Therapists’ therapies: The relation between training therapy and patient change in long-term psychotherapy and psychoanalysis

Abstract

Patients’ development across stages in long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis was studied in relation to various parameters of their therapists’ training, or personal, therapies. The change variable was symptom distress, the General Symptom Index, according to the Symptom Checklist-90. A series of latent class regression analyses revealed that one class of therapists (16% of the sample) whose patients had the least change in treatment, and in fact had nonsignificant deterioration, was significantly overrepresented by psychotherapists with long psychoanalyses for their training therapies. Alternative interpretations of the findings are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Therapien der Therapeuten: Die Beziehung zwischen Therapeutentraining und der Veränderungen der Patienten bei Langzeitpsychotherapie und Psychoanalyse

Entwicklung der Patienten in verschiedenen Stadien von Langzeittherapie oder Psychoanalyse wurde in Beziehung gesetzt zu verschiedenen Parametern der Ausbildung ihrer Therapeuten bzw. deren persönlicher Therapien. Die Veränderungsvariable war der Symptomstress entsprechend dem allgemeinen Symptomindex nach der Symptomcheckliste-90. Eine Reihe von Regression Analysen mit latenten Klassen zeigte eine Klasse von Therapeuten auf (16% der Stichprobe), deren Patienten die geringsten Veränderungen aber auch keine Verschlechterung aufwiesen. In dieser Klasse waren Psychotherapeuten mit langen Lehranalysen überrepräsentiert. Es werden auch alternative Interpretationen dieser Ergebnisse diskutiert.

Résumé

Les thérapies des thérapeutes?: la relation entre la thérapie didactique et le changement chez le patient dans la psychothérapie et psychanalyse de longue durée

Le développement des patients à travers les phases de psychothérapies psychodynamiques ou de psychanalyses de longue durée était étudié en relation à divers paramètres de la thérapie personnelle ou didactique de leurs thérapeutes. La variable de changement était la détresse symptomatique, le General Symptom Index selon la Symptom Checklist-90. Une série d'analyses par la régression par classe latente a révélé qu'une classe de thérapeutes (16% de l’échantillon) dont les patients avaient changé le moins voire se détérioraient de façon non significative était surreprésentée de façon significative par des psychothérapeutes ayant eu de longues psychanalyses comme thérapies didactiques. Des interprétations alternatives des résultats sont discutées.

Resumen

Terapia de terapeutas. La relación entre el tratamiento didáctico y el cambio del paciente en psicoterapia y psicoanálisis a largo plazo

Se estudió el desarrollo de los pacientes a través de etapas en psicoterapia psicodinámica o psicoanálisis a largo plazo, en relación con diversos parámetros del entrenamiento de sus terapeutas o terapias personales. La variable de cambio fue un síntoma de distrés, del ïndice General de Síntomas, de acuerdo con el Symptom Checklist-90. Una serie de análisis de regresión de clase latente reveló que una clase de terapeutas (16% de la muestra), cuyos pacientes habían experimentado el cambio menor en el tratamiento y que, de hecho, no tuvieron deterioro significativo, estuvo significativamente sobrerrepresentada por psicoterapias con psicoanálisis largos en sus terapias didácticas. Se debate sobre interpretaciones alternativas de los hallazgos.

Resumo

As terapias dos terapêutas: A relação entre terapia de treino e a mudança do paciente em psicoterapia de longo prazo e psicanálise

Foi estudada a relação entre o desenvolvimento dos pacientes ao longo dos estádios da psicoterapia psicodinâmica de longo prazo ou psicanálise e os vários parâmetros da terapia, de treino ou pessoal, dos seus terapeutas. A variável de mudança foi a sintomatologia psicopatológica, o Índice de Perturbação Geral da Lista de Sintomas de Derrogatis (SCL-90). Uma série de análises de regressão ( La Lent Class Regression) revelou que um grupo de terapeutas (16% da amostra), cujos pacientes tiveram as menores mudanças no tratamento e sem deterioração significativa, estava significativamente sobre-representados por psicoterapeutas com longa experiência de psicanálise para as suas terapias de treino. Serão discutidas interpretações alternativas para os resultados.

