The field of psychotherapy keeps evolving, largely due to the valuable work described in scholarly publications. Each year, numerous journal articles are published, and a select few make major contributions to the understanding, application, or investigation of psychotherapy. Strategies for psychotherapy are constantly evolving, being refined, improved and expanded by quality research. The Psyche Awards are used to highlight the most valuable papers relevant to the science and practice of mental health care.

The present article reviews journal articles that were published during 2022, and identifies the most valuable contributions to psychotherapy theory, process, or outcome.

However, because of an over-reliance on samples of convenience and a recent proliferation of vanity journals, there are many published articles that do not deserve the time it would take to read the report. It has become somewhat overwhelming for the average clinician to sift through the mountains of journal articles in order to find those rare specimens that can actually help to shape the future of the field.

In an attempt to limit the review process and identify the most useful papers, a series of selection criteria were created, and these criteria by themselves could provide some useful guidance to the field of psychology. The following criteria were used when reviewing the published literature for articles that could be nominated for a Psyche Award.

  1. 1.

    All nominated papers were published as a full-length article, allowing enough journal space to cover useful material in depth. Thus, the nomination process did not examine publications that were limited to a brief report or an editorial commentary, even when these reports may share some useful ideas. Instead, nominated papers can include empirical studies using quantitative or quantitative research methodology. In addition, nominated papers can include comprehensive reviews, whether relying on a meta-analysis, a systematic review or a sco** review of relevant issues. Books and book chapters were excluded because they follow a very different path to publication than the rigorous peer review process that is employed by major scholarly journals.

  2. 2.

    All nominated articles were published in a respected academic journal, and not published in a predatory journal. Over the past 10 years, numerous journals have been created in order to create a financial profit. Because of the high rejection rates at many journals and the heavy pressure on faculty members to publish their works, some established scholars have published in these journals (Mertkan et al., 2021). There is a risk that predatory journals could undermine legitimate scholarly works (Nisha et al., 2020). It is useful to differentiate predatory journals from legitimate open access journals (Krawczyk & Kulczycki, 2021). There is a risk that the predatory journals could contaminate the scientific foundation because they typically lack a peer review process (Akca & Akbulut, 2021). Useful guidelines for identifying predatory journals have been proposed (Cukier et al., 2020; Elmore & Weston, 2020).

  3. 3.

    For each nominated article, the topic appeared to hold appeal to a broad professional audience and is not limited to a narrow focus on a specific tool, strategy or special subgroup of clients. Although some highly focused studies can provide useful information, when they are centered too heavily on a specific measure or a subgroup of people, they may lack widespread appeal. Thus, a translation of a standardized measure into a different language or a study that examines the application of an intervention strategy adapted for a narrow subtype of patients may not qualify for a Psyche Award. Nominated papers should be useful for a broad spectrum of mental health professionals, regardless of their work setting or typical clientele. Even when a paper is focused on one particular disorder, the assessment strategies, treatment approach, or view of etiology may transcend one particular disorder and stimulate useful changes for work in other areas. Because of the goal of broad appeal, many of the nominated papers were review articles instead of empirical studies.

  4. 4.

    Nominated articles were centered within the field of psychology, focusing on the mind and mental processes. It is too easy for researchers to expand the scope of their investigation, and suddenly be centered around biological processes or social and cultural factors that are relevant to mental illness (Overholser, 2003). Most eligible articles do not focus on biological factors because biomedical approaches to treatment are best viewed as the domain of other fields, especially psychiatry, neurology, or medicine. Therefore, nominated articles typically retain a clear focus on psychological issues and not focus on specific cultural factors, religious beliefs or environmental issues, because those issues pertain more directly to other fields, such as sociology, social work, or theology.

  5. 5.

    All nominated articles remained relevant to the field of psychology, and the topic appeared to focus on issues relevant to clinical psychology Some solid research studies examine normal psychosocial processes that are relevant to nonclinical samples. However, the Psyche Awards aim to promote the understanding and treatment of clients who are struggling with some form of mental illness. Even when articles clearly fall within the confines of psychology, eligible articles do not fall under the umbrella of social psychology or developmental psychology.

