Objective Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), introduced by Albert Ellis in the late 1950s, is one of the main pillars of cognitive‐behavioral therapy. Existing reviews on REBT are overdue by 10 years or more. We aimed to summarize the effectiveness and efficacy of REBT since its beginnings and investigate the alleged mechanisms of change. Method Systematic search identified 84 articles, out of which 68 provided data for between‐group analyses and 39 for within‐group analyses. Results We found a medium effect size of REBT compared to other interventions on outcomes ( d = 0.58) and on irrational beliefs ( d = 0.70), at posttest. For the within‐group analyses, we obtained medium effects for both outcomes ( d = 0.56) and irrational beliefs ( d = 0.61). Several significant moderators emerged. Conclusion REBT is a sound psychological intervention. Directions for future studies are outlined, stemming from the limitations of existing ones.

We report a meta-analysis of virtual reality (VR) interventions for anxiety and depression outcomes, as well as treatment attrition. We included randomized controlled trials comparing VR interventions, alone or in combination, to control conditions or other active psychological interventions. Effects sizes (Hedges' g) for anxiety and depression outcomes, as post-test and follow-up, were pooled with a random-effects model. Drop-outs were compared using odds ratio (OR) with a Mantel-Haenszel model. We included 39 trials (52 comparisons). Trial risk of bias was unclear for most domains, and high for incomplete outcome data. VR-based therapies were more effective than control at post-test for anxiety, g = 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.02, and depression, g = 0.73, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.21, but not for treatment attrition, OR = 1.34, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.89. Heterogeneity was high and there was consistent evidence of small study effects. There were no significant differences between VR-based and other active interventions. VR interventions outperformed control conditions for anxiety and depression but did not improve treatment drop-out. High heterogeneity, potential publication bias, predominant use of waitlist controls, and high or uncertain risk of bias of most trials question the reliability of these effects.

IMPORTANCE Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a debilitating condition, but several psychotherapies are considered effective.OBJECTIVE To conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to assess the efficacy of psychotherapies for BPD populations.DATA SOURCES Search terms were combined for borderline personality and randomized trials in PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (from database inception to November 2015), as well as the reference lists of earlier meta-analyses.STUDY SELECTION Included were randomized clinical trials of adults with diagnosed BPD randomized to psychotherapy exclusively or to a control intervention. Study selection differentiated stand-alone designs (in which an independent psychotherapy was compared with control interventions) from add-on designs (in which an experimental intervention added to usual treatment was compared with usual treatment alone).DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Data extraction coded characteristics of trials, participants, and interventions and assessed risk of bias using 4 domains of the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool (independent extraction by 2 assessors). Outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Standardized mean differences (Hedges g) were calculated using all outcomes reported in the trials for borderline symptoms, self-harm, suicide, health service use, and general psychopathology at posttest and follow-up. Differential treatment retention at posttest was analyzed, reporting odds ratios.RESULTS Thirty-three trials (2256 participants) were included. For borderline-relevant outcomes combined (symptoms, self-harm, and suicide) at posttest, the investigated psychotherapies were moderately more effective than control interventions in stand-alone designs (g = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.14-0.51) and add-on designs (g = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.15-0.65). Results were similar for other outcomes, including stand-alone designs: self-harm (g = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.09-0.54), suicide (g = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.15-0.74), health service use (g = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22-0.58), and general psychopathology (g = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.09-0.55), with no differences between design types. There were no significant differences in the odds ratios for treatment retention (1.32; 95% CI, 0.87-2.00 for stand-alone designs and 1.01; 95% CI, 0.55-1.87 for add-on designs). Thirteen trials reported borderline-relevant outcomes at follow-up (g = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.15-0.75). Dialectical behavior therapy (g = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.53) and psychodynamic approaches (g= 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12-0.69) were the only types of psychotherapies more effective than control interventions. Risk of bias was a significant moderator in subgroup and meta-regression analyses (slope beta = -0.16; 95% CI, -0.29 to -0.03; P = .02). Publication bias was persistent, particularly for follow-up.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Psychotherapies, most notably dialectical behavior therapy and psychodynamic approaches, are effective for borderline symptoms and related problems. Nonetheless, effects are small, inflated by risk of bias and publication bias, and particularly unstable at follow-up.

Two lines of research converge on the topic of predicting emotions, namely the response expectancy theory and the affective forecasting paradigm. We propose a revised response expectancy model, in which affective forecasts are a subgroup of response expectancies, referring to emotional outcomes. We conducted two meta-analyses in order to assess the effect size of the relationship between predictions and emotions. 106 studies comprising 301 effect sizes were analyzed. Our results showed a medium effect size regarding the association (r=.46, p<.001), and a small effect size regarding the difference (d=.42, p<.001) between predictions and emotions. Valence of emotion, valence of event, and type of design moderated the difference between predictions and emotions. Individuals are both accurate in the relative sense, as indicated by the response expectancy theory, and inaccurate in the absolute sense, as suggested by the affective forecasting paradigm. Thus, our results support the integration of the two paradigms.

Coaching is a developing field which has received increased attention in recent years among both researchers and practitioners. However, there are no clear regulations in some countries, and coaches are not required to have, specific training. We investigated Romanian CBT practitioners' background and training in coaching, whether or not they offer coaching services, their knowledge related to what coaching is and its distinctive characteristics compared to other psychological practices, as well as their knowledge regarding the current status and the regulations that apply to the coaching profession. 47 participants completed the survey, and results show that few offered coaching services (only 31.7% of the respondents), and few had training in the field (21.3% of the total sample). Their knowledge of the field and present regulations did not exceed chance, as only 61.7% gave a correct definition of coaching. We found no association between training or knowledge and the professionals' delivery or promotion of coaching services. Implications and directions for the development of the coaching field are discussed.

