Call For Papers

Special Issue - Call for Papers – Second Issue

Case Studies of Treatment for Parental Alienation

While the case study research method has been critiqued for its scientific value, this research approach has been increasingly recognized as important for better understanding the complexity of the therapeutic process. Single-case studies are also important for their contribution to theoretical development in clinical fields, and the aggregation of case studies (meta synthesis) and case comparison studies have led to findings on issues related to treatment. This knowledge can protect vulnerable populations, such as children, from unnecessary research interventions.

While research on parental alienation has been accumulating at a rapid pace (Harman, Warshak, Lorandos, & Florian, 2022), much still needs to be learned about clinical work with families affected by parental alienation. The purpose of this special issue of the European Journal of Parental Alienation Practice is to present case studies of clinical work with parties affected by, or at risk for, parental alienation.

The editorial board will consider several different types of case studies for this special issue:

Clinical case studies: narrative reports by the therapist of what happened during a therapy, together with the therapist’s interpretations of what happened. Specific methods might be used (e.g., questionnaire), yet it is still the therapist that uses and interprets these.

Systematic case studies: a systematized alternative for the clinical case where (a) data are gathered from different sources so convergence can be considered and (b) there is a researcher/team involved in the analyses of the material rather than merely the therapist.

Single-case experiment or N = 1 trial, single subject design, or N = 1 subject experiment: Use rigorous methods to test hypotheses about effects of treatment. The goal is to measure specific changes that can be ascribed to the use of specific interventions. Changes are compared to baseline scores of target behaviour.

All manuscripts will require a 200-word abstract and must adhere to the following format:

Theoretical and Research Basis for Treatment
Case Introduction - this should include the client system involved, such as individual or family, the identified patient (if any), gender, age, race, ethnicity of the individual or parties, how informed consent for the case study was obtained.
Presenting Complaints
History
Assessment - Diagnostic system used (e.g., DSM)
Case Conceptualization - this is where the clinician’s thinking and treatment selection come to the forefront.
Clinician details - This should include details on number of therapists, if there was a main therapist, the therapist(s) age, gender, ethnicity, education/training, experience.
Course of Treatment and Assessment of Progress - Provide details on setting of therapy, duration, number of sessions, session frequency, outcome.
Complicating Factors (including medical management)
Access and Barriers to Care
Follow-Up (how and how long)
Treatment Implications of the Case
Recommendations to Clinicians and Students.