  6. 6.

    As an extension of this goal to focus on papers that are clearly relevant to the field of psychotherapy, all nominated articles fall within clinical psychology, and are related to core issues at the center of the field, including psychological assessment, psychiatric diagnosis, psychotherapy process, psychotherapy outcome, clinical supervision, or ethical and legal issues related to psychopathology. Further, the selection process includes a strong preference for articles that focus on psychological treatments more than psychological assessment or psychiatric diagnosis.

  7. 7.

    In many cases, the most valuable articles appear to integrate the science and practice of psychology and are not exclusively centered on research or practice. The scientist-practitioner ideology is difficult to emulate but important for protecting the future of psychotherapy (Overholser, 2007, 2010, 2012). There is evidence that the effectiveness of some forms of psychotherapy has been reduced in recent years (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015) which could be partly due to the split between researchers and practitioners. Many academics fail to remain active in clinical practice. It seems unlikely that the next generation of psychotherapists can be prepared properly if their training and supervision is being provided by psychologists who no longer provide psychotherapy services themselves.

  8. 8.

    For any empirical research studies, the data collection procedures relied on established assessment measures and procedures that are aligned with clinical practice. A useful project may explore novel strategies that could help to expand the options for future therapeutic strategies. However, it seems important for innovations to avoid becoming overly artificial or exceedingly cumbersome and therefore unlikely to be adopted in most clinical settings.

  9. 9.

    For empirical studies that are eligible for a Psyche Award, the sample of participants relied on patients seeking treatment for medical or psychiatric problems. These projects avoiding the use of samples of convenience including high school students, college students, anonymous online surveys, or mTurk participants. Many psychological research studies have relied on college students as participants (Arnett; 2008; Henrich et al., 2010a, 2010b), the findings do not always align with external samples (Ashraf & Merunka, 2017). In addition, lab-based studies are usually conducted in a controlled environment that would be different from the situational and environmental factors found in most mental health clinics (Leviton & Trujillo, 2017). The concern about external validity is especially important when examining research related to psychological treatment (Cahill, 2012; Rothwell, 2005). Although some studies have found value in the use of mTurk participants (e.g., Gardner et al., 2012), others warn that the findings may not align with results from more traditional samples (Webb & Tangney, 2022). Although research on samples of convenience can be useful when students have deadlines for completing their thesis research, it remains questionable whether the findings might generalize to actual clinical work.

  10. 10.

    For empirical studies, the sample of participants represents a broad spectrum of psychological clients and has not been limited to individuals within a specific age group, racial group, sex, gender or geographical location. Unfortunately, many published articles rely on a narrow focus, examining the psychometric properties of an established measure when applied to a specific age group, treatment site, or country of origin. Although these studies have merit, they are unlikely to be of interest to those who do not work with that specific subpopulation. Nonetheless, a research study or a review paper is likely to be useful when it is focused heavily on a specific psychological treatment or a specific psychiatric disorder.

  11. 11.

    For empirical studies, eligible studies include a sample that is an adequate size to reach acceptable statistical power, while acknowledging that qualitative research projects may rely on smaller samples aiming for saturation (Kisely & Kendall, 2011). In addition, investigators should be careful with the term "pilot study" because the term has been overused and misused (Moore et al., 2011). A pilot study typically involves the use of a small group of participants in order to test out the data collection procedures before initiating the full investigation (Moore et al., 2011). Pilot studies are used to guide and rectify the plans for a larger study (Morin, 2013) and clarify the resources that will be needed to implement the larger study (Doody & Doody, 2015). Pilot data can influence the decision whether to invest in the plans for the full investigation (Westlund & Stuart, 2017). In most cases, "pilot data" is not submitted for publication, but simply used to refine the protocol before beginning the full study. There is a risk that in some circles, the term "pilot study" is being used as code for "I know I need more subjects, but I am not planning to continue this research, and I hope to publish the study despite small samples".

  12. 12.

