{"title":"Editorial for: Therapeutic approaches for working with people in later life.","authors":"Katherine Berry","doi":"10.1111/papt.70065","DOIUrl":"10.1111/papt.70065","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147724936","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}
Alison Branitsky, Samantha Bowe, Sandra Bucci, Anthony P Morrison, Eleanor Longden, Lee D Mulligan, Filippo Varese
{"title":"'It was like a little family': A qualitative study of online hearing voices peer support groups in the NHS.","authors":"Alison Branitsky, Samantha Bowe, Sandra Bucci, Anthony P Morrison, Eleanor Longden, Lee D Mulligan, Filippo Varese","doi":"10.1111/papt.70064","DOIUrl":"10.1111/papt.70064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate the experiences of individuals attending an online hearing voices peer support group (HVG) conducted within the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The purpose of the study was to assess acceptability of the HVG in an NHS context and to understand relational dynamics within the group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A nested qualitative study was conducted within a non-randomised feasibility trial of an online HVG. All participants (N = 9) completed baseline and end-of-study qualitative interviews about their voice hearing and group experiences. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data were organised into four themes. Participants described two orientation tendencies within the group, both with associated subthemes: (1) seeking connection (shame and isolation spurred interest in the group, active digital participation and engagement facilitated a sense of connection, value of an alternative); and (2) seeking to learn (searching for solutions, cameras enabled the modulation of engagement but inhibited group ownership, a useful addition to care). Participants likewise described (3) voices' experiences in the group; and (4) the impact of the group (impact on voices, impact on sense of self and hope for the future).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite their differing expectations for the group, experiences in the group and relationship with the online medium of the group, both the participants seeking connection and those seeking to learn reported benefits from group attendance in terms of self-acceptance and hope for the future. Further research is needed to understand how to incorporate this survivor-led approach into the NHS.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678474","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}
Jun-Yan Shi, Long Na, Yan-Hong Du, Jue Wang, Run-Zhu Zhang, Chao Guo, Mao-Rong Hu, Si-Hai Fan, Zhen-Hong Wang
{"title":"Effect of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention on cognitive emotion regulation and psychological flexibility in patients with bipolar disorder.","authors":"Jun-Yan Shi, Long Na, Yan-Hong Du, Jue Wang, Run-Zhu Zhang, Chao Guo, Mao-Rong Hu, Si-Hai Fan, Zhen-Hong Wang","doi":"10.1111/papt.70061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examined the efficacy of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in improving cognitive emotion regulation (CER) and psychological flexibility (PF) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty-five Chinese patients with BD type I or II from the inpatient psychiatric unit of a Grade-A tertiary psychiatric hospital in China participated in the intervention. Twenty-eight patients were randomized to the ACT+ treatment as usual (TAU) group (10 group sessions) and 27 to TAU alone. The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-Fusion (CFQ-F) and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II) were used to assess the participants' CER ability, PF and mania and depressive symptoms at a pre-treatment time-point (baseline) and a post-treatment time-point (5 weeks). ANOVA analysis was conducted to compare the scores before and after treatment in the two groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ACT + TAU group demonstrated more substantial improvements in CER, PF, as well as residual mania and depression, compared to the TAU group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings indicate that combining ACT intervention into treatment as usual can play better results in enhancing the CER ability and PF of patients with BD in a clinical setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147655102","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}
Francesca Kemp, Mark Hudson, Thomas Schröder, Corinne Gale
{"title":"Adapting compassionate mind training into guided self-help for parents of autistic children.","authors":"Francesca Kemp, Mark Hudson, Thomas Schröder, Corinne Gale","doi":"10.1111/papt.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Parents of autistic children (PAC) are at increased risk of psychological distress, including shame and self-criticism. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a recommended transdiagnostic intervention for such difficulties, but to date, there is limited research around the use of CFT with PAC. The present study aimed to explore the adaptations needed for a guided self-help CFT intervention for wellbeing, and the potential factors influencing future implementation during feasibility testing, through engagement with relevant stakeholders.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A two-stage qualitative research design aimed to (1) extract and configure stakeholder feedback for adaptations and (2) understand stakeholder views regarding the anticipated factors influencing implementation of the CFT resource during future feasibility testing.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five iterative rounds of stakeholder feedback and intervention refinement were facilitated, using focus groups and written commentary with PAC (n = 7), clinical psychologists working within children's autism services (n = 4) and a CFT expert (n = 1). Directed content analysis supported extraction of adaptation suggestions during each feedback round. Framework analysis was employed to all focus group data to meet the second research aim.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compassionate Mind Training for Parents of Autistic Children (CMT-PAC) guided self-help intervention was developed. Two key concepts from the framework analysis were recognised across focus groups: 'personal and social context of parents' and 'barriers and facilitators to engagement'.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Stakeholders appeared optimistic about the use of CMT-PAC within a future feasibility study. However, some potential issues were raised relating to how CMT-PAC could be implemented amongst the target population. