Emotion-focused therapy for women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a randomized clinical controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a debilitating condition, affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by severe periodic physical and psychological symptoms, which end after the onset of menstruation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for PMDD patients. METHODS: A total of 48 PMDD women, in the age range of 18-44 years, were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in 16 weeks of EFT treatment, while the control group was selected based on the waiting list (waitlist control group) and followed-up after three months. Forty-four patients finally completed this study. The participants completed the Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool (PSST), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) in the first premenstrual period before treatment, the first premenstrual period after treatment, and the premenstrual period three months after treatment. RESULTS: Based on the repeated measure analysis of variances, the total score of DERS and the total score of PSST decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Also, in DASS-21, the scores of depression and stress subscales reduced significantly (P < 0.05), while there was no significant decrease in the score of anxiety subscale (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the present results, EFT can be an effective treatment for alleviating the symptoms of PMDD. This treatment can reduce the emotion regulation difficulties of women with PMDD and alleviate the symptoms of depression and stress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT ID: IRCT20220920055998N1, Registered on: 12/2/2023.

Exploring the effectiveness of emotionally focused therapy for depressive symptoms and relationship distress among couples in Taiwan: A single-arm pragmatic trial.

This is the first study to explore the effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) for depressive symptoms and relationship distress among couples in Taiwan. This one-arm pragmatic trial assessed the clinical outcomes of 17 couples using multilevel modeling to investigate changes in depressive symptoms and relationship distress throughout treatment. Over half of the participants were moderately depressed and moderately distressed at baseline. Multilevel models revealed decreased depressive symptoms over time, with a small increase toward the end of treatment. However, no significant changes were observed in relationship distress over time. The study was limited by the low "dose" of EFT (M = 7 sessions) received by participants and the small sample size (n = 17). A comprehensive discussion of the findings from a cultural perspective was provided. Future research is needed to further examine the effectiveness of EFT for couples in Taiwan and Asia.

Addressing power in couples therapy: Integrating socio-emotional relationship therapy and emotionally focused therapy.

Romantic relationships are more satisfying and fulfilling when power is balanced relatively equally between partners (Leonhardt et al., Journal of Family Psychology, 34, 2020, and 1). Yet, few couples therapy models explicitly outline how to confront relational power issues (Knudson-Martin & Huenergardt, 2015, Socio-emotional relationship therapy: Bridging emotion, societal context, and couple interaction, Springer). Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2020, The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy, Routledge) is a well-established, evidence-based therapy modality that many therapists use with couple clients, yet despite its effectiveness, it does not provide direction for explicitly addressing and treating power differentials in couple relationships. In this paper, we explore the integration of EFT with Socio-emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT), a model overlay that acknowledges the impact of social discourse on enactments of power in intimate couple relationships. We first address the importance of understanding power in couple relationships, addressing power in couples therapy, and provide a brief overview of SERT and EFT. We then introduce an integration of the models intended to help therapists balance power, increase connection, and secure attachment bonds between romantic partners.

The use of homework in emotion-focused therapy for depression.

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported treatment of depression, and an integrative, transdiagnostic therapy approach focusing on transforming emotions that are the cause of a person's emotional pain and suffering. In-session experiential work and two-chair interventions are consolidated and expanded by between-session homework which is viewed as a natural extension of in-session work. As the focus on emotion in EFT necessitates the provision of a safe, attuned, empathic relationship and a good collaboration on the tasks and goals of therapy the use of homework is very well-suited to this approach. An EFT case example is discussed to illustrate how homework can be an important ingredient to strengthen and facilitate change in treating a depressed client with a core underlying feeling of shame related to unresolved childhood trauma.

The use of emotionally focused therapy with polyamorous relationships.

