In Honor of Professor Donald Meichenbaum

Today, Professor Donald Meichenbaum celebrates his 80th birthday!

He is one of the titans who founded CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), which was the fuel and became the golden standard for what we call today evidence-based psychotherapy. Beyond his key contribution to the paradigmatic shift towards CBT, his more specific developments – cognitive behavior modifications, stress inoculation training, and later, the constructive narrative perspective – are active approaches in modern CBT. For his fundamental contributions to psychotherapy, for inspiring thousands of academics and helping millions of people worldwide, North American clinicians voted Dr. Meichenbaum “one of the 10 most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century.” Today, Dr. Meichebaum is Research Director of The Melissa Institute and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

We are proud to have professor Meichenbaum as a faculty member of our Institute and a close and dear friend.

Happy Birthday!

Professor, Ph.D., Daniel David,

President of the Institute

June 10, 2020 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

In Memoriam – James McMahon

With deep sorrow, we announce that Jim McMahon (James McMahon), our friend, colleague, and board member of the Institute, died unexpectedly, on February 7, 2019.

Jim was a truly accomplished scientist-practitioner. As a practitioner, he was involved in psychological services to his patients, oriented by evidence-based approaches. He was also a world recognized trainer and supervisor in rational-emotive & cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, contributing widely to the dissemination of evidence-based psychotherapy in many countries (e.g., Romania/Russia/Turkey/USA, etc.). For example, Jim was a close friend of Romania and our main consultant in developing REBT/CBT in Romania. Finally, Jim was an exceptional leader and manager/administrator, his contribution and devotion to the Albert Ellis Institute, New York, USA, being decisive in the current thriving of the Institute.

But, above all, Jim was our friend and a personal senior adviser and, as he liked to call himself, the “American grandfather” of the children of the Romanians trained at the Albert Ellis Institute.

Dear Jim, dear friend, rest in peace and thank you for everything! We will miss you, but you will stay alive in our hearts and memories!

Professor Daniel David, Ph.D.

February 8, 2019 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Albert Ellis Award for Research 2018

Albert Ellis Institute are plăcerea de a anunța apelul pentru aplicațiile „Albert Ellis Award for Research 2018”. Termenul limită pentru trimiterea acestora este 15 Februarie 2018. Mai multe detalii pot fi accesate pe pagina Albert Ellis Institute: http://albertellis.org/albert-ellis-award-for-research/

December 28, 2017 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Albert Ellis Institute: Ellis Scholars Program – 2018

For the Ellis Scolars Program of the Albert Ellis Institute, please check: http://albertellis.org/ellis-scholars/

Albert Ellis Institute anunță „Ellis Scholars Program” pentru anul 2018, având scopul de a promova Terapia Rațional-Emotivă și Comportamentală în mediul academic. Dedadline-ul pentru aplicații este 16 Februarie 2018. Pentru mai multe detalii accesați site-ul Albert Ellis Insititute: http://albertellis.org/ellis-scholars/

December 28, 2017 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Invitation to the 9th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy / IACP

Avalon_logo_small

Dear colleagues,

It is time to sign up for the Congress where the world leaders in evidence-based clinical psychology/psychotherapy will meet!

The Preliminary Program of the 9th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy – the Congress of the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy/IACP – is available here:

