Specific Psychotherapeutic Interventions Research Articles

Impact of the course ‘considerations on psychotherapy for LGBTQIAP+ people’ on the behaviour of psychologists

This study evaluated the impact of a course called ‘Considerations on psychotherapy for LGBTQIAP+ people’ on the behaviour of psychologists who treat people from this population. Eighteen participating psychologists were divided into an intervention and a control group. The intervention group received 5 2-hour classes on psychotherapeutic intervention strategies for the LGBTQIAP+ population, while controls answered 3 questionnaires and the Prejudice Against Sexual and Gender Diversity Scale on two occasions. The same course was subsequently given to the control group. After the course, both the groups began to more frequently identify and apply its specific psychotherapeutic interventions for the LGBTQIAP+ population, and gender and sexual orientation prejudice decreased according to one instrument, but not the Prejudice Against Sexual and Gender Diversity Scale

Trauma triptych: inviting cross-disciplinary collaboration in art therapy, social work, and psychiatry

Structured Background: Trauma can impact an individual's ability to process memories, develop a healthy identity, express emotions, maintain focus, navigate relationships, and achieve goals. Despite the potential negative impacts of trauma, specific psychotherapeutic interventions and trauma-informed care provide opportunities for recovery and healing. Context: Creative processes can promote trauma recovery. The literature suggests that creativity can support people in non-verbally processing memories, containing internal chaos, and restoring hope. Approaches: Case examples highlight the approaches of an art therapist, social worker, and psychiatrist who introduced arts-based interventions to traumatized clients. The art therapist explores use of an ancient Japanese approach to repairing pottery with a 23-year-old who experienced sexual abuse and neglect. The social worker discusses how Janusian thinking and “creative destruction” inspired collage-making with a 15-year-old who witnessed domestic violence and experienced depressive symptoms. The psychiatrist considers how traumatic memory processing theory informed her structured drawing approach to traumatic grief work with an aggressive 10-year-old. Outcomes: Use of arts-based interventions assisted in overcoming client resistance to “talk therapy” approaches, offering a non-verbal, expressive alternative and supporting client progress toward treatment goals. Implications for Practice: Reflection on three case vignette led to several practice implications: (1) Professionals should use creative approaches carefully and responsibly, operating within their scope of practice, (2) Professionals should consider how arts-based interventions can strengthen trauma treatment, & (3) Increased provider collaboration and cross-disciplinary dialogue can enhance trauma informed care. Implications for Research: More research on the effectiveness of creative approaches in trauma treatment is needed.

Boosting the Theory of Mind Network: Specific Psychotherapy Increases Neural Correlates of Affective Theory of Mind in Euthymic Bipolar Disorder

BackgroundIn bipolar disorder, impaired affective theory of mind (aToM) performance and aberrant neural activation in the ToM brain network partly explain social functioning impairments. However, it is not yet known whether psychotherapy of bipolar disorder influences neuroimaging markers of aToM. MethodsIn this study, conducted within the multicentric randomized controlled trial of the BipoLife consortium, patients with euthymic bipolar disorder underwent 2 group interventions over 6 months (mean = 28.45 weeks): 1) a specific, cognitive behavioral intervention (specific psychotherapeutic intervention [SEKT]) (n = 31) targeting impulse regulation, ToM, and social skills and 2) an emotion-focused intervention (FEST) (n = 28). To compare the effect of SEKT and FEST on neural correlates of aToM, patients performed an aToM task during functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after interventions (final functional magnetic resonance imaging sample of pre- and postcompleters, SEKT: n = 16; FEST: n = 17). Healthy control subjects (n = 32) were scanned twice with the same time interval. Because ToM was trained in SEKT, we expected an increased ToM network activation in SEKT relative to FEST postintervention. ResultsBoth treatments effectively stabilized patients’ euthymic state in terms of affective symptoms, life satisfaction, and global functioning. Confirming our expectations, SEKT patients showed increased neural activation within regions of the ToM network, bilateral temporoparietal junction, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus, whereas FEST patients did not. ConclusionsThe stabilizing effect of SEKT on clinical outcomes went along with increased neural activation of the ToM network, while FEST possibly exerted its positive effect by other, yet unexplored routes.

