@article{WeckGrikscheitHoeflingetal.2016, author = {Weck, Florian and Grikscheit, Florian and H{\"o}fling, Volkmar and Kordt, Anne and Hamm, Alfons O. and Gerlach, Alexander L. and Alpers, Georg W. and Arolt, Volker and Kircher, Tilo and Pauli, Paul and Rief, Winfried and Lang, Thomas}, title = {The role of treatment delivery factors in exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia}, series = {Journal of anxiety disorders}, volume = {42}, journal = {Journal of anxiety disorders}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0887-6185}, doi = {10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.05.007}, pages = {10 -- 18}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Treatment delivery factors (i.e., therapist adherence, therapist competence, and therapeutic alliance) are considered to be important for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder and agoraphobia (PD/AG). In the current study, four independent raters conducted process evaluations based on 168 two-hour videotapes of 84 patients with PD/AG treated with exposure-based CBT. Two raters evaluated patients' interpersonal behavior in Session 1. Two raters evaluated treatment delivery factors in Session 6, in which therapists provided the rationale for conducting exposure exercises. At the 6-month follow-up, therapists' adherence (r = 0.54) and therapeutic alliance (r = 0.31) were significant predictors of changes in agoraphobic avoidance behavior; therapist competence was not associated with treatment outcomes. Patients' interpersonal behavior in Session 1 was a significant predictor of the therapeutic alliance in Session 6 (r = 0.17). The findings demonstrate that treatment delivery factors, particularly therapist adherence, are relevant to the long-term success of CBT for PD/AG.}, language = {en} } @article{JungaWitthoeftWeck2019, author = {Junga, Yvonne Marie and Witth{\"o}ft, Michael and Weck, Florian}, title = {Assessing therapist development: Reliability and validity of the Supervisee Levels Questionnaire (SLQ-R)}, series = {Journal of clinical psychology}, volume = {75}, journal = {Journal of clinical psychology}, number = {9}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0021-9762}, doi = {10.1002/jclp.22794}, pages = {1658 -- 1672}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{KuehneFauthDestinaSevdeetal.2021, author = {K{\"u}hne, Franziska and Fauth, Henriette and Destina Sevde, Ay-Bryson and Visser, Leonie N.C. and Weck, Florian}, title = {Communicating the diagnosis of cancer or depression: Results of a randomized controlled online study using video vignettes}, series = {Cancer Medicine}, volume = {10}, journal = {Cancer Medicine}, edition = {24}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken, New Jersey, USA}, issn = {2045-7634}, doi = {10.1002/cam4.4396}, pages = {9012 -- 9021}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Communicating a diagnosis is highly important, yet complex, especially in the context of cancer and mental disorders. The aim was to explore the communication style of an oncologist vs. psychotherapist in an online study. Methods Patients (N = 136: 65 cancer, 71 depression) were randomly assigned to watch a standardized video vignette with one of two communication styles (empathic vs. unempathic). Outcome measures of affectivity, information recall, communication skills, empathy and trust were applied. Results Regardless of diagnosis, empathic communication was associated with the perception of a significantly more empathic (p < 0.001, η2partial = 0.08) and trustworthy practitioner (p = 0.014, η2partial = 0.04) with better communication skills (p = 0.013, η2partial = 0.05). Cancer patients reported a larger decrease in positive affect (p < 0.001, η2partial = 0.15) and a larger increase in negative affect (p < 0.001, η2partial = 0.14) from pre- to post-video than depressive patients. Highly relevant information was recalled better in both groups (p < 0.001, d = 0.61-1.06). Conclusions The results highlight the importance of empathy while communicating both a diagnosis of cancer and a mental disorder. Further research should focus on the communication of a mental disorder in association with cancer.}, language = {en} } @misc{GropalisBailerWecketal.2018, author = {Gropalis, Maria and Bailer, Josef and Weck, Florian and Witth{\"o}ft, Michael}, title = {Optimierung von Expositionstherapie bei pathologischen Krankheits{\"a}ngsten}, series = {Psychotherapeut}, volume = {63}, journal = {Psychotherapeut}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0935-6185}, doi = {10.1007/s00278-018-0285-1}, pages = {188 -- 193}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Pathologische Krankheits{\"a}ngste wurden bislang nach ICD und DSM prim{\"a}r als somatoforme St{\"o}rung bzw. als somatische Belastungsst{\"o}rung klassifiziert. Theoretische Erw{\"a}gungen und empirische Befunde legen jedoch nahe, dass es sich bei pathologischen Krankheits{\"a}ngsten eigentlich um eine Angstst{\"o}rung handelt. Innerhalb des vorliegenden Beitrags wird daf{\"u}r argumentiert, dass Defizite in der aktuellen Behandlungspraxis und in der Wahrnehmung von Patienten mit Hypochondrie als „schwierige Patienten" teilweise auf Unklarheit in der Nosologie sowie bez{\"u}glich der entscheidenden Mechanismen der Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren sind. Ausgehend von innovativen theoretischen Ans{\"a}tzen zur Erkl{\"a}rung pathologischer Krankheits{\"a}ngste werden Vorschl{\"a}ge f{\"u}r eine verbesserte therapeutische Praxis skizziert. Der Fokus liegt hierbei auf einem verst{\"a}rken Einsatz expositionsbasierter Behandlungselemente, die sich am „Inhibitory-learning"-Ansatz orientieren und sich bei anderen Angstst{\"o}rungen bereits bew{\"a}hrt haben.