    For empirical studies or meta-analytic review papers, nominated articles relied on appropriate statistics to examine the central hypotheses, and the results section does not get bogged down with unnecessarily complex statistics. Some studies have relied on structural equation modeling to explore possible causal pathways, while neglecting the fact that the data was collected using a cross-sectional assessment format. Alternatively, some studies rely on factor analysis and coefficient alpha, while apparently forgetting that these are measures of internal consistency, not validity or clinical utility.

The review of journals and the screening for eligible papers identified quite a few valuable articles. The process is time consuming, and some good papers may be omitted if the article title or abstract failed to convey the value of the paper. Over the past few years, the Psyche Award process has expanded in time and scope. Specific guidelines for each award have been included in previous award articles (Overholser & Beale, 2018, Overholser, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022). For the 6th year of Psyche Awards, the following 165 scholarly journals relevant to the field of mental illness and its treatment were scanned for possible nominated papers: Academic Psychiatry, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Addictive Behaviors, Aggression and Violent Behavior, American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias, American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychotherapy, American Psychologist, Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Annual Review of Psychology, Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Archives of Suicide Research, Assessment, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences and the Law, Behavior Modification, Behavior Research and Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, BMC Psychiatry, British Journal of Clinical Psychology, British Journal of Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychotherapy, Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Canadian Psychology, Clinical Case Studies, Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, Clinical Gerontologist, Clinical Psychological Science, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology Review, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and Research, Comprehensive Psychiatry, Contemporary Buddhism, Contemporary Family Therapy, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Counselling Psychology Review, Counselor Education and Supervision, Current Directions in Psychological Science, Current Psychiatry Reports, Death Studies, Dementia - International Journal of Social Research and Practice, Depression and Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Ethics and Behavior, European Journal of Psychiatry, European Journal of Psychological Assessment, European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, European Journal of Psychotherapy Counseling and Health, European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy, European Psychiatry, Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers in Psychology, Gestalt Review, Group Analysis - International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, Group Dynamics, History of Psychiatry, History of Psychology, International Forum of Psychoanalysis, International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, International Journal of Eating Disorders, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, International Journal of Mental Health, International Journal of Play Therapy, International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, International Journal of Psychological Research, International Journal of Psychology and Counselling, International Journal of Psychotherapy, International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, JAMA Psychiatry, Journal of Affective Disorders, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of Attention Disorders, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychology, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, Journal of Counseling and Development, Journal of Counseling Psychology, Journal of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies, Journal of Family Therapy, Journal of Happiness Studies, Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Journal of Loss and Trauma, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Journal of Mental Health, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Journal of Obsessive - Compulsive and Related Disorders, Journal of Personality Assessment, Journal of Personality Disorders, Journal of Psychopathology & Clinical Science, Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Journal of Sexual Aggression, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, Military Psychology, Mindfulness, Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, Omega – Journal of Death and Dying, Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, Personality and Individual Differences, Personality and Mental Health, Personality Disorders: Theory Research and Treatment, Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Philosophy Psychiatry & Psychology, Practitioner Scholar, Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, Psychiatric Annals, Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Psychiatric Services, Psychiatry Research, Psychiatry – Interpersonal and Biological Processes, Psychological Assessment, Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Psychology and Psychotherapy, Psychoanalytic Inquiry, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Psychoanalytic Psychology, Psychodynamic Practice, Psychological Assessment, Psychological Bulletin, Psychological Medicine, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Psychopathology and Clinical Science, Psychosis - Psychological Social and Integrative Approaches, Psychotherapy - Theory Research Practice and Training, Psychotherapy Research, Research on Child & Adolescent Psychopathology, Rorschachiana, Scandinavian Journal of Behaviour Therapy, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, the Behavior Analyst, the Clinical Supervisor, the Counseling Psychologist, the Psychotherapy Bulletin, Training and Education in Professional Psychology, and Transactional Analysis Journal.

The initial triage review of journals focused heavily on the title of the paper, followed by a reading of the abstract, highlighting the utility of a clear explanatory title and a concise informative abstract. Based on this comprehensive review of relevant journals, 188 interesting articles were identified. Then, these papers were examined more closely, and the best papers were organized into 12 award categories. However, the panel of judges could not reach agreement as to the most valuable paper in four of the award categories, so only eight awards are given. The panel of judges found merit in each of the nominated papers, and there was no consensus as to which article stood out as superior to the others. The awards for the four omitted categories (i.e., Death, Dying and Bereavement; Disorders of Childhood; Specific Intervention Strategies—Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Innovations in Psychological Treatment) will be reinstated next year.

