Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice最新文献

Objective

Empathy is a critical skill for effective counselling, yet novice counsellors often struggle to develop it. Traditional training methods may not sufficiently address the complexities of empathic development. This study aims to develop and assess an empathy training programme using machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to enhance empathy in novice counsellors.

Methods

We developed the ‘Empathy Feedback’ WeChat mini-programme to provide real-time feedback through counselling exercises. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 143 participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control, feedback, practice or feedback-practice. Over 5 days, participants completed daily empathy exercises through the mini-programme. Empathy levels, as measured by the Helpful Responses Questionnaire (HRQ), and self-efficacy were assessed immediately post-intervention and at a 2-week follow-up.

Results

Significant improvements in empathy and HRQ scores were observed in the experimental groups compared to the control group (p < .05), but no changes were found in self-efficacy scores.

Conclusions

The AI-driven empathy training programme effectively enhanced empathic skills among novice counsellors, demonstrating the potential of integrating machine learning and NLP into counsellor education. The lack of change in self-efficacy suggests that additional strategies may be needed to boost counsellors' confidence in applying these skills in practice.

Over recent decades, there has been more evidence of the connection between trauma and depression. More research is needed on the relationship between different types of trauma and their combination (cumulative trauma) with respect to the severity of depressive symptoms. The extent to which trauma and cognitive processes that manifest as polarised or ‘black and white’ thinking affect the severity of depression has yet to be explored.

Objective

The objective of this research was to examine the impact of cumulative trauma and polarised thinking on the severity of depressive symptoms.

Method

In total, 172 patients, mostly women, with a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia (or both) were evaluated using the Cumulative Trauma Scale. The Repertory Grid Technique was used to measure polarised thinking, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II was used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms.

Results

The severity of depressive symptoms was strongly associated with a high level of polarised thinking and a high frequency of perceived negative trauma.

Conclusions

Our findings underscore the need to address polarised thinking and trauma (when present) as a target of interventions aimed at reducing depression symptoms.

Background

Greater Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU: the tendency to find uncertainty negative) is associated with greater paranoia (mistrust of others) in clinical samples with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). Questions remain on whether the relationship between IU and paranoia/prodromal symptoms is: (1) specific over other related negative affective traits and cognitive biases, and (2) specific to SSDs or is transdiagnostic.

Methods

To examine these research questions, we conducted a survey in those with SSDs (n = 103), anxiety disorders (n = 102) a non-clinical sample (n = 102). Questionnaires included: IU, paranoia, prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia, neuroticism and jumping to conclusions bias.

Results

IU, neuroticism and jumping to conclusions bias were elevated in those with SSDs and anxiety disorders, compared to the non-clinical group. Both paranoia and prodromal symptoms were highest in those with SSDs, then anxiety disorders and lowest in the non-clinical group. Greater IU was associated with greater paranoia and prodromal symptoms across SSDs, anxiety disorders and a non-clinical sample. The majority of the relationships between IU and paranoia/prodromal symptoms remained significant when controlling for neuroticism and the jumping to conclusions bias. However, the relationship between IU and paranoia in the SSD group was not specific over the jumping to conclusions bias.

Discussion

These findings highlight the potentially transdiagnostic role of IU in paranoia/prodromal symptoms across SSDs and anxiety disorders, which has implications for the development of transdiagnostic treatment interventions for SSDs and anxiety disorders.

Introduction

Cisnormativity is a sociocultural narrative that contributes to the marginalisation of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. The schema therapy model theorises that humans have five core emotional needs that must be met to support psychological well-being. Experiences of marginalisation may result in TGD people feeling as if their core emotional needs are not being met. Integrating the schema therapy model with an ecological systems perspective, this study aimed to examine how manifestations of cisnormativity across different levels of the social ecology impact the extent to which TGD people feel their core emotional needs are met.

