Clinical psychology and behavior therapy - Between rise and erosion

Journal/Book: Verhaltenstherapie. 1996; 6: Allschwilerstrasse 10, CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland. Karger. 170-177.

Abstract: This paper discusses progress and erosion aspects of clinical psychology and behavior therapy in Germany from three inter-related perspectives: (a) the relationship of behavior therapy and clinical psychology to other basic and applied psychological disciplines as well as neighboring disciplines, (b) the transfer problems from the scientific fields to practice, and (c) the problem of quality assurance in practice and postgraduate education. Specific emphasis is laid on a discussion of the field of behavioral medicine, as an example for well-integrated and coordinated research and practice activities; health psychology as an example for deficient communication patterns with clinical psychology and behavior therapy, and psychotherapy as an example for erosion in research, education and practice. The paper strongly recommends a more dominant steering role of clinical psychology as the most comprehensive scientific discipline. This steering role, however, would also require a considerably expanded infrastructure of clinical psychology departments in universities together with several mechanisms (competence enhancement, consensus conferences, development of postgraduate education guidelines, quality assurance activities, coordination) to be able to fulfill this mission. The paper also suggests the more frequent use of standardized treatment manuals in postgraduate courses.

Note: Editorial HU Wittchen, Max Planck Inst Psychiat, Klin Inst, Ag Klin Psychol, Kraepelinstr 2, D-80804 Munich, Germany

Keyword(s): clinical psychology and behavior therapy; research and practice relationship; diagnostics and intervention; public health; quality assurance

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