Testing Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Skills Among Psychiatric Residents: The Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Competency Test

Abstract

This initial study supports the validity of the Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Competency Test as well as the feasibility of testing psychotherapy skills in a standardized fashion.

The coming changes in psychoanalytic education: Part II

“…Psychoanalytic psychotherapy has evolved signifi cantly from its origin in (mostly) American ego-psychology and the depth psychological approach in Germany into a specifi c modality of a psychoanalytically derived therapeutic method indicated in the treatment of severely disturbed patients for whom standard psychoanalysis would be contraindicated or not tolerated as well or for application to still further modifi ed treatment settings, such as couple and group psychotherapy. All these modalities of treatments are being widely applied presently, in a questionable, diluted form, while the basic theory and technique of psychoanalytic psychotherapy proper has advanced and has been supported by empirical evidence (Clarkin et al, 2006;Fonagy, 2002;Mullen et al, 2004).…”

“…Once again, it could be argued that, while a psychoanalytic knowledge base would not be too diffi cult to develop, and even be operationalized in the form of instruments that could objectify the acquisition of this knowledge, this would be much more diffi cult for technical skills, and perhaps impossible at this time for a psychoanalytic attitude. There is evidence, however, (Mullen et al, 2004), of valid and reliable evaluation of technical skills in psychoanalytic psychotherapy by means of presenting specifi c case material that might stimulate alternative technical interventions against which the skills of an applicant can be tested. This is a promising beginning for a potential methodology to evaluate psychoanalytic expertise and technical skill.…”

Guest Editor's Introduction

“…The authors also call for greater coherence in teaching psychodynamic psychotherapy competency, and for better outcome measures. However, I would note that the use of the Columbia University "test" for competence in psychodynamic psychotherapy is on the rise among programs (Mullen et al, 2004). In addition, the past few years have seen the publication of several excellent new textbooks describing the practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy (Cabaniss et al, 2010;Caligor, Kernberg, & Clarkin, 2007;Gabbard, 2010;Summers & Barber, 2009).…”

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Cognitive Therapy Awareness Scale: A scale to measure competencies in cognitive therapy

“…Among these, multiple‐choice questionnaires are universally used for in‐training examinations and for initial certification. In the field of psychodynamic psychotherapy, the Columbia Psychodynamic Competency Psychotherapy Test has been widely used for competency assessment 12 . In the field of CBT, the Cognitive Therapy Awareness Scale (CTAS) has been proposed as a method of assessing CBT knowledge 11 …”

“…In the field of psychodynamic psychotherapy, the Columbia Psychodynamic Competency Psychotherapy Test has been widely used for competency assessment. 12 In the field of CBT, the Cognitive Therapy Awareness Scale (CTAS) has been proposed as a method of assessing CBT knowledge. 11 The CTAS is a self-rating questionnaire which measures basic knowledge of cognitive therapy concepts and methodology.…”