http://www.iccp2017.org/files/ICCP2017_Preliminary_Program.pdf

In 2017, the key figures in evidence-based clinical psychology/psychotherapy, especially in cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies, will be in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania. Do not miss this opportunity to meet the world leaders in the field and sign up for the Congress as soon as possible (especially for the workshops, where the places are limited!), don’t forget that they will be explaining how personal loans improves credit score and giving loan options from agencies like Nation21loans, for those who want to have success but don’t necessarily have the financial income needed to start off because interest. A combination of (1) Outstanding Keynote Speakers (Gerhard Andersson, Judith Beck, David M. Clark, Pim Cuijpers, Raymond DiGiuseppe, Daniel Freeman, Martin Hautzinger, Steven Hayes, Stefan Hofmann, Steven Hollon, Robert Leahy, Lata McGinn, John Riskind, Philip Spinhoven, Mehmet Sungur, Ed Watkins); (2) Workshop Presenters (Gerhard Andersson, Judith Beck, Raymond DiGiuseppe, Keith Dobson, Kristene Doyle, Thomas Dowd, Arthur Freeman, Daniel Freeman, Steven Hayes, Robert Leahy, Lata McGinn, Agnieszka Popiel, John Riskind, Tullio Scrimali, Mehmet Sungur, Ed Watkins) and (3) Symposia Presenters will try to elucidate the challenges of integration that CBT faces today. Also, we planned two stimulating round tables (1) Integrative and multimodal CBT: Implications for practice (Daniel David, Raymond DiGiuseppe, Steven Hayes, Stefan Hofmann, and Robert Leahy) and (2) Integrative and multimodal CBT: Implications for research (Gerhard Andersson, Pim Cuijpers, Daniel David, Daniel Freeman, Steven Hollon, and Steven Lynn), to further debate and understand the future of CBT

Also important, do not miss the fantastic touristic places in Romania (e.g., Danube Delta, Dracula-related trips, famous Romania monasteries, medieval cities, traditional area like Maramures, etc.)!

Please disseminate the message to all colleagues who might be interested.

Make your plans and see you all in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania!

Yours, Professor, Ph.D., Daniel David
President of the Congress
Congress Website: http://www.iccp2017.org/

 

April 21, 2017 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Babes-Bolyai University and its International Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health honor Professor Aaron T. Beck on his 95th birthday!

beckProfessor Aaron T. Beck has turned 95 on the 18th of July 2016! In 2012, Professor Beck received the highest distinction of our university – Doctor Honoris Causa of Babes-Bolyai University – becoming part of our academic community (see here). Our university also holds an Aaron T. Beck Professorship position, in recognition of the scientific stature of Aaron T. Beck and of his contribution to the development of the clinical and psychotherapy program at Babes-Bolyai University.

As we all know, Professor Beck, now emeritus professor of the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, USA, is recognized world-wide for his “cognitive revolution” in the mental health field, which has changed the face of clinical science and clinical practice. He has influenced a huge number of scientists in the academic field, and millions of people all over the world have benefitted from this innovative treatment with developing product labels (i.e., cognitive therapy). Over the years, he has received many awards and distinctions for his tremendous contributions to clinical science and practice. For example, when he was awarded the Lasker Award, considered by many “the American Nobel in Medicine”, Dr. Joseph L. Goldstein, the chairman of the Lasker committee, said: “…Cognitive therapy is one of the most important advances — if not the most important advance — in the treatment of mental diseases in the last 50 years.”

In our view, Professor Beck set the stage for “modern psychotherapy” in the history of the field, radically changing the way we see and practice psychotherapy. Before him, we had mainly “grand theories”, associated to various more or less charismatic founders. He is a charismatic scientist, who has changed the paradigm and has taken psychotherapy as a science into the evidence-based field. It is our strong belief that we owe it mainly to Professor Beck that psychotherapy is well-integrated today in the evidence-based movement in mental health and that it has a strong scientific profile!
Check out my website for more information.

Thank you and Happy Birthday, dear professor and colleague!

Professor, Ph.D., Daniel David
Director of the International Institute
Vice-rector for research, competitiveness-excellence, and scientific publications of Babes-Bolyai University

September 10, 2016 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Press release – DREAM Project

Please find here a press release on the DREAM Project (www.dream2020.org) implemented by the Institute/Department in a larger European consortium coordinated by  online.sodapdf.com. Here you can find several pictures and videos presenting our new ROBOmembers.

April 1, 2015 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

New clinical trial investigating comparatively the efficacy of rational-emotive & cognitive-behavior therapy (REBT/CBT) and medication (sertraline) in youth depression

Results of a new clinical trial investigating comparatively the efficacy of rational-emotive & cognitive-behavior therapy (REBT/CBT) and medication (sertraline) in youth depression have been accepted for publications in the prestigious journal Psychiatry Research. A preview – already presented over the time at various scientific conferences – of the results/conclusions is presented below. The details will/can be found in the full article; we will keep you updated about its publication.