}, language = {en} } @misc{Weck2021, author = {Weck, Florian}, title = {Ein praxisnaher Leitfaden zur kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutischen Behandlung von Auftritts{\"a}ngsten bei Musikerinnen und Musikern}, series = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie}, volume = {50}, journal = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie}, number = {1}, publisher = {Hogrefe}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, isbn = {978-3-8017-2988-2}, issn = {1616-3443}, doi = {10.1026/1616-3443/a000615}, pages = {46 -- 47}, year = {2021}, language = {de} } @article{AyBrysonWeckKuehne2022, author = {Ay-Bryson, Destina Sevde and Weck, Florian and K{\"u}hne, Franziska}, title = {Can simulated patient encounters appear authentic?}, series = {Training and education in professional psychology}, volume = {16}, journal = {Training and education in professional psychology}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Psychological Association}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1931-3918}, doi = {10.1037/tep0000349}, pages = {20 -- 27}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Public Significance Statement This study demonstrates that simulated patients (SPs) can authentically portray a depressive case. The results provide preliminary evidence of psychometrically sound properties of the rating scale that contributes to distinguishing between authentic and unauthentic SPs and may thus foster SPs' dissemination into evidence-based training.
For training purposes, simulated patients (SPs), that is, healthy people portraying a disorder, are disseminating more into clinical psychology and psychotherapy. In the current study, we developed an observer-based rating instrument for the evaluation of SP authenticity-namely, it not being possible to distinguish them from real patients-so as to foster their use in evidence-based training. We applied a multistep inductive approach to develop the Authenticity of Patient Demonstrations (APD) scale. Ninety-seven independent psychotherapy trainees, 77.32\% female, mean age of 31.49 (SD = 5.17) years, evaluated the authenticity of 2 independent SPs, each of whom portrayed a depressive patient. The APD demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .83) and a strong correlation (r = .82) with an established tool for assessing SP performance in medical contexts. The APD scale distinguished significantly between an authentic and unauthentic SP (d = 2.35). Preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of the APD indicates that the APD could be a viable tool for recruiting, training, and evaluating the authenticity of SPs. Strengths, limitations, and future directions are also discussed in detail.}, language = {en} } @article{RichtbergJakobHoeflingetal.2016, author = {Richtberg, Samantha and Jakob, Marion and Hoefling, Volkmar and Weck, Florian}, title = {Patient Characteristics and Patient Behavior as Predictors of Outcome in Cognitive Therapy and Exposure Therapy for Hypochondriasis}, series = {Journal of clinical psychology}, volume = {73}, journal = {Journal of clinical psychology}, number = {6}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0021-9762}, doi = {10.1002/jclp.22356}, pages = {612 -- 625}, year = {2016}, abstract = {ObjectivePsychotherapy for hypochondriasis has greatly improved over the last decades and cognitive-behavioral treatments are most promising. However, research on predictors of treatment outcome for hypochondriasis is rare. Possible predictors of treatment outcome in cognitive therapy (CT) and exposure therapy (ET) for hypochondriasis were investigated. MethodCharacteristics and behaviors of 75 patients were considered as possible predictors: sociodemographic variables (sex, age, and cohabitation); psychopathology (pretreatment hypochondriacal symptoms, comorbid mental disorders, and levels of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms); and patient in-session interpersonal behavior. ResultsSeverity of pretreatment hypochondriacal symptoms, comorbid mental disorders, and patient in-session interpersonal behavior were significant predictors in multiple hierarchical regression analyses. Interactions between the predictors and the treatment (CT or ET) were not found. ConclusionsIn-session interpersonal behavior is an important predictor of outcome. Furthermore, there are no specific contraindications to treating hypochondriasis with CT or ET.