The Psychodynamic Psychiatrist and Psychiatric Care in the Era of COVID-19.

Near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 13, 2020, about 50 members of the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis convened through Zoom to talk about the impact of the pandemic on their practices, their patients, and themselves.∗ They offer their reflections through oral and written comments. Participants were encouraged to organize their contributions around the dimensions of administrative psychiatry, the structure of clinical care, the content of clinical care, the patients' reported personal experiences, and the psychiatrists' reported personal experiences. Themes identified and discussed are paradoxical separateness, seeking an optimal interpersonal distance, finding new idioms, reality and symbolism, and loss, mourning, and isolation. The views are noted to touch on only one point early in the arc of the pandemic. A significant body of personal commentary provides an understanding of the roots of themes likely to evolve as the pandemic progresses.

Lost and Found in Psychotherapy During COVID-19.

The authors discuss the loss of the traditional setting for psychotherapy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a natural experiment lasting 2 years, and the finding of new channels of communication for therapy using video and telephone platforms as well as outdoor therapy spaces. The manuscript explores the experience of both patients and therapists with these new channels and investigates how the external features of the therapy frame can be subjectively experienced by different people and within different therapeutic relationships. Through patient surveys, case vignettes, and discussions with colleagues, the authors conclude that for a large group of psychotherapy patients the new channels worked as well as and sometimes even better than the old in-person appointments and that an occasional in-person "booster" session can strengthen the therapeutic alliance of ongoing teletherapy.

Neurobiological Correlates of Psilocybin Response in Depression.

Objective: To synthesize the neurobiological basis of brain-resetting effects of psilocybin and identify neuroimaging correlates of psilocybin response in depressed patients.Data Sources: MEDLINE(R), Embase, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane, and CINAHL were systematically searched on June 3, 2022, with no date restrictions using the following string: (psilocybin) AND (psychedelics) AND (MRI) OR (fMRI)) OR (PET)) OR (SPECT)) OR (imaging)) OR (neuroimaging)).Study Selection: After duplicates were removed from 946 studies, 391 studies remained, of which 8 qualified for full-text analysis, but only 5 fulfilled the eligibility criteria of randomized, double-blind, or open-label neuroimaging study with psilocybin treatment in depressed patients.Data Extraction: The Covidence platform was used for deduplication and bias assessment. The a priori data points included concomitant psychological intervention, modality of neuroimaging technique, changes in depression scores, brain functional changes, and association between functional and psilocybin response. Assessment bias was assessed with the standard risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the tool for risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions.Results: Four studies were open-label, and one was a combined open-label and randomized controlled trial using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was administered in 3 studies, 1 in refractory and 2 in nonrefractory patients. The remaining 2 studies were in refractory patients. The transient increase in psilocybin-induced global connectivity in major neural tracts and specific areas of brain activation was associated with antidepressant response.Conclusions: Transient functional brain changes with psilocybin therapy resemble the "brain reset" phenomenon and may serve as the putative predictors of psilocybin antidepressant response.

Wellbeing while waiting evaluating social prescribing in CAMHS: study protocol for a hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness study.

BACKGROUND: Social prescribing is a mechanism of connecting patients with non-medical forms of support within the community and has been shown to improve mental health and wellbeing in adult populations. In the last few years, it has been used in child and youth settings with promising results. Currently, pathways are being developed for social prescribing in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to support children and young people on treatment waiting lists. The Wellbeing While Waiting study will evaluate whether social prescribing benefits the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. METHODS: This study utilises an observational, hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness design. Up to ten CAMHS who are developing social prescribing pathways as part of a programme run across England with support from the Social Prescribing Youth Network will participate. Outcomes for children and young people receiving social prescribing whilst on CAMHS waiting lists will be compared to a control group recruited prior to the pathway roll-out. Questionnaire data will be collected at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Primary outcomes for children and young people are mental health symptoms (including anxiety, depression, stress, emotional and behavioural difficulties). Secondary outcomes include: loneliness, resilience, happiness, whether life is worthwhile, life satisfaction, and service use. An implementation strand using questionnaires and interviews will explore the acceptability, feasibility, and suitability of the pathway, potential mechanisms of action and their moderating effects on the outcomes of interest, as well as the perceived impact of social prescribing. Questionnaire data will be analysed mainly using difference-in-differences or controlled interrupted time series analysis. Interview data will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. DISCUSSION: The Wellbeing While Waiting study will provide the first rigorous evidence of the impact of social prescribing for children and young people on waiting lists for mental health treatment. Findings will help inform the prioritisation, commissioning, and running of social prescribing in other CAMHS. To maximise impact, findings will be available on the study website ( https://sbbresearch.org ) and disseminated via national and international networks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: N/A.

