13th June 2023 Newsletter
Psychology Tools
Published
13 Jun 2023
This week we published two new Spanish translations from our Understanding... series of guides: Understanding Burnout and Understanding Depersonalization and Derealization.
In our research roundup, we cover a paper looking at the development of a protocol for treating eating disorders in the presence of other mental health conditions. We also highlight a paper by Katherine Rimes and colleagues which proposes a refined CBT model of low self-esteem, building on Melanie Fennell's seminal work.
New Spanish Translations
Understanding Burnout
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Understanding Burnout is designed to help clients suffering from burnout understand more about their condition.
Understanding Depersonalization and Derealization
It is thought that 1 or 2 people in every 100 will experience depersonalization-derealization (DPDR) disorder, and people often suffer with the symptoms for a long time before seeking help. This guide helps your clients by explaining what DPDR disorder is, why it may not get better by itself, and the different evidence-based treatment options.
Latest Research
Addressing Comorbidities in Eating Disorders
People with eating disorders often struggle with other difficulties, including anxiety and depression. However, it isn’t always clear how therapists should go about addressing these comorbidities. Should they focus on the client’s eating difficulties, address each problem in turn, or integrate multiple interventions? The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed in this practice-focused article, alongside different ways of delivering therapy for complex eating disorders (e.g., ‘modular’ versus ‘transdiagnostic’ treatments). Most helpfully, the authors present a protocol for managing comorbidities that draws on individualized formulations and the use of session-by-session measures.
Wade, T. D., Shafran, R., & Cooper, Z. (2023). Developing a protocol to address co-occurring mental health conditions in the treatment of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 1– 9.
Low Self-Esteem: A Refined CBT Model
Despite being over 25 years old, Melanie Fennell’s model of low self-esteem continues to be one of the most popular and widely applicable formulations in CBT. However, subsequent research suggests that refinements to the model might be needed. Fortunately, Katherine Rimes and colleagues provide many excellent suggestions in this paper. In particular, the authors recommend that therapists consider the roles of interpersonal, social, and cultural contexts when formulating low self-esteem, including the impact of early trauma and clients’ socially devalued characteristics.
We have proposed a refined version which includes more focus on interpersonal, social and cultural factors. Our model also highlights mechanisms that were not prominent in Fennell’s model such as the distinction between different types of key core beliefs (personal adequacy and social connections; self and other-related), different types of unhelpful behavioural responses, and the potential negative impact on one’s competence and social connections that can result from such behaviours.
Rimes, K., Smith, P., & Bridge, L. (2023). Low self-esteem: A refined cognitive behavioural model. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 1-16.
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