Categorie: Anunturi

ANUNŢ – CERCETARE UBB

Text preluat din Anunţul Institutului Albert Ellis, New-York, SUA

CONTACT:   Colleen Roche / Kim Esp

Linden Alschuler & Kaplan Public Relations

212-575-4545 / kesp@lakpr.com

 

 

ALBERT ELLIS INSTITUTE COMMISSIONS clinical triAl

for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) TREATMENT

 

 

(September, 2008—New York, NY)  New light is expected to be shed on the best treatment methods for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a condition that afflicts as many as 6.8 Americans a year, in a major new study commissioned and funded by the Albert Ellis Institute.

 

The clinical study will compare three commonly used approaches in therapy for GAD: Cognitive Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.  It will attempt to gain insights into the three methods’ outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

 

Albert Ellis Institute, the world’s premier psychotherapy institute for Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), is an in-part funder of the trial, which will take place at the International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health (The Institute) at the Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.  The study will be led by Dr. Daniel David, President of The Institute, author of six books and 70 articles, and editor of the Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies.

 

“Generalized anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things, which is disproportionate to the actual source of worry,” said Dr. David.  “This randomized clinical trial will for the first time give therapists an insight into the most effective method of treating GAD, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in it.  It will enable them to create new cost-effective clinical protocols and guidelines for evidence-based assessment and therapy of GAD.”

 

 The study’s 14-week clinical trial period will enable researchers to evaluate how patients have progressed in such areas as feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and depression.

The excessive worry characteristic of GAD often interferes with daily functioning, as individuals suffering GAD typically anticipate disaster, conjure catastrophes, and are overly concerned about everyday matters.  People with it may suffer from such physical symptoms as fatigue, headaches, muscle tension and aches, trembling, irritability and twitching.

 

The study’s design will follow the model used in a previous study of major depressive disorder (MDD) conducted by The Institute and published in major clinical journals. All the methodological components including integrity of the treatments, allegiance effect, missing data analysis, and attrition/power calculation of this trial relating GAD will be implemented similarly with that for MDD.  Each treatment will have about 20 sessions during 14 weeks. Results are expected to be announced in 2010/2011.

 

 

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The Albert Ellis Institute is a world-renowned psychotherapy institute and non-profit organization committed to enhancing emotional growth and well-being through the application of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).  In addition to offering mental health education to professionals and providing clinical services to the public, the Albert Ellis Institute conducts research and maintains a strong network of REBT trainers and therapists.  The Institute is a committed to advancing emotional well-being through the study and application of effective, short-term therapy with long-term results.

Catedra de Psihologie Clinică şi Psihoterapie din Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai a lansat în anul universitar 2007/2008 o campanie deschisă de “Head-Hunting for the Brilliants in Academia: Education, Research, and Professional Services“.

În acest context, Catedra anunţă pentru semestrul I al anului universitar 2008/2009 scoaterea la concurs a patru posturi la nivel de lector, conferenţiar şi profesor universitar. Sunt incurajaţi să participe la competiţie profesionişti din ţară (indiferent de centrul universitar unde au absolvit) şi/sau străinătate (diasporă), cu doctorat în domeniul psihologiei (sau domenii apropiate/interdisciplinare).

Activităţile desfăşurate în cadrul postului vor acoperi norma didactică (predare), activităţi de cercetare, servicii inovative şi/sau administrative (management granturi şi/sau grup/centru/institut de cercetare). Candidaţii admişi vor avea sansa să lucreze într-o echipă competitivă internaţional şi în laboratoare dotate cu aparatură de top la nivel internaţional (vezi la www.clinicalpsychology.ro)

Singurul criteriu de selecţie este reprezentat de performanţa la concursul de admitere dublată de angajamentul pentru excelenţă, profesionalism şi seriozitate, muncă în echipă şi respingerea imposturii, caracteristici constituie sistemul nostru de valori. Profilul profesional pe care îl preferăm la cei care doresc să intre în echipa noastră este caracterizat de: (1) cunoştinţe ştiinţifice avansate; (2) metode avansate de cercetare; (3) comportament etic şi profesional în general, şi în activităţile de cercetare/didactice/de servicii psihologice şi/sau administrative în special; (4) leadership; (5) management eficient al activităţilor; (6) abilităţi de comunicare şi relaţionare interpersonală în general, şi în echipa de lucru în special (ex. generozitate, calm şi asertivitate, toleranţă la frustrare etc.); (7) motivaţie, plăcere şi atracţie deosebite pentru a contribui la progresul cunoaşterii, dublate de disponibilitate la efort şi muncă; (8) un stil mental raţional caracterizat de: (a) un stil de gândire inteligent, creativ, flexibil, non-absolutist, (b) toleranţă la frustrare, (c) non-catastrofare şi (d) evaluări nuanţate, non-globale.