There are specific criteria for each award category, aiming to identify the most valuable contribution in a specific area. These criteria are not repeated here but can be found in previous award articles (e.g., Overholser, 2021, 2022). In general, each award category strives for an integration of empirical science, remains based on sound psychological theory, and helps to identify useful clinical applications. Further, the optimal articles were published in a respected journal, are well written and enjoyable to read, and present ideas that appear useful for a broad audience of readers. For each award category, the initial goal was to identify the four most valuable articles but admittedly the process was heavily influenced by the editor’s preferences for thorough articles and the editor’s professional interests in areas related to the core of traditional clinical psychology. Thus, there is a risk that some useful articles may have been omitted from the list of nominated articles.

Psychotherapy for Depression and Suicide

  • Carter, J., Jordan, J., McIntosh, V., Frampton, C., Lacey, C., Porter, R., & Mulder, R. (2022). Long-term efficacy of metacognitive therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy for depression. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(2), 137–14

  • Huggett, C., Gooding, P., Haddock, G., Quigley, J., & Pratt, D. (2022). The relationship between the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy and suicidal experiences: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29, 1203–1235

  • Itzhaky, L. et al. (2022). Twenty-six years of psychosocial interventions to reduce suicide risk in adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 300, 511–531.

  • Suárez-Delucchi, N., Keith-Paz, A., Reinel, M., Fernandez, S., & Krause, M. (2022). Failure in psychotherapy: A qualitative comparative study from the perspective of patients diagnosed with depression. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 35 (4) 842–866.

And the winner is … Charlotte Huggett et al. for their comprehensive review of the therapeutic alliance and how it can be helpful for clients in a suicidal crisis. After evaluating the methodology and findings from 19 studies, the authors concluded that a strong therapeutic alliance early in the course of psychotherapy was helpful in reducing risk for subsequent suicidal ideation and attempts even over the course of an extended follow-up period. According to the author (Charlotte Huggett, personal communication, February 23, 2023), “We know the therapeutic alliance is an essential component of effective psychological therapy. It was through working on clinical trials of a suicide-focused psychological therapy that sparked my ongoing interest in the therapeutic alliance with people who have suicidal experiences. This systematic review summarizes the quantitative evidence base investigating the relationship between the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy and suicidal experiences pre-therapy, during therapy, and after therapy. It was surprising to find during the screening process that a large number of psychological therapy trials involving clients with suicidal experiences did not measure the therapeutic alliance. Also, only two of the included studies reported on monitoring and assessing how safe the psychological therapy, including the therapeutic alliance, was for people with suicidal experiences. We hope to encourage further interest in the therapeutic alliance with clients who have suicidal experiences and provide some considerations for clinical practice and future research within the paper”.

Psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma

  • David, J., Crone, C., & Norberg, M. (2022). A critical review of cognitive behavioural therapy for hoarding disorder: How can we improve outcomes? Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(2), 469–488.

  • Öst, L. G., Enebrink, P., Finnes, A., Ghaderi, A., Havnen, A., Kvale, G., ... & Wergeland, G. (2022). Cognitive behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in routine clinical care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 104170.

  • Papola, D., Ostuzzi, G., Tedeschi, F., Gastaldon, C., Purgato, M., Del Giovane, C., ... & Barbui, C. (2022). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of psychotherapies for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Psychiatry, 221(3), 507–519.

  • Rabasco, A., McKay, D., Smits, J., Powers, M., Meuret, A., & McGrath, P. (2022). Psychosocial treatment for panic disorder: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 86, 102528.

