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Current policy in UK health services emphasizes that, where possible, people with intellectual disabilities should access the same services as people without intellectual disabilities. One of the barriers to this is the confidence of clinicians and therapists. In this paper, we report on the development of a scale to describe the confidence of therapists in working with people with intellectual disabilities (the Therapy Confidence Scale-Intellectual Disabilities [TCS-ID]). One-hundred and eighty-one therapists who provided talking therapies but who did not work primarily with people with intellectual disabilities completed the scale; 43 people completed the scale twice for test-retest reliability purposes. One-hundred and seven people also completed a scale of general therapy self-efficacy. The TCS-ID has a single factor structure accounting for 62% of the variance, Cronbach's alpha for the scale is 0.93 and test-retest reliability is 0.83. There are significant differences in confidence based upon participants experience in working with people with intellectual disabilities and their therapeutic orientation, and there is a significant association between the TCS-ID and the General Therapy Self-efficacy Scale. Sixty clinicians working in mainstream mental health services received training on adapting their therapeutic approaches to meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The TCS-ID was used pre-training and post-training and demonstrated a significant increase in confidence for all group. We suggest that the scale has good psychometric properties and can be used to develop an understanding of the impact of training for mainstream therapist in working with people with intellectual disabilities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message There is increasing emphasis on people with intellectual disabilities receiving services from mainstream mental health services., There is no research describing the experiences and outcomes of people with intellectual disabilities receiving mainstream talking therapy services., The confidence that clinicians have in working with people with intellectual disabilities may be a barrier to them receiving mainstream services., The Therapy Confidence Scale-Intellectual Disabilities is a psychometrically sound scale for measuring the confidence of therapists in working with people with intellectual disabilities and is a useful outcome measure for training clinicians to work with people with intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a major problem for mental health. Empirical studies and clinical observations have shown that the symptoms of depression occur across four main domains-emotional, cognitive, somatic and interpersonal. However, commonly used depression assessment scales fail to address the evaluation of interpersonal symptoms, as summarized in this paper. Therefore, a new depression assessment scale, which aimed to evaluate all four domains of depressive symptomatology, was developed. In an initial analysis, a pilot 85-item questionnaire containing possible depressive symptoms was distributed for evaluation to experts from different mental health professions, from which 52 items were subsequently selected for the new multidimensional depression assessment scale. One hundred community participants completed the questionnaire along with the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The results indicated that the new depression scale had good psychometric properties. It was found to be reliable and valid for the assessment of depression severity and symptomatology, though it is emphasized that these data are only preliminary and based on a relatively healthy sample. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ) is one of the few theoretically sound and psychometrically valid questionnaires for measuring the SR within clinical supervision. However, its length can make it difficult to use in clinical practice and research. This study aimed to produce a shorter version of the SRQ (the Short Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire: S-SRQ) that retained its reliability and psychometric validity. The SRQ's 67 items were initially reduced using the criteria of external, internal and face validity. Two hundred and three UK trainee clinical psychologists then completed a series of online questionnaires including the S-SRQ and other clinical supervision measures. A Principal Component Analysis identified three components of the S-SRQ: 'safe base', 'reflective education' and 'structure', and an 18-item version was produced. Analyses revealed that the S-SRQ has high internal reliability, adequate test-retest reliability and good convergent, divergent and predictive validity. Participants also rated the S-SRQ as easy to use and potentially helpful for providing feedback on the SR in supervision. The S-SRQ (three subscales, 18 items) is a valid and reliable measure of the SR from the supervisee perspective. The current findings also support aspects of existing models of the SR. The S-SRQ is a promising measure for use in clinical, training and research settings. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message The Short Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire (S-SRQ) is a psychometrically reliable and valid 18-item measure of the supervisory relationship based on the SRQ., Clinically, the measure represents a quick and accessible means for supervisees to assess the quality of their supervisory relationship and discuss this with their supervisors., It can also be used in conjunction with the supervisor-completed Supervisory Relationship Measure to support a dyadic discussion about clinical supervision and the supervisory relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reflective practice groups have been recommended for improving staff wellbeing and team functioning in inpatient psychiatric services, and clinical psychologists have been identified as potential leaders in this type of work. Research is limited with little information about reflective practice group guidelines, prevalence and effectiveness. Aims The aims of this study were to describe clinical psychologists' practice in reflective groups for staff in inpatient psychiatric services and to explore how such groups are conceptualized and implemented. Methods Online questionnaires and follow-up interviews were used to gain broad descriptions of practice and in-depth information about participants' experiences. The sample consisted of 73 clinical psychologists working in the UK, six of whom were interviewed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, content analysis and thematic analysis. Results Clinical psychologists regularly facilitate reflective staff groups in inpatient psychiatric settings in the UK. Common outcomes related to staff wellbeing, service culture and teamwork. Engagement, group dynamics and lack of management support were common challenges. Group experiences were influenced by the organizational context. Conclusions Clinical psychologists' practices regarding reflective staff groups were in line with recent professional developments. Several difficulties were described, which may be indicative of both a difficulty inherent to the task and a training gap in reflective staff group process. The study had methodological limitations but offers a useful contribution to the literature, and enables practice and training implications to be drawn. The need for further research exploring facilitator characteristics, views of group participants and the impact of reflective staff groups on patients is indicated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message The term 'reflective practice group' encompasses a range of practices, but a typical group structure was found with common aims, outcomes and challenges., Reflective staff groups are regularly facilitated by clinical psychologists in inpatient psychiatric settings in the UK and are influenced by practitioner