{"title":"Psychophysiological indicators of emotional arousal in sexual assault survivors: Evaluating ANS reactivity to therapeutic COPE cards within the SEE FAR CBT framework for PTSD treatment.","authors":"Sivan Raz, Noa Burchis, Mooli Lahad","doi":"10.1111/papt.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>SEE FAR CBT is an integrative treatment protocol for PTSD and anxiety disorders, utilizing imagery-based (fantastic reality) methods through associative therapeutic COPE cards. Although preliminary evidence suggests potential impacts, further validation is necessary to confirm their efficacy in eliciting specific arousal-affective states.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study assessed the psychophysiological responses to COPE cards among 48 sexual assault (SA) survivors displaying significant symptoms indicative of PTSD, compared to a control group of 44 healthy women. Participants were exposed to both high-arousal, negatively valenced cards and low-arousal, positively valenced cards. Objective measurements of heart rate (HR), blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded at baseline, during the arousal and relaxation phases to assess autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results showed that negatively valenced cards increased HR and blood pressure and decreased HRV, while positively valenced cards had the opposite effect in both groups. The SA group consistently displayed higher HR and lower HRV across all phases, indicating increased psychophysiological arousal compared to the control group. HR analysis revealed a significant Group × Phase interaction, with pronounced disparities during the arousal and relaxation phases. The SA group experienced marked HR fluctuations between phases, underscoring their increased sensitivity and ANS reactivity to emotional stimuli. Conversely, the normative group showed no significant HR changes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings underscore the utility of COPE cards in both clinical and experimental settings, emphasizing their capacity to influence emotional processing, fundamental to the therapeutic process within the SEE FAR CBT framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perceived barriers and pathways to religious inclusion: UK Muslim clients' perspectives on faith in therapy.","authors":"Rumena Islam","doi":"10.1111/papt.70071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study explored how Muslim clients experience the minimisation or exclusion of religion in therapy and identified their recommendations for making therapeutic practice more inclusive of faith.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A qualitative design using reflexive thematic analysis was employed to examine participants' lived experiences and meaning-making processes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Muslim adults in the UK who had received therapy in both NHS and private settings. Data were analysed inductively to capture individual and systemic influences shaping the minimisation or exclusion of religion in therapy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two overarching themes were developed: perceived barriers to discussing religion in therapy reflected therapists' limited confidence and knowledge, secular service frameworks and participants' resulting self-censorship. Recommendations for facilitating religious inclusion captured participants' calls for faith-sensitive competence, proactive engagement with religion in therapy and organisational change to legitimise faith within professional practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Excluding religion risks marginalising clients' core identities and undermining therapeutic safety and ultimately compromising the effectiveness of treatment. Embedding religious competence within training, supervision and service policy is vital to ensure therapy is culturally responsive, ethically grounded and genuinely inclusive for clients of faith.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147823487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joanna M Waloszek, Sofie Dunkerley, Sunil Bhar, Deborah Koder, Tanya E Davison, Penelope Schofield, Steven Quinn, Julie Ratcliffe, Mark Silver, Jennifer Linossier, Rebecca Collins, Rachel Milte
{"title":"Cognitive behavioural therapy for older adults with depressive symptoms living in residential aged care: A pilot study of a systemic treatment model.","authors":"Joanna M Waloszek, Sofie Dunkerley, Sunil Bhar, Deborah Koder, Tanya E Davison, Penelope Schofield, Steven Quinn, Julie Ratcliffe, Mark Silver, Jennifer Linossier, Rebecca Collins, Rachel Milte","doi":"10.1111/papt.70075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Older adults in residential aged care have disproportionately high rates of depression compared to community settings, but access to mental health services is poor. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel outreach student-delivered systemic therapy program (ELders AT Ease [ELATE]) for addressing depressive symptoms in residential aged care.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Single-arm pre- and post-intervention design.