}, language = {en} } @article{WeckKaufmannWitthoeft2017, author = {Weck, Florian and Kaufmann, Yvonne Marie and Witth{\"o}ft, Michael}, title = {Topics and techniques in clinical supervision in psychotherapy training}, series = {Cognitive Behaviour Therapist}, volume = {10}, journal = {Cognitive Behaviour Therapist}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1754-470X}, doi = {10.1017/S1754470X17000046}, pages = {17}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Clinical supervision is regarded as one of the most important components of psychotherapy training. In clinical practice, it has been found that the implementation of clinical supervision varies substantially and often differs from the recommendations made in the literature. The objective of the current study was to investigate the frequency of topics (e.g. ethical issues) and techniques (e.g. role play) in the clinical supervision of psychotherapy trainees in Germany. To this end, we considered supervisions in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy (PT). A total of 791 psychotherapy trainees (533 CBT and 242 PT) were asked via the internet to provide information about their current supervision sessions. We found that clinical supervision in psychotherapy training addressed topics that are central for the effective treatment of supervised patients (i.e. therapeutic interventions, therapeutic alliance, maintaining factors, and therapeutic goals). However, the most frequently used intervention in clinical supervision in psychotherapy training was case discussion. Rarely were techniques used that allowed the supervisor to give the supervisee feedback based on the supervisee's demonstrated competencies. For example, 46\% of the supervisors never used audiotapes or videotapes in the supervision. Differences between CBT and PT were rather small. Current practice regarding the techniques used in clinical supervision for psychotherapy trainees contradicts recommendations for active and feedback-oriented clinical supervision. Thus the potential of clinical supervision might not be fully used in clinical practice.}, language = {en} } @article{ProbstJakobKaufmannetal.2018, author = {Probst, Thomas and Jakob, Marion and Kaufmann, Yvonne Marie and M{\"u}ller-Neng, Julia M. B. and Bohus, Martin and Weck, Florian}, title = {Patients' and therapists' experiences of general change mechanisms during bug-in-the-eye and delayed video-based supervised cognitive-behavioral therapy}, series = {Journal of clinical psychology}, volume = {74}, journal = {Journal of clinical psychology}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0021-9762}, doi = {10.1002/jclp.22519}, pages = {509 -- 522}, year = {2018}, abstract = {ObjectiveThis secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial investigated whether bug-in-the-eye (BITE) supervision (live computer-based supervision during a psychotherapy session) affects the manner in which patients and therapists experience general change mechanisms (GCMs) during cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). MethodA total of 23 therapists were randomized either to the BITE condition or the control condition (delayed video-based [DVB] supervision). After each session, both patients (BITE: n=19; DVB: n=23) and therapists (BITE: n=11; DVB: n=12) completed the Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Bernese Post Session Report (BPSR). The HAQ total score and the 3 secondary factors of the BPSR (interpersonal experiences, intrapersonal experiences, problem actuation) functioned as GCMs. Multilevel models were performed. ResultsFor patients, GCMs did not develop differently between BITE and DVB during CBT. Therapists rated the alliance as well as interpersonal and intrapersonal experiences not significantly different between BITE and DVB during CBT, but they perceived problem actuation to increase significantly more in BITE than in DVB (p<.05). ConclusionBITE supervision might be helpful in encouraging CBT therapists to apply interventions, which focus on the activation of relevant problems and related emotions.}, language = {en} } @article{WeckNagelRichtbergetal.2017, author = {Weck, Florian and Nagel, Laura Carlotta and Richtberg, Samantha and Neng, Julia M. B.}, title = {Personality disorders in hypochondriasis}, series = {Journal of personality disorders}, volume = {31}, journal = {Journal of personality disorders}, publisher = {Guilford Press}, address = {New York}, issn = {0885-579X}, pages = {567 -- 576}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Previous studies found high prevalence rates of personality disorders (PDs) in patients with hypochondriasis; however, assessment was often based only on questionnaires. In the current study, a sample of 68 patients with hypochondriasis was compared to 31 patients with panic disorder and to 94 healthy controls. Participants were investigated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders questionnaire (SCID-II questionnaire) and the SCID-II interview. Based on the cut-off scores of the SCID-II questionnaire, we found a prevalence rate of 45.6\% for PD in patients with hypochondriasis. In comparison to healthy controls, patients with hypochondriasis showed characteristics of paranoid, borderline, avoid ant, and-dependent PDs in the dimensional assessment significantly more often. However, no significant differences were found between the clinical samples. Based on the SCID-II interview, only 2.9\% of the patients with hypochondriasis fulfilled the criteria for a PD. These results suggest that PDs are not a specific characteristic of hypochondriasis.}, language = {en} }