Integrating psychotherapy research with public health and public policy goals for incarcerated women and other vulnerable populations

Abstract

Objective and Method: In this article, I review my research applying interpersonal treatments and interpersonal principles from psychotherapy for major depression and substance use to broader public health goals for incarcerated women and other vulnerable populations. Results: A public health focus has led me to expand the boundaries of psychotherapy research to include partners such as prisons, parole officers, and bachelor's level providers; behaviors like risky sex; service delivery challenges; and ultimately to research with an eye toward informing policy and advocacy. Conclusions: A public health perspective provides context and rationale for conducting sound psychotherapy research; the combination of public health and psychotherapy-specific perspectives can lead to novel research.

Obiettivo e metodo: In questo articolo, ho rivisto la mia ricerca sull'applicazione di trattamenti interpersonali e dei principi interpersonali propri della psicoterapia per la depressione maggiore e per l'uso di sostanze, in vista di obiettivi di salute pubblica più ampi per donne carcerate e altre popolazioni vulnerabili.

Risultati: L'obiettivo della sanità pubblica mi ha portato ad estendere i confini della ricerca in psicoterapia per includere partner come le carceri, i funzionari per la libertà vigilata, e gli istituti di formazione e recupero; in ultima analisi, ricercare con uno sguardo rivolto verso l'informazione politica e il sostegno.

Conclusioni: Una prospettiva di salute pubblica fornisce il contesto e le motivazioni per la conduzione della ricerca in psicoterapia; la combinazione di salute pubblica e le prospettive specifiche psicoterapeutiche possono portare la ricerca verso nuove prospettive.

Objetivo e Método: Neste artigo, eu faço uma revisão da minha investigação de aplicação de tratamentos interpessoais e princípios interpessoais da psicoterapia à depressão major e uso de substâncias relativamente a objetivos mais abrangentes de saúde pública como mulheres reclusas e outras populações vulneráveis. Resultados: O foco na saúde pública levou-me a expandir os limites da investigação em psicoterapia para incluir parceiros como prisões, agentes de liberdade condicional; instituições de ensino superior; comportamentos como sexo de risco; desafios na prestação de serviços; e por último investigar com o objetivo de informar políticas e leis. Conclusões: Uma perspetiva de saúde pública fornece um contexto e racional para conduzir investigação com impacto em psicoterapia; a combinação das perspetivas de saúde pública e psicoterapia pode levar ao desenho de investigações inovadoras.

Ziel und Methode: Dieser Artikel umfasst einen Rückblick meiner Forschung über die Anwendung interpersoneller Behandlungsverfahren und interpersoneller Prinzipien der Psychotherapie bei Majorer Depression und Substanzmissbrauch im breiteren Bereich der Zielsetzungen des Gesundheitswesens für inhaftierte Frauen und anderer gefährdete Bevölkerungsgruppen. Ergebnisse: Der Fokus auf das Gesundheitswesen hat mich dazu gebracht, die Grenzen der Psychotherapieforschung auszudehnen, um Institutionen, wie Gefängnisse, Bewährungshelfer und Studiengänge zur Erreichung des Bachelorabschlusses; Verhaltensweisen, wie riskanten Geschlechtsverkehr und Herausforderungen in der Verfügungstellung von Serviceangeboten mit einzuschließen und letztendlich, um mit dem Ziel zu forschen, Politik und Anwaltschaft zu informieren. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Perspektive des Gesundheitswesens stellt den Kontext und das Rational zur Verfügung, um gut fundierte Psychotherapieforschung umzusetzen; die Kombination einer Gesundheitswesens- und einer psychotherapiespezifischen Perspektive kann zu ganz neuartiger Forschung führen.

目標及研究方法：本文整理作者在運用人際治療與心理治療的人際原則協助重鬱症患者和藥毒癮患者以及針對女囚和其他弱勢族群更廣義公共健康目標所做的研究。結果：一個公共健康的關注焦點讓作者拓展心理治療研究的領域，納入囚犯、假釋官以及學士層級的供應者等人。探討的行為包含危險性行為、服務管道的挑戰，及至最終將研究焦點放到喚醒公共政策與倡議。研究結論：在進行良好的心理治療研究時採用公共健康的觀點以提供研究架構與理念；結合公共健康和心理治療的特定觀點可以帶來創新的研究。

Keywords:

• therapeutic alliance
• interpersonal relationships
• interpersonal psychotherapy
• prisoners
• psychology of women
• addiction
• major depression

Acknowledgments

I am honored to have received a 2012 Outstanding Early Career Achievement Award from the Society for Psychotherapy Research. I am grateful beyond what I can express to Gary Burlingame, who took a chance on me when I was a physics graduate with no psychology training, and to Caron Zlotnick, whose confidence in me makes taking on even difficult problems seem easy. Their wisdom, warmth, confidence in me, and unselfish desire to foster my independence have been the epitome of mentorship and have made the last 14 years a joy. I am also grateful to Michael Lambert, Gawain Wells, and John Finney for superb training experiences, and to Paul Crits-Christoph for his swiftness, responsiveness, and generosity in collaboration and in friendship over many years. This kind of work is truly a team effort and would not be possible without fantastic co-investigators on every study, as well as dedicated study staff (Linda Brazil, Collette Williams, Marlanea Peabody, Jen Kao, Adam Chuong, Karen Fernandes, Claire Walker, Marjorie Alden), study counselors, and students and volunteers who are passionate about improving the lives of the populations we serve. I am also indebted to numerous colleagues and friends, including but not limited to: Risa Weisberg, Shirley Yen, Lauren Weinstock, Jessica Nargiso, Madhavi Reddy, Rochelle Rosen, Caroline Kuo, Yael Chatav Schonbrun, Alicia Justus, Bob Stout, Robyn Gobin, Ann Back Price, Tony Joyce, Wendee Wechsberg, Traci Green, Peter Friedmann, Michael Stein, and Linda Cottler.

Funding

Studies described in this review were funded by the National Institutes of Health [grant number R01 MH095230, PI Johnson; R01 AA021732, PIs Johnson & Stein; R34 MH086682, PI Johnson; R34 MH094188, PIs Johnson & Zlotnick; R34 DA030428, PIs Johnson & Zlotnick; K23 DA021159, PI Johnson]; and the Group Psychotherapy Foundation.

Additional information

Funding

Funding: Studies described in this review were funded by the National Institutes of Health [grant number R01 MH095230, PI Johnson; R01 AA021732, PIs Johnson & Stein; R34 MH086682, PI Johnson; R34 MH094188, PIs Johnson & Zlotnick; R34 DA030428, PIs Johnson & Zlotnick; K23 DA021159, PI Johnson]; and the Group Psychotherapy Foundation.