Approximately 5% of people in the United States engage in some form of consensual non-monogamy (CNM; Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2018, 47, 1439). Therapists are becoming increasingly aware of the need to treat members of CNM relationships, including polyamorous relationships. To date, no research has been conducted and little has been written about applying existing couple therapy models normed on heterosexual, cisgender, monogamous relationships to CNM or polyamorous relationships. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported treatment for relationship distress that offers promise for working with polyamorous relationships due to the model's systemic and attachment theoretical foundations. We propose EFT is an ideal model for working with polyamorous relationships because of the focus on externalizing, interpersonal and intrapersonal emotional and experiential coherence, and the attachment bond. Building and sustaining multiple attachment relationships allows for the fulfilment of a diverse range of relational needs and wants as well as provides a secure base for individual and relational exploration. In this article, we first provide general information about polyamory and discuss the research on attachment theory and polyamory. We then provide a step-by-step conceptualization of how EFT therapists can expand the model to include extra-dyadic attachment relationships. In addition, we include specific ways in which the model would need to be adapted when working with polyamorous clients. We conclude with recommendations for EFT therapists working with polyamorous relationships.

Efectos de la educación emocional en el duelo por la pérdida de un ser querido en la infancia y la adolescencia: una revisión sistemática guiada por las directrices PRISMA / Effects of grief education programs in children and adolescents facing the loss of a loved one: a prisma-driven systematic review

Introducción: Diferentes estudios surgidos desde el año 2020 indican que 5,2 millones de niños y niñas han perdido al menos un progenitor o cuidador como consecuencia de la pandemia de COVID-19. Estos datos ponen de manifiesto la importancia de educar en el duelo a los niños y adolescentes y protegerlos de posibles complicaciones en la elaboración del duelo.Objetivo: Analizar si hasta el momento se han realizado investigaciones que avalúen los efectos de los programas de educación emocional en la elaboración del duelo por la pérdida de un ser querido.Método: Se ha realizado una revisión sistemática siguiendo las directrices PRISMA que ha permitido identificar 8 estudios localizados en las bases de datos PsycInfo, Pubmed, ERIC y Dialnet que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión. Resultados y conclusiones: Los resultados indican que la educación emocional sí influye en la relación que los niños y adolescentes establecen con el duelo, la pérdida y la muerte. Asimismo, la falta de claridad en algunos resultados y el uso de instrumentos no específicos para avaluar el duelo, hace que estos deban ser valorados con precaución y hace aconsejable más investigación que supere las limitaciones de la actual.(AU)

Introduction: Several studies published since 2020 claim that about 5.2 million children have lost at least one parent or parental figure to COVID-19. These data support the importance of grief psychoeducation with children and adolescents as this may be an effective intervention to protect them from eventual complications, such as prolonged grief disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or others. Aim: To analyse whether research has been conducted up to date on the effects of grief psychoeducation or emotional education programs on grief processes following the death of a parent or another loved one in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: A PRISMA-driven systematic review has been carried out using databases PsycInfo, Pubmed, ERIC and Dialnet. 8 studies meeting all inclusion criteria have been identified and analysed.Results and conclusions: Results suggest that emotional education significantly impacts grieving processes in children and adolescents, besides shaping their relationships with bereavement, loss and death. Nonetheless, some of the located study results lack clarity and many studies did not use specific instruments to evaluate grief. This calls for prudence when interpreting positive results and encourages future research that hopefully overcomes limitations identified in previous studies.(AU)

The therapeutic alliance in couple therapy: Patterns by treatment and sex in a randomized controlled trial of emotionally focused therapy and treatment as usual.

The formation and development of the therapeutic alliance in couple therapy is a complex process and a key contributor to positive treatment outcomes. This study explored differences in trajectories of therapeutic alliance by sex and treatment condition among 24 couples randomized to receive Emotionally Focused Therapy or treatment as usual. The results identified a curvilinear growth pattern for alliance across both treatment groups. Female partners reported higher alliance than male partners after the first session across treatment groups, and female partners receiving Emotionally Focused Therapy reported higher initial alliance than female partners receiving treatment as usual. The rates of change for alliance did not differ by sex or treatment condition. The implications of the change pattern and differences in alliance formation by sex and treatment are discussed.

Caregiver openness in emotionally focused family therapy: A critical shift.