 I. REBT/CBT for Major Depression in Youth. Results of a New Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Eighty-eight (N=88) depressed youths (i.e, major depressive disorder patients) were randomly allocated to one of the three treatment arms (i.e., randomized clinical trial/RCT): (1) group Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) (i.e., a form of cognitive-behavior therapy/CBT; 16 weekly group sessions); (2) pharmacotherapy/medication (i.e., sertraline), and (3) group REBT/CBT plus pharmacotherapy.

Clinical REBT/CBT Protocol: Group REBT/CBT used behavior activation and cognitive restructuring techniques to address the core irrational beliefs (i.e., demandingness and self-depreciation, but also catastrophizing/awfulizing and frustration intolerance, if they appeared) and restructure them into rational beliefs (e.g., flexibility in the form of preference/acceptance rather than demandingness; self-acceptance rather than self-depreciation). Indeed, group REBT/CBT was focused on: (a) restructuring particularly the irrational beliefs of demandingness and self-depreciation; (2) developing unconditional self-acceptance; and (3) secondary problems like depression about depression (i.e., meta-emotions). Negative automatic thoughts were not specifically targeted first in psychotherapy (as in other CBT strategies), but they were identified, analyzed, and used to access and then change core irrational beliefs.

Results: The results – for details see below the Figure 1 – showed that all outcomes (i.e., subjective – depressed symptoms and general distress; cognitive – negative automatic thoughts; and biological – serum serotonin and norepinephrine) significantly change from pre- to post-treatment in all treatment conditions, with no difference among conditions at post-treatment. Remission rate at post-treatment was defined as scores lower that 19 on the CDI (Children’s Depression Inventory), meaning that the patients do not meet the criteria for clinical depression anymore; we found the following remissions rates: 67.85% for group REBT/CBT, 60.60% for pharmacotherapy, and 53.84% for group REBT/CBT plus pharmacotherapy (there were no significant differences among groups). Suicidal ideation significantly decreased from pre to post-treatment (p < .05), but there were no differences across groups (p > .05). General distress (Profile of Mood States/POMS-SV) was similarly reduced in all three conditions, thus potentially impacting the improvement of the quality of life/social functioning of the participants. Consistent to REBT/CBT theory, pre-mid (8 weeks) changes in negative automatic thoughts (ATQ – Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire) were prospectively associated to the pre-post changes in depressive symptoms (CDI): r = 0.22, p = 0.026.

Conclusions and implications: To our knowledge, this is the first RCT comparing psychotherapy (i.e., group REBT/CBT), pharmacotherapy/medication, and their combination for depressed youth, assessing multi-level outcomes (e.g., subjective – depressive symptoms and general distress; cognitive – negative automatic thoughts; and biological outcomes: serum serotonin and norepinephrine) in the same RCT design. At a theoretical level, the results of our RCT indicate that administering group REBT/CBT, sertraline, or a combined intervention for depressed youth generates similar results (i.e., in terms of subjective, cognitive, and biological markers of depression); this opening interesting questions about clinical strategies, mechanisms of change, and cost-effectiveness. At a practical level, group evidence-based REBT/CBT protocols are now available to mental health professionals dealing with depression in youth; therefore, for children with depression, their families, and clinical professionals have now even more treatment options to choose for depression.

Results

II. OTHER RELATED INFO.

 II.1. REBT and depression in adults:

II.2. Meta-analysis about the evidence-based status of REBT/CBT as psychological treatment for children:

II.3. For the evidence-based status of REBT theory and practice see here:

II.4. The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health is the original site for the group REBT/CBT arm (see at http://psychotherapy.psiedu.ubbcluj.ro).

November 15, 2014 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Instrumente de evaluare clinica

Impreuna, Intervurile Clinice Structurate – SCID [SCID-I CV, SCID-I RV/P, SCID-I RV/NP, SCID-I RV/PS, SCID-II (incluzand chestionarul de personalitate), KID-SCID] si Sistemul de Evaluare Clinica – SEC constituie o Platforma de Psihodiagnostic si Evaluare Clinica Validate Stiintific (evidence-based assessment) (PEC), cu implicatii majore asupra tratamentului tulburarilor mentale, a tulburarilor care cuprind In etiopatogeneza factori psihologici si In optimizarea si promovarea sanatatii. Ea reprezinta the state of the art In acest domeniu, In acest moment. Universitatea Babes-Bolyai – International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health – are drepturile exclusive pentru Romania pentru toate variantele de SCID, pentru SEC si platforma PEC.