experience as well as psychodynamic, systemic and group process theories., The safety required for reflective groups to function is influenced by the organizational context, and groups can contribute to shifts in culture toward including psychosocial perspectives., Reflective staff groups represent one type of contribution to an inpatient psychiatric service and team relationships; other processes to encourage alternative professional perspectives and values might also support change., More research is recommended to explore facilitator characteristics, the views of staff teams on reflective staff groups and the impact of these groups on patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS; sometimes known as myalgic encephalomyelitis). However, only a minority of patients fully recover after CBT; thus, methods for improving treatment outcomes are required. This pilot study concerned a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention adapted for people with CFS who were still experiencing excessive fatigue after CBT. The study aimed to investigate the acceptability of this new intervention and the feasibility of conducting a larger-scale randomized trial in the future. Preliminary efficacy analyses were also undertaken. Participants were randomly allocated to MBCT or waiting list. Sixteen MBCT participants and 19 waiting-list participants completed the study, with the intervention being delivered in two separate groups. Acceptability, engagement and participant-rated helpfulness of the intervention were high. Analysis of covariance controlling for pre-treatment scores indicated that, at post-treatment, MBCT participants reported lower levels of fatigue (the primary clinical outcome) than the waiting-list group. Similarly, there were significant group differences in fatigue at 2-month follow-up, and when the MBCT group was followed up to 6 months post-treatment, these improvements were maintained. The MBCT group also had superior outcomes on measures of impairment, depressed mood, catastrophic thinking about fatigue, all-or-nothing behavioural responses, unhelpful beliefs about emotions, mindfulness and self-compassion. In conclusion, MBCT is a promising and acceptable additional intervention for people still experiencing excessive fatigue after CBT for CFS, which should be investigated in a larger randomized controlled trial. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Only about 30% of people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) recover after cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT); thus, methods for improving treatment outcomes are needed., This is the first pilot randomized study to demonstrate that a mindfulness-based intervention was associated with reduced fatigue and other benefits for people with CFS who were still experiencing excessive fatigue after a course of CBT. Levels of acceptability, engagement in the intervention and rated helpfulness were high., A larger-scale randomized controlled trial is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous negative mental images have been extensively researched due to the crucial role they play in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. However, people can also experience spontaneous positive mental images, and these are little understood. Positive images may play a role in promoting healthy positive mood and may be lacking in conditions such as depression. However, they may also occur in problematic states of elevated mood, such as in bipolar disorder. Can we apply an understanding of spontaneous imagery gained by the study of spontaneous negative images to spontaneous positive images? In an analogue of the trauma film studies, 69 volunteers viewed an explicitly positive (rather than traumatic) film. Participants were randomly allocated post-film either to perform a visuospatial task (the computer game 'Tetris') or to a no-task control condition. Viewing the film enhanced positive mood and immediately post-film increased goal setting on a questionnaire measure. The film was successful in generating involuntary memories of specific scenes over the following week. As predicted, compared with the control condition, participants in the visuospatial task condition reported significantly fewer involuntary memories from the film in a diary over the subsequent week. Furthermore, scores on a recognition memory test at 1 week indicated an impairment in voluntary recall of the film in the visuospatial task condition. Clinical implications regarding the modulation of positive imagery after a positive emotional experience are discussed. Generally, boosting positive imagery may be a useful strategy for the recovery of depressed mood. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message After a positive film, volunteers can experience involuntary 'pop-out' memories of that film over the subsequent week., Performing a visuospatial task (the computer game Tetris) immediately after the positive film reduces spontaneous image memories and also impairs voluntary memory for details of the film., Understanding the mechanisms underlying positive spontaneous imagery may offer insights for treatment innovation both for those conditions characterized by a deficit in positive imagery, such as depression, and for those characterized by a proliferation of positive imagery, such as mania., Furthermore, this may suggest that the routine everyday tasks we engage in after a positive emotional event could have a significant impact on our memories of positive experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested, with a sample of United Kingdom (UK) trainee clinical psychologists, part of an existing model of factors that influence clinical psychologists' levels of research activity, in which gender identity is hypothesized to influence research self-efficacy and this in turn strength of intention to do research. A sample of 121 trainee clinical psychologists (56 men and 65 women) completed a measure of gender identity, research intention, and a research self-efficacy scale. Results indicated no differences in levels of research intention or research self-efficacy between the biological sexes or according to category-based gender identities (masculine and feminine). However, masculinity as a scale quantity was statistically significantly related to stronger research intention, preference for conducting quantitative research and research self-efficacy. Multiple regression analysis provided evidence that research self-efficacy may mediate between masculinity and strength of research intention. Research self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of intention to do research in the future. Findings have relevance for clinical psychology training as research activity directly impacts upon advances in the discipline of clinical psychology, implementation of research into practice, and evaluation of psychological therapies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: • Clinical psychologists' research activity is important for the advancement of the clinical psychology profession but relatively few clinical psychologists appear to engage in research activity. • In a national sample of male and female UK trainee clinical psychologists, trainees' research self-efficacy was strongly positively correlated with intention to do research in the future. • Scores on a measure of masculinity also predicted research intention, and research self-efficacy mediated the relationship between masculinity and intention. • Clinical psychology training courses might seek to increase trainees' research self-efficacy by exploring factors hypothesized to enhance the research training environment and that have predicted greater practitioner research activity in previous literature. • Because research activity tends to be seen as stereotypically a more male activity, it may also be worth challenging or encouraging trainees to reflect on stereotypical views of gender and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]