Unit 4:  Research in Unit 4:  Research in Clinical Psychology - Clinical Psychology - Seminar   Seminar   

Tonight the Seminar Discussion is Tonight the Seminar Discussion is based on information in part; based on information in part; from the research article, from the research article, �Genes matter in addiction.�Genes matter in addiction.

Genes matter in Genes matter in addiction…addiction… From the required readingFrom the required readingPrice, M. (2008). Genes matter in addictionPrice, M. (2008). Genes matter in addiction.  Monitor on .  Monitor on

PsychologyPsychology, 39, p. 14.   Retrieved July 20, 2008, from, 39, p. 14.   Retrieved July 20, 2008, fromhttp://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/06/genes-addict.htmlhttp://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/06/genes-addict.html

It reads “It reads “At least half of a person's susceptibility At least half of a person's susceptibility to drug addiction can be linked to genetic to drug addiction can be linked to genetic factorsfactors.”.”

““When it comes to tobacco, genetics account for about When it comes to tobacco, genetics account for about 75 percent of a person's inclination to begin smoking, 75 percent of a person's inclination to begin smoking, said University of Pennsylvania psychologist Caryn said University of Pennsylvania psychologist Caryn Lerman, PhD. Genes also account for 60 percent of the Lerman, PhD. Genes also account for 60 percent of the tendency to become addicted and 54 percent of one's tendency to become addicted and 54 percent of one's ability to quit.” (Price,2008)ability to quit.” (Price,2008)

Genes That Drive You To Genes That Drive You To Drink (But Don't Make Drink (But Don't Make You An Alcoholic)You An Alcoholic) October 29, 2009 — Your genetic make up October 29, 2009 — Your genetic make up

may predispose you to drink more but may may predispose you to drink more but may not increase your genetic risk for alcoholism. not increase your genetic risk for alcoholism. New research pinpoints genetic pathways New research pinpoints genetic pathways and genes associated with levels of alcohol ... and genes associated with levels of alcohol ... > > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026192900.htm /10/091026192900.htm

Does genetic make up also affect Does genetic make up also affect our desire to drink alcohol not our desire to drink alcohol not merely become an alcoholic?merely become an alcoholic?

Addiction; Nature Addiction; Nature versus Nurtureversus Nurture What are the new research What are the new research

findings about the ways findings about the ways addiction is based on nature addiction is based on nature (genetics) vs. nurture (genetics) vs. nurture (environment & experiences)?(environment & experiences)?

What impact do your genes What impact do your genes have on your behavior?have on your behavior?

ImplicationsImplications

What implications does this What implications does this new information have for your new information have for your work as a psychologist or work as a psychologist or counselor?  counselor? 

Leapfrogging…Leapfrogging…

Since the research in this area Since the research in this area is leapfrogging ahead now, is leapfrogging ahead now, how will you keep up to date how will you keep up to date about the evolving research about the evolving research findings that could affect your findings that could affect your work?work?

Ethical IssuesEthical Issues

What ethical issues would you What ethical issues would you be concerned about in be concerned about in conducting research of this conducting research of this kind? kind? 

In our Discussion BoardIn our Discussion Board

We discussed how executive We discussed how executive functioning of the teenage brain functioning of the teenage brain has been affected by the limits of has been affected by the limits of the brain development of their the brain development of their frontal cortex.frontal cortex.

We also discussed the We also discussed the implications of this on behavior implications of this on behavior outcomes.outcomes.

In our Reading this weekIn our Reading this week

We read chapter  6: "Conducting We read chapter  6: "Conducting Research in Clinical Psychology" Research in Clinical Psychology" and chapter 11: "General Issues and chapter 11: "General Issues in Psychotherapy" in our in Psychotherapy" in our textbook, textbook, Clinical psychology: Clinical psychology: Science, practice and cultureScience, practice and culture.  . 

Addiction analysisAddiction analysis

In your own words describe what In your own words describe what addiction is. Is it the same for addiction is. Is it the same for everyone?everyone?

One time drugs..One time drugs..

Can one time drug use affect a Can one time drug use affect a teenage brain for the rest of their teenage brain for the rest of their lives?lives?

Teen InterventionsTeen Interventions

What therapeutic interventions What therapeutic interventions might be effective for dealing might be effective for dealing with teenage addictions?with teenage addictions?

Gene InterventionsGene Interventions

In studying the correlation between genes and addiction In studying the correlation between genes and addiction they are looking for SNPs (single nucleotide they are looking for SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) these are used to flag gene sequences. polymorphisms) these are used to flag gene sequences. Researchers have found hotspot on chromosome 11, which Researchers have found hotspot on chromosome 11, which the team were able to track down to a gene called the team were able to track down to a gene called PKNOX2. This gene appears to regulate genes linked to PKNOX2. This gene appears to regulate genes linked to addiction. It appears the gene may play a role in the addiction. It appears the gene may play a role in the general behavior of addictive tendencies.general behavior of addictive tendencies.