Adherence to online psychotherapy during the COVID-19: a scoping review / Adesão à psicoterapia on-line durante a COVID-19: uma revisão de escopo / Adherencia a la psicoterapia online durante el COVID-19: una revisión del alcance

Evidence suggests that changes in online psychotherapy adherence factors occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to review the perception of patients and psychotherapists regarding factors associated with adherence to online psychotherapy during the pandemic. Thus, 18 articles remained for analysis after searches in five databases and 25 factors associated with adherence to online psychotherapy were identified. The main factors for psychotherapists were confidence in professional skills and connection stability. For the patients, basic informatics skills and finding an adequate setting to participate in sessions. Furthermore, the factors fear of contagion, tiredness and the impossibility of face-to-face meetings emerged during the pandemic. Modifications of factors associated with pre-pandemic adherence were identified and strategies to overcome barriers related to online sessions were presented and discussed. The pandemic has increased adherence to online psychotherapy, although not everyone intends to follow this modality in the post-pandemic. (AU)

Evidências sugerem que ocorreram modificações nos fatores de adesão a psicoterapia online durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Assim, este estudo objetivou revisar a percepção dos pacientes e psicoterapeutas sobre fatores associados a adesão à psicoterapia online durante a pandemia. Restaram 18 artigos para análise após as buscas em cinco bases de dados. Foram identificados 25 fatores associados a adesão a psicoterapia on-line. Para os psicoterapeutas, os principais fatores foram a confiança nas habilidades profissionais e estabilidade da conexão. Para os pacientes, foram o conhecimento básico de informática e encontrar setting adequado para participar das sessões. Ademais, os fatores medo do contágio, cansaço e a impossibilidade de reuniões presenciais surgiram durante a pandemia. Modificações em fatores associados a adesão pré-pandemia foram identificadas e estratégias para contornar barreiras relacionadas aos atendimentos on-line foram apresentadas e discutidas. A pandemia aumentou a adesão a psicoterapia on-line, mas nem todos pretendem seguir nessa modalidade no pós-pandemia. (AU)

Evidencias sugieren que se produjeron cambios en los factores de adherencia a la psicoterapia en línea durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Por lo tanto, este estudio busca revisar las percepciones de pacientes y psicoterapeutas sobre los factores asociados a la adherencia a la psicoterapia en línea durante la pandemia. Se analizaron 18 artículos seleccionados tras una búsqueda en cinco bases de datos. Se identificaron 25 factores de la adherencia a la psicoterapia en línea. Para los psicoterapeutas, los principales factores fueron la confianza en las competencias profesionales y la estabilidad de la conexión. Ya para los pacientes, los factores básicos fueron las habilidades informáticas básicas y la búsqueda del entorno adecuado para participar en las sesiones. Además, durante la pandemia surgieron los factores miedo al contagio, cansancio y la imposibilidad de encuentros físicos. Se identificaron modificaciones en los factores asociados a adherencia prepandémica y se presentaron y discutieron estrategias para superar las barreras relacionadas con las sesiones en línea. La pandemia aumentó la adhesión a la psicoterapia en línea, aunque no todos tengan la intención de seguir esta modalidad en la pospandemia. (AU)

Patient information, communication and competence empowerment in oncology: Results and learnings from the PIKKO study.

PURPOSE: Many concepts for accompanying and supporting cancer patients exist and have been studied over time. One of them was PIKKO (a German acronym for "Patient information, communication and competence empowerment in oncology"), which combined a patient navigator, socio-legal and psychological counseling (with psychooncologists), courses dealing with various supportive aspects, and a knowledge database with validated and easy-to-understand disease-related information. The aim was to increase the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL), self-efficacy as well as health literacy and to reduce psychological complaints such as depression and anxiety. METHODS: To this purpose, an intervention group was given full access to the modules in addition to treatment as usual, while a control group received only treatment as usual. Over twelve months, each group was surveyed up to five times. Measurements were taken using the SF12, PHQ-9, GAD, GSE, and HLS-EU-Q47. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in scores on the mentioned metrics. However, each module was used many times and rated positively by the patients. Further analyses showed a tendency higher score in health literacy with higher intensity of use of the database and higher score in mental HRQoL with higher intensity of use of counseling. CONCLUSION: The study was affected by several limitations. A lack of randomization, difficulties in recruiting the control group, a heterogeneous sample, and the COVID-19 lockdown influenced the results. Nevertheless, the results show that the PIKKO support was appreciated by the patients and the lack of measurable effects was rather due to the mentioned limitations than to the PIKKO intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered in the German Clinical Trial Register under DRKS00016703 (21.02.2019, retrospectively registered). https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00016703.

Psychological inoculation protects against the social media infodemic.

Misinformation can have a profound detrimental impact on populations' wellbeing. In this large UK-based online experiment (n = 2430), we assessed the performance of false tag and inoculation interventions in protecting against different forms of misinformation ('variants'). While previous experiments have used perception- or intention-based outcome measures, we presented participants with real-life misinformation posts in a social media platform simulation and measured their engagement, a more ecologically valid approach. Our pre-registered mixed-effects models indicated that both interventions reduced engagement with misinformation, but inoculation was most effective. However, random differences analysis revealed that the protection conferred by inoculation differed across posts. Moderation analysis indicated that immunity provided by inoculation is robust to variation in individuals' cognitive reflection. This study provides novel evidence on the general effectiveness of inoculation interventions over false tags, social media platforms' current approach. Given inoculation's effect heterogeneity, a concert of interventions will likely be required for future safeguarding efforts.

Randomized trial of brief interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for depression delivered both in-person and by telehealth.

BACKGROUND: Expert consensus guidelines recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), interventions that were historically delivered face-to-face, as first-line treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Despite the ubiquity of telehealth following the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about differential outcomes with CBT versus IPT delivered in-person (IP) or via telehealth (TH) or whether working alliance is affected. METHODS: Adults meeting DSM-5 criteria for MDD were randomly assigned to either 8 sessions of IPT or CBT (group). Mid-trial, COVID-19 forced a change of therapy delivery from IP to TH (study phase). We compared changes in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17) and Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) scores for individuals by group and phase: CBT-IP (n = 24), CBT-TH (n = 11), IPT-IP (n = 25) and IPT-TH (n = 17). RESULTS: HRSD-17 scores declined significantly from pre to post treatment (pre: M = 17.7, SD = 4.4 vs. post: M = 11.7, SD = 5.9; p < .001; d = 1.45) without significant group or phase effects. WAI scores did not differ by group or phase. Number of completed therapy sessions was greater for TH (M = 7.8, SD = 1.2) relative to IP (M = 7.2, SD = 1.6) (Mann-Whitney U = 387.50, z = -2.24, p = .025). LIMITATIONS: Participants were not randomly assigned to IP versus TH. Sample size is small. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the efficacy of both brief IPT and CBT, delivered by either TH or IP, for depression. It showed that working alliance is preserved in TH, and delivery via TH may improve therapy adherence. Prospective, randomized controlled trials are needed to definitively test efficacy of brief IPT and CBT delivered via TH versus IP.

