How does psychotherapy work? A case study in multilevel explanation. (8th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roache, Rebecca
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 38(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-06-08
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X14000284
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: Multilevel explanations abound in psychiatry. However, formulating useful such explanations is difficult or (some argue) impossible. I point to several ways in which Lane et al. successfully use multilevel explanations to advance understanding of psychotherapeutic effectiveness. I argue that the usefulness of an explanation depends largely on one's purpose, and conclude that this point has been inadequately recognised in psychiatry.