoretical models that underlie the applied hikes. This was followed by a review of studies on various areas of psychotherapy for self-harming behavior. The main techniques and basic principles of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy were considered, and illustrative practical examples were given. It is concluded that the quality of evidence is currently insufficient, but the methods of the cognitive-behavioral approach are recognized as well-established and promising for helping patients in this group.

EMPOWERMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH SATTVAVJAYA CHIKITSA

Ayurveda has been one of the oldest medicinal systems in the world. Ayurveda focuses on the promotive as well as curative aspects of wellbeing. Ayurveda happens to manage both, physical as well as mental illnesses in normal and abnormal forms. The system believes in the psychosomatic aspect of every disease. Thus, focusing on the development, empowerment and maintenance of the mental health status of a human being is a top priority nowa- days. The current day scenario also demands a strong spotlight over mental health awareness and development. Acharya Charaka has mentioned a salient feature known as Sattvavajaya chikitsa in the classical text well versed with the techniques to use for the maintenance of a healthy state of Mind. Mental health refers to cognitive, be- havioural, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. This Article attempt is being made to combine the mentioned techniques in one single place. The main aim of SATTVAVAJAYA CHIKITSA is to restrain the mind from the unwanted thought process, replacing negative ideas, proper channel- ling of presumptions and proper advice through Jnanam (Knowledge), Vijayan (analytical thinking), dhairya (courage), smriti (memory) and samadhi (concentration). The practice of Achara rasayana reduces stress and anxiety improves psychoneurotic immunity. Components of Sattvavajaya chikitsa are Dinacharya (daily regi- men), Ritucharya (Seasonal regimen), Sadvritta (code of virtues)/Achara Rasayana Roganutpadana (Prevention of diseases), Annapanavidhi (Rules about food and drinks). Keywords: Sattvavajaya Chikitsa, Mental Health, Modern Psychotherapy, Sadvrutta, Aachaar Rasayan.

Decoding Emotions

Aaron Temkin Beck—Tim to his friends and family—is often called the father of modern psychotherapy. A capsule summary of his paradigm-shifting insight: Our emotions are a result of our thoughts, and therefore, to understand our emotions, we must understand the thoughts that give rise to them. Consider anger. Just the other day, toward the end of one of those family Zoom calls that now substitute for getting together in person, a perfectly pleasant conversation turned sour. Before I knew it, I was quite literally flush with anger. What happened? The emotion of anger arrived, sudden and swift. If you'd asked me in that moment what I was thinking, I'd say I wasn't thinking anything. I was feeling. I was feeling mad. But the next morning, when I reflected on what had happened, I recognized that what triggered my anger was a thought: “You're insulting me.” In cognitive therapy, a therapist helps you pay attention to your thoughts and dispute ones that are inaccurate and maladaptive. For instance, a therapist might ask me to consider why I was so easily triggered in that family conversation. I might consider different ways to interpret the situation, such as “You're misunderstanding me. I need to be more clear.” Or “You think I'm insulting you. You're taking offense.” Now, when I'm angry, I search for ways in which I perceive my rights have been violated. When I'm sad, I ask myself, “What is it that I feel like I've lost?” When I'm anxious, I ask, “What threat do I sense on the horizon?” When I'm happy, I ask, “What have I gained to make me feel this way?”

Psychometric Properties of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire in Moderate-to-Severe, Persistent Depression

Mindfulness has been increasingly incorporated into modern psychotherapies and healthcare services. The importance of psychometrically quantifying the construct of mindfulness has become paramount. One of the most reliable and valid instruments for the assessment of different aspects of dispositional mindfulness is the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). However, the psychometric properties of the FFMQ are yet to be tested in individuals with high levels of persistent depression. This study therefore investigated the psychometric properties of the FFMQ in a clinical sample with moderate-to-severe, persistent depression. The data of 187 participants recruited from a funded randomised controlled trial were utilised. Internal consistency was assessed and construct validity was examined with confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and by statistically correlating the FFMQ to measures of depression, self-compassion, rumination and experiential avoidance. Findings supported the internal consistency of the FFMQ. CFA fit indices indicated that all correlated and hierarchical models fitted the data acceptably, with results slightly favouring the correlated model. Contrary to predictions however, individual facet loadings showed that the facet Observe loaded strongly onto an overarching factor of mindfulness, whilst Nonjudge loaded marginally. Nonjudge further showed a non-significant correlation with depression. However, exploratory post hoc analysis presented findings inconsistent with CFA. In a sample of severely depressed individuals, psychometric investigation of the validity of the FFMQ highlighted contradictory findings relating to “Nonjudge”. Whilst such findings potentially challenge the validity of the FFMQ for use in its current structure in this sample, further investigation with a larger population is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01047124) and the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN10963342)