[Changes in the provision of primary care and psychotherapy in Germany during the first two lockdowns in 2020 and 2021: A two-wave survey giving consideration to gender identity and sexual orientation]. / Veränderung hausärztlicher und psychotherapeutischer Versorgung in Deutschland während der ersten beiden COVID-19-Lockdowns 2020 und 2021: Zwei Befragungswellen unter Berücksichtigung von Geschlechtsidentität und sexueller Orientierung.

INTRODUCTION: Measures against the COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions in ambulatory health care in Germany. While the restrictions have been described from claims data, the patients' perspective has been missing. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-, inter- and asexual persons (LGBTIA) might have been particularly affected by these restrictions because of their vulnerability. Thus, our research questions were: 1) How did the restrictions during the pandemic influence primary care and psychotherapy in Germany from the patients' perspective? 2) Are there differences between LGBTIA and cis-heterosexual persons regarding these restrictions? METHODS: We conducted an online survey with two survey waves in March/April 2020 and January/February 2021. Sampling was conducted via multiplicators and via snowball sampling. Amongst others, the survey contained open-ended questions regarding primary care and psychotherapy. From the answers of the first survey wave we constructed quantitative items for the second survey wave. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted, including linear regression with R. RESULTS: 6,784 participants took part in the survey (2,641 in the first survey wave), 5,442 of whom identified as LGBTIA. Categories of changes in primary care were: no health care utilization, no changes in primary care, insecurity regarding primary care, and changes in primary care which could be less frequent utilization, differing procedures or changes in ways of communication. In the second wave, LGBTIA participants rated the worsening of primary care during the pandemic as being more pronounced. Regarding psychotherapy, the change can be described as no change in care, changes in the form of therapy, treatment in emergencies only and a longer break from psychotherapy. There was no different rating by LGBTIA persons compared to cis-heterosexual persons in the second survey wave. Telephone and video consultations were more common in psychotherapy than in primary care. DISCUSSION: LGBTIA persons were oversampled, so the sample included more people from urban areas than the German population. Due to the online survey form, older people were underrepresented relative to their numbers in the general German population. CONCLUSION: With respect to future pandemics general practitioners in primary care must be prepared that psychotherapy might be paused and delayed for some time. Video and telephone consultations should be offered to overcome pandemic-related restrictions in the future. General practitioners should know the gender identity and sexual orientation of their patients in order to proactively address health care barriers.

The Eyes Have It: Psychotherapy in the Era of Masks.

Nonverbal communication is integral to the success of psychotherapy and facial expression is an important component of nonverbal communication. The SARS CoV-2 pandemic has caused alterations in how psychotherapy services are provided. In this paper, potential issues that may arise from conducting psychotherapy when both the patient and therapist are wearing masks are explored. These include higher likelihood of misidentifying facial expression, especially when expression is incongruent with body language, and when the lower face is more important for correct identification of emotion. These issues may be particularly problematic for patient populations for whom emotion recognition may be a problem at baseline, or for those more prone to biases in emotional recognition. Suggestions are made for therapists to consider when seeing patients in-person when masks are necessary.

How to be a hospital psychologist in the covid-19 pandemic in Brasil? A documental research / Como ser psicólogo hospitalar na pandemia de covid-19 no Brasil? Uma pesquisa documental

