Brief training in psychological assessment and interventions skills for cancer care staff: a mixed methods evaluation of deliberate practice techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Unaddressed anxiety and depression is common among cancer patients and has significant adverse consequences. Cancer staff training is recommended for psychological assessment and interventions to address depression and anxiety, to increase access to psycho-social oncology care. However, psychological skills training has a poor track-record for improving clinical effectiveness. "Deliberate practice", receiving feedback on therapeutic micro-skills and rehearsing modifications, can enhance clinical effectiveness. This study applied deliberate practice to maximise benefits of brief psychological skills training for cancer care staff. METHODS: Seventeen one-day training workshops were provided to 263 cancer care staff, aiming to improve confidence in assessing anxiety and depression, and delivering problem-solving therapy. Training used deliberate practice methods at the expense of didactic lecturing. Staff confidence was assessed in key teaching domains using pre-post confidence ratings. Anonymous comments from 152 training attendees were examined using thematic analysis. RESULTS: One-day psychological skills training significantly improved cancer staff confidence in assessment of anxiety and depression, and delivery of brief psychological interventions. Thematic analysis indicated that focusing on practical skills was valued by participants and contributed to staff commitments to change practice. However, some participants felt the one-day training was over-filled and would be better delivered over more days. CONCLUSIONS: Similar results can be achieved by providing psychological skills training on a single-day, as compared to an established five-day programme, by abbreviating didactic teaching and focusing time on deliberate practice of skills. Training may increase the likelihood of changes in practice, but more training time may be required for maximum benefit.

Competency by Design for Electroconvulsive Therapy in Psychiatry Postgraduate Training: Face and Content Validation Study.

INTRODUCTION: Psychiatry is in the process of shifting curricula in postgraduate training to a competency-by-design approach. One core aspect of postgraduate psychiatry training is the knowledge and practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The aim of this study was to develop and validate the corresponding set of competencies that need to be developed during postgraduate training in psychiatry. METHODS: This study involves the proposal of a set of competencies by an ECT curriculum committee from the University Department of Psychiatry, based on the competency-by-design principles, followed by a modified Delphi process, to reach expert consensus on the proposed, modified, and added competencies. RESULTS: Six ECT experts meeting the preset criteria were recruited to the study from 6 academic centers across Canada and participated in the 2 Delphi rounds. Thirty-one competencies were proposed in the first round. Twenty-three proceeded to the second round by meeting 80% agreement on a score of ≥4 using a 5-point Likert scale. Three competencies required rewording based on qualitative feedback; accordingly, 10 new competencies were suggested. Thirty-five competencies were rated by experts and reached the threshold of agreement and rating. Cronbach α increased from 0.89 after the first round to 0.95 after the second iteration. DISCUSSION: Consensus was generated on 35 competencies that need to be achieved during postgraduate training in psychiatry. These competencies can serve as the basis for developing ECT curricula in postgraduate psychiatry training. The method used is feasible and can be adopted for the development of other competencies and curricula in psychiatry and other medical fields.

Pediatric Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Call to Action for Inpatient Staff Training.

The rising prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in pediatric populations along with the recent inclusion of NSSI as a condition for further study in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) have increased the focus on the assessment and treatment of NSSI among youth. Despite the frequent occurrence of NSSI in inpatient psychiatric treatment settings, there are no empirically based assessment protocols to guide clinical staff. This article presents findings from a needs assessment conducted with staff at a state-run child and adolescent inpatient treatment facility. The purpose was to assess the need for formalized NSSI training among staff. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate whether staff had received formal training in NSSI assessment and treatment as well as typical practice responses to patients engaging in NSSI behaviors. The questionnaire also evaluated staff comfort and confidence in their knowledge and skills concerning the assessment and treatment of NSSI among children and adolescents. Respondents were 126 clinical staff, most of whom were nursing staff. Only a minority of staff reported having received formal NSSI training, and a third of respondents indicated that they do not typically assess for NSSI at all. Although a substantial percentage of clinical staff self-reported comfort and confidence with assessing and treating NSSI, fewer than 10% demonstrated accurate skill. Formal training in NSSI is associated with positive outcomes for both patients and staff in general healthcare settings. These findings suggest that similar training for staff on pediatric inpatient psychiatric units will likely foster comfort, confidence, and accuracy, thereby improving outcomes for children and adolescents engaging in NSSI behaviors.