Methods

An online qualitative survey was completed by 101 TGD adults, and the data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Cisnormativity greatly impacted TGD people in ways that reflected the denial of numerous core emotional needs under the schema therapy model. The frustration of these needs was represented in four themes: disconnection and rejection; representation and reputation; suppressing and performing gender; and autonomy. The sources for these unmet needs were present across multiple levels of people's ecological systems.

Conclusion

Integrating an ecological systems perspective with the schema model demonstrated how the sociocultural context can directly and indirectly interfere with the meeting of core emotional needs. Some of the needs constructs demonstrated conceptual overlap, necessitating further investigation of the schema therapy model. This study documented the wide-ranging impacts of cisnormativity on TGD people, highlighting novel considerations that should be incorporated into the schema therapy model and models of TGD mental health and well-being.

Background

Negative emotions and stress are theorised to play a role in the onset and maintenance of voice-hearing experiences. However, previous research has not explored these temporal relationships in daily life using differentiated psychological constructs.

Aim

Using ecological momentary assessment, this study examined the moment-to-moment relationships between negative and positive emotion valence and intensity, stressful and pleasurable events, and voice-hearing onset.

Materials & Methods

Forty voice-hearers completed seven days of smartphone-based surveys, rating their emotions and their intensity, perceived stress and pleasure of life events, and presence of voice-hearing.

Results

Multilevel modelling showed that stressful events, but not pleasurable events, were significantly predictive of voice-hearing, both concurrently and in the next time point. Neither negative nor positive emotion intensity predicted voice-hearing, nor did they moderate the relationship between voice-hearing onset and stressful or pleasurable events, respectively.

Discussion

These findings suggest that factors which differentiate perception of stressful events from self-reported negative emotions may be useful intervention targets, such as mitigating prolonged external stressors, reducing sensitivity to external stressors and targeting negative perceptions or resistance to these stressors.

Conclusion

Clinically, our findings underscore the relevance of stress and a negative perception of externally oriented events, with further research needed to explore useful interventions for targeting these mechanisms.

Objective

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a condition in which individuals repeatedly pull out their hair despite adverse consequences. Several models have suggested underlying processes, with a central feature of hairpulling being an external means to regulate internal states. The frustrated action model suggests that certain affective states arise from perfectionistic beliefs and an overactive, overprepared style of planning, triggering episodes of hairpulling. To date, there is limited research investigating perfectionism in people with TTM. The current study investigated the experiences of hairpulling behaviour in people with TTM, with specific attention given to perfectionism.

Design

A qualitative methodology was employed.

Method

Twenty participants completed online screening questionnaires and were interviewed via an online communication platform. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The findings identified the role and development of maladaptive perfectionism in hairpulling. Furthermore, a maintenance cycle is proposed, in which hairpulling is maintained via the positive function it plays in preventing confirmation of self-critical cognitions.

Conclusions

The results indicate that interventions targeting perfectionism specifically in individuals with TTM could be beneficial. Furthermore, clinicians should be sensitive to the positive functions that hairpulling can serve for people with TTM.

Introduction

Psychologists can bring social justice into their professional presence on social media, with the public perceiving health care professionals as a reputable source of information online. This study aimed to explore practitioner psychologists' use of social media for social justice advocacy as a mental health influencer.

Methods

Twelve UK-based practitioner psychologists were interviewed who had an Instagram account that they used as a mental health influencer. The semi-structured interview transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Systemic issues have motivated many psychologists to begin work as a mental health influencer. There are challenges between the use of social media for social justice advocacy and for business purposes to promote private practice. Psychologists can use social media to share psychoeducation to increase mental health literacy and encourage access to therapy. The accessibility of this content is particularly valuable for people from marginalised communities and for people on long waiting lists to access mental health support. Psychologists can use social media to raise critical consciousness of social inequalities and reduce an individual's sense of self-blame.

Conclusion

Irrespective of working in the public sector or private practice, there are opportunities for psychologists to use social media as a resource for social justice advocacy.