The (Clinical) Point

BillJanie@aol.com
Fri, 8 Mar 1996 14:53:39 -0500

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Lois,
=0D
The Core is the essential phenomenon that =

the method of corresponding regressions =

measures. The method of corresponding =

regressions should be useful in helping us =

determine which constructs are made up of =

other constructs.
=0D
For example, lets say you have a client who =

cuts her arms. You want to study the series of =

constructs that add up in her mind to "cut my =

arm." You collect a group of experiences in the =

patients life- such as "talking with boy friend =

after school", "hearing mom and dad fight", etc. =

Get about 50 of these. Now ask the client to rate =

these experiences along the constructs that you =

think may be clinically significant. Lets say they =

are A: "makes me feel angry", B:"makes me feel =

empty"and C: "makes me want to cut myself". =

There are no doubt many more that a clinician =

could mention and you could use as many as =

seem of clinical interest. =

=0D
Have the client rate the 50 experiences on the =

constructs. Do the corresponding regressions =

analysis. It should tell you which of the =

experiences add up to "Cut myself", if any. =

=0D
I do not know the psychology of "cutters". =

Clinicians may know what goes through their =

minds. But given enough clients, with enough =

problems, sooner or later all run into a case =

where the client's constructions are obscure and =

perhaps unknown to anyone. You could spend =

many hours or even years trying to figure out how =

it all goes together. In theory, at least, a grid and =

corresponding regressions should make the =

information available relatively immediately, saving =

you time and the danger of making a mistake in =

figuring out the client's constructions.
=0D
It could require more than 20 minutes of your time =

to gain these skills, but the benefit to you and =

your patients, in theory, should far exceed your =

investment in understanding the psychometrics. =

And a computer program could be prepared by =

someone like me to do the actual math for you. =

=0D
Let your imagination run. Would it be useful to =

very quickly and explicitly see what makes =

your client's "tic". You do not always have much =

time before your client loses faith in you as a =

therapist. They sometimes think good doctors =

can just about read their minds. Take too long, =

and they may dismiss you and go back to more =

reliable ways of construing, like cutting their =

arms. Or they may linger, waiting for you to =

figure out what leads up to the cutting. Sooner or =

later, she might get unlucky and hit an artery. And =

then she is dead. Or he jumps from a building or =

she divorces her husband or he hits his kid or =

what ever. =

=0D
This psychology stuff can be hard.
=0D
Let me know what you think.
=0D
Bill =

=0D

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