From the Guest Editor
The last issue of Focus dedicated to psychotherapy (Spring 2006) paid attention to the key psychotherapies in the field: psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy. Since this issue, additional evidence-based psychotherapies have emerged that have significance for patients with psychiatric disorders. This illustrates the need for the practicing psychiatrist to maintain a strong connection with the empirical literature, so clinical practice follows an evidence-based approach. In addition, the clinical practice of established psychotherapies has evolved with more integrated approaches being observed.
To update the clinical psychiatrist with some of these recent developments, this issue of Focus includes the following:
| •. | A brief review of recent meta-analyses of psychotherapies relevant for patients with psychiatric disorders, an exploration of individual variables that predict differential response to treatment, and a review of the current status of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy outcome research | ||||
| •. | Original articles on emerging psychotherapies such as emotion-focused therapy and mindfulness | ||||
| •. | Exploration of an integrated approach to the practice of psychodynamic therapy | ||||
| •. | Influential articles that are shaping the field | ||||
| •. | Ask the expert, ethics, and self-assessment | ||||
The purpose of this issue is to update the practicing clinician with current advances in psychotherapy and, more importantly, to provide the tools to evaluate future research as the field continues to grow. We hope to encourage enthusiasm and enjoyment for lifelong learning and an evidence-based approach to the practice of psychotherapy.
