Change motivation and mindfulness in individual psychotherapy: Examining a sample of adult outpatients with depression and/or anxiety.

Objectives: Existing literature has demonstrated that both motivation to change and mindfulness are associated with therapy outcomes in samples with mental disorders. Between the constructs of mindfulness and motivation to change occurs some theoretical-related and empirical overlap. However, it is still little known about the association of these two constructs.

Integrative systemic and family therapy for social anxiety disorder: Manual and practice in a pilot randomized controlled trial (SOPHO-CBT/ST).

Social anxiety disorders (SAD) are among the most prevalent mental disorders (lifetime prevalence: 7-12%), with high impact on the life of an affected social system and its individual social system members. We developed a manualized disorder-specific integrative systemic and family therapy (ISFT) for SAD, and evaluated its feasibility in a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). The ISFT is inspired by Helm Stierlin's concept of related individuation developed during the early 1980s, which has since continued to be refined.

Change Mechanism of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training for Couples with Depression: An Exploratory Empirical Investigation of Process Variables.

Compassion training seems to be a promising intervention for couples to improve individual psychopathology and relationship quality. Beyond studying the efficacy of training such as Cognitively-Based Compassion Training or ouples (CBCT-), it is important to gain insights into the putative mechanisms along the process. Theoretically derived presumed mechanisms of compassion training (clarification of values, self-regulation, decentering, and exposure) and additional therapeutic factors (emotional bond, social learning, and clarification of meaning) were studied over the course of a 10-session-long group-based CBCT- among women with depressive disorders.

The impact of session-introducing mindfulness and relaxation interventions in individual psychotherapy for children and adolescents: a randomized controlled trial (MARS-CA).

Background: The investigation of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in cognitive-behavioral therapy has greatly increased over the past years. However, most MBI research with youth focuses on structured, manualized group programs, conducted in school settings. Knowledge about the implementation and effects of MBIs in individual psychotherapy with children and adolescents is scarce.

Development and Initial Validation of a Brief Questionnaire on the Patients' View of the In-Session Realization of the Six Core Components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Background: Assessing in-session processes is important in psychotherapy research. The aim of the present study was to create and evaluate a short questionnaire capturing the patients' view of the in-session realization of the six core components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Method: In two studies, psychotherapy patients receiving ACT (Study 1: n = 87) or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Study 2, Sample 1: n = 115; Sample 2: n = 156) completed the ACT session questionnaire (ACT-SQ).

[Mindfulness in Trainee Psychotherapies with Children and Adolescents].

The implementation of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in cognitive-behavioral therapy has greatly increased over the past few years. However, there is little research about the implementation of MBIs in individual child and adolescent psychotherapy. The present paper gives an overview of current MBIs and their efficacy in children and adolescents.

[Change Mechanisms in Group Therapy: A Questionnaire to Measure Therapeutic Perspectives].

Group therapy was shown to be an effective and economic intervention. To date few instruments exist to empirically assess mechanisms of therapeutic change in group therapy. The Group Therapy Process Questionnaire for Therapists (FEPiG-T) measuring change mechanisms in group therapy as viewed from the perspectives of therapists was developed and validated in this study based on the conceptualizations of Grawe,Yalom and Bordin and in reference to the previously developed measure for patients.

Comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Systemic Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial (SOPHO-CBT/ST).

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to pilot the newly developed manualized and monitored systemic therapy (ST) for social anxiety disorder (SAD), as compared to manualized and monitored cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We conducted a prospective multicenter, assessor-blind pilot RCT on 38 outpatients (ICD F40.1; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID); Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, LSAS-SR >30).

Targeting parental motivation for change in childhood obesity: development and validation of the PURICA-S scale.

Background: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence call for effective and sustainable intervention strategies. Parental motivation for change may be a key factor in sustained behavioral improvement towards a healthy weight status of their offspring. In this study, we developed a new short instrument to assess parental motivation for change to facilitate motivation-tailored family interventions that promise improved effectiveness.

Heart Rate Variability in Individual Psychotherapy: Associations With Alliance and Outcome.

Heart rate variability (HRV) can be conceptualized as a marker of an individual's capability to adaptively respond to its environment and has been linked with mental health. Although conceptually and empirically linked to social behavior and thus relevant in the therapeutic setting, HRV is seldom investigated directly within therapy sessions. In the present examination, we aimed at addressing this research gap by assessing patients' and therapists' HRVs both ambulatory within therapy sessions and under resting conditions.

[Questionnaire on the Experience of the Art Therapy Group in Psychosomatics from Patient View (FEKTP) - Construction and Validation of a Measuring Instrument].

Art therapy is a clinically accepted method of therapy, but there are still very few studies that deal with the efficacy, change factors or mode of action of art therapy. In particular, there is a dearth of research instruments and psychometrically verified research tools specially fitted for art therapy which measures the experience dimensions of the art therapy group from the patient's point of view. Hence, it provides evidence of its effectiveness, better understands the art therapy group processes and serves quality assurance.

Mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation as standardized session-introduction in individual therapy: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: There is scarce research on the effects of mindfulness in individual therapy. As many practitioners integrate mindfulness exercises into individual therapy, empirical evidence is of high clinical relevance.

Method: We investigated the effects of a session-introducing intervention with mindfulness elements (SIIME) in a randomized, controlled design.