Psychotherapeutic interventions for burns patients and the potential use with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis patients: A systematic integrative review.

The existing evidence demonstrates that survivors of SJS/TEN have reported long-lasting psychological effects of their condition. Burns patients experience similar psychological effects. It is important to look at ways to help allay the psychological complications of SJS/TEN. As there is an absence of evidence on SJS/TEN psychotherapeutic interventions, it was judged to be beneficial to determine the evidence underpinning psychotherapeutic interventions used with burns patients. The aim of this systematic integrative review was to synthesize the evidence relating to psychotherapeutic interventions used with adult burns patients and patients with SJS/TEN. The systematic review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review process and the PRISMA guidelines. Nine databases were searched for English and French language papers published January 2008 to January 2021. The protocol for the review was registered with PROSPERO. Following a screening process, 17 studies were included in the review. Two themes were identified using content analysis, (i) Empirically supported psychotherapeutic treatments, (ii) Alternative psychotherapeutic treatments. This review revealed no evidence on specific psychotherapeutic interventions for patients with SJS/TEN. Some of the interventions used with burns patients, viz. relaxation therapy, hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy showed some significant benefits. However, the evidence for burns patients is mainly focused on pain and pain anxiety as outcomes. Following further research, some of the interventions deployed in burns patients may be applicable to SJS/TEN patients, particularly stress reduction techniques. In addition, the caring behaviours such as compassion, respect, and getting to know the patient as a person are important components to psychological care.

Adjustment Disorder, Depression, Stress Symptoms, Corona Related Anxieties and Coping Strategies during the Corona Pandemic (COVID-19) in Swiss Medical Staff

International studies point to increased mental health problems of medical staff during the Corona pandemic (COVID-19). This is the first study to investigate mental health, i. e. adjustment disorder, depression, stress symptoms, Corona related fears as well as coping mechanisms in this group in a German-speaking country. In April 2020, N=100 subjects were recruited that currently are engaged in a hospital. A series of standardized assessments were included: adjustment disorder (ADNM-20), depression (PHQ-9), stress symptoms and coping strategies (SCI). Currently, cross-sectional data are analyzed, because the study is still going on and longitudinal data is not yet assessed. Frequencies of adjustment disorder and depression are 8 and 15%, respectively. Two hierarchical regression models were run to predict adjustment disorder and depression; predictive power was higher for the first (41 vs. 35%). Fear of infection was reported to be higher regarding one's family than oneself. Nursing staff, those with preloads, and women were found to report more mental health problems. Those with direct contact to people that fell ill with COVID-19 did not differ from those with no direct contact. Currently, medical staff has a high risk for being mentally stressed. China, being epidemically experienced, has published principles for psychiatric interventions in January 2020. This might be relevant for Switzerland, too. Specific psychotherapeutic interventions, targeting at cognitive restructuring and sensitizing regarding dealing with alcohol and cigarettes, may be needed in order to protect this vulnerable group of person during and after the Corona pandemic.

Disorder-specific attachment characteristics and experiences of childhood abuse and neglect in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and a major depressive episode.