And the winner is … Papola et al. for their impressive summary of the research basis behind treatments for panic disorder and agoraphobia. The authors reviewed 136 research studies that implemented a randomized clinical trial for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. The results showed that both cognitive-behavioral therapy and short-term psychodynamic therapy should be considered appropriate first-line choices for treatment. According to the author (Davide Papola, personal communication, March 1, 2023), “Psychotherapies are the treatment of choice for panic disorder, but which psychotherapy should be considered first-line treatment was yet to be substantiated by definitive evidence. Applying the network meta-analysis methodology we were able to comprehensively review both qualitative and quantitative data in the field of psychotherapy for panic disorder. Based on 136 randomized studies including 9559 participants, our review included all available types of psychotherapies, administered in any treatment delivery format. To further enhance the clinical utility of the findings we decided to report study characteristics rarely considered before, such as level of therapist qualification, intervention implementation fidelity, and a comprehensive guidance on reference manuals for each psychotherapy, so that mental health care professionals are nudged toward the most reliable manuals to conduct the chosen psychotherapy.”

Psychotherapy with Couples, Families or Groups

  • Clough, B., Spriggens, L., Stainer, M., & Casey, L. (2022). Working together: An investigation of the impact of working alliance and cohesion on group psychotherapy attendance. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 95(1), 79–97.

  • Csajbók, Z., & Berkics, M. (2022). Seven deadly sins of potential romantic partners: The dealbreakers of mate choice. Personality and Individual Differences, 186, 111334.

  • Griner, D., Erekson, D., Beecher, M., Cattani, K., & Burlingame, G. (2022). The power of compassion in group psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78, 1601–1612.

  • LoCoco, G., Gullo, S., Albano, G., Brugnera, A., Flückiger, C., & Tasca, G. (2022). The alliance-outcome association in group interventions: A multilevel meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(6), 513–527.

And the winner is … Griner et al. for their contribution to the understanding of group therapy and the role of the therapeutic alliance. The authors propose useful guidelines for facilitating compassion as part of group psychotherapy sessions. The article includes useful examples of dialogue from group therapy sessions. According to the author (Derek Griner, personal communication, February 23, 2023), “We have had the very good fortune to work closely with the founder of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Paul Gilbert, as well as with Nicola Petrocchi and James Kirby. Over several years of collaboration, as a team of international researchers, faculty, and graduate students, we conducted an open trial in which we tested a rough draft of a CFT group psychotherapy protocol. After discovering positive findings, we subsequently modified and published a manualized CFT group psychotherapy protocol and accompanying workbook. We designed this protocol specifically for university students struggling with anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and other mental health concerns. We have been thrilled to see that the CFT materials we have developed have been effective in group psychotherapy settings at university counseling centers, in private practice groups, and that an adapted version has been effective with SMI populations in our state hospital. Using this manual and workbook as a guide, we are expanding our research to examine the impact that CFT-based mental health courses have on the mental well-being of college students taking such courses.”.

Specific Intervention Strategies–Mindfulness-Based Interventions

  • Garrote-Caparrós, E., Bellosta-Batalla, M., Moya-Albiol, L., & Cebolla, A. (2022). Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions on psychotherapy processes: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(3), 783–798.

  • Goldberg, S., Riordan, K., Sun, S., & Davidson, R. (2022). The empirical status of mindfulness-based interventions: A systematic review of 44 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(1), 108–130.

  • Kraines, M., et al. (2022). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A systematic review of cognitive outcomes. Mindfulness, 13, 1126–1135.

  • Schmelefske, E., Per, M., Khoury, B., & Heath, N. (2022). The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on suicide outcomes: A meta-analysis. Archives of Suicide Research, 26 (2), 447–464.

And the winner is … Simon Goldberg et al. for their review of the research foundation for mindfulness interventions. The authors examined 44 meta-analytic studies and 160 effect sizes. Results showed that mindfulness-based treatments can have significant effects, especially for adults who are need help with smoking cessation or preventing relapse into a subsequent depressive episode. According to the author (Simon Goldberg, personal communication, February 23, 2023), “As a meta-review, this study required reviewing both published meta-analyses as well as the primary studies that were included in those meta-analyses. Our team worked closely together (for many months) to be sure that we were capturing the full scope of the published literature and drawing conclusions that were an accurate portrayal of the empirical evidence related to mindfulness-based interventions at that time. Our hope was that the conclusions could inform our understanding of the current state of the literature as well as identify key areas for improvement to guide future trials and meta-analyses”.