     

The influence of dental attendance on change in oral health-related quality of life

Crocombe LA, Brennan DS, Slade GD. The influence of dental attendance on change in oral health–related quality of life. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2012; 40: 53–63. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Background: Few longitudinal studies have investigated the association between dental attendance and oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL). These studies were limited to older adults, or to study participants with an oral disadvantage and did not assess if dental attendance had a different effect on OHRQoL for different people. Objective: This project was designed to test whether routine dental attendance improved the OHRQoL of survey participants and whether any patient factors influenced the effect of dental attendance on change in OHRQoL. Methods: Collection instruments of a service use log book and a 12 month follow‐up mail self‐complete questionnaire were added to the Tasmanian component of the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004/06. The dependent variable was change in OHIP‐14 severity and the independent variable was dental attendance. Many putative confounders/effect modifiers were analysed in bivariate, stratified and three‐model multivariate analyses. These included indicators of treatment need, sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, pattern of dental attendance and access to dental care. Results: None of the putative confounders were associated with both dental attendance and the change in mean OHIP‐14 severity. The only statistically significant interaction for change in OHIP‐14 severity was observed for dental attendance by residential location (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association of dental attendance with change in mean OHIP‐14 severity. It also showed that the difference in association of attendance between Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, and other places was statistically significant based on the interaction between residential location and attendance (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The effect of dental attendance on OHRQoL was influenced by a patient's residential location.     

Perceived Value of Teaching and Learning Curriculum Programs Among Pharmacy Practice Department Chairs

Objective. To determine the perceived value that pharmacy practice department chairs ascribe to pharmacy faculty candidates having completed a teaching and learning curriculum (TLC) program and related activities.Methods. An 18-item survey instrument was created that was intended to capture the overall impressions of pharmacy practice chairs regarding the value of TLC programs, relative importance compared to other accomplishments (eg, residency completion, board certification), and importance of specific activities. Following pilot testing and establishment of intra-rater reliability, invitations to complete the electronic survey instrument were sent to pharmacy practice chairs (or their equivalent) at accredited Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs in the United States.Results. Of the 127 pharmacy practice chairs invited, 53 completed the survey (response rate of 41.7%). The majority of respondents held a PharmD degree (90.6%), had been in their role of chair for zero to five years (60.4%), and represented a private institution (54.7%). The majority of respondents who answered the question (32 of 49) felt it was very important or important (16.3% and 49.0%, respectively) that teaching experiences be completed within a formal teaching and learning curriculum program. These programs were believed to be most important for candidates with less than five years of professional experience. Teaching and learning curriculum programs were not deemed to be more important than other accomplishments by most responders. The perceived most important TLC program activities were instruction on didactic and experiential teaching strategies, and experience developing learning objectives, developing examination items, evaluating examination results, and facilitating case conferences or practice laboratory activities.Conclusion. Teaching and learning curriculum programs may provide the foundational experiences needed for pharmacy graduates to stand out among other candidates, although department chairs’ perceptions of the value of teaching and learning curriculum experiences varied.     

Diagnostic Imaging Use for the Initial Evaluation of Low Back Pain by Primary Care Providers in the United States: 2011-2016

ObjectiveHigh-value care guidelines from multiple medical societies recommend against imaging for the initial evaluation of low back pain in the absence of red flag symptoms. We aimed to determine the current temporal and geographic landscape of imaging ordering patterns for this indication among US primary care providers.MethodsUsing a national commercial insurance claims database, we identified patients between 18 and 64 years old who presented to a primary care provider for an initial evaluation of low back pain between 2011 and 2016. Patients were identified via International Classification of Diseases codes, and the use of diagnostic imaging was identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes. Geographic regions were based on the location of patient residence.ResultsOverall, 627,118 encounters met inclusion criteria. Imaging acquisitions increased over time, from 14% of encounters in 2011 to 16% in 2016 (P < .01). Radiographs represented 96% of ordered imaging, CT 2%, and MRI 3%. The likelihood of having any imaging for low back pain varied significantly by US census region and by US state (P < .01). The greatest use of imaging was in the Midwest (13.9%) and the South (18.5%), and lowest in the Northeast and West (6.2% and 13.6%).DiscussionImaging utilization for the initial evaluation of low back pain by primary care providers has increased on a national level from 2011 to 2016, largely represented by radiographs. Significant regional variation also exists. Encouragingly, the use of advanced imaging has remained at a low level in the primary care setting (<1.0%).     

腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶激活剂的研究进展

腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)在真核细胞的能量感受与调节中起关键作用,被AMP等其他因素激活后具有加速分解代谢、降低合成代谢的功能,从而稳定人体糖代谢与脂代谢。AMPK激活剂在2型糖尿病等代谢异常的动物模型中体现出较好的治疗效果。对近年来AMPK激活剂的研究进展进行综述,期望对该类药物的研发提供参考。     

中药有效成分血浆蛋白结合率的研究进展与相关规律探讨

目的系统了解中药有效成分血浆蛋白结合率国内外研究进展,并探讨相关规律,为相关研究提供借鉴和参考,并为预测中药与其他药物联用时,是否会发生血浆蛋白结合介导的药物相互作用提供依据。方法通过文献检索,对中药有效成分血浆蛋白结合率的相关报道进行分析和总结。结果中药有效成分血浆蛋白结合率的研究国内外已有较多报道,显示不同结构的成分血浆蛋白结合率有较大差异,与结构类别、官能团位置、官能团数量等因素有关,且呈现一定的规律性。结论很多中药成分具有较高的血浆蛋白结合率,这些中药及其制剂与高血浆蛋白结合率的药物联用时,应关注可能会因为竞争血浆蛋白结合而产生药物相互作用,以保障患者用药安全。     

Le concept d’injustice épistémique en psychiatrie : quels apports,de la clinique à la classification des troubles mentaux ?

ObjectivesThe concept of epistemic injustice was developed in 2007 by Miranda Fricker. It designates a specific category of prejudices, where the subject's capacity to produce knowledge is denied or undermined. Several authors have applied this concept to the field of health and argue that people with a medical condition are more vulnerable to epistemic injustices than healthy people. In psychiatry, some authors believe that patients are even more vulnerable to such injustices in clinical practice than patients of other specialties. Some others identify certain forms of epistemic injustice in the classifications of mental disorders, and postulate that it could lead to epistemic losses in classifications, diagnoses and care. In France, this concept is relatively unexplored in psychiatry. The aim of this paper is to identify and summarize the potential contributions of the concept in psychiatry, from the clinical practices to the definition of mental disorders.Materials and methodsFirst, we will define the main types of epistemic injustice described by Fricker. We will then see how these injustices can occur in the field of health. Finally, we will study why patients with a mental disorder are particularly affected by these injustices, the potential impact on psychiatric nosography and the ways to address these epistemic injustices.ResultsThere are two types of epistemic injustice. In testimonial injustices, a person's speech is unwittingly considered to be of little or no credibility by his interlocutor, because of negative prejudices against him or his community. Hermeneutic injustice occurs when a person fails to convey their experience, due to a lack of hermeneutical resources to interpret and communicate it. In healthcare, the credibility of the patient's testimony can be diminished by several factors and general prejudices. Additionally, there is a lack of interpretive resources to understand and share many aspects of the experience of illness. In addition to this, the epistemic privilege accorded to healthcare professionals, particularly physicians, leads to accentuating the epistemic imbalance. The type of doctor-patient relationship, and its evolution, also impact the respective epistemic positions. In psychiatry, patients are seen as more vulnerable to epistemic injustices. Crichton thus identifies three common factors to all mental disorders, including a general prejudice of irrationality and unreliability. In addition, each pathology has specific factors exposing patients to a weakening of their epistemic capacity. To correct these injustices, several tools have been proposed, such as including the study of epistemic injustice in physician's training or using a phenomenological toolbox. Anke Bueter also suggested the existence of a specific form of testimonial injustice in psychiatric classifications, known as “pre-emptive”, which excludes the possibility for ill people and their relatives to testify. However, taking these testimonies into account could act as a corrective mean in the construction of nosography. This nosography is indeed based, in psychiatry, on value judgments, due to the lack of objective data. Several authors, including Bueter, therefore call for a better integration of users in the revisions of classifications, to improve their validity. This could have implications for the clinic, research and its funding, and other issues such as stigmatization. However, how exactly the users’ point of view could be integrated still needs to be defined. Several proposals have been found in the literature.ConclusionWe consider that the concept of epistemic injustice is a useful tool towards a better articulation between experiential and medical knowledges. In clinical practice, if the clinician is trained in this concept, he will be able to identify situations at risk of epistemic injustice, attempt to neutralize this imbalance and thus carry out a more exhaustive clinical examination and more appropriate care for the patient. Regarding nosography, strengthening the epistemic position of users and integrating their knowledge could improve the validity of classifications. The question of the validity of psychiatric nosography is a problem that the scientific community has faced for a long time, and it therefore seems interesting to continue this reflection through the concept of Fricker. In both cases, it is necessary to continue developing tools to better define, analyze and integrate this experiential knowledge.