For the first time, the present study investigates disorder‐specific attachment characteristics and childhood trauma in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa (n = 30, girls/boys: 28/2, age: M = 14.84, SD = 1.20), a major depressive episode (n = 30, girls/boys: 27/3, age: M = 15.14, SD = 1.50), and controls (n = 60, girls/boys: 44/16, age: M = 16.10, SD = 1.20). We used the Structured Clinical Interview to diagnose Axis I disorders, the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System to classify attachment representations, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess child maltreatment. Our findings demonstrate an overrepresentation of the unresolved attachment status in the patient samples. A one‐way analysis of variance succeeded by Bonferroni post hoc tests indicated that adolescents with anorexia nervosa show more isolation and dissolution of boundaries between life and death when confronted with situations of solitude. Although they report moderate to severe levels of traumatic childhood experiences, they tend to minimize those. Adolescents with a major depressive episode report higher levels of emotional abuse and neglect in their childhood, leaving them in a state of failed protection and danger during attachment distress. Integrating these attachment‐related characteristics into specific psychotherapeutic interventions might be associated with a better outcome in that age group.

The connectivity / conversion paradigm - A new approach to the classification of psychosomatic disorders

The classification systems DSM-5 and ICD-10/11 are predominantly based on a phenomenological description of psychic disorders. Psychological and neurobiological findings are only marginally considered. In a conceptual framework, the article proposes a classification system for psychosomatic disorders encompassing descriptive, psychological, and neurobiological aspects. We suggest “connectivity” (neurobiological term)/“conversion” (psychological term) as the common factor which translates emotional distress into physical symptoms. Three types of “conversion disorder” can clinically be distinguished: 1.) The dissociative type comprises a down-regulation of emotionality. 2.) In the asymbolic-operational type, only the physical part of distress is perceived. 3.) The symbolic-expressive type is characterized by the fact that unconscious, mostly conflict-laden images are presented with the aid of symbolic physical symptoms. In a mixed form, the aforementioned conversion types may occur simultaneously or at different times. This multidimensional classification – against the background of the connectivity/conversion paradigm - might become a prerequisite for specific psychotherapeutic interventions tailored to the respective conversion types.

La théorie de la dissociation structurelle de la personnalité pour conceptualiser et traiter la psychose dissociative : deux études de cas

ObjectivesWe present the theory of the structural dissociation of the personality as a way to conceptualize dissociative psychosis and illustrate this with two case studies. This theory was developed to help understand trauma related disorders, i.e. dissociative disorders. In line with Janet's work, this theory states that a traumatic event can lead to a division (dissociation) of the personality in two or more parts: an apparently normal part of the personality deals with daily life activities and avoids the traumatic memories, and one or more emotional parts of the personality stay fixated on the traumatic experience and can reach a certain autonomy as in dissociative identity disorder. Dissociative psychosis is understood as the intrusion of emotional parts into the apparently normal part, which gets overwhelmed, with psychotic-like intrusions. In the most severe cases, an emotional part takes over the executive role over a long period of time. Patients/methodsThe first case study is a male patient suffering from repetitive (at least once a year) psychotic episodes with a normal nonpsychotic functioning between episodes. Main psychotic symptoms are mystic delusions, verbal auditory hallucinations and disorganized thinking. Hypnotherapeutic interventions allowed an evaluation of a possible structural dissociation, which then led to the diagnostic of dissociative psychosis. A psychotherapy based on the theory of structural dissociation was then engaged. The second case study is a female patient with depersonalization disorder and a dissociative psychosis several weeks after the traumatic birth of her twin children. Psychotic symptoms were mystic, referential and persecutory delusions. ResultsIn the first case, after three years of adapted psychotherapy, the patient showed no relapse of dissociative psychosis and did not need any hospitalization. A single risk of relapse was avoided with one session of adapted hypno-imaginative interventions. In the second case, after three sessions of hypnotherapeutic treatment based on the theory of the structural dissociation of the personality, the patient was symptom free, also at two and half years follow up. ConclusionsThe theory of the structural dissociation of the personality is useful in conceptualizing dissociative psychosis. Hypnotherapeutic and hypno-imaginative interventions with a light trance and adapted to this theory can be useful in the treatment of such a disorder. Such interventions can help clinicians enter the patient's inner world to better understand the meaning of the symptoms and then suggest a resolution for the trauma related emotional parts involved in the expression of the psychotic-like symptoms. We discuss the necessity of an official diagnostic for this disorder that could be better named reactive dissociative psychosis or reactive dissociative disorder with psychotic features. Clinicians need to be aware of this specific diagnostic that may benefit from specific psychotherapeutic interventions, probably better adapted than those needed for real psychotic disorders.