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The program integrates evidence-based cognitive, behavioural and reminiscence techniques. Sixteen individual face-to-face therapy sessions with residents over 5 months were delivered by supervised postgraduate psychology students on placement. Family and staff were invited to join resident therapy sessions and monthly psychoeducational group sessions. Aged care residents with depressive symptoms and no or mild cognitive impairment were recruited. Participants completed measures of depression, anxiety and quality of life at four timepoints. Program satisfaction and treatment integrity were assessed post-treatment. Study uptake, treatment uptake and retention rates were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-four residents were referred; 16 were eligible, and 15 participated (12 female, 87.3 ± 6.3 years). Overall, 14 participants completed at least 12 of 16 treatment sessions. Treatment satisfaction was high, with 90.9% of residents rating the treatment as 'good' or 'excellent'. Preliminary clinical outcomes suggested an average decrease post-treatment in depression and anxiety, with small-to-medium effect sizes. Staff and family session involvement was lower than expected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The pilot suggested that recruitment, screening and 5-month treatment procedures were feasible and acceptable. The results warrant a larger study to examine the effectiveness of the student-delivered outreach approach in residential aged care.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuhu Guo, Rasoul Heshmati, Maedeh Heidary, Fatemeh Ramezani Rend
{"title":"The effects of group mentalization-based treatment-P on cognitive emotion regulation and tic symptoms in children with tic disorders.","authors":"Yuhu Guo, Rasoul Heshmati, Maedeh Heidary, Fatemeh Ramezani Rend","doi":"10.1111/papt.70070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of MBT-P in improving cognitive emotion regulation (CER) and reducing tic disorder (TD) symptoms in children diagnosed with TD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study employed a quasi-experimental design, including pre- and post-intervention assessments and a control group. Participants were children exhibiting TD symptoms who visited counselling centres and clinics in Mako, Iran, during the latter half of 2023. A total of 30 mothers of children with TD were randomly assigned to two groups of 15-an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in 15 sessions of mentalization-based group therapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups completed the Persian versions of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Children's Form (CERQ-K-P) and the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) during pre- and post-assessment phases. Data analysis involved mixed multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mixed MANOVA demonstrated that group therapy focused on mentalization significantly improved children's cognitive emotion regulation (p < .001). In addition, the ANCOVA results showed that this intervention significantly reduced overall tic severity scores among children with TD symptoms (p < .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results indicate that mentalization therapy delivered in groups may improve emotional regulation and decrease tic severity among children with TD. Further research with larger participant pools and more extended follow-up periods is necessary to confirm these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fatmanur Çimen, İsmail Seçer, Abdurrahman Kasım Pakiş, Alice Alberici
{"title":"Determinants of mental health in earthquake survivors: Trauma memories, cognitions, identity and safety-seeking behaviours in PTSD and CPTSD models.","authors":"Fatmanur Çimen, İsmail Seçer, Abdurrahman Kasım Pakiş, Alice Alberici","doi":"10.1111/papt.70073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to examine the determinants of mental health among adult earthquake survivors by testing conceptual models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). Specifically, the study investigated how trauma memories, post-traumatic cognitions, trauma identity and safety-seeking behaviours interact to influence mental health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 285 adults (65.3% female) who experienced the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye. Participants completed self-report measures assessing trauma memories, post-traumatic cognitions, safety-seeking behaviours, trauma identity, PTSD and CPTSD symptoms, and overall mental health. Two structural equation models-one for PTSD and one for CPTSD-were tested to evaluate the pathways linking trauma-related variables to mental health.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Structural equation modelling indicated that trauma memories significantly and positively predicted post-traumatic cognitions, which in turn predicted both trauma identity and safety-seeking behaviours. These mediators were positively associated with PTSD and CPTSD symptoms, which negatively predicted mental health. In the PTSD model, trauma identity had a stronger effect, whereas in the CPTSD model, safety-seeking behaviours were more influential. Both models demonstrated good fit indices, confirming the hypothesized pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings underscore the pivotal role of trauma memories and post-traumatic cognitions in shaping trauma-related behavioural and identity processes that contribute to PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Targeting these mechanisms in clinical interventions may enhance mental health outcomes in individuals exposed to large-scale natural disasters.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sasha Rudenstine, Jasmyne Pierre, Talia Schulder, Pedro Goldberg