Effect of a Psychological training on football grassroot coaches upon young player's fairplay and disposition to cheat

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Evaluación de indicadores funcionales asociados a la creatividad en el adulto mayor / Evaluation of functional indicators associated with creativity in elderly

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 12 adultos mayores, pertenecientes a los sectores de educación y cultura del municipio de Baracoa, provincia de Guantánamo, con vistas a evaluar algunos indicadores funcionales asociados a la creatividad de estos senescentes, desde septiembre del 2014 hasta julio del 2015. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos, empíricos y técnicas de investigación psicológica. Se halló que estos adultos mayores poseen cualidades que les permiten afrontar de manera exitosa y feliz esta etapa de la vida, pues se mantienen en constante actividad y comunicación. El dominio del campo donde se regula su potencial creativo, unido a la motivación hacia lo que hacen, la perseverancia y la autodeterminación, les permiten enfrentar las dificultades en todas las etapas de sus vidas

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 12 elderly, belonging to the education and culture sectors of Baracoa, in Guantánamo, was carried out from September, 2014 to July, 2015 aimed at evaluating some functional indicators associated with their creativity. Theoretical, empiric and technical methods of psychological investigation were used. It was found that these elderly possess qualities that allow them to confront this period of life in a successful and happy way, because they stay in constant activity and communication. The command of the field where their creative potential is regulated, along with the motivation towards what they make, perseverance and self-determination, let them face the difficulties in all the periods of their lives

The BE-ACTIV Project: How Research, Professional Training, Education, and Practice Were Integrated in a Single Clinical Trial.

This article describes how research, practice, and education were integrated in a National Institutes of Mental Health-funded clinical trial for treating depression in nursing homes. Involving undergraduate and doctoral students in this clinical trial supported the development of key competencies, expanded the professional pipeline, and provided an avenue for disseminating the treatment to other settings. The clinical trial served as a teaching laboratory for sixteen undergraduate and six doctoral students to (1) observe the culture of older adults in nursing homes, (2) develop and adapt clinical skills to a challenging patient population, (3) refine skills for collaborating in multidisciplinary teams, and (4) appreciate the relationship between science and practice. Dissemination of the intervention to nonresearch settings was served when the students took their skills to the settings where they launched their careers. Involvement of trainees in clinical trial research expands and enriches the capacity of the health care workforce in evidence-based practice and practice-informed research.

Training oncology and palliative care clinical nurse specialists in psychological skills: evaluation of a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: National guidelines in the United Kingdom recommend training Clinical Nurse Specialists in psychological skills to improve the assessment and intervention with psychological problems experienced by people with a cancer diagnosis (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2004). This pilot study evaluated a three-day training program combined with supervision sessions from Clinical Psychologists that focused on developing skills in psychological assessment and intervention for common problems experienced by people with cancer. METHODS: Questionnaires were developed to measure participants' levels of confidence in 15 competencies of psychological skills. Participants completed these prior to the program and on completion of the program. Summative evaluation was undertaken and results were compared. In addition, a focus group interview provided qualitative data of participants' experiences of the structure, process, and outcomes of the program. RESULTS: Following the program, participants rated their confidence in psychological assessment and skills associated with providing psychological support as having increased in all areas. This included improved knowledge of psychological theories, skills in assessment and intervention and accessing and using supervision appropriately. The largest increase was in providing psycho-education to support the coping strategies of patients and carers. Thematic analysis of interview data identified two main themes including learning experiences and program enhancements. The significance of the clinical supervision sessions as key learning opportunities, achieved through the development of a community of practice, emerged. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Although this pilot study has limitations, the results suggest that a combined teaching and supervision program is effective in improving Clinical Nurse Specialists' confidence level in specific psychological skills. Participants' experiences highlighted suggestions for refinement and development of the program. Opportunities for further research and developments in this area are discussed.

Building strengths with the Six Es of medication management.

The authors provide a template of focused skills drawn from various psychotherapy modalities for integration into follow-up psychopharmacology appointments. Titled the Six E model, this approach includes strategies to elicit an agenda, externalize the presenting problem, seek exceptions, engage empathetically, utilize enactments, and offer education. The template was trialed in a child and adolescent outpatient residency clinic under the guidance of two attendings. Qualitative feedback was solicited from fellows following utilization of the template. The Six E model was felt to improve structure and subjective satisfaction of patient, family, and provider participating in the brief appointments.

Teaching a neuromedical-contextual approach to psychosomatic medicine.

The practice of psychosomatic medicine in the general hospital setting can be challenging, particularly for the inexperienced trainee. Guidance for how to approach a psychiatric consultation can be nonspecific or lacking altogether. In response, we offer a pedagogical model that emphasizes patient-specific neurological, medical, and contextual variables. A stepwise, "ABC" approach to psychiatric consultation is elaborated, beginning with collection of critical history ("Admission, Background, Consultation Question"), followed by both patient encounter ("Appearance, Behavior, Context") and actual patient examination ("Arousal, Brain/Body, Cognitive Assessment"), ultimately informing any given case formulation. Multiple clinical vignettes illustrate this approach and are offered for educational purposes in dissemination to trainees.

