TY - JOUR A1 - Richtberg, Samantha A1 - Jakob, Marion A1 - Hoefling, Volkmar A1 - Weck, Florian T1 - Patient Characteristics and Patient Behavior as Predictors of Outcome in Cognitive Therapy and Exposure Therapy for Hypochondriasis JF - Journal of clinical psychology N2 - 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. KW - cognitive-behavioral therapy KW - hypochondriasis KW - illness anxiety disorder KW - interpersonal behavior KW - predictors of outcome Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22356 SN - 0021-9762 SN - 1097-4679 VL - 73 IS - 6 SP - 612 EP - 625 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Probst, Thomas A1 - Jakob, Marion A1 - Kaufmann, Yvonne Marie A1 - Müller-Neng, Julia M. B. A1 - Bohus, Martin A1 - Weck, Florian T1 - Patients’ and therapists’ experiences of general change mechanisms during bug-in-the-eye and delayed video-based supervised cognitive-behavioral therapy BT - a randomized controlled trial JF - Journal of clinical psychology N2 - 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. KW - alliance KW - general change mechanisms KW - live supervision KW - randomized controlled trial Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22519 SN - 0021-9762 SN - 1097-4679 VL - 74 IS - 4 SP - 509 EP - 522 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Solly, Emily F. A1 - Schöning, Ingo A1 - Boch, Steffen A1 - Kandeler, Ellen A1 - Marhan, Sven A1 - Michalzik, Beate A1 - Müller, Jörg A1 - Zscheischler, Jakob A1 - Trumbore, Susan E. A1 - Schrumpf, Marion T1 - Factors controlling decomposition rates of fine root litter in temperate forests and grasslands JF - Plant and soil N2 - Fine root decomposition contributes significantly to element cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, studies on root decomposition rates and on the factors that potentially influence them are fewer than those on leaf litter decomposition. To study the effects of region and land use intensity on fine root decomposition, we established a large scale study in three German regions with different climate regimes and soil properties. Methods In 150 forest and 150 grassland sites we deployed litterbags (100 mu m mesh size) with standardized litter consisting of fine roots from European beech in forests and from a lowland mesophilous hay meadow in grasslands. In the central study region, we compared decomposition rates of this standardized litter with root litter collected on-site to separate the effect of litter quality from environmental factors. Standardized herbaceous roots in grassland soils decomposed on average significantly faster (24 +/- 6 % mass loss after 12 months, mean +/- SD) than beech roots in forest soils (12 +/- 4 %; p < 0.001). Fine root decomposition varied among the three study regions. Land use intensity, in particular N addition, decreased fine root decomposition in grasslands. The initial lignin:N ratio explained 15 % of the variance in grasslands and 11 % in forests. Soil moisture, soil temperature, and C:N ratios of soils together explained 34 % of the variance of the fine root mass loss in grasslands, and 24 % in forests. Grasslands, which have higher fine root biomass and root turnover compared to forests, also have higher rates of root decomposition. Our results further show that at the regional scale fine root decomposition is influenced by environmental variables such as soil moisture, soil temperature and soil nutrient content. Additional variation is explained by root litter quality. KW - Fine roots KW - Decomposition KW - Land use intensity KW - Lignin: N ratio KW - Temperate ecosystems Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2151-4 SN - 0032-079X SN - 1573-5036 VL - 382 IS - 1-2 SP - 203 EP - 218 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER -