Advancing Clinical Psychology: Current Research, Emerging Therapies, and Future Perspectives

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About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 4 July 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 17 November 2025

  2. This Research Topic is still accepting articles.

Background

Psychology for Clinical Settings continues to evolve as a critical field of study, fostering a deeper understanding of psychological disorders, their underlying mechanisms, and effective therapeutic interventions. Research in this area is advancing rapidly, with emerging studies shedding light on innovative approaches to clinical practice and the dynamic processes involved in psychological treatment. Despite these advancements, there remain significant gaps in our knowledge, particularly regarding the etiology, maintenance, and complex interactions of various mental disorders, as well as the comparative efficacy and long-term effectiveness of different treatment modalities across diverse populations.

This Research Topic aims to bring together new research and developments from international researchers in clinical and dynamic psychology. The focus is on breaking new ground in the science of clinical psychology, delving into various psychological disorders, treatment methodologies, and therapeutic outcomes. The collection hopes to answer pivotal questions concerning the causal and maintenance processes underlying mental disorders, the personalization and adaptability of interventions, and the effectiveness of emerging treatments in clinical contexts.

The collection seeks high-quality manuscripts using experimental and quasi-experimental designs, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews of treatment outcomes that contribute to the growing evidence base in clinical psychology.

To gather further insights in clinical psychology, this Research Topic welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Mechanisms Psychopathology: Advances in understanding the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms that underlie the onset and maintenance of mental disorders.
• Innovative Therapeutic Approaches for Psychological Disorders: Development and evaluation of new therapeutic modalities.
• Mechanisms of Psychological Intervention Efficacy: Research on tailoring interventions based on individual differences, including neurobiological markers, cognitive styles, personality traits, and comorbid conditions.
• Comparative Analyses of Treatment Methodologies: Studies examining the relative efficacy, efficiency, and acceptability of different psychotherapeutic interventions across various diagnostic categories and clinical populations.
• Longitudinal studies on Therapy Outcomes: Studies evaluating the processes of change in therapy, mediators and moderators of treatment effects, and long-term follow-up outcomes.
• Integrative and Interdisciplinary Approaches: Contributions that bridge clinical psychology with related disciplines such as neuroscience, psychiatry, public health, and education to promote comprehensive models of mental health care.
• Early Intervention and Prevention: Innovations in identifying and addressing mental health risks before full disorder onset, particularly in children, adolescents, and other at-risk populations.
• Cultural and Cross-National Perspectives: Clinical research focusing on diverse populations and global mental health disparities.
• Technology-Enhanced Clinical Interventions: Examination of digital tools in assessment and therapy, including mobile health (mHealth) applications, “telepsychology”, virtual reality interventions, and AI-assisted therapeutic platforms.

Contributions are encouraged from both attendees of the XXIV Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia Clinica e Dinamica, as well as from researchers globally. For more information about the conference, please visit the dedicated website: https://aipass.org/eventi/xxiv-congresso-nazionale-della-sezione-di-psicologia-clinica-e-dinamica/

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Case Report
  • Clinical Trial
  • Conceptual Analysis
  • Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: Clinical Psychology, Therapeutic Interventions, Psychological Disorders, Treatment Methodologies, Evidence-Based Practices

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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