Through the application of a discovery-oriented task analysis, this research delineated specific therapist behaviors that resulted in a successful caregiver openness event in emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT). EFFT experts were recruited via email and asked to submit family therapy recordings where they believed a caregiver openness event occurred. Ten family therapy recordings were submitted by three experts. Within these recordings, 12 caregiver openness events were discovered and critically analyzed. Nine themes were identified and interventions therapists applied to accomplish these themes were delineated using the emotionally focused therapy-coding scheme (EFT-CS). These themes included: (1) validating and reframing the child's protected stance, (2) processing the impact of the child's unmet attachment longings, (3) validating the caregiver's blocked relational stance, (4) expanding caregiving intentions, (5) enacting the caregiver's intentions to meet the child's attachment longings, (6) processing the enactment, (7) processing and promoting caregiver accessibility to the child's response, (8) heightening the caregiver's accessible stance, and (9) enhancing shifting family dynamics. Additional findings, implications for clinical practice, training, and future research are discussed.

The Effect of Attention Disengagement on Anxiety and Emotion Maintenance: A Theoretical Perspective

Cognitive processes such as attention and working memory are necessary for cognitive components of anxiety and other emotions. Moreover, the content of working memory and attention may maintain anxiety states. By extension, disengaging from mood-congruent material in attention and working memory may stop the maintenance of emotions such as anxiety. However, common existing therapeutic techniques do not fully disengage attention and other cognitive engagements from mood-congruent thoughts, mental images, and urges. This paper theorizes that fully disengaging attention, but not awareness, of mood-congruent thoughts and images eliminates or nearly eliminates feelings of anxiety. This paper connects cognitive, neuroscientific, and clinical evidence on the role of attention and working memory in anxiety and other emotions with the Cognitive Disengagement Technique, a relatively novel clinical technique which is a core component of Rumination-Focused ERP. By doing so, the hypotheses presented in this paper are highly testable. Possible mechanisms of extinction learning and emotion regulation beyond anxiety alone are discussed, both of which have important implications for clinical practice (AU)

Clients' Facial Expressions of Self-Compassion, Self-Criticism, and Self-Protection in Emotion-Focused Therapy Videos.

Clients' facial expressions allow psychotherapists to gather more information about clients' emotional processing. This study aims to examine and investigate the facial Action Units (AUs) of self-compassion, self-criticism, and self-protection within real Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) sessions. For this purpose, we used the facial analysis software iMotions. Twelve video sessions were selected for the analysis based on specific criteria. For self-compassion, the following AUs were significant: AUs 4 (brow furrow), 15 (lip corner depressor), and the AU12_smile (lip corner puller). For self-criticism, iMotions identified the AUs 2 (outer brow raise), AU1 (inner brow raise), AU7 (lid tighten), AU12_smirk (unilateral lip corner puller), and AU43 (eye closure). Self-protection was combined using the occurrence of AUs 1 and 4 and AU12_smirk. Moreover, the findings support the significance of discerning self-compassion and self-protection as two different concepts.

Tiros na escola: algumas referências para a psicologia na assistência à comunidade escolar / School shotting: some references for psychology in school comunity support / Tíros em la escuela: algunas referencias para la psicología em la asistencia à comunidad escolar

A atuação em situações de emergências e desastres apresentam-se como um dos grandes desafios na atuação dos profissionais da Psicologia, demandando intervenções singulares, desde o primeiro contato com as vítimas e o com entorno afetado pelo ocorrido, passando pelo trabalho interdisciplinar e interinstitucional junto aos órgãos públicos de segurança, justiça, assistência e saúde. O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar, por meio da experiência na assistência às vítimas na Escola Estadual Raul Brasil, as particularidades e adversidades enfrentadas durante o primeiro semestre de intervenções emergenciais que antecederam a contratação de psicólogos por parte do poder público municipal para continuidade das ações. Por meio de relatos de experiência em intervenções psicológicas, obtidos em diferentes instituições para a assistência às vítimas, este trabalho também visa apresentar alternativas que possam servir de referências para a intervenção do psicólogo e da psicóloga em situações de emergências e desastres, especialmente ocorridas na comunidade escolar. Observou-se que a realização do trabalho interdisciplinar e interinstitucional somado à participação da direção da escola no planejamento das ações e a realização de plantões psicológicos e rodas de conversa junto à comunidade escolar foram fundamentais para a assistência às vítimas do ocorrido.(AU)

