Comments on the original article, "The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy," by J. Shedler. Shedler's informative article raised several issues worthy of comment. His choice of the word distinctive (p. 98) in describing aspects of psychodynamic technique is open to at least two interpretations. On the one hand, distinctive can have a…

Greenberg (2010) is correct in his assertion that the investigational heuristic used to measure the efficacy of antidepressants is flawed. Robust placebo effects are endemic in the psychiatric literature, particularly in studies of antidepressants, and estimates of placebo responding have increased over time (Rief et al., 2009). In the case of…

Replies to comments from Kraemer, Kuchler, and Spiegel on the authors original article Psychotherapy and survival in cancer: The conflict between hope and evidence. The authors recently reviewed evidence related to the notion that psychotherapy extends survival in cancer patients (J. C. Coyne, M. Stefanek, & S. C. Palmer, 2007). The authors found…

In a recent article in this journal, Poston and Hanson (2010) reported a meta-analysis of 17 studies on the use of psychological assessment as a therapeutic intervention (PATI) and concluded that "psychological assessment procedures--when combined with personalized, collaborative, and highly involving test feedback--have positive, clinically…

Replies to the comments by Tyron, Silverstein and Auerbach, and Raps on the author's original article. I was very pleased to read these comments about the priority of bridging research and clinical practice and to have the benefit of further perspectives on how this goal might be achieved. The article to which these comments were addressed…

This paper offers a way of thinking about the process of parent-infant psychotherapy. I start by outlining some ideas as to what can go awry in troubled parent-infant relationships, and then a way of working with parents with pre-verbal babies. I suggest a model for understanding three interlaced levels at which change might occur if a…

Defines contextual therapy as therapeutic synthesis of family (relational), biological, and individual (psychotherapy) methodologies. Translates the ethics of "relational responsibility" into intervention methods and strategies. Explores consequences of the therapies as a common denominator for the three philosophies. (Author/ABB)

This brief article presents a comment on "Psychological Treatments" by D. H. Barlow. In his article, Barlow pointed to the need "to solidify the identification of psychology as a health care profession" by changing the terminology of practice in the health care context from psychotherapy to psychological treatments and suggested that the only…

Common factors contributing to the effectiveness of psychotherapy have come to be recognized. These include: (1) establishment of a safe, trusting, and supportive relationship; (2) encouragement of clients to engage in activities they had avoided; (3) provision of accurate feedback to clients; and (4) provision of a framework for clients to…

Presents a model for strategic, therapeutic interventions to help children stop repetitive behavioral sequences that offer protection from painful losses, but block the grief process. (Author/RH)

This article, a commentary, discusses questions and issues generated by 7 articles (see records EJ750759, EJ750761, EJ750764, EJ750765, EJ750767, EJ750768, and EJ750769) on the relationship between attachment theory and research, and psychotherapy and clinical assessment. The issues include the following: attachment-based therapeutic…

Answers Anderson's (1986) criticism of two main issues in Selvini's presention: professional ethics and methodology. Defends the lack of technical detail in favor of presenting the six-stage process as a model of psychotic family interactional games. (Author/ABB)

Presented are: (1) a review of literature which attempts to define the nature of the adolescent crisis among adopted children; and (2) an attempt to develop a theoretical perspective on adopted adolescents which incorporates a biological-social view of the causes of adolescents' problems. The paper attempts to develop an intervention-guiding model…

Although women comprise the majority of social work clients, most psychological models of assessment and intervention are based on male psychological development. Feminist theories and therapies have turned attention to female development and its differences from male progression. A psychotherapeutic model for practice and education that allows…

This paper argues that insufficient attention has been paid to the psychological needs of physically maltreated children, who often require direct treatment for such problems as aggressive behavior, low self-esteem, and cognitive limitations. (DB)