Stress Relief

Keeping Steady on Life’s River of Stress

Michael S. Scheeringa M.D.

2021 Year in Review of Trauma and PTSD Research

What’s new in trauma and PTSD research? If research is to be more than an exercise of confirmation bias to support belief systems, the wheat needs to be separated from the chaff.

The Psychological Pandemic That Never Was: Rx for Change

Did dozens of rushed-into-print studies get us close to the truth? The ninth, and last, post in my series on the poor quality of mental health research during the pandemic.

True or False: There Exists a Science Learning Disability

Is there another reason besides hype to explain why media and science journals get science wrong? Eighth in a series on poor quality mental health research during the pandemic.

Are Journal Editors Responsible for Poor Quality COVID-19 Research?

Some journal editors relaxed peer review of research during the pandemic, revealing some cracks in the resiliency of science journals to achieve their mission in times of crisis.

Can I Trust Psychological Research of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Strengths of the quality of psychological research have been overwhelmed by many weaknesses. The idea of a mental health pandemic seemed decided before it was studied.

2020 Year in Review of Trauma and PTSD Research

What’s new in trauma and PTSD research? If research is to be more than an exercise of confirmation bias to support belief systems, the wheat needs to be separated from the chaff.

COVID-19 and Patients With Preexisting Psychiatric Disorders

Still no evidence of a psychological tsunami. Some psychiatric patients are doing worse, some are doing better.

Mental Health Problems for Infected Survivors of COVID-19

Individuals who were infected and symptomatic often faced real risk of dying. Concerns of mental health problems are valid, but are probably being overestimated.

The Mental Health Crisis for Healthcare Workers Is Not So Clear

Are healthcare workers paying a price for their heroics in the form of a massive toll on their mental health?

Are Violence and Child Abuse Rising in COVID-19 Pandemic?

The scientific data fail to support a surge in domestic violence or child abuse despite alarming stories by media and doctors.

Criticism of COVID Psychological Tsunami: It May Be Inflated

There is little reliable research evidence of a COVID-19-caused mental health pandemic in the general population. Instead, there may be a pandemic of low-quality mental health research.

The Hype and the Truth About Measurement-Based Care

Voluntary implementation of measurement-based care has hit a wall. An alternative that seems to work better is involuntary implementation.

Four Ways Sufferers Contribute to Missed PTSD Diagnoses

Missing the diagnosis of PTSD is a common problem for clinicians. Patients and not-yet-patients can also contribute to the problem.

How Do I Find Mental Health Providers?

Types and tips: The types of mental health providers and tips on how the find the right kind for your particular needs.

PTSD, Play Therapy, and the Lack of Research

Confused about the right treatment for children with PTSD? Here is clarification about the research evidence and some confusing claims.

Is Play Therapy Appropriate for Children With PTSD?

6 reasons why play therapy may not be ideal for kids dealing with trauma.

Joker and Thank You for Your Service: Impact of Trauma

Does trauma change your essential personality? Two recent films present different views on the impact of trauma on character and morality.

PTSD Research Developments of 2019: Year in Review

What’s new in trauma and PTSD research? If research is to be more than an exercise of confirmation bias to support belief systems, the wheat needs to be separated from the chaff.

How Fast Can Automatic Negative Thoughts Change?

Clinic data show what percentages of psychotherapy patients can change in less than three months, between three and 12 months, and longer than 12 months

How Do I Change Negative Thoughts Related to PTSD?

Three steps to finding and changing automatic negative thoughts.

Does Psychotherapy With CBT Involve Homework?

Eight steps to good in vivo exposures for PTSD using structure and a systematic plan.

Exposure Therapy for PTSD: The Path Through Avoidance

Is exposure therapy the best treatment for PTSD?

When Is One Psychotherapy Better Than Another?

The tension between fidelity and flexibility: Is it manualized protocols or therapists that need to be flexible?

What Does a Good Therapist Do Every Day?

On the importance of structure in psychotherapy. How can you tell if your therapist is good?

How Can Psychotherapy Help Me Change?

Achieve insight into your unconscious, figure out your life path, sort through life challenges, or symptom reduction: What can you expect from therapy?

How Much Improvement Can I Expect from Psychotherapy?

Most, but not all, clients show major improvement. Predicting response based on severity, complexity, motivation, and cognitive capacity is the next step for therapy.

How to Measure Improvement in Psychotherapy: 5 Approaches

Each approach to measure reductions of problems has its pros and cons, but measuring all of them for every patient would be overwhelming. Or would it?

The Gospels of Private Practice and Resistance to Full CBT

Critics of CBT sermonize their gospels of private practice about why full CBT cannot or should not be done, yet we do it, and our data shows it works.

Is the Dominance of CBT-Lite Coming to an End?

The half-hearted use of CBT techniques has been the main way CBT is practiced in the community. A few payers are getting serious about trying to change that.

The Dark Pool of Psychotherapy

Therapists should be more transparent with caregivers about a child's treatment.

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