Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP) : Psychometric characteristics of the Czech version

Objective. The Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP) is a new and promising tool for measuring clients’ preferences regarding psychotherapy. However, the psychometric evaluation of this measure is scarce in general and completely missing for the Czech adaptation of the measure. This study aimed to test the Czech version of the C-NIP factor structure, test its measurement invariance, and establish cut points. Methods. N = 772 adults answered the C-NIP in an online survey. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were used to test the factor structure and assess the C-NIP measurement invariance between men and women and across several levels of psychotherapy experience. Results. The original four-factor model was not supported. Instead, a five-factor model was suggested that fit the data adequately and was strictly invariant with respect to gender and levels of experience with psychotherapy. Conclusions. The Czech C-NIP can be considered a valid and reliable measure of clients’ preferences regarding psychotherapy. The replication of the new factor model is needed

Jak zní město? Zvukové prostředí města z hlediska konceptu sonosféry

Snaha o rehabilitaci významu zvuku jako nejen fyzikálního, ale především sociálního a kulturního fenoménu vedla na konci šedesátých let 20. století k formování nového, od počátku interdisciplinárně konstituovaného oboru akustické ekologie, který dal posléze vzniknout oblasti dnes souhrnně označované jako soundscape studies. Předkládaný příspěvek vychází z této myšlenkové a výzkumné tradice a hledá odpovědi na otázky „Jaké je zvukové prostředí současného města?“ a „Jak je toto zvukové prostředí prožíváno jeho obyvateli?“

Psychometric evaluation of the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation – General Population : Czech version

Objectives. This study aimed to assess psychometric properties, such as reliability, construct validity, and cut-off scores, for the Czech version of the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation – General Population (GP-CORE) questionnaire, a tool usable for repeated measurement of psychological distress within routine clinical settings. Participants and setting. Two general populations and one clinical sample were used with N values of 420, 394, and 345, respectively. Hypotheses. One of the competing theoretical factor solutions will demonstrate the best fit. Statistical analysis. To examine the factor structure of the GP-CORE, a confirmatory multidimensional item response theory analysis (graded response model) was employed. Results. The best fitting model was a bifactor solution representing one content domain of overall distress and two item wording domains (positively and negatively worded items). Clinical cut-off scores were determined to be 1.85 (men) and 1.90 (women). Study limitations. The GP-CORE can be used as an unidimensional measure of overall distress, but users have to be aware of the influence of positive vs. negative item wording on the responses

Facets of the psychotherapy relationship : a metaphorical approach

Although many separate aspects of the psychotherapy relationship have been studied, including empathy, working alliance, and self-disclosure, a metaphorical approach has the potential to generate a more holistic perspective of this phenomenon. Hence, the goal of this study was to explore the nature of the psychotherapy relationship from the psychotherapists’ perspective using a metaphorical approach. In an online survey, a sample of N=373 Czech psychotherapists and counselors rated a set of relational metaphors in terms of how accurately they depicted their roles in their relationships with their clients. The single most endorsed metaphor for the practitioner’s role was a guide. Furthermore, the principal component analysis identified three relational components, namely, Mentor, Resource Supplier, and Remedy Distributor. The associations among these components and multiple practitioners’ variables, including demographic and practice-related variables and theoretical orientation, were explored. These three components represent general dimensions of the psychotherapy relationship that cut across various theoretical orientations and, thus, define psychotherapy relationships in a general sense

Využívání psychoterapeutických technik v praxi

Cíl. Cílem této studie bylo prozkoumat využívání psychoterapeu­tických technik u českých psychoterapeutů a také souvislost mezi využíváním různých technik a proměnnými vztahujícími se k osobě terapeuta a jeho praxi. Vzorek. Vzorek tvořilo N = 373 českých psychoterapeutů reprezentujících různou délku praxe, různé terapeutické přístupy i kontext, v němž psychoterapeutické služby poskytují. Metoda. Data byla získávána pomocí online dotazníku. Výsledky. Analýza hlavních komponent identifikovala šest komponent (psychodynamické, systemické, humanistické, kognitivně-behaviorální, psychoedukační a neverbální/na tělo zaměřené techniky) a regresní analýza následně prokázala jejich vztah s pohlavím, délkou praxe a pracovní zátěží terapeutů. Klastrová analýza nakonec odhalila sedm různých profilů terapeutů podle využívání jednotlivých komponent. Výsledky naznačují velkou variabilitu v používání terapeutických technik, která překračuje hranice jednotlivých terapeutických přístupů. Limity. Seznam technik byl omezený, studie byla založena na sebeposouzení, postup tvorby vzorku neumožnil stanovit návratnost.Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore the use of psychotherapeutic techniques in Czech psychotherapists and the relationship between the use of different techniques and variables related to the therapists and their practice. Sample. The sample consisted of N = 373 Czech psychotherapists who represented different lengths of practice, various theoretical orientations, and contexts in which they provided psychotherapy. Method. The data was collected via an online questionnaire. Results. Six components were identified using principal component analysis (psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, psycho-educational and non-verbal/body-oriented techniques) and subsequent regression analysis revealed their relationship to therapists’ gender, length of practice and workload. Finally, cluster analysis identified seven different therapists’ profiles based on the use of the technique components. The results suggest great variability in the use of therapeutic techniques which extends beyond the boundaries of theoretical orientations. Limitations. The list of techniques was limited, the study was based on self-report, and the sampling method did not allow us to report the response rate

Autocorrelation Screening: A Potentially Efficient Method for Detecting Repetitive Response Patterns in Questionnaire Data