Timely response to emergency and disaster situations is a major challenge for Psychology professionals and require particular interventions, from initial contact with the victims and the affected environment to interdisciplinary and interinstitutional collaboration with public security, justice, assistance and health agencies. Based on the experience of providing assistance to the victims of the State School Raul Brasil, this paper presents the adversities and specificities faced during the first semester of emergency interventions implemented before psychologists were hired by municipal officials for the continuity of care. By analyzing experience reports on psychological interventions obtained from different institutions for victim assistance, this paper proposes alternatives to be used as reference for psychological intervention in emergency and disaster situations, especially those experienced by the school community. Interdisciplinary and interinstitutional collaboration with the school board for planning actions and offering psychological services and conversation circles for the school community was fundamental to assist the victims.(AU)

La actuación en situaciones de emergencias es uno de los grandes desafíos a los profesionales de la psicología, pues demanda intervenciones singulares desde el primer contacto con las víctimas y con el contexto afectado por lo ocurrido, pasando por la interdisciplinaridad e interinstitucionalidad junto a los organismos públicos de seguridad, justicia, asistencia y salud. Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar, por medio de la experiencia de la asistencia a las víctimas del colegio estadual Raul Brasil (en São Paulo, Brasil), las particularidades y adversidades enfrentadas durante el primer semestre de las intervenciones de emergencia que antecedieron la contratación de psicólogos por parte del municipio para continuidad de las acciones. Por medio de reportes de experiencia en intervenciones psicológicas, obtenidos en diferentes instituciones para la asistencia a las víctimas, este estudio también pretende presentar alternativas que puedan servir de referencia en la intervención de psicólogos y psicólogas en situaciones de emergencia y desastres, especialmente ocurridas en la comunidad escolar. Se verificó que la realización del trabajo interdisciplinar e interinstitucional, la participación de la dirección del colegio en la implementación de acciones y la realización de guardias psicológicas y círculos de conversación con la comunidad escolar fueron fundamentales para una asistencia a las víctimas.(AU)

Percepções de familiares sobre uma rede de cuidados de saúde mental infantojuvenil / Family perceptions about a children's mental health network / Percepciones familiares sobre una red de atención de salud mental infantojuvenil

Este artigo pretende conhecer como a rede de cuidados em saúde tem se operacionalizado a partir da percepção de familiares de crianças com demanda de cuidado em saúde mental (SM). Foram realizados dois grupos focais, um com familiares da Atenção Básica (AB) e outro com familiares do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Infantojuvenil (CAPSij), totalizando 15 participantes. Seguiu-se com a análise lexical do tipo classificação hierárquica descendente, com o auxílio do software R Interface, a fim de análises multidimensionais de textos e questionários (IRaMuTeQ), resultando em cinco classes: A Pílula Mágica; Forças e Fraquezas dos serviços; Procurando por ajuda; Aceitando o diagnóstico da criança e Onde procurei ajuda. Os resultados apontam para dificuldades presentes na AB em identificar e manejar situações de Saúde Mental Infantojuvenil (SMIJ), por meio de uma lógica ainda medicalizante. Ressalta-se que a escola é apresentada como lugar de destaque na produção da demanda por cuidado e a família ainda é pouco convocada à construção das ações. Conclui-se, então, que avanços ainda são necessários para operacionalização de um cuidado pautado nas diretrizes da política de SMIJ.(AU)

This article aims to know how the healthcare network has been operationalized from the perception of family members of children with demand for mental health care (MH). Two focus groups were held, one with family members from Primary Care (PC) and the other with family members from the Child Psychosocial Care Center (CAPSij), totaling 15 participants. A lexical analysis of the descending hierarchical classification type was performed with the help of the software R Interface for multidimensional analyzes of texts and questionnaires (IRAMUTEQ), resulting in five classes: The Magic Pill; Strengths and Weaknesses of services; Looking for help; Accepting the child's diagnosis; and Where did I look for help. The results point to difficulties present in PC in identifying and managing situations of mental health in children and adolescents (MHCA), with a medicalization logic. Note that the school is presented as a prominent place in producing the demand for care, and the family is still not very much involved in the actions. It is, thus, concluded that advances are still needed for operationalization of care guided by MHCA policy guidelines.(AU)