SCID si SEC (PEC) se constituie Intr-o tehnologie avansata In domeniul clinic (cercetare si practica) care permite diagnosticul si evaluarea clinica validate stiintific, ancorand utilizatorul In paradigma „scientist-practitioner”, paradigma care Ii asigura o practica clinica validata stiintific cu eficienta maxima pe care o permite cunoasterea actuala din domeniu.

I. Interviurile clinice structurate (SCID) pentru tulburarile clinice cuprinse In Manualul de Diagnostic si Statistica a Tulburarilor Mentale (DSM)

In domeniul tulburarilor mentale si de comportament unul din repere fundamentale In diagnosticul tabloului clinic Il constituie „Manualul de Diagnostic si Statistica a Tulburarilor Mentale” (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; DSM), publicat de „American Psychiatric Association”. El a ajuns la editia a patra revizuita si se asteapta ca a cincea editie sa fie publicata In 2013. La noi in tara (DSM-IV-TR) a fost tradus de „Asociatia Psihiatrilor Liberi din Romania”, In anul 2003. Pentru a putea utiliza corect diagnosticul pe baza DSM este necesara utilizarea unor interviuri clinice structurate. Trei astfel de interviuri sunt fundamentale, acoperind prin module specifice categoriile de diagnostic cuprinse In DSM.

1. Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru Tulburarile de pe Axa I a DSM (SCID-I);

2. Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru Tulburarile de pe Axa II a DSM (SCID-II);

3. Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru Tulburarile Sugarului, Copilului si Adolescentului (KID-SCID).

SCID-I CV (Versiunea Clinica/Clinician Version)

Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru Tulburarile de pe Axa I a DSM-IV (SCID-I) este un interviu semistructurat In vederea diagnosticarii principalelor tulburari de pe Axa I a DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Interviurile clinice structurate au fost elaborate cu scopul de a creste fidelitatea diagnostica prin standardizarea procesului de evaluare si de a spori validitatea prin facilitarea aplicarii criteriilor de diagnostic din DSM-IV si aprofundarea unor simptome care altfel ar putea fi trecute cu vederea. In ciuda importantei acestor scopuri, atat In context clinic cat si de cercetare, complexitatea si lungimea majoritatii interviurilor structurate au limitat utilizarea lor la studii de cercetare. Unul dintre obiectivele elaborarii SCID a fost producerea unui instrument eficient si usor de utilizat care sa permita transpunerea avantajelor interviului structurat In context clinic.
SCID-CV a fost elaborat pentru ca o modalitate de asigurare a unor evaluari standardizate. El include o Brosura de Administrare care poate fi reutilizata si o Fisa de Evaluare de unica folosinta. SCID-CV acopera doar categoriile diagnostice cel mai frecvent Intalnite In practica clinica si exclude majoritatea subtipurilor si specificantilor cuprinsi In Versiunea de Cercetare

Componente:

SCID-I RV (Versiunea de Cercetare/Reseach Version)

Versiunea de cercetare a SCID (SCID-I RV) este mai lunga decat cea Clinica (SCID-I CV) deoarece ea cuprinde evaluari ale unor subtipuri clinice, a severitatii, specificantilor de evolutie si tulburari care sunt utile din punct de vedere diagnostic pentru cercetatori, dar pot sa nu prezinte interes pentru clinicieni (vezi mai jos).
Ordinea Intrebarilor din SCID-RV este astfel gandita Incat sa aproximeze procesul de diagnostic diferential al unui clinician cu experienta. Tinand cont de faptul ca criteriile de diagnostic din DSM-IV sunt Incorporate In SCID-RV si evaluate pe masura ce interviul progreseaza, clinicianul testeaza In permanenta ipoteze diagnostice. In cazul unora dintre tulburari, criteriile de diagnostic nu sunt prezentate In ordinea din DSM-IV, ci au fost reordonate pentru ca interviul sa fie mai eficient si mai usor de realizat.