Resumo Com alta transmissibilidade e demanda por atendimento hospitalar, a covid-19 teve impactos (como ansiedade, medo e insegurança) sobre o equilíbrio psicológico de pacientes, seus familiares e profissionais da saúde. Diante disso, o objetivo deste artigo é mapear intervenções psicológicas no contexto hospitalar frente à covid-19, a fim de subsidiar a constituição de protocolos. Observou-se que visitas virtuais, trabalho de luto antecipatório e técnicas de psicoeducação, através de psicoterapia breve, mostram-se necessários dentro do contexto de unidades fechadas, Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTIs) e emergências, como forma de enfrentamento que permite a elaboração de sentimentos, como medo, angústia e ansiedade. Para ambulatórios, destacam-se os plantões psicológicos, através de videochamadas, de demanda espontânea, além de encaminhamento para psicoterapia externa, voltados a profissionais com sintomas de pânico, ansiedade, depressão e exaustão. Mesmo com intervenções psicológicas originadas a partir desse contexto, evidencia-se a falta de protocolos com abrangência nacional e eficazes para o ambiente hospitalar, tanto para pacientes e familiares como para profissionais que atuam diretamente com o vírus. Portanto, cabe ao Brasil aperfeiçoar o modelo apresentado pela Comissão Nacional de Saúde da China, ou construir protocolos próprios de acordo com o contexto sociocultural, compreendendo suas diferentes formas de comunicação e enfrentamento. É essencial considerar sentimentos de cansaço dos profissionais da saúde, de forma que se sugerem ações como grupo de acolhimento de demandas emocionais geradas nesta pandemia.

Abstract With high transmission and demand for hospital care, COVID-19 caused impacts (such as anxiety fear, and insecurity) on the psychological balance of patients, family members, and health professionals. Therefore, the objective of this article is to map psychological interventions in the hospital context against COVID-19, to support the constitution of protocols in this environment. We observed that virtual visits, anticipatory mourning work, and psychoeducational techniques, via brief psychotherapy are necessary within the context of closed units, Intensive Care Units (ICU's), and emergencies, as a way of coping that allow the elaboration of feelings such as fear, anguish , and anxiety. For outpatient clinics, psychological shifts in hospitals, via video calls, of spontaneous demand, in addition to referral to external psychotherapy, for professionals with symptoms of panic, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion stand out. Even with psychological interventions originating from this context, the lack of protocols with national coverage and effectiveness for the hospital environment is evident, both for patients and families and for professionals who work directly with the virus. Therefore, it is up to Brazil to improve the model presented by the National Health Commission for the People's Republic of China, or build our own protocols according to the sociocultural context, comprising their different forms of communication and confrontation. In addition, it to Considering the feelings of tiredness of health professionals is essential, so that actions such as a group to acknowledge emotional demands generated in this pandemic are suggested.

Tele-Drama Therapy with Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Field Training Project.

OBJECTIVES: This paper explores a field training project of tele-drama therapy with community-dwelling older adults during COVID19. It merges three perspectives: the older participants' perspective, the students engaged in the field training, who conducted this remote therapy, and social workers. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 19 older adults. Focus groups were conducted with 10 drama therapy students and 4 social workers. The data were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: the role of drama therapy methods in the therapeutic process, attitudes toward psychotherapy for older adults, and the phone as a therapeutic setting. These themes coalesced into a triangular model associating dramatherapy, tele-psychotherapy and psychotherapy with the older population. A number of obstacles were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The field training project made a dual contribution to the older participants and the students. In addition, it promoted more positive attitudes among the students toward psychotherapy with the older population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Tele-drama therapy methods appear to promote the therapeutic process with older adults. However, the phone session should be planned in advance in terms of time and place to ensure the participants' privacy. Field training of mental health students with older adults can promote more positive attitudes toward working with the older population.

