Predicting Optimal Outcomes in Cognitive Therapy or Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Individuals Using the Personalized Advantage Index Approach (vol 10, e0140771, 2015):Predicting Optimal Outcomes in Cognitive Therapy or Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Individuals Using the Personalized Advantage Index Approach

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140771.]

Gender differences in the implementation of school-based assessment in a Malaysian state

This study aims to identify the differences in assessment knowledge, school support, teacher readiness, teacher skills and challenges faced by male and female Grade 8 teachers who are involved in implementing School-Based Assessment (SBA) and the interrelationship among these five factors. In addition, this study explores the teachers’ views with regards to these five factors.This study uses a quantitative questionnaire designed by the researchers, and a total of 243 Grade 8 teachers answered the questionnaire.Qualitative data was then collected via semi-structured interviews which were conducted with 20 teachers. The findings show that male teachers are more ready to implement SBA compared to female teachers.Compared to the female teachers, the male teachers view school support as more important. In terms of knowledge, skills and challenges towards the implementation of SBA, there are no gender differences. The findings also show that there exist significant relationships among the five factors except between school support and challenges faced in SBA.Although male and female teachers share many similar views, the predominant view among female teachers when compared to the male teachers is that many challenges and issues need to be addressed in the implementation of SBA. The findings from the interviews also suggest that male teachers are more willing to accept changes when compared to the female teachers.This study has implications for the implementation of SBA in Malaysia because 63% of the teachers implementing SBA are females

Measuring Patients' Acquisition of Therapy Skills in Psychotherapy for Depression:Assessing the CCTS-SR and the IPSS-SR

Objective: Valid and reliable instruments to measure therapy skills are necessary to investigate these skills as mechanisms of change in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression. The authors tested two measures of the skills patients with depression acquire in CBT and IPT. Methods: Using data from 202 Dutch patients with depression, the authors conducted a psychometric evaluation of the Dutch translation of the Competencies of Cognitive Therapy Scale–Self-Report (CCTS-SR) and an initial psychometric evaluation of the newly developed Interpersonal Psychotherapy Skills Scale–Self-Report (IPSS-SR). Results: A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) resulted in a fit outside the acceptable range for the one-factor model of the CCTS-SR. For the IPSS-SR, an exploratory factor analysis and a CFA led to a four-factor solution that provided the best fit compared with other models, although it remained outside the acceptable range. Both instruments showed excellent internal consistency. Correlations between the CCTS-SR and IPSS-SR were small to moderate. Fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of behavioral activation were related to higher scores on the IPSS-SR and CCTS-SR, while higher levels of education and fewer dysfunctional thoughts were related to higher scores on the IPSS-SR. Conclusions: Interpreting CBT and IPT skills as unidimensional concepts should be cautioned against until future studies have investigated the factor structure of the CCTS-SR and IPSS-SR across the course of CBT and IPT for depression. Further implications for psychometric research and future directions related to increasing knowledge about the role of therapy skills in psychotherapies for depression are discussed

Staging methods for treatment resistant depression. A systematic review

Background: Treatment resistant depressant (TRD) is classified in different staging models, but these are not used routinely. We aimed to identify staging models for TRD and compare them regarding predictive utility and reliability. Methods: Systematic review of Pubmed, Embase and PsycINFO (1985-January 2010) without language limits, plus articles identified from reference lists of previous reviews. We excluded articles focusing on TRD treatment. We qualitatively summarized characteristics of the identified staging models, describing strengths and limitations for each model. If available, we reported results of validation studies. Results: From 950 retrieved articles five staging models were found; the Antidepressant Treatment History Form, Thase and Rush Model, European Staging Model, Massachusetts General Hospital Staging model and the Maudsley Staging Model (MSM). Six studies investigated the predictive utility (of four models). We observed an evolution from single antidepressant adequacy ratings, towards a multidimensional and more continuous scored staging model which also introduced TRD characteristics (severity and duration). The operationalization criteria improved; the scoring of different treatment strategies (between/within class switching and augmentation/combination) changed according to the existing evidence. Over time, efforts to validate models improved. The predictive utility was assessed best for the MSM. Limitations: Few staging models existed; their reliability was hardly assessed. Conclusions: Despite validation of the MSM, further investigation of the reliability and predictive utility of TRD staging models and additional disease characteristics is required. Correct staging of TRD might improve generalizability of results from clinical studies and improve delivery of care to TRD patients. We propose methods to validate staging models in TRD

Does psychological process change during psychotherapy predict long-term depression outcome after successful cognitive therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy?:Secondary analysis of a randomized trial

OBJECTIVE: Psychotherapies for depression are similarly effective, but the processes through which these therapies work have not been identified. We focus on psychological process changes during therapy as predictors of long-term depression outcome in treatment responders. METHOD: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing cognitive therapy (CT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) that focuses on 85 treatment responders. Using mixed-effects models, changes during therapy (0-7 months) on nine process variables were associated with depression severity (BDI-II) at follow-up (7-24 months). RESULTS: A decrease in dysfunctional attitudes was associated with a decrease in depression scores over time. Improved self-esteem was associated with less depression at follow-up (borderline significant). More improvement in both work and social functioning and interpersonal problems was associated with better depression outcomes in IPT relative to CT, while less improvement in work and social functioning and interpersonal problems was associated with better outcomes in CT relative to IPT. CONCLUSIONS: Less negative thinking during therapy is associated with lower depression severity in time, while changes during therapy in work and social functioning and interpersonal problems appear to predict different long-term outcomes in CT vs. IPT. If replicated, these findings can be used to guide clinical decision-making during psychotherapy

Table_1_The role of subclinical psychopathic traits on experimentally induced self- and other-compassion.docx

Psychopathic traits come with high levels of anger and aggression. Since previous studies showed that compassion can mitigate both anger and aggression, the current research puts compassion forward as a possible target to alleviate psychopathy’s destructive patterns. Specifically, the present study explored the influence of subclinical psychopathic traits–as well as their three subcomponents egocentricity, callousness, and antisociality–on the efficacy of experimentally induced self-compassion (SC) and other-compassion (OC). This manuscript is part of a larger study in which student and community participants (N = 230, Mage = 27.41, 65.2% female) completed a psychopathic trait questionnaire to assess their dimensional level of psychopathy, filled out state SC and OC questionnaires, and were randomized to participate in an experimental self- or other-compassion induction. It was expected that psychopathic traits would positively relate to increases in SC but negatively relate to increases in OC. Baseline levels of both SC and OC negatively related to psychopathy. Overall, as expected, the results on change scores show that subclinical psychopathic traits positively related to a stronger increase in SC, irrespective of the type of compassion induction. This positive relation between a stronger increase in SC and psychopathy total and callousness was more pronounced after the SC induction, rather than after the OC induction. Psychopathic traits did not differentially influence changes in OC. One implication of this study is that high psychopathic and callousness traits predispose to profit extra from targeting SC. Furthermore, psychopathic traits do not hinder increasing compassion for others. These findings suggest that compassion is a promising intervention to improve the wellbeing of people with elevated subclinical psychopathic traits and those around them. Although further research is needed to assess the impact of compassion on anger and aggression specifically, and on clinical psychopathy, the current study suggests that both SC and OC may be useful intervention targets in case of elevated psychopathic traits.</p