Este artículo tuvo por objetivo conocer cómo opera una red asistencial a partir de la percepción de familiares de niños con demanda de atención en salud mental (SM). Se realizaron dos grupos focales, uno con familiares de Atención Primaria (AP) y otro con familiares del Centro de Atención Psicosocial Infantojuvenil (CAPSij), totalizando 15 participantes. Se realizó análisis léxico del tipo clasificación jerárquica descendente con la ayuda del software Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires (IRAMUTEQ), lo que resultó en cinco clases: "La píldora mágica"; "Fortalezas y debilidades de los servicios"; "En busca de ayuda"; "Aceptar el diagnóstico del niño" y "¿Dónde busqué ayuda?". Los resultados apuntan las dificultades presentes en AP para identificar y manejar situaciones de salud mental infantojuvenil (SMIJ) mediante una lógica aún medicalizante. La escuela tiene un lugar destacado en la producción de la demanda de cuidados y la familia aún no está muy involucrada en la construcción de acciones. Se concluye que se necesitan avances para ofertar una atención guiada por lineamientos de la política del SMIJ.(AU)

Abordagem de narrativas como método de pesquisa em saúde pública: aproximações conceituais e contribuições da psicanálise / Narrative research in public health: conceptual approximations and contributions from psychoanalysis / Enfoque en narrativas como método de investigación en salud pública: aproximaciones conceptuales y aportaciones del psicoanálisis

Este artigo refere-se à parte de uma pesquisa de doutorado, realizada em hospital de alta complexidade do Sistema Único de Saúde, cujos participantes são os profissionais de saúde. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o potencial da abordagem das narrativas como método de pesquisa e intervenção nos serviços de saúde, traçando aproximações com a teoria psicanalítica. Sua relevância no campo da Saúde Pública está calcada no reconhecimento do papel do sujeito como agente de mudanças. O texto divide-se em duas partes: na primeira, explora as especificidades do trabalho na área da saúde, o paradigma da saúde pública no que concerne à gestão e possíveis contribuições da clínica ampliada para esse modelo. Na segunda parte, analisa o uso das narrativas como método de pesquisa nesse campo e as aproximações conceituais entre a narrativa em Walter Benjamin e a psicanálise em Freud. Busca na literatura referências sobre experiências análogas que fundamentem a proposta ora realizada e conclui pela importância de, no momento atual, apostar na força germinativa das narrativas como fonte criativa de novas formas de cuidar.(AU)

This article derives from a PhD research conducted with health professionals at a high-complexity public hospital from the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). It analyzes the potential of the narrative as a research and intervention method in health services, outlining approximations with psychoanalysis. In the field of Public Health, the narrative approach acknowledges the individual as an agent of change. The text is divided into two parts. The first presents an overview of the peculiarities involved in healthcare, the Public Health paradigm regarding service management and possible contributions from the expanded clinic to this model. The second analyzes the use of narratives as a research method in this field and the conceptual approximations between Benjamin's narrative and Freud's psychoanalysis. It searches the literature for references on similar experiences to support the present proposal and concludes by highlighting the importance of betting on the creative power of narratives as a source for new ways to care.(AU)

Este artículo es parte de una investigación doctoral, realizada con los profesionales de la salud de un hospital de alta complejidad del Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil. Su propósito es analizar el potencial del enfoque en narrativas como método de investigación e intervención en los servicios de salud, esbozando aproximaciones entre las narrativas y la teoría del psicoanálisis. Su relevancia en el campo de la salud pública se basa en el reconocimiento del rol del sujeto como agente de cambio. El texto se divide en dos partes: La primera investiga las especificidades del trabajo en el área de la salud, el paradigma de la salud pública en la gestión de los servicios y las posibles contribuciones de la clínica ampliada a este modelo. En la segunda parte, analiza el uso de narrativas como método de investigación en este campo y las aproximaciones conceptuales entre la narrativa de Walter Benjamin y el psicoanálisis de Freud. Este estudio busca en la literatura referencias sobre experiencias similares que apoyen la propuesta ahora realizada y concluye con la importancia de, en el momento actual, apostar por el poder de las narrativas como fuente creadora de nuevas formas de cuidar.(AU)

Qualitative Analysis of Chair Tasks in Emotion-Focused Therapy Video Sessions.

