Closing the Gap Between Research and Practice

As therapy researchers and practitioners, we are all painfully aware of the unfortunate gap that exists between research and practice. Researchers blame the clinician for not reading the literature, and therapists accuse the researcher for not studying questions that would be of most help to them.  However, more than ever before, the need to close this gap has become particularly pressing—especially in light of the growing emphasis on the development of practice guidelines, quality assurance, pay for performance, and other third party demands for accountability.  In light of this, the Society of Clinical Psychology is making a concerted effort to work toward building a two-way bridge between research and practice. 
 
One way the Society is attempting to make this happen is by providing practicing clinicians with the opportunity to provide feedback on their use of empirically supported treatments in practice.  This is not only an opportunity for clinicians to share their experiences with other therapists, but also can offer information that can encourage researchers to investigate ways of overcoming these limitations.  This initiative is being spearheaded by a committee comprised of experienced, motivated and enthusiastic researchers and practitioners who similarly have had an ongoing dedication to closing the gap between practice and research. It includes Louis G. Castonguay (President of the Society for Psychotherapy Research); Marvin R. Goldfried (Past-President of the Society for Psychotherapy Research and President of Division 12); Jeffrey J. Magnavita (President of Division 29--Psychotherapy); Michelle G. Newman (psychotherapy researcher with expertise in anxiety disorders); Linda Sobell (Past-President of AABT and Division 12); and Abraham W. Wolf (Past-President of Division 29)
 

2010 Presidential Column

Building a Two-way Bridge between Practice and Research

Marvin R. Goldfried, PhD, ABPP

Stony Brook University

President, Society of Clinical Psychology

 
One of the long-standing problematic themes in clinical psychology has involved the gap between research and practice. John Norcross, Past-President of the Society of Clinical Psychology, has been a strong advocate of the need to close this gap. In assuming the presidency in 2010, my goal is to help us work toward some resolution of this unfortunate and long-standing state of affairs. One step in that direction is that the Society’s theme for the forthcoming APA convention in August will be on building a two-way bridge between practice and research.
 
As I have indicated in the past, this strained alliance between research and practice has plagued me ever since graduate school. A particularly distressing event during my graduate career occurred when Paul Meehl—a very strong advocate of the need for empirical evidence in clinical psychology--visited our program. I had read virtually everything he had written, I was particularly fortunate to be among the small group of graduate students to sit with him at dinner. At one point during the evening, somebody asked: “Dr. Meehl, to what extent does research inform how you practice clinically?” Without hesitation, Meehl replied: “Not at all!” As someone who was aspiring to become a scientist-practitioner, I was crushed.  Indeed, I continue to be effected by this some 50 years (!) later.
 

What Constitutes Evidence-Based Treatments?

The Society of Clinical Psychology is firmly committed to identifying and promulgating treatments that work. Indeed, the Society was among the first organizations in mental health to compile a list of empirically supported treatments on the basis of supportive results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). As scientific knowledge and research designs mature, and as researcher-practitioner collaborations increase, we have reached a point where it is desirable and feasible to extend the research methods used and the constructs investigated. A multiplicity of sophisticated research strategies, including but not limited to RCTs, now allows us to improve the effectiveness of psychological treatments.

To advance this broad view, the Society of Clinical Psychology defines the mechanisms of psychotherapy as those factors, processes, and interventions that are designed to effect and maintain beneficial changes in client/patient functioning. These change mechanisms include treatment methods,  participant characteristics, the quality of their interactions (relationships), the context and culture in which the interventions occur,  and other contributors yet to be discovered. This inclusive and evidence-based definition is designed to ensure that:
  1. research on psychotherapy and the designation of empirically supported therapies consider  treatment methods as well as the participants, their relationship, and contextual factors;
  2. a wide variety of research methods are used as appropriate to the questions asked;  and
  3. research increases our understanding both of the cross-cutting/common and unique principles on which effective treatments rest and enhance the optimal use of participants, interactional, cultural, and technical factors in effecting change.   

