Clinical Psychology in Europe (E-Journal)
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A Self-Report Measure of Perfectionism: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Swedish Version of the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire
No full textBackground: Perfectionism is often defined as the strive for achievement and high standards, but can also lead to negative consequences. In addition to affecting performance and interpersonal relationships, perfectionism can result in mental distress. A number of different self-report measures have been put forward to assess perfectionism. Specifically intended for clinical practice and research, the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ) was developed and is presently available in English and Persian. To promote its use in additional contexts, the current study has translated and investigated the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the CPQ.Method: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed to examine the best fit with data, using a priori-models and a sample of treatment-seeking participants screened for eligibility to receive Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (n = 223).Results: The results indicated a lack of fit with data. A two-factor structure without the two reversed items (2 and 8) exhibited the best fit, perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns, but still had poor structural validity. Correlations with self-report measures of perfectionism, depression, anxiety, dysfunctional beliefs, self-criticism, quality of life, and self-compassion were all in the expected directions. Eight-week test-retest correlation was Pearson r = .62, 95% Confidence Interval [.45, .74], using data from 72 participants in the wait-list control, and the internal consistency for the CPQ, once removing the reversely scored items, was Cronbach’s α = .72.Conclusion: The CPQ can be used as a self-report measure in Swedish, but further research on its structural validity is needed
Make a Wish – What Are the Wishes for Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment?
No full textNo abstract available
Description of a Culture-Sensitive, Low-Threshold Psychoeducation Intervention for Asylum Seekers (Tea Garden)
No full textBackground: Asylum seekers often suffer from high levels of mental distress. However, as a result of a lack of knowledge about mental health and health care, as well as cultural and language barriers, the utilization of mental health care in Western host countries is often difficult for these individuals. Reducing these barriers may thus be a crucial first step towards appropriate mental health care. Previous research showed that psychoeducation may be helpful in this regard.Method: The current manuscript describes a short, low-threshold and transdiagnostic intervention named ‘Tea Garden (TG)’. The TG aims to increase specific knowledge about mental health problems and available treatments, and may improve psychological resilience and self-care. In this manuscript, we specifically focus on culturally sensitive facets, following the framework proposed by Heim and colleagues (2021, https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.6351), and lessons learned from three independent pilot evaluations (Ns = 31; 61; 20).Results: The TG was found to be feasible and quantitative results showed that it was helpful for male and female asylum seekers from different countries of origin (e.g., Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq) and with different educational levels. Interestingly, even asylum seekers who had already been in Germany or Austria for three or more years benefited from the TG.Conclusion: The TG specifically aims to be culture-sensitive rather than culture-specific, to be transdiagnostic rather than focused on specific mental disorders, and to be suitable for asylum seekers who are still in the insecure process of applying for asylum. It may also be helpful for distressed asylum seekers who do not fulfill the criteria for a mental disorder, and for healthy asylum seekers who could use the knowledge gained in the TG to help others
(How) Can Clinical Psychology Contribute to Increasing Vaccination Rates in Europe?
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Reporting Cultural Adaptation in Psychological Trials – The RECAPT criteria
No full textBackground: There is a lack of empirical evidence on the level of cultural adaptation required for psychological interventions developed in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) societies to be effective for the treatment of common mental disorders among culturally and ethnically diverse groups. This lack of evidence is partly due to insufficient documentation of cultural adaptation in psychological trials. Standardised documentation is needed in order to enhance empirical and meta-analytic evidence.Process: A “Task force for cultural adaptation of mental health interventions for refugees” was established to harmonise and document the cultural adaptation process across several randomised controlled trials testing psychological interventions for mental health among refugee populations in Germany. Based on the collected experiences, a sub-group of the task force developed the reporting criteria presented in this paper. Thereafter, an online survey with international experts in cultural adaptation of psychological interventions was conducted, including two rounds of feedback.Results: The consolidation process resulted in eleven reporting criteria to guide and document the process of cultural adaptation of psychological interventions in clinical trials. A template for documenting this process is provided. The eleven criteria are structured along A) Set-up; B) Formative research methods; C) Intervention adaptation; D) Measuring outcomes and implementation.Conclusions: Reporting on cultural adaptation more consistently in future psychological trials will hopefully improve the quality of evidence and contribute to examining the effect of cultural adaptation on treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability
‘Open Source’ Opportunities for Enhanced Collaboration in Psychotherapy Science
No full textNo abstract available