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629013","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":"Attachment insecurity and psychological (mal)adjustment in older adults: The longitudinal role of fear of self-compassion.","authors":"Lúcia Tavares, Paula Vagos, Ana Xavier","doi":"10.1111/papt.70059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Insecure attachment has been suggested to precede and perpetuate fear of self-compassion, with a negative impact on mental health. However, this evidence was obtained using general-age samples and cross-sectional designs. Our objective was to, in an older adult sample, analyse longitudinally the indirect effect of fear of self-compassion in the relationship between attachment insecurity and psychological (mal)adjustment, controlling for negative life events.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Our study consisted of a repeated-measures design based on three data assessment moments across 6 months. Participants were 147 Portuguese community-resident older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted path analyses to test two models. Model A had attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance as independent variables, fear of self-compassion as mediator and depressive symptoms and quality of life as dependent variables. Model B consisted of a respecified Model A with negative life events added as covariate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance predicted increased depressive symptoms fully through increased fear of self-compassion. Attachment anxiety also predicted decreased quality of life partially through increased fear of self-compassion. These mediation effects remained significant when negative life events were controlled for.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In older adults, attachment insecurity underlies the fear of being self-compassionate, which, in turn, leads to increased depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life over time. Fear of self-compassion, therefore, should be taken into consideration when conducting research and/or intervention in this age-group.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147576535","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":"Voices from the minority: Understanding the acculturative experiences of British Shia Muslims.","authors":"Mahdiyah Datoo, Sanaa Kadir","doi":"10.1111/papt.70058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this research was to understand the acculturative experiences of British Shia Muslims, with hopes for practitioners to better understand how to support this population.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Qualitative methodology was used, utilising semi-structured interviews. Braun and Clarke's (Thematic analysis: A practical guide, Sage Publications Limited, 2022) reflexive thematic analysis was chosen to analyse the data and identify themes within 15 interview transcripts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Recruitment took place through mosques, with inclusion criteria involving British Shia Muslim participants over 18 years, who had lived in England for a minimum of 5 years. First-, second- and third-generation participants were recruited.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five themes were identified, sitting under the main overarching theme, 'navigating through multiple worlds', which depicted acculturation as a fluid, complex journey, consistent with Schwartz et al.'s (American Psychologist, 2010, 65, 37) multidimensionality model of acculturation. These themes included: do I belong here, with subthemes of conflicting cultural values and who am I, the emotional toll of acculturation, with subthemes of negotiating authenticity and Muslim therapeutic support, negotiating faith in a secular society, living with layered discrimination, with a subtheme of Shia-specific discrimination and, finally, holding each other up: sources of strength.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research demonstrates the multidimensional and complex journey of acculturation for British Shia Muslims. Through this, there is an emphasis on understanding more about the experiences of minoritised communities to improve their mental health support. The clinical implications to support this are diversifying the workforce, enhancing cultural competence and humility, adopting an intersectional approach and addressing discrimination.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147534480","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}
Aiden Duffy, David Carmichael, Zsofia K Takacs, Regina Murphy, Sean Harper, Tia McEwan, Karen Goodall
{"title":"The association between attachment insecurity and negative symptoms in clinical and non-clinical populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Aiden Duffy, David Carmichael, Zsofia K Takacs, Regina Murphy, Sean Harper, Tia McEwan, Karen Goodall","doi":"10.1111/papt.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Attachment insecurity has been theorised to be associated with the development and maintenance of negative symptoms. Previous reviews examining the relationship between attachment insecurity and negative symptoms of psychosis have produced conflicting findings. Using meta-analytic techniques, the current study sought to systematically appraise the relationship between attachment insecurity dimensions, total negative symptoms and domains of negative symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review of literature published on electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO) up to October 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria (n = 6507; mean age 27.76 years; 35.1% male) and comprised clinical samples (k = 14) and non-clinical samples (k = 9). Five studies achieved a low risk of bias score. A small, significant average association was found between negative symptoms and attachment anxiety in clinical and non-clinical samples. A small, significant average association was found between attachment avoidance and negative symptoms in clinical samples, while a moderate-sized, significant average association was found in non-clinical samples. Differing strengths of association were found between attachment dimensions and each of the negative symptom domains.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Future research should use measures that adhere to the NIMH consensus definition and should also explore the impact of attachment insecurity on individual negative symptoms.</p><p><strong>Prisma/prospero: </strong>This review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidance. The review protocol was registered on Prospero on the 16 August 2022. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42022353927.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515943","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}