{"title":"Contributors to co-occurring chronic loneliness and depression and anxiety and the role of adverse childhood experiences.","authors":"Sasha Rudenstine, Jasmyne Pierre, Talia Schulder, Pedro Goldberg","doi":"10.1111/papt.70066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Loneliness, a universal human experience, manifests in distinct forms with varied implications for psychological health. This study explores 'toxic loneliness', defined as chronic loneliness accompanied by psychological distress, and investigates its associations with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), perceived social support and trait emotional intelligence.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This cross-sectional study utilized data from 455 adults seeking mental health services (mean age 27.2, SD - 8.45; 65.7% female).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants completed self-report measures prior to obtaining psychological services at an urban community-based clinic. Two logistic regression models identified key determinants of depressed versus anxious loneliness phenotypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Childhood neglect significantly predicted anxious loneliness (OR = 2.45, 95% CI [1.11, 5.38], p < .05), while childhood abuse predicted depressed loneliness (OR = 2.52, 95% CI [1.04, 6.13], p < .05). Trait emotional intelligence emerged as a robust protective factor against both forms of anxious loneliness: OR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.17, 0.32], p < .001; depressed loneliness: OR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.08, 0.19], p < .001, and perceived social support was protective specifically against depressed loneliness (OR = 0.50, 95% CI [0.31, 0.83], p < .01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings underscore the necessity of distinguishing between toxic loneliness subtypes and highlight the importance of developmental, emotional and relational factors in shaping loneliness outcomes. Implications include the potential for tailored mental health interventions that address the unique psychological pathways underlying anxious and depressed loneliness as well as the need for early preventive efforts targeting childhood adversity and emotional development.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Longitudinal associations between internalized homophobia trajectories and psychological distress among sexual minority adults: A growth mixture model.","authors":"Jingtao Yu, Zurong Liang","doi":"10.1111/papt.70068","DOIUrl":"10.1111/papt.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Internalized homophobia (IH) is a key minority stressor that contributes to poor mental health among sexual minority people. Yet little is known about how IH changes over time or how changes in IH influence later psychological distress. This study explored distinct longitudinal trajectories of IH and their links with psychological distress among sexual minority adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data came from three waves of the United States Generations Study conducted between 2016 and 2019 (N = 616). IH was assessed using the 5-item Internalized Homophobia Scale and psychological distress using the 6-item Kessler scale. Growth mixture modelling identified patterns of IH change, and multivariate regression models examined associations between trajectory classes and later psychological distress, adjusting for age, race, education and employment. Analyses were also stratified by sexual minority subgroup.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four IH trajectories were identified: low-decreasing (66%), moderate-increasing (18%), high-decreasing (5%) and high-increasing (11%). Participants in the high-increasing group reported the highest psychological distress, whereas those whose IH declined from high levels at baseline reported the lowest distress. Bisexual participants showed particularly high psychological distress and appeared to benefit most from reductions in IH.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IH changes meaningfully over time and carries important implications for mental health. Increases in IH predict higher psychological distress, while decreases are protective. These findings highlight the need for interventions and social policies that reduce stigma and support resilience among diverse sexual minority populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding the experience of relational accommodation for caregivers of an individual with body dysmorphic disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.","authors":"Deanna Fallah, Lucy Hale, Francesca Cicconi, Hannah Frith","doi":"10.1111/papt.70067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study explored experiences of Relational Accommodation (RA) for caregivers and significant others living with an adult with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and how they respond to BDD symptoms. BDD is under-researched. In paediatric and/or obsessive-compulsive populations, RA has been found to negatively impact the lives of caregivers. To date, very little is understood about RA in caregivers for adults with BDD and how this impacts the phenomenology of BDD. Given the high suicidality rates in BDD populations, and somewhat conservative treatment outcomes, a greater understanding is needed.