Imagery Rescripting Versus Cognitive Restructuring for Social Anxiety: Treatment Effects and Working Mechanisms
No full textBackground: Negative mental images in social anxiety are often linked to memories of distressing social experiences. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) has been found to be a promising intervention to target aversive memories, but mechanisms underlying ImRs are largely unknown. The present study aimed (a) to investigate the effects of ImRs compared to cognitive restructuring (CR) on social anxiety symptoms and (b) to extend previous research by examining whether ImRs works by fostering reappraisal of negative emotional self-beliefs. Method: Highly socially anxious individuals (N = 77) were randomly allocated to ImRs, CR, or no intervention control (NIC). A speech task was performed at baseline and at 1-week follow-up. Results: Only CR significantly reduced social anxiety symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Decreases in negative appraisals and emotional distress in response to the speech task did not differ between conditions. Regarding working mechanisms, ImRs led to stronger increases in positive emotions than CR and NIC. Both CR and ImRs yielded short-term reductions in emotionally anchored idiosyncratic self-beliefs, but CR was superior to ImRs at follow-up. Conclusions: The present study provides evidence for the efficacy of a single-session of CR for social anxiety symptoms. As one specific version of ImRs was applied, it is conceivable that other or optimized versions of ImRs might be more effective
“Same Same or Adapted?” Therapists’ Feedback on the Implementation of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Unaccompanied Young Refugees
No full textBackground: Rates of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are high among refugee youth. Although there is a vast evidence base on effective trauma-focused interventions for children and adolescents, there is only limited understanding of how to adapt these interventions for oftentimes severely traumatized young refugees. This study aims to investigate adaptations undertaken during trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) in a pilot study with unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs).Method: Written answers on five questions given by N = 9 therapists on N = 16 TF-CBT cases were analysed qualitatively using Mayring’s content analysis. The questions were on (1) additional techniques used in the sessions, (2) obstacles to TF-CBT treatment, (3) cultural factors considered and most helpful components for (4) patient and (5) therapist. The categories were built inductively and analysed descriptively.Results: In addition to the regular TF-CBT components, added content mostly concerned the so-called “crisis of the week”, meaning a more lengthy discussion of struggles and concerns in their daily lives. Few obstacles in treatment were reported, and little cultural factors had to be considered. The implementation of a trauma narrative and the agenda provided by the manual were frequently reported as helpful.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the manualized evidence-based treatment TF-CBT can be used in the culturally heterogeneous population of URMs with minor adaptations. These findings can contribute to future research as well as clinical practice with URMs
Repetitive Negative Thinking About Suicide: Associations With Lifetime Suicide Attempts
No full textBackground: Repetitive negative thinking has been identified as an important predictor of suicide ideation and suicidal behavior. Yet, only few studies have investigated the effect of suicide-specific rumination, i.e., repetitive thinking about death and/or suicide on suicide attempt history. On this background, the present study investigated, whether suicide-specific rumination differentiates between suicide attempters and suicide ideators, is predictive of suicide attempt history and mediates the association between suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Method: A total of 257 participants with a history of suicide ideation (55.6% female; Age M = 30.56, Age SD = 11.23, range: 18–73 years) completed online measures on suicidality, general and suicide-specific rumination. Results: Suicide-specific rumination differentiated suicide attempters from suicide ideators, predicted suicide attempt status (above age, gender, suicide ideation, general rumination) and fully mediated the association between suicide ideation and lifetime suicide attempts. Conclusion: Overall, though limited by the use of a non-clinical sample and a cross-sectional study design, the present results suggest that suicide-specific rumination might be a factor of central relevance in understanding transitions to suicidal behavior
Examination of the New ICD-11 Prolonged Grief Disorder Guidelines Across Five International Samples
No full textBackground: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a new disorder included in the 11th edition of the International classification of diseases (ICD-11). An important remit of the new ICD-11 is the global applicability of the mental health disorder guidelines or definitions. Although previous definitions and descriptions of disordered grief have been assessed worldwide, this new definition has not yet been systematically validated. Method: Here we assess the validity and applicability of core items of the ICD-11 PGD across five international samples of bereaved persons from Switzerland (N = 214), China (N = 325); Israel (N = 544), Portugal (N = 218) and Ireland (N = 830). Results: The results confirm that variation in the diagnostic algorithm for PGD can greatly impact the rates of disorder within and between international samples. Different predictors of PGD severity may be related to sample differences. Finally, a threshold for diagnosis of clinically relevant PGD symptoms using a new scale, the International Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale (IPGDS), in three samples was confirmed. Conclusions: Although this study was limited by lack of questionnaire data points across all five samples, the findings for the diagnostic threshold and algorithm iterations have implications for clinical use of the new ICD-11 PGD criteria worldwide