Mind-Body Practices and the Self: Yoga and Meditation Do Not Quiet the Ego but Instead Boost Self-Enhancement.

Mind-body practices enjoy immense public and scientific interest. Yoga and meditation are highly popular. Purportedly, they foster well-being by curtailing self-enhancement bias.

Therapeutic Agency Inventory: Development and psychometric validation of a patient self-report.

Therapeutic agency is defined as a patient's intentional influence over the process of psychotherapeutic change. However, there is a lack of conceptually sound self-report measures with adequate psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate the patient-rated Therapeutic Agency Inventory (TAI).

Effects of mindfulness exercises as stand-alone intervention on symptoms of anxiety and depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are currently well established in psychotherapy with meta-analyses demonstrating their efficacy. In these multifaceted interventions, the concrete performance of mindfulness exercises is typically integrated in a larger therapeutic framework. Thus, it is unclear whether stand-alone mindfulness exercises (SAMs) without such a framework are beneficial, as well.

Validation of the URICA-S in Group Therapy: Associations of Stages of Change with Therapeutic Factors and Treatment Outcome.

Stages of change could be driving forces to activate the realization of therapeutic factors and symptom change. Consequently, the aims of the present study were to investigate whether the stages of change concept is valid in group therapy settings shown by factor analysis, internal consistencies, and criterion validity. A total of 377 patients completed measures of stages of change, symptom change, and therapeutic factors.

Increasing the treatment motivation of patients with somatic symptom disorder: applying the URICA-S scale.

Background: Therapeutic intervention programs for somatic symptom disorder (SSD) show only small-to-moderate effect sizes. These effects are partly explained by the motivational problems of SSD patients. Hence, fostering treatment motivation could increase treatment success.

The therapeutic alliance in different mental disorders: A comparison of patients with depression, somatoform, and eating disorders.

Objective: The therapeutic alliance is intensively investigated in psychotherapy research. However, there is scarce research on the role of the specific diagnosis of the patient in the formation of the therapeutic alliance. Hence, the aim of this study was to address this research gap by comparing the alliance in different mental disorders.

A meta-analysis of the relation between therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome in eating disorders.

The therapeutic alliance has demonstrated an association with favorable psychotherapeutic outcomes in the treatment of eating disorders (EDs). However, questions remain about the inter-relationships between early alliance, early symptom improvement, and treatment outcome. We conducted a meta-analysis on the relations among these constructs, and possible moderators of these relations, in psychosocial treatments for EDs.

Development and psychometric validation of the 'Parent Perspective University of Rhode Island Change Assessment-Short' (PURICA-S) Questionnaire for the application in parents of children with overweight and obesity.

Introduction: High prevalence rates of childhood obesity urgently call for improved effectiveness of intervention programmes for affected children and their families. One promising attempt can be seen in tailoring interventions according to the motivational stages of parents as 'agents of change' for their children. Evidence from other behavioural contexts (eg, addiction) clearly shows the superiority of motivational-stage dependent tailored (behavioural) interventions.

[Change Factors in Group Therapy: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire].

While the efficacy of group therapy is sufficiently confirmed, there is a research gap concerning relevant therapeutic processes. Particularly, there is a dearth of integrative instruments that assess a broad spectrum of group therapeutic change factors. Hence, the aim of the current investigation was the validation of the newly developed "Scale for the assessment of therapeutic processes in group therapy (FEPiG)" based on Grawe's general psychotherapy and Yalom's conception of change factors in group therapy.

Comparing systemic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorders: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Background: Social anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent anxiety disorders in the general population. The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorders is well demonstrated. However, only three studies point to the efficacy of systemic therapy (ST) in anxiety disorders, and only two of them especially focus on social anxiety disorders.

Inpatient and Day-Clinic Experience Scale (IDES) - a Psychometric Evaluation.

Objectives: The Inpatient and Day-Clinic Experience Scale (IDES) was developed to assess common factors in a multimodal psychotherapy setting from the patients' perspective. The questionnaire measures different aspects of therapeutic relationships, a positive self-view and a critical attitude towards therapy.

Methods: Three samples (total N = 821) were used to evaluate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the questionnaire.

The Process-Outcome Mindfulness Effects in Trainees (PrOMET) study: protocol of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Background: Mindfulness has its origins in an Eastern Buddhist tradition that is over 2500 years old and can be defined as a specific form of attention that is non-judgmental, purposeful, and focused on the present moment. It has been well established in cognitive-behavior therapy in the last decades, while it has been investigated in manualized group settings such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. However, there is scarce research evidence on the effects of mindfulness as a treatment element in individual therapy.

The individual therapy process questionnaire: development and validation of a revised measure to evaluate general change mechanisms in psychotherapy.

There is a dearth of measures specifically designed to assess empirically validated mechanisms of therapeutic change. To fill in this research gap, the aim of the current study was to develop a measure that covers a large variety of empirically validated mechanisms of change with corresponding versions for the patient and therapist. To develop an instrument that is based on several important change process frameworks, we combined two established change mechanisms instruments: the Scale for the Multiperspective Assessment of General Change Mechanisms in Psychotherapy (SACiP) and the Scale of the Therapeutic Alliance-Revised (STA-R).