Background: This paper reports on the outcomes of a proof-of-principle study for the Exposure Therapy Consortium, a global network of researchers and clinicians who work to improve the effectiveness and uptake of exposure therapy. The study aimed to test the feasibility of the consortium's big-team science approach and test the hypothesis that adding post-exposure processing focused on enhancing threat reappraisal would enhance the efficacy of a one-session large-group interoceptive exposure therapy protocol for reducing anxiety sensitivity.
Methods: The study involved a multi-site cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing exposure with post-processing (ENHANCED), exposure without post-processing (STANDARD), and a stress management intervention (CONTROL) in students with elevated anxiety sensitivity.
Cognitive motivation (COM) in conjunction with self-regulation (SR) was demonstrated to be positively linked to mental health in educational and clinical contexts. We introduce COM and SR in the occupational context and hypothesize these traits-based on their conceptual link to hardiness - to counteract health-risking stressors. Data from two large cross-sectional studies in Germany comprise a sample of 1,022 psychosomatic rehabilitation in-patients and a healthy sample of 298 employees of various occupations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Personalized Advantage Index (PAI) shows promise as a method for identifying the most effective treatment for individual patients. Previous studies have demonstrated its utility in retrospective evaluations across various settings. In this study, we explored the effect of different methodological choices in predictive modelling underlying the PAI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Diagnostic Interview for Sexual Dysfunctions in Women (DISEX-F) is a clinician-administered instrument allowing for an ICD-11 and DSM-5-compliant assessment of female sexual dysfunctions. Due to limited time and resources in practice and research, as well as patients' reticence in discussing sexual issues, a computer-administered self-report version was developed (DISEX-F-SR). This study aimed to collect initial data on its psychometric properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Anhedonia is a risk factor for a severe course of depression but is often not adequately addressed in psychotherapy. This study presents the Training to Enhance Reward Experience (T-REx), a novel self-help approach that uses savoring and mental imagery to target impairments in reward experience associated with anhedonia. We aimed to examine feasibility and acceptability of T-REx and exploratively investigated its effects on anhedonia and other clinical variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Research suggests that some therapists achieve better outcomes than others. However, an overlooked area of study is how institution differences impact patient outcomes independent of therapist variance. This study aimed to examine the role of institution and therapist differences in adult outpatient psychotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile structured clinical interviews are considered the gold standard for diagnosing mental disorders, respective instruments are still lacking in the field of sexual dysfunctions. The study evaluates the psychometric properties of the new (DISEX-F), which is based on the eleventh edition of the (ICD-11) and the fifth edition of the (DSM-5), in a sample of 100 women with self-reported sexual problems. Participants were interviewed twice by trained diagnosticians with the DISEX-F.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSexual safety behaviors (SSB) may constitute a relevant factor for the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunctions. The present study aims to improve the understanding of SSB in women. A total of = 923 women completed an online survey consisting of the , a measure of SSB, and a set of other questionnaires that assessed sexual dysfunctions, anxiety, depression, and other clinically relevant variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData-based predictions of individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatment response are a fundamental step towards precision medicine. Past studies demonstrated only moderate prediction accuracy (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Behavioral activation (BA) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have shown to be efficacious treatment methods for depression. Previous studies focused mostly on the outpatient treatment either in group or individual setting. The present study aimed at comparing the efficacy of group treatment BA .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: In this paper we review the current literature on the clinical problem that some patients do not achieve response after adequately conducted psychotherapy. We explicate our understanding of nonresponse and treatment resistance including the operational definitions, summarize the theoretical explanations and empirical studies and put forward possible study designs and treatment options.
Methods: Literature search using PubMed and Web of Science.
Purpose: The Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CompACT) is a 23-item questionnaire measuring psychological flexibility, a quality of life protective factor. An 18-item version was recently produced. We assessed validity and reliability of CompACT, and equivalence of paper and electronic (eCompACT) versions in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in Italy, Germany and Spain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Shame is considered an important factor in the development and maintenance of many psychological disorders, e.g., social anxiety disorder, and an interesting target point for therapeutic intervention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Controversy exists about the comparative efficacy of different group formats, e. g., open versus closed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sexual dysfunction frequencies and diagnostic indicators among older populations are relevant for public health measures, but evidence from large population-based studies is still scarce.
Aim: To determine sexual dysfunction frequencies for women and men according to the (fifth edition; ) among 45- to 74-year-old participants of the population-based Hamburg City Health Study and the factors associated with sexual dysfunction diagnoses.
Methods: We determined sexual dysfunction frequencies according to the and the factors associated with sexual dysfunction diagnoses (quality/avoidance of and discomfort during sex) among 45- to 74-year-olds from 7786 participants of the population-based Hamburg City Health Study.
Despite striking empirical support, exposure-based treatments for anxiety disorders are underutilized. This is partially due to clinicians' concerns that patients may reject exposure or experience severe side effects, particularly in intensive forms of exposure. We examined acceptance and side effects of two randomly assigned variants of prediction error-based exposure treatment differing in temporal density (1 vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndividuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and social phobia (SP) have difficulties in social interactions. It is unknown, however, whether such difficulties prevent them from helping others, thereby depriving them of the natural benefits of helping, such as receiving gratitude. Using event sampling methodology (ESM), individuals (MDD, n = 118; SP, n = 47; and control group, n = 119) responded to questions about the frequency of helping, in total at 5333 time points, and their well-being.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt can happen that one behaves in a supposedly embarrassing or insufficient manner; however, short-term feelings such as shame or self-doubt usually remain without significance. However, if there is excessive and persistent fear or significant avoidance behaviour, it may be a case of social anxiety disorder (SAS). This article provides an overview of the current status of the aetiology, diagnosis and therapy of SAS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBehavioral activation (BA) interventions systematically encourage positive and value-based activities. Engaging in them is an effective way to counteract negative affect, but it is unknown whether there are subtypes of activities that may have differential effects on mood. This study investigated the factorial structure of 99 potentially rewarding activities used in an online BA intervention during the COVID-19 lockdown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We aimed to synthesize the evidence for an association between childhood maltreatment and body image disturbances in adulthood. Information on maltreatment subtypes and mediator variables was included to gain further insights into the mechanisms of the association. In addition, we aimed to examine the role of body image disturbances in the development of negative mental health outcomes associated with childhood maltreatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch on the link between childhood sexual abuse experiences (CSAE) and pedohebephilia is limited by its focus on events that the respondents rate as abusive. We asked 199 German-speaking (Study 1) and 632 English-speaking (Study 2) men with and without self-reported pedohebephilia to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and scales to assess perceived non-coercive childhood sexual experiences with adults (PNCSE-A), and peers (PNCSE-P, only Study 2). A substantial number of participants with PNCSE-A disagreed with all items of the CTQ Sexual Abuse subscale (e.
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