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Eight caregivers, recruited from a BDD research conference and online support groups, were interviewed online about their experiences cohabiting with a loved one with BDD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Interviews were transcribed and subject to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four Group Experiential Themes were interpreted from participants' accounts: RA occurs in the context of Distress; RA and Self-concept are intertwined; Relational Gains and Losses; and Understanding of RA and BDD changes over time. Participant experiences of RA mirrored the OCD and/or paediatric BDD literature confirming the importance of this experience in BDD and extended existing knowledge by highlighting nuanced differences specific to being a caregiver of an adult with BDD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Improved parent- and clinician-specific guidance around RA and parent peer support groups should be considered. Future research should seek to recruit a more diverse representation of the adult caregiver experience, including that beyond the parent-child dynamic.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Making space for sexuality in the therapy room: A qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people in psychological therapy in the UK.","authors":"Pilar Falcón-Legaz, Rowan Tinlin-Dixon, Tehya Sutton","doi":"10.1111/papt.70069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>LGBTQ+ people in the UK are exposed to social stigma, abuse and discrimination, which often translates to increased prevalence of mental health difficulties due to minority stress. Despite its relevance as a facet of identity, sexuality is generally ignored or pathologised in mental health services. Therefore, this research aimed to explore and understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in psychological therapy; specifically, how sexuality features within the therapeutic process.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Social constructivist qualitative study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were completed online with 14 LGBTQ+ adults who had previously engaged in psychological therapy in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five themes and 16 subthemes were constructed to interpret patterns of shared meaning across the data. Themes illustrated the importance of the socio-historical context outside of therapy, individuals' fears and needs before engaging in therapy, the need for safety in the therapy room, how to navigate the process of including sexuality in the therapeutic process and participants' negative experiences of feeling pathologised and misunderstood.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results support the need for sensitive and person-centred inclusion of sexuality in therapy. Affirmative practice that is sensitive to socio-historical context should create a safe space and trusting therapeutic relationship, which was identified as most helpful.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christopher Harrop, Sue Cunliffe, Sarah Price Hancock, Lucy Johnstone, Lisa Morrison, John Read
{"title":"An international survey of the relatives and friends of electroconvulsive therapy recipients.","authors":"Christopher Harrop, Sue Cunliffe, Sarah Price Hancock, Lucy Johnstone, Lisa Morrison, John Read","doi":"10.1111/papt.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to address the paucity of studies of the relatives and friends of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 1144 people responded to an online survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The respondents included 286 relatives and friends of ECT recipients, from 22 countries. 45% reported improvement in the problem for which ECT was prescribed, and 42% said it made the problem worse. 61% thought ECT had made 'overall quality of life' worse and 32% reported improvement. On three measures of memory, between 51% and 73% reported memory loss in their relative or friend (mostly lasting at least 3 years), and 8%-11% reported memory improvement. Twenty one of 25 other adverse effects from ECT were reported by 50% or more of the relatives/friends, including: Difficulty concentrating (79%), Fatigue (73%), Emotional blunting (73%), Loss of independence (72%) and Relationship problems (70%). 34% believed ECT had caused brain damage. When asked, 'Would you want to have ECT yourself, if a psychiatrist thought you needed it?' 72% said no. Two open questions, about impact on the patient and on the relative/friend, both elicited about three times as many negative impacts as positive ones.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The responses of the relatives/friends are broadly similar to ECT recipients' responses to the same survey, reported elsewhere, which tends to support the accuracy of the ECT recipients' responses. ECT recipients and their families need a more detailed and accurate picture of possible benefits and harms if they are to give fully informed consent.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}