Scholarly Articles with Broad Appeal

  • Alonzo, D. (2022). Pros and cons of mental health treatment: Reports from depressed clients with suicidal ideation. Journal of Mental Health, 31(3), 332–339.

  • Kazantzis, N., & Miller, A. (2022). A comprehensive model of homework in cognitive behavior therapy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 46(1), 247–257.

  • Ladmanová, M., Řiháček, T., & Timulak, L. (2022). Client-identified impacts of helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy: A qualitative meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 32(6), 723–735.

  • Ong, C., Hayes, S., & Hofmann, S. (2022). A process-based approach to cognitive behavioral therapy: A theory-based case illustration. Frontiers in psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1002849

And the winner is … Ong, Hayes and Hofmann for their description of Process-Based Therapy. The article explains the value of adapting psychotherapy to the unique needs of each client. A detailed case example is used to highlight the specific strategies. Multiple figures are included that display a graphic representation of therapeutic goals and changes over time. According to the author (Clarissa Ong, personal communication, February 22, 2023), “Process-based therapy is a model of psychological assessment and treatment designed to target processes of change most relevant to a client’s problems and well-being, in their specific context, using evidence-based strategies, regardless of theoretical provenance. This case study describes such a process-based approach wherein the therapist develops a treatment plan using empirically driven networks and selects treatment kernels based on target processes of change. It is one of the first published empirical demonstrations of how to use the tools of process-based therapy with a client, explaining each step in treatment”.

Scholarship that Integrates the Science and Practice of Psychology

  • Kazdin, A. (2022). Expanding the scope, reach, and impact of evidence-based psychological treatments. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 76, 101744.

  • Kredlow, M., de Voogd, L., & Phelps, E. (2022). A case for translation from the clinic to the laboratory. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(4), 1120–1149.

  • Manthei, R., & Tuck, B. (2022). Conducting practice-based research with a counsellor in private practice. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 22(3), 795–807.

  • Stumpp, N., & Sauer-Vavala, S. (2022). Evidence-based strategies for treatment personalization: A review. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 29, 902–913.

And the winner is … Kredlow, de Voogd and Phelps for their valuable article on applied clinical research and the possibility of reducing the gap between science and practice. The authors recommend that researchers shift their starting point from the purified environment of the laboratory and begin their projects in the clinic. The article highlights the potential value to the field if clinical practice and research methods can become more synchronized. According to the author (Xandra Kredlow, personal communication, March 2, 2023), “This article was inspired by conversations between myself and another postdoctoral fellow, Linda de Voogd, during our time in the Phelps Lab. Linda's background in affective neuroscience and my background in clinical psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy led to many stimulating conversations and novel translational research ideas. We were lucky to be in an environment where we could pursue these interests further and write this review with the support of our mentor at the time, Elizabeth Phelps. This back story highlights one of the arguments we present in the review: there is tremendous value in bringing together basic and clinical scientists to tackle the question of how to improve psychotherapies.”

Understanding the Role and Limits of Biomedical Approaches to Mental Illness

  • Ahmadzad-Asi, M., et al. (2022). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the placebo effect in panic disorder: Implications for research and clinical practice. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56 (9), 1130–1141.

  • Bender, D., & Hellerstein, D. (2022). Assessing the risk–benefit profile of classical psychedelics: a clinical review of second-wave psychedelic research. Psychopharmacology, 1–26.

  • Gukasyan, N., & Nayak, S. (2022). Psychedelics, placebo effects, and set and setting: Insights from common factors theory of psychotherapy. Transcultural psychiatry, 59(5), 652–664.

  • Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R. E., Stockmann, T., Amendola, S., Hengartner, M., & Horowitz, M. (2022). The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry, 1–14.

