Trump,Kierkegaard, and a nation divided

This article depicts the United States as a nation divided, as it suffers from two major deficiencies: in societal income equality and in individual formation of selves. It offers reflections on how Søren Kierkegaard's writings and those of Kierkegaard-world are a resource for critiquing Donald Trump and addressing the disruption and divisiveness he and Trump-world are bringing to America's national life. Contours of a theological ethic focusing on the formation of ethical selves are delineated and examples of practicing resurrection are given.     

Strengthening Connectedness in Close Relationships: A Model for Applying Contextual Therapy

This article presents a model for conducting contextual therapy with the aim of contributing to the further development of contextual therapy. Its founder, Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy, introduced the core of this approach, relational ethics, as a new paradigm for family therapy, which has been received well. The authors presume that the training of (upcoming) contextual therapists and conducting contextual therapy itself can benefit from more concrete guidelines and a phased structure. It can also enhance the further development, research, and accountability of this approach. Therefore, using a design-oriented method, the authors developed a model that helps to shape a contextual therapy process and the applicable contextual interventions. It is based on strengthening connectedness in close relationships, using relational ethics as its compass. The framework of the model consists of three phases: exploring connectedness in close relationships, modifying connectedness in close relationships, and reinforcing connectedness in close relationships, whereby the goals of each of these phases are defined as process elements and expanded into guidelines for 19 interventions. The ingredients for these interventions are derived from two recent studies on the practice of Nagy and on the practice of current contextual therapists. The model is explained and substantiated based on contextual theory and therapy. Final remarks are presented in the conclusion.     

虚拟现实技术在心理学领域的应用与展望

虚拟现实(VR)技术因其能够提高实验研究的生态效度、条件控制水平、可重复性以及避免实地操作带来的危险,被众多研究者引入心理学领域。VR技术除了被用于改良实验程序外,也广泛应用于注意、记忆和执行能力等神经心理测验评估,在恐惧症、焦虑症、创伤后应激障碍和精神分裂症等精神障碍的临床治疗中亦取得丰硕成果。未来研究可致力于改进VR技术本身存在的问题、扩大样本量并扩展研究方法和范围,为VR应用提供更可靠的信效度证据。     

Special Series Introduction: Confronting the Challenge of Clinical Decision Making in Evidence-Based Practice

This special series addresses the often ignored problem that many clients seen by practicing clinicians do not benefit from empirically-based practices as neatly as research may suggest. The authors in this series have considered the process of decision making in evidence-based practice, looking from differing viewpoints, and considering treatment setting and ethical issues. They present suggestions for clinicians to adapt treatment to the needs of clients while adhering to the robust research on psychotherapy processes and cognitive behavioral therapy.     

Pox Parties for Grannies? Chickenpox,Exogenous Boosting,and Harmful Injustices

Abstract

Some societies tolerate or encourage high levels of chickenpox infection among children to reduce rates of shingles among older adults. This tradeoff is unethical. The varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes both chickenpox and shingles. After people recover from chickenpox, VZV remains in their nerve cells. If their immune systems become unable to suppress the virus, they develop shingles. According to the Exogenous Boosting Hypothesis (EBH), a person’s ability to keep VZV suppressed can be ‘boosted’ through exposure to active chickenpox infections. We argue that even if this hypothesis were true, immunization policies that discourage routine childhood varicella vaccination in order to prevent shingles for other people are unethical. Such policies harm children and treat them as mere means for the benefit of others, and are inconsistent with how parents should treat their children and physicians should treat their patients. These policies also seem incompatible with institutional transparency.     

Ethically Allocating COVID-19 Drugs Via Pre-approval Access and Emergency Use Authorization

Abstract

Allocating access to unapproved COVID-19 drugs available via Pre-Approval Access pathways or Emergency Use Authorization raises unique challenges at the intersection of clinical care and research. In conditions of scarcity, prioritization approaches should minimize harm, maximize benefit, and promote fairness. To promote continued data collection, patients seeking access to unproven COVID-19 drugs should receive lower priority for allocation when they decline to participate in clinical trials, either of the requested drug or other investigational products, offering a comparable balance of risks and benefits; special attention should be paid to concerns of voluntariness and distrust. In addition, institutional treatment protocols that can contribute more robust real world data should be preferred to single patient requests for access, with priority for inclusion based on traditional clinical allocation criteria relying on available evidence. Fairness demands distribution of these protocols across a diverse range of sites, particularly those serving marginalized populations, among other protections.     

疼痛背景下时距知觉的变化

时距知觉指对数百毫秒到数个小时时长的知觉, 是日常生活中许多活动的基础。时距知觉受到相当多因素的影响, 如唤醒、注意、动机等。疼痛是一种多维度的心理及生理现象, 包含有感觉分辨、情绪动机、认知评价三个成分。近期研究证明时距知觉会在疼痛背景下发生改变。疼痛背景下时距知觉的相关研究主要涉及三个方面：(1)健康被试对疼痛面孔的时距知觉; (2)实验室诱发疼痛对健康被试时距知觉的影响; (3)临床疼痛患者的时距知觉变化。探索疼痛背景下时距知觉的变化, 可以为理解疼痛的发生发展机制以及时间知觉的机制提供一个新视角。     

The insanity defense: Legal standards and clinical assessment

Although the insanity defense is used infrequently, it has received significant attention from legal and mental health professionals. In this article, we review the historical development of insanity defense standards and describe the standards currently employed in the United States. We present a model for evaluating a defendant's mental nonresponsibility, and we briefly discuss the legal standards and procedures for the assessment of insanity acquittees for release. Throughout the article, we discuss some scientific, ethical, and jurisprudential issues associated with the insanity defense and nonresponsibility evaluations.