Mid Sweden University

Psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress, requires time-efficient assessment tools suited for digital and momentary settings. The Screening Tool for Psychological Distress (STOP-D) is a five-item scale developed for brief mental health screening, but it has not yet been validated in Swedish. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy of the Swedish STOP-D in a non-clinical adult sample. A total of 427 Swedish-speaking adults (mean age = 49.42, SD = 16.34 years) completed the STOP-D, the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), the Single-Item Stress Scale (SISE), and the Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS). ROC analyses were conducted using PHQ-2 and GAD-2 (cut-off ≥ 3) and the SISE (cut-off ≥ 6 and 7). Feature importance was examined using the Boruta algorithm. Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) assessed the internal structure. The STOP-D items for Sadness and Anxiety showed excellent classification accuracy for depression and anxiety (AUC = 0.87–0.89). Stress showed lower accuracy (AUC = 0.65–0.67). EGA supported a two-factor model, with STOP-D items for Sad, Anxiety and Stress clustering separately from Anger and Lack of Social Support. The Swedish STOP-D is a valid brief tool for assessing core psychological distress. Items for anger and social support may add clinical value and represent distinct processes relevant for future individualized and ecological assessment.

Dataset Description The dataset contains responses from 113 university students (52 intervention, 61 control) who participated in a randomized controlled trial at University College Dublin. Participants were recruited through posters, flyers, and classroom announcements. Eligibility required being over 18, enrolled in higher education, without psychiatric diagnosis or prior ACT/mindfulness training. • Design: Randomization to either a 3-week ACT intervention (three guided audio exercises, <1 hour total) or a wait-list control. • Assessments: Pre-treatment, post-treatment, 3-week follow-up. • Measures: • General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) for overall mental health (primary outcome). • Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). • Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2) for psychological inflexibility. 

The Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT) is integral to indeonomic understanding and facilitation of psychological change within therapeutic settings. This study presents the Swedish validation of the PBAT, emphasizing a novel analytical approach using the Boruta algorithm to identify key clinical outcomes associated with its items. By translating and culturally adapting the PBAT and STOP-D into Swedish with427 participants, mean age of 48. Utilizing the PHQ-4 and Single Item Stress Scale as criterion measures. Analyses revealed significant correlations between PBAT items and clinical outcomes, validating its application in a Swedish context. The Boruta algorithm pinpointed specific PBAT items that are most predictive of clinical outcomes such as vitality, health, sadness, anxiety, and stress. This feature selection technique underscored the PBAT's nuanced capacity to identify psychological processes impacting clinical outcomes. This Boruta-driven approach not only enhances our understanding of the PBAT's utility in clinical assessment but also sets a precedent for employing advanced data analysis techniques in psychological research.

BackgroundThe Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT), is an item pool showing promising results in assessing psychological processes of change relevant for both psychotherapy and research in its original English version. However, further research focusing on translation and validation in other languages is needed for broader applicability. This study aims to translate and validate the PBAT in Swedish, and to examine the relationship with common clinical outcome variables.MethodsThe PBAT and STOP-D were translated and culturally adapted to Swedish. The study included 427 Swedish-speaking participants recruited online, with a mean age of 48. The PHQ-4 and Single Item Stress Scale were used as criterion variables. Correlational analyses and the Boruta feature selection algorithm were employed for data analysis.ResultsThe translated PBAT demonstrated significant correlations with clinical outcomes, indicating its effectiveness in a Swedish context. Positive PBAT items correlated with higher vitality and health, while negative items were predictive of sadness, anxiety, and stress. The Boruta analysis highlighted the importance of specific PBAT items to different clinical outcomes, underscoring the tool's validity.ConclusionThe Swedish version of the PBAT shows strong validity and reliability in assessing psychological health. This study contributes to the cross-cultural applicability of the PBAT, offering a valuable tool for psychological assessment in the Swedish context.

The network approach to psychological diagnosis and case conceptualisation has recently become an interesting alternative to the latent disease model of the disorders presented in the DSM and ICD. Network analysis aims to discover the maladaptive feedback loops, or processes, maintaining psychological distress. In a mixed methods study, perceived causal problem networks (PECAN) based on the Extended Evolutionary Meta Model-dimensions was composed during an interview at an outpatient clinic. User experience of the participants were explored with self report and cognitive interviewing techniques (thinking aloud) of participants from Swedish outpatient clinics. Findings include indications/ how patients create their understanding of presenting problems, and the accuracy and workability of their network. Discussion of how patient experience and perception can influence and construct networks, and successively impact motivation for psychotherapy will follow.

Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is a common challenge experienced by individuals, irrespective of their accomplishments. It involves persistent self-doubt and the fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of competence. This workshop offers practical tools for addressing IP, guided by the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Repetitive Negative Thinking (ACT RNT) model and its comprehension around negative selfing and worrying/ruminating.