Intersession experiences and internalized representations of psychotherapy: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Between-session processes outside the therapy room and beyond the direct interaction between a therapist and client can play an important role in the psychotherapeutic process and outcome. These processes are called intersession experiences and can be seen as internalized mental representations of therapy and/or therapists. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, different digital forms of treatment have successfully been implemented and could be relevant even after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, patients' internalized mental representations may become highly relevant in the future. RATIONALE: The aim of this study was to conceptually delineate the current state of research on internalized mental representations of therapy or therapists in the period between sessions and to provide an overview of the evidence. In addition, we aimed to identify research gaps to provide a baseline for further research. METHODS: For this purpose, we conducted a scoping review to obtain a comprehensive overview of the evidence and to identify the relevant research gaps. We searched PsycArticles, Medline, PsycINFO, and PSYNDEX for publications on internalized mental representations. RESULTS: The final sample comprised 30 publications published from 1989 to 2021. Based on the individual study results, it can be assumed that intersession experiences are of central importance for psychotherapeutic treatment. However, the scoping review showed that there was a large gap in knowledge in the research of intersession experiences. All previous research was barely comparable, and therefore, a generalized statement is not possible. CONCLUSION: Future research should provide sufficient information about relevant aspects, such as the setting, therapists, and patients, as these factors are likely to have a significant impact on the outcome. Furthermore, better measurements for the assessment of these processes should be developed.

[Psychotherapy prescribed by accident insurance consultants : Important component in treatment procedures of the statutory accident insurance]. / D-ärztlich veranlasste Psychotherapie : Wichtiger Baustein im Heilverfahren der gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung.

BACKGROUND: In Germany around 1 Million working and commuting accidents per year are officially registered. Since several years this number is constantly at this high level, only just since the appearance of the actual Covid pandemia significantly lower because of lockdowns and increase of homeoffice workplaces. OBJECTIVE: To ensure the professional care of psychotraumatic sequelae of work-related injuries, in 2012 new regulations were introduced by the DGUV, the national umbrella organization of the German statutory health insurances. This healthcare reform (named "Psychotherapeutenverfahren", verbally translated: psychotherapists' procedure) is looked at 10 years later. Is the new regulation accepted by the surgeons' community? What case constellations can be observed? MATERIAL AND METHODS: The use of this new instrument among trauma surgeons was evaluated by national data for the complete years 2013-2021. Additionally, we include regional data and case reports from a multidisciplinary medical facility including trauma surgery and psychiatry, located in Güstrow (Northeast Germany). RESULTS: Nationwide the percentage of psychotherapy amongst the regular treatment has doubled between 2013 and 2021 from 0.47 to 0.96%. DISCUSSION: Looking at the first 10 years of its clinical implementation, the new German psychotherapy regulation is apparently well accepted by the accident insurance consultants. As data from population based studies are not available, the actual percentage of psychological sequelae of accidents in this cases is not known yet. So there is further need of research and training in this interdisciplinary field to ensure appropriate treatment of victims of work-related accidents. The integration of psychotraumatological facts in the educational agendas of accident insurance consultants has already started.

Randomized controlled trial evaluating feedback to community-based therapists based on patient reports of trust and respect.

OBJECTIVE: Patient trust/respect toward their therapists may be an important component of patient-therapist relationships. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of providing weekly feedback to therapists regarding patient ratings of trust/respect toward their therapist. METHOD: Adult patients seeking mental health treatment at four community clinics (two community mental health centers and two community-based intensive treatment programs) were randomized to either having their primary therapist receive weekly symptom feedback-only or symptoms plus trust/respect feedback. Data were collected both prior to and during COVID-19. The primary outcome measure was a measure of functioning obtained weekly at baseline and the subsequent 11 weeks, with the primary analysis focusing on patients who received any treatment. Secondary outcomes included measures of symptoms and trust/respect. RESULTS: Among 233 consented patients, 185 had a postbaseline assessment and were analyzed for the primary and secondary outcomes (median age of 30 years; 5.4% Asian, 12.4% Hispanic, 17.8% Black, 67.0% White, 4.3% more than 1 race, and 5.4% unknown; 64.4% female). On the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Social Roles and Activities scale (primary outcome), the trust/respect plus symptom feedback group had significantly greater improvements over time than the symptom alone feedback group (p = .0006, effect size d = .22). Secondary outcome measures of symptoms and trust/respect also showed statistically significant greater improvement for the trust/respect feedback group. CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, trust/respect feedback to therapists was associated with significantly greater improvements in treatment outcomes. Evaluation of the mechanisms of such improvements is needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).