2010 APA Convention

2010 Convention                                   
 
Invited Presentations for APA August Convention on the Division 12 theme of “Building a Two-way Bridge Between Research and Practice”
 
 
What the clinician and researcher need from each other?
Chair: Michelle G. Newman, PhD
Linda C. Sobell, PhD
Linda F. Campbell, PhD
Jeffrey J. Magnavita, PhD
 
Training in Empirically-Supported Treatments and Evidence-Based Practice
Chair: Hal Arkowitz, PhD
Charles J. Gelso, PhD
Deborah Drabick, PhD
Rachel Hershenberg, MA
 
Considering the evidence on therapeutic alliance with regard to practice and training
Chair: J. Christopher Muran, PhD
Louis G. Castonguay, PhD
Jacques P. Barber, PhD
Jeffrey L. Binder, PhD
 

2010 Student Award Winners

Distinguished Student Research Award in Clinical Psychology: Rebecca (Kate) Kathryn McHugh

Distinguished Student Practice Award in Clinical Psychology: Winslow Gerrish

Distinguished Student Service Award in Clinical Psychology: Emily Engle

Clinicians’ Feedback on Treating Panic Disorder

 

Wanted: Clinicians’ Feedback on Treating Panic Disorder

(This announcement is from Dr. Marvin Goldfried. Please take the survey. It should take about 10 minutes.)

Once a drug has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) as a result of clinical trials, practitioners have the opportunity to offer feedback to the FDA on any shortcomings in the use of the drug in clinical practice. The Society of Clinical Psychology, Division 12 of the American Psychological Association, is in the process of establishing a mechanism whereby practicing psychotherapists can report their clinical experiences using empirically supported treatments (ESTs).

This is not only an opportunity for clinicians to share their experiences with other therapists, but also can offer information that can encourage researchers to investigate ways of overcoming these limitations. We are starting with the treatment of panic disorder, but will extend our efforts to the treatment of other problems at a later time.

Society of Clinical Psychology Mentorship Program

 Mentorship Program

Minimizing Patient-Clinician Violence

A new brochure has been developed to help clinicians reduce violence in the practice of psychology through the work of the Division 12 Section VII/APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance and the APA Practice Directorate. From the brochure (pdf download):

 

Few challenges facing psychology practitioners are more distressing than the possibility of patient violence toward the clinician. According to national surveys, roughly 1/3 of practicing psychologists have concerns about possible patient violence; and, 15% - 25% are at risk of being assaulted by a patient at some point in their careers. Most instances of patient assault have not resulted in serious harm or injury; however, the emotional distress on the clinician can be substantial, and it is usually far more disturbing than any physical injury.

Education and training in the evaluation and management of potentially violent patients is often minimal. Because of the complexity of such patients and the high intensity of the context in which they can present, it is helpful to be prepared with knowledge and some plans for dealing with this situation.

Please download a copy today. The .pdf file is formatted for double-sided printing. You may download a copy for onscreen viewing, as well.

div12.org and Social Networking

We know we're behind the times. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn. There are as many social networking sites as there are schools of psychotherapy. We have decided to join just 2 of them: Facebook and Twitter. There's not a whole lot going on at either of those 2 accounts at this time, but go ahead and add us/follow us anyway so you can get the latest updates on the site and the Society's happenings.

We'd also love to hear from you about how you'd like to make the site better and features you'd like to add. Of course, the easiest way is to email us directly. You may also message us through either of those sites after you've added us.

Richard McKeon's book on Suicidal Behavior

I am happy to report that Hogrefe just released Richard McKeon's new book, Suicidal Behavior, as  the 14th volume in the Hogrefe/Division 12 series Advances in Psychotherapy: Evidence Based Practice.  
 
Some comments from early reviews:
 
“We are entering a “no nonsense” period of suicidological theorizing and practice, with a substantial emphasis on empirical roots. In these exciting times, Richard McKeon is an indispensable intellectual guide. I was thrilled to read his Suicidal Behavior which spells out, kurz und klar, an easily digestible point of view as to what suicide really is. Get this book!”
Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, Professor of Thanatology Emeritus UCLA and Founder of the American Association of Suicidology

“Books describing theory and research about suicide are plentiful, but guidebooks providing clinicians with specific, useful counsel on working with suicidal individuals are rare. Richard McKeon has written just such a volume. Suicidal Behavior is a scholarly yet practical manual for mental health service providers of all stripes. It is a remarkably clear and accessible volume, concise yet broad in scope and grounded in solid, current empirical evidence. It will be valued by clinicians at all levels of experience, from trainee to seasoned therapist.”
Thomas E. Ellis, PsyD, ABPP, Professor, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine and Associate Director of Psychology, The Menninger Clinic, Houston, TX