Psychological strategies for winning a geopolitical forecasting tournament.

Five university-based research groups competed to recruit forecasters, elicit their predictions, and aggregate those predictions to assign the most accurate probabilities to events in a 2-year geopolitical forecasting tournament. Our group tested and found support for three psychological drivers of accuracy: training, teaming, and tracking. Probability training corrected cognitive biases, encouraged forecasters to use reference classes, and provided forecasters with heuristics, such as averaging when multiple estimates were available. Teaming allowed forecasters to share information and discuss the rationales behind their beliefs. Tracking placed the highest performers (top 2% from Year 1) in elite teams that worked together. Results showed that probability training, team collaboration, and tracking improved both calibration and resolution. Forecasting is often viewed as a statistical problem, but forecasts can be improved with behavioral interventions. Training, teaming, and tracking are psychological interventions that dramatically increased the accuracy of forecasts. Statistical algorithms (reported elsewhere) improved the accuracy of the aggregation. Putting both statistics and psychology to work produced the best forecasts 2 years in a row.

Intervenciones psicológicas aplicadas a los deportistas olímpicos cubanos que asistieron a Londres, 2012 / Psychological interventions applied to athletes Cuban Olympic attending London, 2012 / Intervenções psicológicas aplicadas aos esportistas olímpicos cubanos que participaram em Londres, 2012

Se definen y examinan las intervenciones psicológicas aplicadas a una muestra de 49 deportistas cubanos que participaron en los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres, 2012. Se encontró un predominio de las intervenciones cognitivas y cognitivo-conductuales entre las de primera prioridad. En segunda opción, de nuevo las estrategias cognitivas y el modelaje son las preferidas por los psicólogos, apoyadas por el uso de la imaginación y las psicofísicas -en ese orden- generalmente a manera de complemento de las primeras. En tercera prioridad volvieron a elegirse las cognitivas, esta vez apoyadas por el uso de la imaginación y de las cognitivo-conductuales. En todos los casos, se encontraron índices significativamente altos de consistencia interna en las distribuciones de las preferencias, lejos del azar como criterio de elección (AU)

It defines and discusses psychological interventions applied in a sample of 49 Cuban athletes participating in the Olympic Games in London, 2012. There was a predominance of cognitive interventions and cognitive-behavioral among the top priority. In the second option again cognitive strategies and modeling are preferred by psychologists, supported by the use of imagination and psychophysical -in that order- usually as a complement of the first. In third priority again chosen the cognitive, this time supported by the use of imagination and cognitive-behavioral. In all cases, they found significantly higher rates of internal consistency in the distribution of preferences away from gambling as a criterion of choice (AU)

Foram definidas e examinadas as intervenções psicológicas aplicadas a 49 esportistas cubanos que participaram nos Jogos Olímpicos de Londres, 2012. Houve um predomínio das intervenções cognitivas e cognitiva-condutual entre as de primeira prioridade. Em segunda opção estava as estratégias cognitivas e o modelo como preferidas pelos psicólogos, seguidas pelo uso da imaginação e as psicofísicas nessa ordem, geralmente como complemento das primeiras. Na terceira prioridade voltaram a escolher as cognitivas, seguidas pelo uso da imaginação e da cognitiva-condutual. Em todos os casos foram encontrados índices significativamente altos de consistência interna nas distribuições das preferências (AU)

Análisis teórico del proceso de intervención psicológica en el deporte / Theoretical analysis of the process of psychological intervention in the sport / Analises teórica do processo de intervenção psicológica no esporte

En la Universidad aprendemos las técnicas más usadas para la intervención en psicológica, en nuestro caso en el deporte y el ejercicio. También aprendemos las bases teóricas en las que se asientan dichas técnicas. Incluso aprendemos a realizar estadísticas adecuadas y desarrollar procedimientos metodológicos adecuados de intervención, pero rara vez analizamos el proceso de la propia intervención en sí mismo. En este trabajo realizaremos ese análisis basándonos en las competencias profesionales que debe tener un psicólogo según nos plantea la EFPA (Federación Europea de Asociaciones de Psicología), de manera que el lector pueda entender que, para poder intervenir, adecuadamente claro, debe poseer no solo esos conocimientos, sino, también, unas competencias adecuadas para poder llevar a la práctica los conocimientos teóricos obtenidos durante su periodo estudiantil. Este análisis empezará en la primera toma de contacto y terminará con la presentación del informe final, pasando por la evaluación y el diseño y puesta en práctica de la intervención diseñada (AU)