One of the key elements of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is decreasing self-criticism as a secondary, maladaptive emotion within two-chair interventions while simultaneously increasing self-compassion and self-protection as primary, adaptive emotions. Though the concepts of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism are highly acknowledged within psychotherapy research, the verbal articulation of these constructs within therapy sessions is underinvestigated. Thus, this qualitative study aims to examine how self-criticism, self-protection, and self-compassion are articulated by clients in EFT video sessions. Consensual qualitative research was used for data analysis performed by two core team members and one auditor. Three similar domains were considered for all three concepts: behavioural, emotional, and cognitive aspects. The number of self-protection statements was the highest among the states. The behavioural aspect was the most dominant domain for self-protection with the major subdomain 'I tell you what I need'. For self-compassion, the cognitive aspect was the most significant domain containing eight subdomains, such as 'I see your bad circumstances'. The most frequent domain for self-criticism was the behavioural aspect consisting of the two subdomains 'I point out your wrong behaviours and I give you instructions'. The findings demonstrate the significance of promoting both self-compassion and self-protection to combat self-criticism. More studies of categorising a broader number of cases among various therapy approaches are necessary to develop a more detailed understanding of clients' verbalisation of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism within therapy.

Efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy among Spanish-speaking couples: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial in Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain.

BACKGROUND: Couple relationship distress is common and associated with poor physical, psychological, and relational outcomes for both partners. Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples (EFT) is a short-term structured approach based on attachment theory that integrates a humanistic, experiential approach to restructuring emotional experience and a systemic structural approach to restructuring interactions. This model has been shown to be an effective treatment for couple distress. The supporting research, however, has only been conducted with English-speaking couples. Despite Spanish being the second-most spoken language and meaningful cultural differences between English- and Spanish-speaking countries, the efficacy of EFT has not been examined in this cultural context. This study will examine the efficacy of EFT in this particular context and advance the understanding of potential mechanisms of change. METHODS: We will use a multicenter randomized wait-list controlled design to examine the efficacy of EFT in a Spanish-speaking sample of moderately distressed couples. One hundred forty individuals in 70 couples in Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain will be randomly assigned to receive 19-21 sessions of EFT or be placed on a waitlist. Outcomes on a range of relational and individual mental health variables will be assessed prior to random assignment, throughout treatment, and at the conclusion of treatment. Primary outcomes will include dyadic adjustment, couple satisfaction, and attachment. Secondary variables, such as loneliness, parenting, affective communication, and sexual satisfaction, will be included as potential mediators of the treatment effect. Couples in the treatment group will also be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-ups. Process variables such as the therapeutic alliance will also be assessed routinely in couples assigned to the treatment group. Couples in the waitlist will receive a psycho-educational program based on EFT after completing the study. DISCUSSION: This study will be the first RCT of Emotionally Focused Therapy in a Spanish-speaking context. The results of the study will inform researchers interested in whether treatments developed and tested in the USA and Canada can be effective in differing cultural contexts. It may also point researchers and clinicians to areas where cultural adaptation is needed to improve efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04277325. Registered on February 20, 2020.

Comprensión de emociones en alumnado con implante coclear de 3 a 6 años. Factores influyentes / Comprehension of emotions in children with cochlear implant from 3 to 6 years. Influencing factors