Neuropsychodynamic Approach to Depression: Integrating Resting State Dysfunctions of the Brain and Disturbed Self-Related Processes.

A mechanism-based approach was developed focusing on the psychodynamic, psychological and neuronal mechanisms in healthy and depressed persons. In this integrative concept of depression, the self is a core dimension in depression. It is attributed to negative emotions (e.g., failure, guilt). The increased inward focus in depression is connected with a decreased environmental focus. The development of neuropsychodynamic hypotheses of the altered self-reference is based on the investigation of the emotional-cognitive interaction in depressed patients. It may be hypothesized that the increased negative self-attributions—as typical characteristics of an increased self-focus in depression—may result from altered neuronal activity in subcortical-cortical midline structures in the brain, especially from hyperactivity in the cortical-subcortical midline regions and hypoactivity in the lateral regions. The increased resting state activity in depression is especially associated with an increased resting state activity in the default mode network (DMN) and a dysbalance between DMN and executive network (EN) activity. Possible therapeutic consequences of the neuropsychodynamic approach to depression involve the necessary emotional attunement in psychotherapy of depressed patients and the adequate timing of therapeutic interventions. The hypotheses which have been developed in the context of the neuropsychodynamic model of depression may be used for more specific psychotherapeutic interventions, aiming at specific mechanisms of compensation and defence, which are related to the increased resting state activity and the disturbed resting state-stimulus-interaction.

Detached mindfulness reduced both depression and anxiety in elderly women with major depressive disorders

We investigated the influence of detached mindfulness (DM) in treating symptoms of depression and anxiety among elderly women. Thirty-four elderly females (mean age: 69.23 years) suffering from moderate major depressive disorders (MDD) and treated with a standard medication (citalopram) at therapeutic doses were randomly assigned either to an intervention condition (DM; group treatment, twice weekly) or to a control condition (with leisure activities, twice weekly). At baseline (BL), four weeks later at study completion (SC), and four weeks after that at follow-up (FU), participants completed ratings for symptoms of depression and anxiety; experts blind to patients’ group assignments rated patients’ symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression (self and experts’ ratings) and anxiety declined significantly over time in the DM, but not in the control condition. Effects remained stable at FU. The pattern of results suggests that, compared to a control condition, a specific psychotherapeutic intervention such as DM can have a beneficial effect in elderly female patients with MDD.

Short-term psychological interventions for bordeline personality disorder–What Works?

IntroductionBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common and disabling personality disorder associated with difficulties in controlling emotions and impulses, self-injury, feelings of emptiness and abandonment. It is associated with problems in many areas of life, most notably relationships. Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for people with borderline personality disorder widely used; however, the evidence is not thoroughly investigated. In addition, several specific short-term interventions have been developed during the last decades.ObjectivesWe are currently updating this cochrane collaboration review on psychological interventions for BPD. First findings on the up-to-date evidence relating to short-term psychological interventions will be presented.MethodsWe conducted a cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Any randomized comparisons of psychological interventions versus unspecific control interventions, waitlist or specific psychotherapeutic interventions in adult BPD patients were eligible. Primary outcomes were BPD core pathology as depicted by DSM criteria. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, general psychopathology, dropouts and adverse events. Two independent researchers selected trials, assessed quality and extracted data independently.ResultsThe current evidence of short-term psychological interventions in general and the different types of interventions for which RCT evidence is currently available will be evaluated.Disclosure of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Are treatment gains maintained? Long-term psychological interventions for bordeline personality disorder

