Reestablishing clinical psychology's subjective core.

Comments on the report by the APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice (see record 2006-05893-001) entitled Evidence-based practice in psychology. The Task Force is to be commended for their report valuing evidence from "clinical expertise" on a par with "research data" (p. 272) in guiding psychological practices. The current author suggests that the APA not only should make a place at psychology's policymaking table for "clinical expertise" but should prioritize clinical and subjective sources of data--the essence of the psychological--and set policies to ensure that objective data, such as behaviors and DSM diagnoses, are considered in their subjective context. The APA should also encourage researchers to devise ways to preserve as much as possible the personal "feel" of the clinical encounter in their data analysis and published conclusions. The APA also needs to assign priority to subjective emotional and relational skills on a par with academic and analytic skills in the selection and training of clinical psychology students. Reconnecting clinical psychology with its subjective evidentiary roots in ways such as these should help to bring us out from under the dominance of medicine, to the benefit of our profession and our clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Supplement to listing of APA-accredited doctoral and predoctoral internship training programs in psychology": Clarification.

Reports an error in the American Psychologist, 1994[Jul], Vol 49[7], 671. The supplement noted the phasing out of the accredited program in clinical psychology at Yeshiva University. However, this notice referred only to Yeshiva's clinical PhD program, not to its clinical PsyD program. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1994-42940-001.) Reports the changes announced by the American Psychological Association (APA) Committee on Accreditation in the list of APA-accredited doctoral programs in professional psychology and predoctoral internships for doctoral training in psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Schneider's reply to Albee.

Responds to S. F. Schneider's (see record 1972-21036-001) reply to G. W. Albee's (see record 1971-08263-001) article on clinical psychology as a profession. Albee's provocation may be useful, since intergroup conflict in clinical psychology might produce constructive changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Resurrecting the dodo: Prospects for a national clinical psychology programme accreditation system.

Comments on J. B. Conway's (see record 1985-10567-001) history of clinical psychology in Canada. The need for a national resurrection of clinical psychology and accreditation of doctoral-level training programs is examined, along with suggestions for expanding the nature of the curriculum in clinical training. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA membership trends and fields of specialization of psychologists earning doctoral degrees between 1959 and 1962.

"This report describes general trends in APA affiliation for 1959-62 doctoral degree recipients in various psychological specialties. A total of 3285 individuals reported earning doctorates in psychology during that time (1959-1962), and NAS-NRC estimates that these data include more than 99% of potential Ss. Psychology appears to be headed toward a production of around 1000 doctorates/year with something less than 200 of these being women. Other consistent trends appear to be a steady increase in clinicians, the emergence of personality psychology as a specialty, and the gradual disappearance of psychologists who label themselves 'general' or 'other' at the time the doctoral degree is granted. APA eventually attracts close to 90% of everyone who achieves a doctoral degree in psychology." The clinical group is largest with an above average proportion of APA members; the experimental group (including comparative and physiological) has a somewhat lower than average proportion of APA members. There is a trend away from predoctoral affiliation with APA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes of academic clinical psychologists toward projective techniques: 1968–1983.

Replicated a survey by the 3rd author et al (see record 1968-18843-001) concerning the attitudes of academic clinical faculty toward projective techniques. The questionnaire was completed by 153 faculty in American Psychological Association (APA)-approved programs in clinical psychology. As was found in the 1968 survey, many Ss supported instruction in projectives, but they held generally negative attitudes toward projectives. More of the 1983 Ss than the 1968 Ss expressed negative attitudes toward specific projectives such as the Rorschach. Negative attitudes toward projectives were particularly prominent among the younger Ss in the 1983 survey. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On "Salvation and its vicissitudes."

Comments on an article on clinical psychology and political values in which B. Beit-Hallahmi (see record 1974-25754-001) challenges the assumptions of clinical psychology. Kahoe questions how the definition of the psychologist would be changed by a shift in focus to social systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Zookology, counseling psychology, and clinical psychology.

Responds to the comments of A. Zook (see record 1987-20037-001) on the present author's (see record 1986-12878-001) work on the merging of clinical and counseling psychology, suggesting that a training base in remedial, educational/developmental, and preventive functions is important regardless of whether one is a clinical or counseling psychologist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The accuracy of clinical versus computerized test interpretations.

Suggests that J. D. Matarazzo's (see record 1986-19878-001) arguments related to the accuracy of clinical vs computerized test reports are inconsistent with the available research on clinical vs mechanical or statistical methods of prediction and interpretation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Problems and pseudo-problems.