Valid data are essential for making correct theoretical and practical implications. Hence, efficient methods for detecting and excluding data with dubious validity are highly valuable in any field of science. This paper introduces the idea of applying autocorrelation analysis on self-report questionnaires with single-choice numbered, preferably Likert-type, scales in order to screen out potentially invalid data, specifically repetitive response patterns. We explain mathematical principles of autocorrelation in a simple manner and illustrate how to efficiently perform detection of invalid data and how to correctly interpret the results. We conclude that autocorrelation screening could be a valuable screening tool for assessing the quality of self-report questionnaire data. We present a summary of the method’s biggest strengths and weaknesses, together with functional tools to allow for an easy execution of autocorrelation screening by researchers, and even practitioners or the broad public. Our conclusions are limited by the current absence of empirical evidence about the practical usefulness of this method

Personal therapeutic approach in Gestalt therapists working with clients suffering from medically unexplained psychosomatic symptoms

Treatment specificity and adherence to treatment manuals represent essential components of the medical model in psychotherapy. The model assumes that psychotherapists who work with the same type of clients and who identify with the same theoretical approach work very similarly. This study illustrates the shortcomings of that assumption and explores how therapists’ individuality forms and shapes their unique approaches that resonate with their own personalities, inclinations, and worldviews. Semi-structured interviews with eight Gestalt therapists working with clients who experienced medically unexplained physical symptoms were analysed using the grounded theory method. Considerable differences were found among the therapists within four domains of the personal therapeutic approach, namely Case Conceptualization, Therapeutic Task, Therapist’s Position, and Alternative Strategy. However, regardless of the differences, all the therapists endeavoured, either implicitly or explicitly, to convey to the clients what they considered to be healthy functioning. There is considerable diversity in the way therapists work even when they subscribe to the same psychotherapeutic approach and work with the same type of clients. The exploration of psychotherapists’ usual strategies, as well as the alternative strategies they use when their usual strategies do not work, appears helpful for capturing their personal therapeutic approaches

The associations between interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation, acceptance, and well-being in patients receiving multicomponent treatment: a dynamic panel network model

Mechanisms of change represent the cornerstone of the therapeutic process. This study aimed to investigate how network models could be used to test mechanisms of change at a group level. A secondary aim was to investigate which of the several hypothesized mechanisms (emotion regulation, interoceptive awareness, and acceptance) are related to changes in psychological well-being. The sample comprised adult patients suffering from psychological disorders (N=444; 70% women) from 7 clinical sites in the Czech Republic who were undergoing groupbased multicomponent treatment composed mainly of psychodynamic psychotherapy (lasting from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the clinical site). Data were collected weekly using the multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation skills questionnaire, chronic pain acceptance questionnaire-symptoms and outcome rating scale. A lag-1 longitudinal network model was employed for exploratory analysis of the panel data. The pruned final model demonstrated a satisfactory fit. Three networks were computed, i.e., temporal, contemporaneous, and between-person networks. The most central node was the modification of negative emotions. Mechanisms that were positively associated with well-being included modification, readiness to confront negative emotions, activity engagement, and trust in bodily signals. Acceptance of negative emotions showed a negative association with well-being. Moreover, noticing bodily sensations, not worrying, and self-regulation contributed indirectly to changes in well-being. In conclusion, the use of network methodology to model panel data helped generate novel hypotheses for future research and practice; for instance, well-being could be actively contributing to other mechanisms, not just a passive outcome

Mechanisms of change in multicomponent group-based treatment for patients suffering from medically unexplained physical symptoms

Objective: Understanding psychological mechanisms of change is essential to advance treatments for patients suffering from medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). This study aimed to test the role of selected change mechanisms (incl. interoceptive awareness, emotional regulation skills, symptom acceptance, relational needs satisfaction, clarification of meaning, working alliance, and group cohesion) in the modification of patients’ somatic symptom intensity and well-being. Method: N = 290 patients suffering from MUPS participated in a multi-component group-based treatment at seven clinical sites. Data were collected weekly. Multi-level modeling was used to test cross-lagged relationships between the hypothesized mechanisms and outcomes in terms of Granger causality (with lags of 1, 2, and 3 weeks). Results: None of the mechanisms predicted a time-lagged change in outcomes in the expected direction. In fact, there was a consistent pattern of negative time-lagged relationships (i.e., an increase in a mechanism predicted worsening of the outcome). Findings consistent with the hypothesized role of the mechanisms were found only in concurrent relationships between mechanisms and outcomes. Conclusion: This study did not support time-lagged relationships under the condition of weekly measurement and many methodological factors remain to be considered (e.g., a finer time resolution)

How to conduct and write a case study in an easy way: Guidelines for psychotherapists in practice

Případové studie představují metodologii vhodnou pro výzkum zaměřený na praxi. Článek představí případové studie jako přirozený způsob poznávání, při kterém mohou psychoterapeuti využít dovednosti, které jsou běžnou součástí jejich psychoterapeutické praxe. V článku jsou vysvětleny základní kroky při realizaci případové studie: (1) Odhodlání (Proč dělat případové studie?); (2) Příprava (Co se chceme dozvědět?); (3) Sběr dat (Jak by mohla vypadat minimalistická varianta?); (4) Zpracování a sepsání (Obvyklá struktura empirické studie). Článek představí případové studie jako smysluplný a obohacující způsob začlenění výzkumu do psychoterapeutického výcviku i do profesního rozvoje psychoterapeutů v praxi.Case studies represent a methodology suitable for practice-oriented research. In this article, case studies are introduced as a natural way of gaining knowledge, within which psychotherapists can use skills which are a natural part of their psychotherapy practice. Basic steps of conducting a case study are explained in the article: (1) Determination (Why do we do case study?); (2) Preparation (What do we want to know?); (3) Data collection (What could a minimalistic version look like?); (4) Analysing and writing down (The usual structure of an empirical study). The article introduces case studies as a meaningful and enriching way of integrating research into psychotherapy training and professional development of psychotherapists in practice