The objective assessment of psychological traits of healthy subjects and psychiatric patients has been growing interest in clinical and bioengineering research fields during the last decade. Several experimental evidences strongly suggest that a link between Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dynamics and specific dimensions such as anxiety, social phobia, stress and emotional regulation might exist. Nevertheless, an extensive investigation on a wide range of psycho-cognitive scales and ANS non-invasive markers gathered from standard and nonlinear analysis still needs to be addressed. In this study, we analyzed the discerning and correlation capabilities of a comprehensive set of ANS features and psycho-cognitive scales in 29 non-pathological subjects monitored during resting conditions. In particular, the state of the art of standard and nonlinear analysis was performed on Heart Rate Variability, InterBreath Interval series, and Inter-Beat Respiration series, which were considered as monovariate and multivariate measurements. Experimental results show that each ANS feature is linked to specific psychological traits. Moreover, nonlinear analysis outperforms the psychological assessment with respect to standard analysis. Considering that the current clinical practice relies only on subjective scores from interviews and questionnaires, this study provides objective tools for the assessment of psychological dimensions.

Affective forecasts refer to individual predictions regarding future emotions. In this study, we aimed to examine relative and absolute accuracy of affective forecasts, as well as possible predictors of absolute accuracy in affective forecasting. A number of 95 participants (M age = 20.33, SD = 2.26) underwent a computerized cognitive performance task with invariable negative feedback. In order to examine relative accuracy of affective forecasts we used a correlational design, we computed differences between means for the absolute accuracy analysis, and we analyzed predictors of absolute accuracy using regression. Thus, results confirm that individuals predict emotions accurately in the relative sense, and inaccurately in the absolute sense, by overestimating future negative emotions. Considering predictors of absolute accuracy, perceived task difficulty predicted negative functional, and particularly annoyance forecasting accuracy. Regarding negative dysfunctional forecasts and emotions, anger accuracy was predicted by socially prescribed perfectionism and perceived self-efficacy in the cognitive task. This study is in line with current literature and provides possible future directions in the study of affective forecasting by employing a functional categorization of negative emotions, based on the REBT theory.

The objective quantification of psychological traits through Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) biomarkers is of large interest for the clinical and bioengineering scientific communities. Standard procedures, in fact, rely only on subjective scores from interviews and questionnaires. Here we show that monovariate and multivariate multiscale entropy measures are able to characterize the dimension regulating the behavior towards something pleasant in subjects. Such a psychological dimension was quantified through the BIS/BAS scores and investigated with a complexity analysis of Heart Rate Variability and respiratory activity. Results gathered from 29 volunteers show a significant decrease of multiscale complexity in subjects with higher behavioral activation score during the resting condition, supporting the significant role of ANS nonlinear dynamics in cognitive regulation processes.

As cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) has proven to be an evidence-based intervention for many mental health problems, the requirement for training programs has increased. Although there is promising data on the skills outcomes of such programs, trainees' affective/behavioral changes mechanisms and in their faulty thinking patterns during the personal development of such training are unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate which are the most common irrational/dysfunctional beliefs of trainees during a cognitive-behavioral intervention training and their maladaptive consequences, as well as the methods of restructuring that they prefer to change these beliefs into rational/functional ones and achieve more adaptive consequences. 94 participants in a cognitive-behavioral interventions training program filled out 340 ABC, forms related to negative events at work and in personal life, as part of the personal development component in the training program. The obtained qualitative data was coded by three trained ratters in accordance to the current cognitive model of CBT. Contingencies analysis showed that demandingness, awfulizing and global evaluation (GE) are most frequently associated with anxiety, while low frustration tolerance is associated with anger. Comfort, affiliation, achievement themes were most frequently associated with anxiety, while fairness was most frequently associated with anger. Pragmatic cognitive restructuring was the most frequently used by trainees. We found evidence that confirmed many of the theoretical predictions form the cognitive model of CBT in respect to the associations between irrational/dysfunctional cognitions and dysfunctional emotions as well as some particularities for this specific population.

Unconditional acceptance (i.e., of self, others, and/or life) represents the rational counterpart of the irrational belief of global evaluation, a key construct of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). As relating the "self", the concept of self-esteem can refer to global self-esteem (i.e., global evaluation of the self-like "I am a worthless person.") and/or to specific self-esteem relating specific domain evaluation of the self (e.g., "I am a bad mother."). In this study, we propose a new delineation between philosophical unconditional acceptance and psychological unconditional acceptance. While philosophical self-acceptance represents a counterpart to global self-esteem, psychological self-acceptance represents the rational variant of specific self-esteem. However, up to now this distinction has not been made explicit and studied accordingly. We addressed this problem by reporting the initial development and psychometric properties of the Unconditional Acceptance Questionnaire (UAQ), a scale measuring unconditional acceptance of the self, others, and life and differentiating between psychological acceptance and philosophical acceptance. The UAQ emerged as a valid candidate for measuring unconditional acceptance as a rational secondary appraisal mechanism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed along with suggestions for future studies to develop and test the new proposed constructs and the new questionnaire.

This paper estimates the effect of airports on regional development using the substantial increase of airports in the 1970s in Norway as the source of variation. The effects are estimated using a difference-in-difference design by comparing municipalities with a shorter distance to the nearest airport (treated) to three sets of control municipalities. As regional impacts, the paper considers population and employment at the municipality level. The results demonstrate a positive but not significant effect on population and employment. The point estimates indicate that the population in municipalities near the constructed airports increased by 5% from 1970 to 1980, but the overall imprecision of the estimates makes it impossible to reject the hypothesis that the airports had no regional impacts.