IntroductionMany new approaches have been developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) by means of psychotherapy. Though there is a clear research trend towards short-interventions, the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCT) on longer-term programmes still accumulates. On the one hand, well-established treatments like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) are now subject to real-world effectiveness studies; on the other hand, new dynamic approaches have been studied, lasting longer than 6 months.ObjectivesWe are currently updating the cochrane Collaboration review on psychological interventions for BPD. First findings on the effects of longer-term psychotherapies will be presented.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) according to cochrane collaboration standards. Any randomized comparisons of psychological interventions versus unspecific control interventions, waitlist or specific psychotherapeutic interventions in adult BPD patients were eligible. Primary outcomes were BPD core pathology as depicted by DSM criteria. Secondary outcomes included associated pathology, i.e., depression and anxiety, general psychopathology severity and functioning as well as tolerability and safety. Two researchers selected trials, assessed quality and extracted data independently.ResultsThe current evidence of longer-term psychological interventions in general, and the types of interventions for which RCT evidence is available will be evaluated and critically discussed.Disclosure of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Social skills, social networks and psychological well-being of patiens with spinal cord injury

The paper presents information concerning the relations between the subjective evaluation of social skills, parameters of the social network and the factors determining psychological well-being ofpatients with spinal cord injury sequellae (SCIS). Thus, one of the focuses of the diagnostic and therapeutic work of a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in the rehabilitation hospital environment becomes as well a subjective assessment by SCIS patients of their own social skills, as the development of these skills, contributing to the expansion of the social network, which is a resource for the provision ofpsychological wellbeing ofpatients. This testifies not only to the need for correction of the emotional state ofpatients, but also the necessity of specific psychotherapeutic interventions. Such interventions should be aimed at the increasing in the level of communication skills which are useful for the formation of new social relationships and the development of the social network of patients (group forms of training, support groups, chat forums, etc.).

"Identifying and Describing Emotions": Measuring the Effectiveness of a Brief, Alexithymia-Specific, Intervention for a Sex Offender Population.

Certain individuals who sexually offend may have difficulty differentiating, identifying, and articulating emotions. These clients may prove challenging for therapists when engaging with them in treatment. Such clients may suffer from alexithymia. There has been a dearth of research regarding specific psychotherapeutic interventions for alexithymia in both the clinical and forensic fields. The present study provides results from a pilot study on the efficacy of a brief, four-session, alexithymia-specific intervention with adults who have sexually offended. The intervention also aimed to increase emotional awareness and psychological mindedness. The intervention was comprised of both mindfulness and mentalization treatment components. Thirty-two men (Mage = 41.8 years, SD = 11.9) convicted of sexual offences completed the intervention group. When compared with a matched control condition (n = 27; Mage = 39, SD = 10.8), the intervention was effective in decreasing alexithymia characteristics and increasing psychological mindedness. Results suggest that the intervention was an effective means of increasing emotional awareness in this population. These provisional results must be tempered by the limitations of the study. However, the positive findings warrant future investigation. Clinical implications and ideas for future work are also discussed.

Anxiety and Depression Short Scale: norms for its use in rehabilitation

In the rehabilitation setting it is important to identify clinically significant conditions of distress so as to be able to provide, in addition to the conventional multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment, specific psychotherapeutic interventions targeted to the individual's problems. This paper presents the findings from a psychometric test for the measurement of anxiety and depression (AD-R Scale) administered at the start and end of a rehabilitation program in patients with cardiopulmonary disease. The study population consisted of 765 patients affected by cardiac and pulmonary disease undergoing an in-hospital course of intensive rehabilitation. We observed that AD-R scores are related to sex, age and diseases. Among anxiety and depression scores there are statistically significant differences regarding sex: women achieved higher AD-R scores compared with men. Depression scores are influenced by age: younger subjects reached lower scores compared with the older ones. Among patients with respiratory disease, the subjects affected by chronic respiratory failure showed statistically significant higher depression scores compared to subjects affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma. Anxiety and depression scores among subjects affected by cardiac diseases did not show important differences. At the end of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, a significant reduction in both anxiety and depression scores was observed, compared to values at the start, particularly for those that, at the beginning of the rehabilitation program, reached clinically remarkable AD-R scores and in general for the youngest subjects. The paper also presents the means, standard deviations and percentile range of scores for anxiety and depression in the population studied, according to age, sex, underlying pathology or hospital division. The Scale AD-R appears to be a valid instrument for the screening of patients undergoing cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation and as an outcome index.

