D-optimal design for the Rasch counts model with multiple binary predictors

In this paper we derive optimal designs for the Rasch Poisson counts model and its extended version of the (generalized) negative binomial counts model incorporating several binary predictors for the difficulty parameter. To efficiently estimate the regression coefficients of the predictors, locally D-optimal designs are developed. After an introduction to the Rasch Poisson counts model and its extension, we will specify these models as particular generalized linear models. Based on this embedding, optimal designs for both models including several binary explanatory variables will be presented. Therefore, we will derive conditions on the effect sizes for certain designs to be locally D-optimal. Finally, it is pointed out that the results derived for the Rasch Poisson models can be applied for more general Poisson regression models which should receive more attention in future psychological research.     

Response bias in "remembering" emotional stimuli: a new perspective on age differences

Older adults sometimes show a recall advantage for emotionally positive, rather than neutral or negative, stimuli (S. T. Charles, M. Mather, & L. L. Carstensen, 2003). In contrast, younger adults respond "old" and "remember" more often to negative materials in recognition tests. For younger adults, both effects are due to response bias changes rather than to enhanced memory accuracy (S. Dougal & C. M. Rotello, 2007). We presented older and younger adults with emotional and neutral stimuli in a remember-know paradigm. Signal-detection and model-based analyses showed that memory accuracy did not differ for the neutral, negative, and positive stimuli, and that "remember" responses did not reflect the use of recollection. However, both age groups showed large and significant response bias effects of emotion: Younger adults tended to say "old" and "remember" more often in response to negative words than to positive and neutral words, whereas older adults responded "old" and "remember" more often to both positive and negative words than to neutral stimuli.     

Unerwünschte und schädliche Wirkungen von Psychotherapie

Unwanted effects or even damage due to psychotherapy are largely neglected issues within psychotherapy research as compared to other fields. On the other hand, it is reasonable to assume that unwanted effects of a treatment which intends to influence patients into a positive direction are very likely. The rate of negative effects of psychotherapy (the deterioration effect according to Bergin) is consistently estimated to be 10% of all cases and shows this same rate in a variety of studies. This review highlights side effects of psychotherapy both on the part of the patients and of the therapists. It reports unwanted effects related to different psychotherapeutic methods, i.e. psychoanalysis, cognitive behaviour therapy, client-centered psychotherapy and – beyond these basic orientations – group psychotherapy. The paper also reports on negative effects of psychotherapy on an untreated partner. Finally, some proposals are given on how negative effects of psychotherapy could be diminished. The authors especially highlight the possibilities of changing the therapist, the treatment technique, or the theoretical treatment approach as a way to reduce negative effects.     

Brauchen wir Richtlinien oder Leitlinien für psychotherapeutische Behandlungen?

In many countries, psychotherapy is increasingly influenced by standards of scientifically evaluated methods and disorder-specific approaches. Referring to the definitions of the Scientific Council for Psychotherapy in Germany (WBP) concerning the differentiation of modalities, methods and techniques, this article points out that clear distinctions between modalities and methods are increasingly vanishing; instead, the tendency, especially within behavior therapy, to integrate all scientifically based methods and techniques is prevailing. This trend runs parallel with a development away from ?disorder-specific“ to a ?disorder-oriented“ approach. Facing the fact that technical aspects explain a relatively small proportion of outcome variance in psychotherapy, research related to the quality of psychotherapists is recommended. In addition, ?empirically validated psychotherapists“ should receive guidelines instead of rules of action.     

Anticipation of interoceptive threat in highly anxiety sensitive persons

Anticipatory anxiety plays a major role in the etiology of panic disorder. Although anticipatory anxiety elicited by expectation of interoceptive cues is specifically relevant for panic patients, it has rarely been studied. Using a population analogue in high fear of such interoceptive arousal sensations (highly anxiety sensitive persons) we evaluated a new experimental paradigm to assess anticipatory anxiety during anticipation of interoceptive (somatic sensations evoked by hyperventilation) and exteroceptive (electric shock) threat. Symptom reports, autonomic arousal, and defensive response mobilization (startle eyeblink response) were monitored during threat and matched safe conditions in 26 highly anxiety sensitive persons and 22 controls. The anticipation of exteroceptive threat led to a defensive and autonomic mobilization as indexed by a potentiation of the startle response and an increase in skin conductance level in both experimental groups. During interoceptive threat, however, only highly anxiety sensitive persons but not the controls exhibited a startle response potentiation as well as autonomic activation. The anticipation of a hyperventilation procedure thus seems a valid paradigm to investigate anticipatory anxiety elicited by interoceptive cues in the clinical context.     

Mindestanforderungen für Schuldfähigkeitsgutachten*

Ohne Zusammenfassung Wegen der besonderen Bedeutung für die Bemühungen um die Qualit?tssicherung in den forensischen Disziplinen wird der folgende Artikel, entstanden aus einer interdisziplin?ren Diskussion am BGH, hier nochmals den Fachkollegen zur Kenntnis gegeben. H. Sa? * bereits 2005 erschienen in NStZ 25:57–62     

Entwicklung eines Curriculums für psychosomatische Grundversorgung in Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Bindungsforschung und therapeutische Beziehung

Zusammenfassung Die von John Bowlby konzipierte Bindungstheorie postuliert ein primäres Bedürfnis nach Bindung und Nähe zu versorgenden Personen, das in der frühen Kindheit zur Ausbildung innerer Repräsentanzen/Arbeitsmodelle von Bindung und Bindungserfahrungen führt, in die sowohl Aspekte des Selbstkonzeptes als auch Konzepte über die Reaktionen relevanter Anderer integriert werden. Die entwicklungspsychologische Forschung hat in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten ein tragfähiges empirisches Fundament für die Bindungstheorie geliefert und mit dazu beigetragen, dass die Theorie auch im klinischen Kontext zunehmend reflektiert wird. Die therapeutische Beziehung kann aus bindungstheoretischer Sicht zumindest unter bestimmten Umständen als eine spezifische Form einer Bindungsbeziehung erachtet werden. Ein derartiges Modell hat in jüngster Vergangenheit zu einer Vielzahl theoretischer Überlegungen über die Qualität der therapeutischen Beziehung aus bindungstheoretischer Sicht geführt. Neben theoretischen Beiträgen zur Thematik gibt es mittlerweile auch eine immer größer werdende Zahl empirischer Untersuchungen, die sich mit der Relevanz bindungstheoretischer Konstrukte für den Therapieerfolg, den therapeutischen Prozess und die therapeutische Allianz beschäftigen. Eine Zusammenfassung dieser Studien zeigt, dass es für Psychotherapeuten lohnend sein kann, sich mit den Konzepten der Theorie näher zu beschäftigen, beispielsweise um Brüche und Schwierigkeiten in der therapeutischen Beziehung besser zu verstehen und ggf. verhindern zu können.Eine modifizierte Version dieser Übersicht wird erscheinen in: Hermer M, Röhrle B (Hrsg) (2006) Handbuch der therapeutischen Beziehung – Beziehungsgestaltung, Bündnisprobleme, Kontexte. dgvt, Tübingen. Der Vorabdruck erfolgt mit Genehmigung der Herausgeber.