And the winner is … Joanna Moncrieff et al. for their endless series of contributions to a critical review of the biological hypothesis of depression. Their work helps to refute many outdated but commonly held beliefs about the biochemical basis of depression. According to the author (Joanna Moncrieff, personal communication, February 23, 2023), “We conducted a systematic umbrella review of the main areas of research on links between serotonin and depression, including research on serotonin levels, the main serotonin metabolite, serotonin receptors, the serotonin transporter, serotonin depletion studies and genetic studies. None of this research convincingly supported the theory that depression is caused by low serotonin. In contrast, studies showed that experiencing adverse life events strongly predicted someone’s chances of becoming depressed later in life. The findings should prompt a re-evaluation of the nature and value of antidepressants.”

Papers of Historical Interest

  • Guenther, K. (2022). “Um, mm-h, Yeah”: Carl Rogers, phonographic recordings, and the making of therapeutic listening. History of Psychology, 25 (3), 191–210.

  • Kendler, K., Tabb, K., & Wright, J. (2022). The emergence of psychiatry: 1650–1850. American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(5), 329–335.

  • McCluskey, M. (2022). Revitalizing Alfred Adler: An echo for equality. Clinical Social Work Journal, 50(4), 387–399.

  • van Rosmalen, L., Luijk, M., & van der Horst, F. (2022). Harry Harlow's pit of despair: Depression in monkeys and men. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 58(2), 204–222.

And the winner is … Kendler, Tabb and Wright for their informative view of the history of psychiatry. The article explains the historical development of psychiatry as a medical specialty. According to the authors (Ken Kendler and Katie Tabb, personal communication, March 27, 2023), “We were deeply fascinated with this topic as the story was virtually unknown in modern psychiatry—how did our field evolve? We started with the seminal document—the doctoral dissertation of A Suzuki “Mind and its Disease in Enlightenment British Medicine.” We wanted to try to write this history for a general psychiatric audience but it could not be done alone. We had lots of exchanges of drafts and a number of zoom calls. We wanted to get the history right and we wanted to keep the story simple because the audience would have had next to no background in this area. This was really a collaborative effort. We mutually enriched the text with our various perspectives and each gave a bit to produce the current version. A piece like this is truly interdisciplinary in the sense that no one of us could have done it alone; working collaboratively in this way is unusual in the humanities, unlike in the sciences, but it was deeply rewarding”.

Conclusions

The Psyche Awards selection process identified numerous valuable articles published during the past year. All nominated articles may be useful to the novice as well as the experienced mental health work. The goal is to highlight major contributions to the field, trusting that ongoing scholarship will help to advance our understanding and treatment of individuals who are struggling with some form of mental illness.

This was a challenging year for the Psyche Awards, as several award categories resulted in extremely close ratings across the nominated papers. Although there were difficulties identifying a clear winner in several categories, it does not mean there were no outstanding contributions in that specific area. Instead, it implies there were multiple papers that make valuable contributions and deserve our time to read their work. Therefore, several articles deserve an Honorable Mention for their contribution. Some of these articles were omitted from the list of nominated papers simply because they did not fit into one of the current award categories or there was disagreement over the most valuable contribution in a specific area. For example, Kadri et al (2022) present a unique approach to hel** older adults manage their feelings of depression. The wisdom enhancement intervention includes several innovative strategies for hel** depressed clients step back from their immediate struggles and refocus on broader aspects of their life. A single-case research design was used to examine the potential benefit gained in 5 older adult clients, aged 68–84. Numerous graphs (5 graphs per client) are included that document client changes across five therapy sessions. In an attempt to explore the reasons why depressed adults may seek or avoid professional help, Alonzo et al. (2022) conducted interviews with a small group of depressed patients who were reporting to an emergency department because of suicidal ideation. Results highlighted the six reasons for seeking help and 3 reasons for not avoiding treatment. Conversely, results identified the 5 reasons for not seeking help and the three disadvantages of avoiding treatment. In a study on a very sensitive topic, Wilson et al. (2022) conducted interviews with 17 adults who had lost a parent to death by suicide. Their findings highlight the supportive and potentially hurtful reactions made by friends and family members. In a creative approach, Temkin et al. (2022) describe a novel way of packaging a social skills training program for youth. The children, aged 8–12, participated in a Secret Agent Society program whereby they were assigned various missions as a way of eliciting their involvement in behavioral activities designed to expand their social awareness and improve their interpersonal relationships. Harari & Grant (2022) review the ideas based in psychodynamic theory and highlight those notions that appear useful and valid today. For anyone whose ideology is not based in Freudian theory, this article provides a nice summary of the contemporary value of psychodynamic theory. Finally, Skaug et al. (2022) examined a national sample of 2808 twins in Norway. The participants were evaluated for borderline personality disorder. Twins who had been exposed to trauma during childhood were compared to their twin who had not experienced the trauma. Results showed there was minimal evidence of childhood trauma being capable of creating borderline personality traits. Although not focused on psychotherapy, the research has profound implications for understanding borderline personality.