Isabel Adeyemi, Katie Marlow, Sadika Asmal, Stephen Pritchard, Fatima Saima Uddin, Cameron Latham, Catherine Robinson, Barnaby D Dunn, Stephen Kellett, Peter Taylor
{"title":"Understanding factors that could influence feasibility and acceptability of brief CAT for adults who self-harm: A qualitative exploration using the theoretical framework of acceptability.","authors":"Isabel Adeyemi, Katie Marlow, Sadika Asmal, Stephen Pritchard, Fatima Saima Uddin, Cameron Latham, Catherine Robinson, Barnaby D Dunn, Stephen Kellett, Peter Taylor","doi":"10.1111/papt.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Self-harm in adults is a complex and highly prevalent problem. The Relational Approach to Treating Self-Harm (RELATE, ISRCTN code: ISRCTN75661422) trial investigated the feasibility, acceptability and safety of 8-session cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) for self-harm, compared with treatment as usual. This qualitative evaluation explored participants' experiences of study processes and of brief CAT.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were carried out with N = 24 participants and reflexive thematic analysis explored participants' experiences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five themes were identified supporting the perceived acceptability of the trial and the therapy. Being responsible to accept uncertainty was the concern prior to and at the start of the CAT and centred on a sense of vulnerability during the therapy itself. Self-acceptance through more understanding and taking ownership illustrated understandings of how CAT worked. Living with urges was seen as the impact of the CAT on impulsivity, and being prepared for the end of treatment was a key factor in the overall view of brief CAT.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Brief CAT for self-harm appears acceptable in terms of intervention coherence, self-efficacy and perceived effectiveness. Anticipation of increased vulnerability (i.e., affective attitudes) and the energy required (i.e., burden) in talking through difficulties and trauma suggest a need to manage patient expectations before brief CAT is started.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147488381","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}
Felipe Agudelo-Hernández, Mariana Rojas-Echeverry, Laura Plata-Casas
{"title":"Health care personnel factors affecting recovery after a suicide attempt: Population study of professionals and users in Colombia.","authors":"Felipe Agudelo-Hernández, Mariana Rojas-Echeverry, Laura Plata-Casas","doi":"10.1111/papt.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To examine the associations between workload overload, stigma towards mental disorders, cultural competence and the use of coercive practices in people who seek help for a suicide attempt in the Department of Caldas, Colombia.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional study with correlational scope using regression models. A total of 155 dyads were formed between individuals who consulted for suicide attempts and the primary health care professionals who participated in their care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Based on a population-based study of suicidal behaviour in Colombia, individuals who reported coercive practices in health care services were matched with health care professionals who provided their care. Users completed instruments assessing depressive symptoms, subjective well-being, adherence and out-of-pocket expenses. Health care personnel were surveyed on workload overload, cultural competence, attitudes towards mental disorders and use of coercive measures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 155 users analysed, 28.4% reported at least one coercive practice during mental health care for a suicide attempt. Perceived coercive practices were associated (adjusted R<sup>2</sup> = .699) with cultural competence and stigma, and related to depressive symptoms, lower sense of community, and higher health service spending. Users with a greater perception of the use of coercion were treated by professionals with higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, along with lower levels of personal fulfilment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Professional and institutional factors significantly influence subjective well-being outcomes, highlighting the need to strengthen cultural competence training and reduce workload overload in mental health services. Due to the cross-sectional design, findings indicate associations rather than causality.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147488327","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":"How recent psychological distress relates to session quality in psychotherapy: The mediating roles of the real relationship and working alliance.","authors":"Alberto Stefana","doi":"10.1111/papt.70049","DOIUrl":"10.1111/papt.70049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine how clients' recent psychological distress (PD) relates to perceived psychotherapy session quality (SQ), and to test whether this association is statistically accounted for by clients' ratings of the real relationship (RR) and the working alliance (WA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Secondary analyses combined data from two studies of adults (N = 1175) receiving individual psychotherapy. Following a session, clients completed measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms (7-day recall), RR, WA (task, goal and bond), and SQ. A covariate-adjusted path model was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PD was associated with weaker RR and poorer task agreement, but not with goal or bond. RR was positively associated with all WA dimensions. When predicting SQ simultaneously, task showed the largest unique association, with smaller unique contributions from goal, bond, and RR; PD also retained a small direct association. Bootstrap decomposition indicated that indirect associations through task accounted for most of the distress-SQ link, with additional indirect associations through bond and an RR-only pathway. Task effects reflected both a direct distress-to-task pathway and a serial distress-to-RR-to-task pathway.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study suggested task agreement as a central correlate of SQ when clients are distressed but cannot establish temporal ordering or causality.</p>","PeriodicalId":54539,"journal":{"name":"Psychology and Psychotherapy-Theory Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147469881","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}