Negative effects in psychotherapy : Current understanding and future research directions

• Introduction: Psychotherapy can help alleviate mental distress and improve quality of life, but little is known about the potential negative effects of psychotherapy and how to determine their frequency and characteristics. Meanwhile, many researchers and clinicians are unfamiliar to the idea of patients faring worse or experiencing adverse and unwanted events during treatment. The present report thus intends to provide an overview of the current understanding and future research directions of negative effects in psychotherapy. Method: An anonymous survey was distributed to a selection of highly renowned researchers, using an analytical framework known as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). Results: The researchers recognize an increased awareness of negative effects in psychotherapy in recent years, but also describe many issues related to their definition, assessment, and reporting, e.g., the lack of a clear and coherent terminology. Both qualitative methods and naturalistic designs are regarded as important to find out what negative effects exist and how to prevent them, although a number of methodological obstacles associated with such methods are identified and need to be resolved. Discussion: Negative effects of psychotherapy are multifaceted, warranting careful considerations in order to be monitored and reported in both routine care and research settings.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

negative effects

psychotherapy

deterioration

adverse

unwanted

SWOT

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)