Antecedentes: Laugen et al. (2017) plantean que los infantes con implante coclear (IC) muestran habilidades similares a sus pares oyentes en la comprensión de las emociones, pero algún estudio señala lo contrario (Wiefferink et al., 2013). En este colectivo son escasas las investigaciones con evidencias concluyentes respecto al tema, así como en cuanto a los posibles factores influyentes tales como la edad cronológica, la edad de implantación, la experiencia auditiva, el tipo de ayuda auditiva y la presencia de hermanas/os. Los objetivos del estudio son: a) describir la comprensión de emociones en preescolares con IC en comparación con la descrita en la literatura en sus pares de edad con desarrollo típico y b) estudiar cómo los factores: edad cronológica, edad de implantación, experiencia auditiva, tipo de prótesis auditiva y presencia de hermanos se relacionan con la comprensión de emociones en preescolares con IC. Metodología: Estudio transversal. Participantes: 18 infantes (7 niñas y 11 niños) portadores de IC, entre 3 y 6 años de edad cronológica (promedio 4.44), sin enfermedades asociadas y con un mínimo de 6 meses de edad auditiva (promedio de edad auditiva: 2.17). La comprensión de las emociones se evaluó mediante el Test de Comprensión Emocional (TEC) de Pons y Harris (2000). Resultados: Entre los hallazgos encontramos la existencia de correlación entre la edad cronológica con el reconocimiento de expresiones emocionales y comprensión de emociones mixtas. Siendo el hallazgo más relevante la influencia de la presencia de hermanas/os para la comprensión del papel de las creencias en las emociones.(AU)

Background: Laugen et al. (2017) suggest that children with a cochlear implant (CI) show similar abilities to their hearing peers in comprehension of emotions, but some studies point out the opposite (Wiefferink et al., 2013). In this group, there is little research with conclusive evidence regarding the subject, as well as chronological age, age of implantation, hearing experience, type of hearing aid and presence of siblings. The aims of the study are: a) to describe the comprehension of emotions in preschool children with CI compared to that described in the literature in their age peers with typical development and b) to study how the factors: chronological age, implantation age, hearing experience, type of hearing aid and presence of siblings are related to the comprehension of emotions in preschoolers with CI. Methodology: Cross-sectional study. Participants: 18 preschool children with CI (11 girls and 7 boys), between 3 and 6 years of chronological age, without associated pathologies and with at least 6 months of hearing age. Comprehension of emotions was assessed using the Pons & Harris (2000) Emotional Comprehension Test (TEC). Results: Among the findings we found the existence of a significant correlation between chronological age with the recognition of emotional expressions and comprehension of mixed emotions. The most relevant finding being the influence of the presence of siblings for understanding the role of beliefs in emotions. Conclusions: Children with CI follow their evolutionary progress according to chronological age and it seems to us of great interest to delve into the effect of phratries and family interactions on the development of emotional competencies with specific studies designed to study this type of relationship, ideally with broader sample. The results suggest implications for family orientation and lines of research such as exploring the effect of the family environment.(AU)

A qualitative meta-analysis of the clients' experiences of emotion-focused therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Client experience of psychotherapy is an important resource for our understanding of psychotherapy and deserves relevant attention in psychotherapy research. Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a relatively new adaptation of a humanistic therapy that has a tradition of giving a voice to the clients in therapy. Despite the number of qualitative studies looking at the experience of clients in EFT, there was no formal qualitative meta-analysis conducted synthesizing the existing qualitative research on the clients' experience of EFT. METHOD: A sample of 11 primary qualitative studies was selected through a systematic search of the literature. Primary studies were critically appraised, and data (findings) from them extracted and meta-analysed. RESULTS: All 11 studies featured experiences of helpful aspects of therapy, with difficult but helpful aspects reported in seven studies and unhelpful aspects reported in six studies. Most studies reported chair and experiential work and intense emotional work in EFT as helpful, with fewer reports and fewer clients finding them difficult but helpful or unhelpful. The multidimensional nature of the therapist and therapeutic relationship in EFT included emotional connection and support, validation and understanding and was commonly experienced as helpful to clients. Other client experiences reported included practical aspects of EFT such as session length, in-session outcomes such as clients' transformative experiences, and internal and external factors which were experienced by clients such as determination or reluctance to commit to therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Most clients experience EFT as an intense, challenging, but productive psychotherapy, but it appears a minority of clients experience aspects of EFT as challenging.