The Psyche Awards aim to highlight the best scholarship in the field of psychotherapy in the hopes of improving psychotherapy as a respected field within health care. Although not a requirement for nomination, the selected articles seem to derive from a thoughtful integration of science and practice. Scholarship relevant to psychotherapy is a difficult task, because the publication relies on a solid knowledge of empirical research, closely integrated with a sensitivity to actual clinical practice. In a way, the best articles are being produced by mental health workers who adhere to the ideals of the scientist-practitioner model.

Editorial Postscript

The Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy has been published for more than 50 years. Each year, the journal publishes a useful mix of clinical, theoretical and empirical papers. Authors and reviewers come from countries around the world. As Editor-in-Chief, I remain highly thankful for all authors who submit the work for peer review, and all reviewers who take the time to read and critique the various manuscripts. I want to thank the active members of my editorial board, the experts who share their wisdom about the field of psychotherapy. I am greatly appreciative of my expert panel of reviewers, who read each of the nominated papers and supplied rank ordered preferences for the most valuable article in each category. In addition, I want to thank the extensive list of ad hoc reviewers who provided useful comments on the numerous manuscripts that were submitted throughout 2022. The following colleagues served as reviewers: Jacqueline Abate, Steven Abell, Cemile Akdag, Basim Aldahadha, Shlomo Ariel, Murat Artiran, Jenna Bagley, Ally Baier, Cathy Barber, Ana Barroquinho, Luz Bascunan, Eleanore Beale, Raymond Bergner, Ana Mafalda Almeida Bruno, Jason Brown, Nina Brown, Morgan Browning, Fatima Bukhari, Gary Byrne, David Cain, Kerry Cannity, Eduard Carratala, John Carter, Franz Caspar, Cemile Akdag Cebi, Charles Cedarberg, Yael Cohen Chazani, Jasmine Childs-Fegredo, Allison Connolly, Aureliano Crameri, Veronica Dwarika, Gulsen Erden, Laura Faith, Dragana Favre, Daniella Fernandez, Stuart Fisher, Julian Ford, Louis Gamino, Emel Genc, Giac Giacomantonio, Ethan Grauere, Huw Green, Leslie Greenberg, Naveen Grover, Marco Antonio Hartmann, Asianna Harris, Nathaniel Herr, Jun Hirokawa, Thomas Hoffman, Maliha Ibrahim, Larissa Kalisch, Ebrahim Rahbar Karbasdehi, David Keely, Diana Khahili, Elisa Krackow, Valerie Krupnick, Jeffrey Kuentzel, Tamiko Lemberger-Truelove, Maxwell Levis, Roman Malo, Ashley Schnakenberg Martin, Shannon McIntyre, Shlomo Mendlovic, Hamid Nejat, Linda Nel, Randy Nobbit, Rebecca Pearl, Santhosh Kareepadath Rajan, Susan Reviere, Mark Richardson, Carlos Rodriguez, Diego Romali, Marta Sant, Sara Schapiro, Prerna Sharma, Shalisah Sharip, Kentaro Shirotsuki, Anna Elizabeth Sidis, Hope Vaccaro, Mette Vesterger, Hillla Yaniv, Vasiliki Yotsidi, Simon James Wharne, and Jochem Willemsen. Finally, in closing, I hope the Psyche Awards provide a bit of inspiration for all of us who have dedicated our careers to the understanding and treatment of individuals who may be struggling with some form of mental illness. I believe the criteria used to direct the selection process could help guide our work whenever devoting time to a scholarly contribution in the field.