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/1806/http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/1806/

If found to be true what affect does If found to be true what affect does this have on your role as a Clinical this have on your role as a Clinical Psychologist?Psychologist?

Psychological Psychological ResearchResearch

Of the psychological research Of the psychological research studies of which you are studies of which you are aware, which studies do think aware, which studies do think have most greatly contributed have most greatly contributed to the development of the to the development of the field? field?

An example might include Pavlov’s dog-An example might include Pavlov’s dog-based studies of classical conditioning.based studies of classical conditioning.

Internal vs External Internal vs External ValidityValidity

Do you think studies with greater Do you think studies with greater internal validity or greater external internal validity or greater external validity are ultimately more beneficial validity are ultimately more beneficial to clients who receive psychological to clients who receive psychological services? services?

How do research findings with high How do research findings with high internal validity benefit the field? internal validity benefit the field?

How do research findings with high How do research findings with high external validity benefit the field?external validity benefit the field?

Ethical Issues in Ethical Issues in Research in Clinical Research in Clinical PsychologyPsychology Numerous APA ethical standards specifically Numerous APA ethical standards specifically

address research:address research:– Obtain informed consentObtain informed consent– Don’t coerce participationDon’t coerce participation– Use deception only when justified and necessaryUse deception only when justified and necessary– Minimize harm to participantsMinimize harm to participants– Don’t fabricate or falsify dataDon’t fabricate or falsify data– Assign authorship appropriatelyAssign authorship appropriately– Share data with other researchers for Share data with other researchers for

verificationverification

Ethical Issues …Ethical Issues …

Do the APA’s Code of Ethics effectively Do the APA’s Code of Ethics effectively address all aspects of psychological address all aspects of psychological research? research?

Are there any improvements or additions Are there any improvements or additions that you feel are necessary to the code. that you feel are necessary to the code. If so, what are they? If so, what are they?

Are there any current standards of the Are there any current standards of the code relating to research that you feel are code relating to research that you feel are unnecessary? If so, what are they, and unnecessary? If so, what are they, and why are they unnecessary?why are they unnecessary?

Which Type of Which Type of Psychotherapy is Best?Psychotherapy is Best? Supporters of various kinds of Supporters of various kinds of

therapy have often claimed theirs is therapy have often claimed theirs is superiorsuperior

However, comparative outcome However, comparative outcome studies have consistently reached studies have consistently reached the same finding: a virtual tiethe same finding: a virtual tie– Different therapies are equally effectiveDifferent therapies are equally effective– This finding was nicknamed the “dodo This finding was nicknamed the “dodo

bird effect” (from bird effect” (from Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland))

Which Type of Which Type of Psychotherapy is Best? Psychotherapy is Best? (cont.)(cont.) How could various therapies be equally How could various therapies be equally

effective?effective?– Common factors—shared, fundamental Common factors—shared, fundamental

elements of therapy (rather than specific elements of therapy (rather than specific techniques) are “active ingredients”techniques) are “active ingredients”

Therapeutic relationship/allianceTherapeutic relationship/alliance HopeHope AttentionAttention

– Three step model of common factorsThree step model of common factors Support, learning, action factors (in that Support, learning, action factors (in that

sequence)sequence)

Which Type of Which Type of Psychotherapy is Psychotherapy is Best? (cont.)Best? (cont.)

– Some researchers argue that for specific Some researchers argue that for specific disorders, some therapies are demonstrably disorders, some therapies are demonstrably better (e.g., Dianne Chambless)better (e.g., Dianne Chambless)

– Outcome studies using manualized Outcome studies using manualized treatments for specific disorders can lead to treatments for specific disorders can lead to a prescriptive approach to psychotherapya prescriptive approach to psychotherapy

Certain therapies are “treatments of choice” for Certain therapies are “treatments of choice” for specific disorders specific disorders

– This controversy continues todayThis controversy continues today

The dodo bird verdict has not gone unchallenged (dodo bird) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo_bird_verdict

What Types of What Types of Psychotherapy Do Psychotherapy Do Clinical Psychologists Clinical Psychologists Practice?Practice?Why is it important to query multiple Why is it important to query multiple

sources when investigating the sources when investigating the effectiveness of psychotherapy? effectiveness of psychotherapy?

How might a client’s opinion suffer biases? How might a client’s opinion suffer biases?

How might a psychologist’s opinion suffer How might a psychologist’s opinion suffer biases? biases?

How might an outside party, such as a How might an outside party, such as a managed care company, suffer biases?managed care company, suffer biases?

Questions?Questions?