Continut SCID-I RV
Acest pachet contine toate materialele de care aveti nevoie pentru a elabora o versiune SCID adaptata scopurilor dumneavoasta. Ele sunt incluse In urmatoarea ordine:

SCID-II (Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru Tulburarile Clinice de pe Axa II a DSM)

Interviul acopera 11 Tulburari de Personalitate din DSM-IV si categoriile din anexa: Tulburarea de Personalitate Depresiva si Tulburarea de Personalitate Pasiv-Agresiva.
Chestionarul de Personalitate SCID-II este utilizat ca instrument de evaluare pentru a scurta timpul de evaluare necesar administrarii SCID-II. Dupa completarea chestionarului de catre pacient (durata: 20 de minute), evaluatorul Incercuieste numerele aflate In stanga itemilor SCID-II care corespund itemilor din chestionar la care s-a raspuns cu “da”. Cand este utilizat testul SCID-II evaluatorul trebuie sa noteze doar itemii la care s-a raspuns afirmativ, considerand ca raspunsul “nu” la chestionar presupune acelasi raspuns si la Intrebarea pusa de elvaluator.

Manualul contine informatii utile:

Componente:

KID-SCID (Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru Tulburarile Sugarului, Copilului si Adolescentului)

Interviul Clinic Structurat pentru DSM-IV, versiunea pentru Copii (KID-SCID), este un instrument semistructurat nou, proiectat pentru a genera diagnostice pediatrice conform Manualul de Diagnostic si Statistica a Tulburarilor Mentale, care are la baza varianta pentru adulti a SCID. Aceasta prima versiune contine module pentru Tulburarile de Comportament Disruptiv, Episoadele Afective si Psihotice, Tulburarile Afective si Psihotice, Tulburarile Anxioase, Tulburarile In Legatura cu Alcoolul si Substantele si Tulburarile de Adaptare.
KID-SCID este destinat spre a fi administrat de catre clinicieni specializati In sanatate mintala si permite diagnosticarea unor tulburari psihiatrice generale si pediatrice In conformitate cu DSM-IV. Interviul este Impartit In mai multe module, fiecare modul evaluand o anumita clasa de tulburari. Dupa sectiunea de cotare exista un interviu general, urmat de modulele de diagnostic propriu-zise.

Componente:
Module de interviu diagnostic pentru fiecare Tulburarile de Comportament Disruptiv, Episoadele Afective si Psihotice, Tulburarile Afective si Psihotice, Tulburarile Anxioase, Tulburarile In Legatura cu Alcoolul si Substantele si Tulburarile de Adaptare.

II. Sistem de Evaluare Clinica (SEC)

Probele psihologice cuprinse In SEC (adresate copiilor, adolescentilor sau adultilor) au fost selectate pornind de la paradigma psihodiagnosticului si evaluarii clinice validate stiintific. Astfel SEC cuprinde:

Unele scale incluse In SEC masoara constructe identice si/sau similare; ele pot fi utilizate ca modalitati alternative de evaluare, atunci cand: (1) masuratorile repetate cu aceeasi scala pot fi distorsionate si (2) se doreste confirmarea unui rezultat din surse multiple (lucru important In domeniul clinic). Asadar, SEC, prin modul In care a fost elaborat, reprezinta astazi unul dintre cele mai avansate – the state of the art – sisteme de psihodiagnostic si evaluare clinica validate stiintific. Noi scale/probe psihologie pot fi adaugate acestui sistem – SEC – doar daca: (1) ele evalueaza noi componente validate stiintific ale starii de boala/sanatate si/sau ale mecanismelor de patogeneza/sanogeneza, identificate prin studii de specialitate, care aduc un plus de cunoastere semnificativ clinic fata de cele deja incluse In SEC; (2) au calitati psihometrice foarte bune. Utilizarea SEC presupune cunostinte fundamentale de psihologie clinica si psihodiagnostic si se face In conditiile respectarii stricte a deontologiei profesionale.

Componente:

Pentru comenzi vezi la www.rtscluj.ro

June 1, 2008 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

Metal Music Videos psychotherapy directory resources wordpress consulting travel blog