This workshop combines academic knowledge with shared personal and clinical experiences. Both facilitators and attendees will share personal anecdotes, highlighting that even accomplished individuals have grappled with Impostor Phenomenon.Participants will embark on a guided tour of the ACT RNT model, which synthesizes ACT and RFT principles. This model provides practical guidance for embracing defusion, self-acceptance and personal growth. Interactive role/real-play, and experiential exercises will allow attendees to apply ACT RNT techniques to real-life Impostor Phenomenon scenarios.

Join us in this informative workshop, where we collectively explore Impostor Phenomenon, develop strategies for overcoming it, and foster a supportive community dedicated to personal growth and empowerment.

Process-based approaches to psychotherapy conceptualize interventions and clients within an evolutionary framework. Intentionally chosen interventions are introduced to move from maladaptive to adaptive behavioral patterns by generating new behavior. Some of 21 20 Abstracts Abstracts 26 - 28 July     Nicosia, Cyprus 26 - 28 July     Nicosia, Cyprus this behavior may be useful for the client in their unique context, such as a decrease in suffering or an increase in vitality. Thereafter, the therapist and client work together to maintain these changes. Processbased approaches to psychotherapy encourage therapists to examine their clients’ situation on the dimensions of affect, cognition, attention, self, motivation, and overt behavior. Furthermore, these approaches include different levels of analysis, such as the biophysiological and sociocultural level. In this panel, we will explore how process-based approaches to psychotherapy can be taught and learned. Panelists will address issues related to: how the approach can be implemented in a psychotherapy curriculum; whether the approach benefits learners in becoming flexible and effective therapists; and how to refine conceptualizations and interventions once a preliminary client analysis has been conducted. Panelists will present cases that will be discussed and reflected upon using process-based concepts. Educational Objectives: 1. Describe how process-based approaches can be taught in psychotherapy curricula 2. Discuss the benefits and difficulties of applying process-based approaches for psychotherapists in training 3. Explain how therapists in training use the process-based approach to conduct case conceptualization.

Psychiatric disorders are common, and reliable measures are crucial for research and clinical practice. A cross-diagnostic construct that can be used to index treatment outcomes as well as prevalence of psychological ill health is psychological flexibility. The aim of this study was to validate a Swedish version of the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI). The MPFI has 12 subscales, six of which measure flexibility, and six that measure inflexibility. Using confirmatory factor analysis in a community sample of 670 participants, we found that a model with 12 factors had the best fit to the data(CFI = .955). All 12 subscales showed adequate reliability (CRs = .803-.933) and the factor structure was similar across age groups and gender. Findings suggest that the Swedish version ofthe MPFI is a reliable instrument that can be used to index psychological flexibility. Potential areas for improvement of the instrument are discussed.

Are you a CBT-trained Clinician or an ACT-head that wants to dip your toes in cognitive change? This workshop focuses on a process-based approach to CBT, from the Extended Evolutionary Meta-Model (EEMM) understanding of maladaptive and adaptive variations, selection, and retention of cognitions. Participants will learn how to make cognitive modification strategies more contextual and flexible, and practice using defusion-based techniques to support clients in acting purposefully in line with their values. Additionally, the workshop will introduce participants to RFT conceptualizations, to enhance their flexibility in applying these processes. This is an opportunity to grow your abilities, expand your understanding, and provide better outcomes for your clients. Educational Objectives: 1. Discuss when and how cognitive modification strategies can be used even within ACT with a focus on workability. 2. Practice using a number of defusion based strategies in valued directions within role play/real play. 3. Demonstrate skill and confidence in working with thinking in a CBS consistent way.

The college years are frequently understood as being a carefree time in a young person's life, however, research suggests that these are formative and challenging times for many. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a brief internet intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for promoting general mental health among college students. As far as can be determined, the impact of an online guided self-help version of (i) contact with the present moment, (ii) cognitive defusion and (iii) self-as-context processes of ACT on mental health has never been tested in a student-based randomized trial. The current study was a randomized controlled wait-list trial consisting of a 3-week intervention and a 3-week follow-up phase. Out of 174 participants, 113 were included in the analysis. Inclusion criteria were: (1) no formal diagnosis of mental health disorders, (2) no previous experience of ACT, mindfulness or mindfulness-based exercises, (3) over 18 years of age, and (4) currently registered as a university or college student. Participants were randomly assigned to an ACT-based intervention (N = 87) or a wait-list control (N = 87). Neither investigators nor participants were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome measure was general mental health (GHQ-12). Depression, Anxiety and Stress were also measured (DASS-21) as well as psychological flexibility (AAQ-2) at pre- and post-intervention, and 3-week follow-up. The results indicated significant improvements in general mental health in the ACT processes group compared with the wait-list control group (p = .005, d = 0.48) at post treatment but not at follow-up. There were no significant differences between the groups on any other outcome measures. The results from this study provide some support for the effectiveness of a brief web-based ACT intervention to enhance general mental health. However, there were no significant comparative improvements, but trends, for depression, anxiety or stress.