Escalating Ingestion of Razor Blades in a Patient With Borderline Personality Disorder.

To the Editor: The means employed in self-injury vary widely among patients with borderline personality disorder and so may the magnitude of the damage inflicted. Deliberate foreign body ingestion (DFBI) constitutes a distinct behavioral syndrome that is frequently associated with borderline personality disorder. While with other forms of self-injurious behavior the patient usually achieves an immediate release of tension, such release is not generally the case in DFBI, as is illustrated in the present case. Case report. A 23-year-old woman who had previously been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, according to ICD-10 criteria, presented with an increase in self-injurious behaviors after a recent miscarriage. The patient herself contacted police regarding increasing suicidal tendencies, which led to her admission to a psychiatric ward. Physical examination at admission revealed old scars and superficial cuts on arms and legs as well as new deep cuts all over her torso. The patient received individual psychotherapy sessions as well as group skills training. During her stay, she repeatedly swallowed quartered pieces of broken razor blades, which she wrapped in wads of chewing gum. During the span of several weeks, she swallowed in excess of 30 such razor blade pieces essentially without complications. She always notified staff sometime after the act. Ingestion of razor blade pieces was confirmed by x-ray (Figure 1A). For the most part, these fragments were passed with no difficulty. However, several larger pieces were recovered endoscopically either for diagnostic purposes or because the patient had complained of pain in her abdomen. Figure 1. Repeated Ingestion of Broken Razor Blades in a Patient With Borderline Personality Disorder In all, the patient underwent 4 gastroscopy or colonoscopy sessions (Figure 1B and 1C). Luckily for the patient, no transmural lesions had occurred. At this point, it was deemed impossible to discharge the patient from the hospital because she was considered at acute risk of suicide. Subsequently, she attempted to swallow one-half of a 2-edged razor blade without chewing gum, which resulted in immediate esophageal perforation and, consequently, in mediastinal emphysema and an esophagotracheal fistula. The patient required intensive care and several courses of endoscopic sponge therapy to close the esophageal defect. During this time, she was regularly seen by liaison psychiatry. She gradually began to engage more actively in psychotherapeutic treatment. In parallel, self-injurious behaviors decreased, and the patient was eventually discharged. An elective readmission for dialectical behavior therapy was scheduled. Deliberate foreign body ingestion is a frequent occurrence in patients with borderline personality disorder, but may also occur in patients with psychosis, malingering, and pica. The latter condition is defined as the persistent ingestion of nonnutritive materials such as chalk or clay at an age at which this behavior is developmentally inappropriate. The course of DFBI is frequently chronic. Treatment is difficult. Evidence-based therapeutic interventions are largely lacking.1 In borderline personality disorder, most self-injurious behaviors are a means of affect regulation and frequently lead to a swift release of tensions. In general, this release does not appear to be the reason behind DFBI.1 The main drivers behind DFBI in borderline personality disorder seem to be an inappropriate need for attention as well as a desire to test the limits of the therapeutic relationship. Management of DFBI in borderline personality disorder poses a great challenge because of potentially lethal complications and the need for rapid medical attention. Here, it is the special role of the consultant-liaison psychiatrist to bridge the gap between medical and physical health care and to support medical and surgical colleagues in grappling with countertransference issues commonly involved in treating such patients. In our experience, it is frequently during the early period after a major complication has occurred that the patient becomes more open to psychotherapeutic interventions. Ideally, general psychiatric management and stabilization will gradually enable the patient to benefit from a specific psychotherapeutic intervention such as dialectical behavior therapy.1,2