Comments on J. B. Conway's (see record 1985-10567-001) history of clinical psychology in Canada. Alternative views of the fundamental problems facing Canadian clinical psychology are presented, and the basic problem is seen as being whether clinical psychology achieves its potential for advancing human welfare. Implications for training curricula and accreditation are noted. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computerized interpretation: Additional issues concerning ethics, standards, and regulation of practice.

Extends J. D. Matarazzo's (see record 1986-19878-001) discussion of computerized clinical psychological testing by discussing legal and licensing considerations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Data models, practical realities, and conceptual maps in clinical database design.

Comments on M. H. Burge's (see record 1993-03165-001) alternate model in response to the article by D. M. Todd et al (see record 1992-25001-001) on database management in clinical practice. Todd welcomes this suggestion and discusses reasons why a naturalistic clinical database cannot always satisfy the requirements of elegant data models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Minority curricula or a curriculum of cultural diversity? Differences that make a difference.

Suggests that the article by M. E. Bernal and A. M. Padilla (see record 1983-06520-001) is a useful reminder of the discrepancy between the American Psychological Association's (APA's) commitment to training clinical psychologists sensitive to the entire range of human diversity and the way in which clinical programs are structured and accredited. The present authors emphasize that a genuine commitment to cultural diversity is essential if training programs are to fulfill the long-range goals of the APA. An attempt is made to reframe the task from one limited to dealing with minority psychology to one that addresses the broader issues of cultural diversity. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multiculturalism: Questions, Not Answers.

A reply by Richard B. Stuart regarding the comment by Stolle, Hutz, and Sommers-Flanagan (see record 2005-13212-019). The American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines on multiculturalism (APA, 2002b) exhort psychologists to recognize and control their personal biases and to strive to "apply culturally appropriate skills in clinical and other applied psychological practices" (p. 3). My article (see record 2004-10365-001) offered 12 suggestions aimed at helping psychologists follow these mandates. It was motivated by the fear that some well-intended attempts to appreciate diversity could inadvertently contribute to the very insensitivity they were intended to prevent. It is my view that group influences are extremely important in shaping individual identity, but the effect of culture on a given individual cannot be verified without consulting that person directly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Clinical psychology training in Canada: Its development, current status, and the prospects for accreditation": Comment.

Commends John Conway for his careful record of clinical training, analysis for accreditation and particularly for his caveats concerning the wisdom of respecting regional diversity in generating and applying criteria for clinical psychology training in Canada (see record 1985-10567-001). The present author presents some caveats of his own. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A (less) bolder title for the (even) bolder model.

Suggests that the term metaphysician was used incorrectly in W. O'Donohue's (see record 1990-10367-001) article integrating metaphysics into the more traditional scientist-practitioner role of the clinical psychologist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diversity for Clinical Training Programs.

Comments on the L. H. Levy article (see record 1963-04084-001) which discusses publication statistics among a group of 781 clinical psychologists. Levy's finding that that close to 30% of the 1948-53 graduates of studied clinical psychology programs have yet to publish suggested to Levy that a redefinition of clinical psychology is in order. The definition ostensibly accepted by Levy is one selected from a report in 1947 of the APA Committee on Training in Clinical Psychology, i.e., a clinical psychologist is a "research-oriented professional person." Interpretations of this thesis are discussed, and it is noted that there is a strategy which might be implied in Levy's article, and which is clearly championed by many faculty members of training universities. This is the basic research strategy. In essence, it is proposed that university psychology departments should contribute to the mental health field only by doing research and by training researchers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Witmer on comparative psychology.

Comments on P. McReynolds's (see record 1988-03153-001) discussion of L. Witmer's role in clinical psychology, noting that Witmer (1909, 1910) also made contributions to comparative psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Religiosity and spirituality among psychologists: A survey of clinician members of the American Psychological Association.

Has the disparity in religiosity between clinicians and the general public decreased in recent years? Clinician members of the American Psychological Association (APA) were surveyed regarding their religion and spirituality. The survey was sent to 489 randomly selected members of APA, of whom 258 (53%) replied. Items were drawn from prior surveys to allow this APA sample to be compared with the general U.S. population and with an earlier survey of psychotherapists by A. E. Bergin and J. P. Jensen (see record 1990-18246-001). Although no less religious than A. E. Bergin and J. P. Jensen's (1990) sample, psychologists remained far less religious than the clients they serve. The vast majority, however, regarded religion as beneficial (82%) rather than harmful (7%) to mental health. Implications for clinical practice and training are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)