In college we learn the techniques used for psychological intervention, in our case in sport and exercise. Also learn the theoretical basis on which these techniques are based. Even learn to perform appropriate statistical procedures and develop appropriate methodological intervention, but rarely analyze the process of the intervention itself in itself. In this research work that analysis based on the skills that you need a psychologist as we face the EFPA (European Federation of Psychology), so that the reader can understand that in order to intervene appropriately clear, must possess not only such knowledge, but also adequate competences to implement the knowledge obtained during their student. This analysis will begin in the first contact and ends with the final report, through the evaluation and the design and implementation of intervention designed (AU)

Na Universidade aprendemos as técnicas mais utilizadas para a intervenção psicológica no âmbito do esporte e do exercício físico. Também aprendemos as bases teóricas das fichas técnicas, incluso aprendemos a realizar estatísticas adequadas e desenvolver procedimentos metodológicos adequados de intervenção, mas dificilmente analisamos o processo da própria intervenção. Nesse trabalho realizaremos uma analises baseando nas competências profissionais que deve ter um psicólogo de acordo com a EFPA (Federação Europeia de Associações de Psicologia), dessa maneira o leitor entenderá que para poder intervir adequadamente deverá possuir umas capacidades para realizar na pratica os conhecimentos teóricos adquiridos durante sua formação universitária. Esta analise começará com o primeiro contato e terminará com a apresentação de um informe final, passando pela avaliação, o desenho e a posta em pratica da intervenção desenhada (AU)

Factors influencing the use of behavioral management techniques during child management by dentists.

Dental anxiety develops from a vicious cycle of bodily arousal from dental stimuli, cognitive interpretation and ineffective coping all working in a runaway feedback loop. Behavioral management strategies (BMT) aim at cognitive reorientation, which results in better compliance with instruction. This paper therefore tried to find out possible factors that influence the effective use of BMT during child dental management during treatment by dental operators in Nigeria. The levels of anxiety pre and post treatment were assessed using the short form of the dental version of the Child Fear Survey Schedule. Also, the type of treatment given to the child, the types and number of behavioral strategies employed during dental management as well as the gender and age of the child were noted. The professional status of the attending dental operator was also noted. Prior to the commencement of the study, the five students in the final year, who were to attend to the children in this study received one week training on the psychological management of dental anxiety in children. Results obtained from the dental operators were compared. The type of treatment received by the child did not significantly affect the dental anxiety score. The number of techniques combined by house officers and senior registrars were significantly higher than would be expected by chance (chi2=16.030, P=0.0001 and chi2=9.000, P=0.0001 respectively). Combination of techniques was also more frequent during invasive procedures and when dental anxiety levels were high. Combining techniques also tended to decrease dental anxiety more significantly than otherwise. Training has a role to play in the basic and efficient use in the management of the child dental patient. The training of dentists should thus entail the full spectrum (content and instructional effectiveness) of all psychological techniques.

Investigación y docencia en salud mental (11): ¿Queda algún futuro para la "Asistencia Centrada en el Consultante" y el pensamiento clínico? / No disponible

El trabajo parte de una reflexión epistemológica sobre la investigación en psicoterapia y una descripción de las áreas, métodos y condicionantes para el futuro de la misma. Se describen asimismo algunas consecuencias ilustrativas de los sesgos que han venido mostrándose anteriormente, tanto de la "perspectiva Bambi" como de la "perspectiva Godzilla". Se plantean como ejemplos ilustrativos los siguientes: la santificación del "managed care"; el efecto Utah en el lanzamiento de nuevos neurolépticos y antidepresivos; los resultados negativos de los metaanálisis de una técnica que sigue practicándose y defendiéndose, como es la TEC; los resultados positivos pero poco conocidos de algunas técnicas psicológicas elementales en el cuidado de los pacientes graves y sus familiares así como de la depresión puerperal; los resultados negativos o inciertos de determinadas técnicas "contraculturales" etc. Para terminar, se realizan una serie de propuestas integradoras, tanto para la investigación como para la docencia en salud mental, orientadas por un intento de soslayar los dogmatismos y sectarismos habituales(AU)

Paper begins with an epistemological reflection on psychotherapy research and a description of areas, methods and condition ants for its future. Sorne shunts of Bambi's perspective and Godzilla's perspective are described. Some illustrative examples are considered: the sanctification of"managed care", the Utah effect on marketing of new neuroleptics and antidepressants, the meta-analysis negative results about ECT, the positive but almost unknown effects of some elementary psychological techniques on severe disorders care and on puerperal depression, the negative results of some "contra cultural" techniques... To end, a series of integrative proposals for research and teaching in mental health are developed -with the common objective to avoid the sectarian and dogmatic trends almost habitual in that field(AU)