Perspective Biological Markers for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Advantages of the Use of Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves in Evaluating Marker Sensitivity and Specificity.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Recognized causes of ASD include genetic factors, metabolic diseases, toxic and environmental factors, and a combination of these. Available tests fail to recognize genetic abnormalities in about 70% of ASD children, where diagnosis is solely based on behavioral signs and symptoms, which are difficult to evaluate in very young children. Although it is advisable that specific psychotherapeutic and pedagogic interventions are initiated as early as possible, early diagnosis is hampered by the lack of nongenetic specific biological markers. In the past ten years, the scientific literature has reported dozens of neurophysiological and biochemical alterations in ASD children; however no real biomarker has emerged. Such literature is here reviewed in the light of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, a very valuable statistical tool, which evaluates the sensitivity and the specificity of biomarkers to be used in diagnostic decision making. We also apply ROC analysis to some of our previously published data and discuss the increased diagnostic value of combining more variables in one ROC curve analysis. We also discuss the use of biomarkers as a tool for advancing our understanding of nonsyndromic ASD.

Psychotherapy of personality disorders in adolescence

By the current state of knowledge adolescent personality disorders should be taken seriously due to their high prevalence and severe symptomatology. Personality disorders are characterized by a stable pattern of deviation concerning cognition, affectivity, impulse control, and interpersonal relationships and have negative repercussions in psychosocial functioning and subsequent development. There is emerging evidence that personality disorder diagnosis is reliable and valid during adolescence. It is essential to detect youth with personality pathology in order to refer them to specific psychotherapeutic interventions and consequently avoid further chronification and life-long functional impairment. This selective review will give an overview over personality disorders in adolescents as well as according psychotherapeutic interventions.

EPA-0479 – Specific ingredients and common factors of evidence-based psychotherapy for schizophrenia - a systematic review

A series of meta-analyses points to the benefits of different psychotherapy approaches in the treatment of persons with schizophrenia such as psycho-educational family interventions or cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis. However, the advantages of these specific psychotherapeutic interventions as compared to non-specific supportive interventions are moderate. This challenges the validity of the presumed specific therapeutic ingredients. To analyse the significance of specific therapeutic ingredients of evidence-based psychotherapy approaches for schizophrenia all efficacy studies with component control designs were identified by systematic electronic searches. Subsequently, moderator analyses of the standardized weighted effect sizes differences between psychotherapy approaches with different therapeutic components were performed. The effect size differences were integrated by transforming them into weighted mean point-biserial correlations between single therapeutic components and outcome variables. Furthermore, studies relating common factors such as therapeutic alliance or self-efficacy expectations of patients with outcome were searched, and weighted mean Pearson's correlations between common factors and outcome variables were calculated. The findings indicate that specific therapeutic components such as psycho-education, cognitive restructuring or skills training represent key therapeutic ingredients of evidence-based psychotherapy for schizophrenia. However, also common factors such as positive therapeutic relationship, changing expectations for self-efficacy or successful mastery efforts are associated with positive outcomes. There is an urgent need to dismantle the actual therapeutically active components in order to promote the targeted, personalized and, thereby, efficient implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy approaches for persons with schizophrenia in routine care.

Highlighting the Psycho-quantum Mode of Psycho-therapeutic Action for Improving the Specific Human Quantum Field Parameters

The specific psychotherapeutic intervention in altered states of consciousness (ASC) using QDP Psycho-Quantum Therapy (Quantum Deep Psychotherapy) causes a somatic and psycho-emotional balancing. Highlighting the temporal evolution of the dependent variables corresponding to the somatic psycho-emotional state after applying the QDP technique in a single session, measured with the GDV equipment at the baseline of the study, for two participants.