An examination of the relationships among clients' affect regulation, in-session emotional processing, the working alliance, and outcome.

The objectives were to examine the relationships among clients' affect regulation capacities, in-session emotional processing, outcome, and the working alliance in 66 clients who received either cognitive-behavioral therapy or process-experiential emotion-focused therapy for depression. Clients' initial level of affect regulation predicted their level of emotional processing during early and working phases of therapy. Clients' peak emotional processing in the working phase of therapy mediated the relationship between their initial level of affect regulation and their level of affect regulation at the end of therapy; and clients' level of affect regulation at the end of therapy mediated the relationship between their peak level of emotional processing in the working phase of therapy and outcome. Clients' affect regulation at the end of therapy predicted outcome independently of the working alliance. The findings suggest that clients' level of affect regulation early in therapy has a significant impact on the quality of their in-session processing and outcome in short-term therapy. Limitations of the study and future directions for research are discussed.

Rare metastatic adenocarcinoma to the spine infiltrating three adjacent foramen in lumbar vertebrae.

An 83-year-old man presented with severe back pain and worsening neurodeficit. Lateral radiographs showed the presence of compression fractures of the L1 to L2 vertebral bodies. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed an intravertebral vacuum sign suggestive of ischemic fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large right retroperitoneal mass infiltrating the vertebral bodies and entering the spinal canal from L1 to L4 neural foramina. A fluid sign usually suggestive of acute compression fractures was seen near the superior end plate of the L1 vertebral body in our patient. Computed tomography-guided biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma. However, the primary site could not be found despite several investigations. It is usually thought that the primary tumor spreads to the spine through the valveless Batson's plexus or by direct arterial seeding into vertebral bodies. A paravertebral primary tumor such as a lymphoma, a primary tumor from the lungs, or a renal cell carcinoma can potentially infiltrate the vertebral bodies and enter the spinal canal through the neural foramen. But a large retroperitoneal metastatic mass from an unknown primary adenocarcinoma is a rare condition. No reports exist in the literature on a metastatic mass infiltrating vertebral bodies and then entering the epidural space through the 3 consecutive neural foramen. Thus, the pathogenesis of metastatic adenocarcinomas, particularly when the primary site is unknown, is not completely understood and can give a varied radiological presentation.

Clients' emotional processing in psychotherapy: a comparison between cognitive-behavioral and process-experiential therapies.

The authors compared clients' emotional processing in good and bad outcome cases in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and process-experiential therapy (PET) and investigated whether clients' emotional processing increases over the course of therapy. Twenty minutes from each of 3 sessions from 40 clients were rated on the Experiencing Scale. A 2x2x3 analysis of variance showed a significant difference between outcome and therapy groups, with clients in the good outcome and PET groups showing significantly higher levels of emotional processing than those in the poor outcome and CBT groups, respectively. Clients' level of emotional processing significantly increased from the beginning to the midpoint of therapy. The results indicate that CBT clients are more distant and disengaged from their emotional experience than clients in PET.

Effects of repeated distension arthrographies combined with a home exercise program among adults with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of repeated distension arthrographies combined with a home exercise program on impairments and disability of the upper limb in subjects with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. DESIGN: A total of 15 subjects with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis participated in the study. Intervention consisted of three distension arthrographies with steroid, done at 3-wk intervals, and a home exercise program. The repeated-measures design included five clinical evaluations with disability, pain, range of motion, and pain-free static strength outcomes. Two evaluations done before the first arthrography verified the stability of the condition. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of all outcomes at the end of intervention. The greatest effects occurred after the first distension arthrography. After the second, less marked, albeit significant, changes were observed in three motions of the shoulder and in the pain level. After the third distension arthrography, very small changes were noted. A comparison between sides revealed incomplete recovery of the range of motion on the affected side. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that two distension arthrographies with steroid combined with a home exercise program reduce shoulder disability and impairments. Adding a third distension arthrography does not seem to provide any further benefit.