Pentru detalii privind Catedra de Psihologie Clinică şi Psihoterapie vezi la http://www.clinicalpsychologogy.ro

Catedra de Psihologie Clinică şi Psihoterapie va organiza in perioada 7-9 Noimebrie 2008, la Cluj-Napoca, la sediul Catedrei, în cadrul Ciclului de Conferinţe „Meeting of The Minds”, Simpozionul „New Frontiers in Evidence Based Psychology”. Simpozionul va avea trei workshop-uri strategice iar apoi discutii integrative, toate activităţile desfăşurându-se în limba engleză:

Workshop 1: „Noi frontiere in consilierea genetică; Interfaţa dintre genetică şi psihoterapie/consiliere” (director: Lector univ. dr. Alina Rusu).

Workshop 2: „Noi frontiere în formarea validată ştiinţific în consiliere şi psihoterapie” (director: Asist. univ. drd. Ramona Moldovan)

Workshop 3: „Tulburările de anxietate şi abordarea lor multimodală” (director: Prof. univ. dr. Daniel David).

Participanţii sunt profesionişti de marcă în cele trei domenii din SUA şi UK, având influenţă directă asupra direcţiilor de dezvoltare a domeniilor la nivel internaţional.

A “Platform for Advanced Imaging – fMRI/EEG – in Clinical Cognitive Sciences/Psychotherapy” will be developed at the Babes-Bolyai University, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy/International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, based on a grant from the European Union through the Romanian Government – National Authority for Research. The Platform will be composed of a Center for Advanced Imaging – fMRI/EEG – in Clinical Cognitive Sciences, which has two Laboratories: (1) Advanced fMRI Lab.; and (2) Advanced EEG Lab. Thus, the Platform will make use of an advanced technology, consisting of fMRI (3T) and EEG technologies, and it will be fully operational in 2009.

 

Building on our international expertise in evidence based assessment and psychotherapy (see our Web of Science indexed publications), this new development will help us complement our advanced research at the computational and algorithmic-representational levels (e.g., large randomized clinical trials comparing psychotherapy and medication for various clinical conditions by outcome, mechanism of change and cost-effectiveness, virtual reality therapy) with research at the implementational level (brain level) to facilitate the understanding and integration of  the mechanisms and processes of psychotherapy and other psychological interventions intended for the treatment of various clinical conditions and/or for health promotion.

(R) GAD CLINICAL TRIAL – A BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TO START: FALL 2008

I. TITLE

·     Cognitive Therapy vs. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy vs. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. A Randomized Clinical Trial: Outcomes, Theory of Change, and Cost-Effectiveness.

 

II. LOCATION

·     The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health at  Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (see for details and for the expertise of the Institute in running large scale randomized clinical trials: www.psychotherapy.ro). The trial is funded internationally.

 

III. OBJECTIVES

·     To investigate, in a randomized clinical trial, the efficacy, the mechanisms of change, and the cost-effectiveness of Cognitive Therapy (reference treatment) vs. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy vs. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

o    Theoretical implications: (1) a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in GAD and (2) a better integration of the diverse cognitive pathogenetic mechanisms of GAD into (a) a coherent cognitive-behavior theory and (b) a rigorous and integrative psychological assessment strategy (measures/scales).

o    Practical Implications: New clinical protocols and guidelines for the evidence-based assessment and therapy of GAD.

 

IV. INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING TEAM

·     Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Daniel David, Professor, Ph.D., Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, Director of the International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health (see his expertise at: www.psychotherapy.ro) & Co-PI: Dr. Aurora Szentagotai, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Babes-Bolyai University.

·     External Research Consultant:  Dr. Douglas Mennin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Yale University, USA, Director of Yale Anxiety & Mood Services at Yale University.

·     Psychiatric Components Consultants: Dr. Doina Cosman, MD, Professor, Ph.D., and Dr. Viorel Lupu, MD, Professor, Ph.D., “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania.

 

1. Cognitive Therapy (CT) Coordinating Group

·     Coordinator: Ramona Moldovan, Assistant Professor, MA, Babes-Bolyai University, Clinical Psychologist (trained in CT by the Romanian Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies with international CT supervisors).

·     Clinical Consultant: Dr. Robert Leahy, Clinical Professor, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Weill-Cornell University Medical College, USA (President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT); President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)).

·     Research Consultant: Dr. Stefan G. Hoffman, Professor, Ph.D., Boston University, USA, Director of the Psychotherapy and Emotion Research Laboratory at Boston University.

2. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Coordinating Group

·     Coordinator: Bianca Macavei, Assistant Professor, MA, Babes-Bolyai University, Clinical Psychologist (trained in REBT by the Romanian Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies with international REBT supervisors; supervisor in REBT at the Albert Ellis Institute, USA).

·     Clinical Consultant: Dr. Windy Dryden, Professor, Ph.D., University of London, UK, Supervisor in REBT at the Albert Ellis Institute.

·     Research Consultant: Dr. Raymond DiGiuseppe, Professor, Ph.D., St. John University, USA, Director of Professional Education at the Albert Ellis Institute (Past President of the ABCT).

3. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Coordinating Group

·     Coordinator: Ioana Cristea, Assistant Professor, MA, Babes-Bolyai University, Clinical Psychologist (trained in ACT by the Romanian Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies with international ACT supervisors).

·     Clinical Consultant: Dr. Kelly G. Wilson, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Mississippi, USA, ACT Supervisor.

·     Research Consultant: Dr. Steven Hayes, Professor, Ph.D., University of Nevada, USA; Founder of ACT (Past president of ABCT).

 

V. DESIGN

A rigorous randomized clinical trial, following the model implemented in one of our previous studies on major depressive disorder (MDD) (see the below cited study), will be designed for this study.

·          David, D., Szentagotai, A., Lupu, V., & Cosman, D. (2008). Rational emotive behavior therapy, Cognitive therapy and Medication in the treatment of major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial, post-treatment outcomes, and six month follow-up. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64, 728-746.

All the methodological components (e.g., treatment integrity, allegiance effect, missing data analysis, attrition/power calculation etc.) of this trial on GAD will be implemented similar to the ones in the MDD trial (mentioned above). Each treatment will consist of about 20 sessions, delivered over a 14-week period.

 

1. Outcome measures

a. General:

·     OQR 45.2 – (Adult outcome measure; age 18+)

·     POMS (Profile of Mood States; includes: (a) functional and dysfunctional negative feelings scores and (b) positive affect)

·     SF-37 (Quality of Life)

b. Specific:

·         HRSA (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety)

·         BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory)

·         GAD-Q-IV (the Generalized Anxiety Disorders Questionnaire 4th Edition)

SCID-RV will be used for categorical diagnoses (based on DSM-IV)

Note: All outcome measures will be administered pre- mid- and post-treatment. The BAI will be administered each session.

 

2. Hypothesized mediating (i.e., mechanisms of change) variables

·             ATQ (Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire) (related to CT)

·         DAS (Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale) (related to CT)

·         ABS-II (Attitudes and Beliefs Scale – II) (related to REBT)

·         USA (Unconditional Self-Acceptance) (related to REBT)

·         AAQ (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire) (related to ACT)

·         EAS (Experiential Avoidance Scale) (related to ACT)

·         RE (Response Expectancies for Non-volitional Outcomes [i.e., anxiety, relaxation]; VAS type      scales) (not specifically related to any of the investigated forms of therapy)

·         PSWQ (Penn State Worry Questionnaire) (not specifically related to any of the forms of therapy)

·         DERS (Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale) (not specifically related to any of the investigated forms of therapy)

·         AIM (Affect Intensity Measure) (not specifically related to any of the investigated forms of therapy)

Note: All mediating variable measures will be administered pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. The ATQ and RE will be administered each session.

 

3. Hypothesized moderator variables

·         LOT (Level of Optimism and Pessimism)

·         Brief-Cope (Coping Mechanisms)

Note: All hypothesized moderating variables measures will be administered pre-, mid-, and post-treatment.

 

Other measures will include demographics and relevant medical data. Some cognitive tasks (e.g., cognitive inhibition/interference) and psychophysiological measures will be also employed (to be established) to complement the self-report measures.

 

 

În perioada 17-19 Septembrie, 2008, la Bucureşti, Ministerul Educaţiei şi Cercetării – Autoritatea Naţională pentru Cercetare Ştiintifică, în colaborare cu Academia Română, va organiza Conferinţa: „Diaspora Ştiinţifică Românească„. Ideea este de a-i reuni pe cei mai prestigioşi cercetători români din ţară şi din diasporă, pentru a gândi împreună cercetări şi activităţi de impact internaţional.

Domeniul „Psihologie„ va fi reprezentat la această Conferinţă prin Simpozionul/Workshop-ul invitat: „Stiinte Cognitive Clinice” (Invited Chair: Prof. univ. dr. Daniel David, Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai; Co-chairs: Prof. univ. dr. Şerban Ionescu, Franţa; Prof. univ. dr. Puiu Vasilescu, SUA).  Simpozionul/Workshop-ul se va desfăşura la Institutul de Filosofie şi Psihologie „C. Rădulescu Motru” al Academiei Române.

Participarea la Simpozion/Workshop se face pe bază de invitaţie nominală, numărul de invitaţi fiind limitat de bugetul Simpozionului/Workshop-ului. Alţi colegi interesaţi de lucrări şi de rezultatele întâlnirii pot însă lua legatura cu Asist univ. drd. Ramona Moldovan (ramonamoldovan@psychology.ro), şi, în limita locurilor disponibile în sală, vor putea participa la lucrările Simpozionului/Workshop-ului în calitate de audienţi. Sinteza şi concluziile Simpozionului/Workshop-ului vor fi făcute public.

Pentru lista participanţilor invitaţi din ţară şi străinătate şi pentru mai multe informaţii vezi Site-ul Conferinţei la: http://www.diaspora-stiintifica.ro (secţiunea Psihologie).