Emotionally focused therapists' experiences serving interabled couples in couple therapy: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Interabled couples navigate various systems of care as they respond to the needs of the disabled partner. Interabled couples are defined as one disabled partner and one nondisabled partner. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) has shown benefits in reducing relationship distress and increasing the experience of security within couples. The study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to address how EFT therapists make sense of their lived experience working with interabled couples in couple therapy. The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of therapists' serving interabled couples. The study explored the experiences of 10 EFT therapists who served at least one interabled couple in couple therapy. Findings resulted in four superordinate themes, (a) ableism; (b) self-of-the-therapist; (c) reported relationship dynamics of interabled couples; and (d) the "fit" of EFT approach with interabled couples. The themes demonstrate a need to further identify disability-responsive practices within EFT in serving interabled couples.

Estudio metamétodo de la investigación cualitativa sobre las estrategiasde regulación emocional / A metamethod study of qualitative research on emotion regulation strategies

Los estudios metamétodo describen procedimientos y examinan si los análisis empleados son los adecuados para unámbito de investigación, que en este caso es la regulación emocional cuya relevancia psicológica ha aumentado enlos últimos años. El objetivo de este trabajo es el análisis metamétodo de las investigaciones cualitativas sobre lasestrategias de regulación emocional. El análisis se realizó a partir de la lectura de resúmenes y de textos completospartiendo de 317 publicaciones. Al aplicar los criterios de inclusión, la muestra final contó con 25 estudios. Sehalló coherencia entre los métodos de análisis y el foco de los estudios. La entrevista semiestructurada fue elprocedimiento común para la recogida de datos y el análisis temático el método más utilizado. El consenso entreinvestigadores fue el control de calidad habitual. Para avalar la integridad metodológica se recomienda a losinvestigadores cualitativos proporcionar más información sobre los procedimientos y enfoques.(AU)

Metamethod studies describe procedures and examine whether the analyses used are appropriate for an area ofresearch, in this case emotion regulation, which has increased in relevance within the field of psychology in recentyears. The objective of this study is to carry out a metamethod analysis of qualitative research on emotion regulationstrategies. The analysis was based on the reading of abstracts and full texts from 317 publications. When theinclusion criteria were applied, the final sample consisted of 25 studies. Findings indicated consistency between themethods of analysis employed and the focus of the studies. The semi-structured interview was the most commonprocedure for data collection and thematic analysis the most used method. Consensus among the investigatorswas the most widespread quality control. To support methodological integrity, it is recommended that qualitativeresearchers provide more information on procedures and approaches.(AU)

Promoviendo la sensibilidad parental con una intervención tempranabasada en la evidencia / Promoting parental sensitivity with an evidence-based early intervention

Las experiencias tempranas son clave como cimientos de las trayectorias de desarrollo. Sufrir adversidad temprana está relacionado con dificultades en regular el comportamiento, las emociones y la fisiología. Las intervenciones que promueven la sensibilidad parental pueden proteger a los niños de las consecuencias negativas de la adversidad temprana y promover trayectorias de desarrollo positivas. Una de estas intervenciones es Attachment & BiobehavioralCatch-up (ABC), un programa de visitas domiciliarias basado en la evidencia que promueve un cuidado sensible y contingente. En este artículo, revisamos los objetivos de la intervención ABC y su eficacia. Describimos también la supervisión de la fidelidad al programa y su diseminación, incluida la implementación de ABC en diversos contextos y con familias de habla hispana en Estados Unidos. Por último, discutimos el potencial de implementar ABC en España y Latinoamérica como una innovación en el campo de la intervención familiar y la protección a la infancia.(AU)

Early caregiving experiences set the stage for children’s developmental trajectories. Children who experience earlyadversity are more likely to show difficulties regulating their behaviors, emotions, and physiology than children whodo not experience adversity. Parenting interventions designed to enhance parental sensitivity and responsivenesscan buffer children from the detrimental effects of early adverse experiences and ultimately enhance child outcomes.One such intervention is Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC), an evidence-based home visiting programdeveloped to enhance parental sensitivity and responsive care. In this paper, we review the intervention objectivesand effectiveness of ABC. We then describe efforts made to supervise the fidelity and dissemination of ABC,including its implementation in diverse cultural contexts and with Spanish-speaking families in the United States.Lastly, we discuss the potential of ABC as a novel intervention to be implemented within the child welfare systemin Spain and Latin America.(AU)