Launch of Focus on Psychotherapy Section by The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

The section has featured significant contributions, including randomized clinical trials (RCTs) such as:

- Prolonged exposure therapy paired with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or sleep hygiene for insomnia (Colvonen et al, 2025;86[3]:24m15584);

- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) with or without quetiapine aimed at reducing suicidal ideation in bipolar II disorder patients (Bailey et al, 2025;86[4]:24m15768);

- Intranasal oxytocin combined with behavioral couple therapy for alcohol use (Flanagan et al, 2025; 86[2]:24m15627); and

- One-day CBT workshops for postpartum women led by public health nurses, compared to standard treatment (Layton et al, 2025;86[2]:24m15712).

Interestingly, two of these RCTs assessed the combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, with findings indicating that psychotherapy alone was effective as a monotherapy. This highlights the ongoing significance of psychotherapy research.

The Focus on Psychotherapy section also includes two meta-analyses on posttraumatic stress disorder in military populations (Liu et al, 2025;86[2]:24r15571) and peer-administered interventions for peripartum depression and anxiety (Mansoor et al, 2026;87[1]:25r15805). Additionally, it features studies on patient treatment preferences, surveys on psychotherapists' preferences for in-office versus remote treatments post-COVID, and strategies for supporting psychotherapy during psychedelic treatments.

Despite the high costs and limited funding compared to pharmaceuticals, research has created a strong empirical basis for psychotherapy. However, numerous essential clinical questions remain unanswered, especially with the rise of digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence in mental health care. Research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of change in therapy, as well as how to effectively tailor treatment across varying populations and settings.

Emerging questions concern the comparison of clinical outcomes from in-person, virtual, and hybrid psychotherapy formats, the impact of technology on therapeutic alliance and engagement, and the integration of new evidence-based tools into practice while ensuring safety and ethical standards.

The JCP's Focus on Psychotherapy aims to facilitate research addressing these important questions. The editors encourage researchers involved in psychotherapy across various modalities and populations to submit their work. They express gratitude to peer reviewers whose evaluations enhance the scholarship's quality and impact. The section invites fellow colleagues to join the review community, especially encouraging seasoned scholars to mentor early-career colleagues to nurture the next generation of researchers and clinicians committed to supporting psychotherapy.

By advancing meaningful psychotherapy research, the JCP aims to reinforce the scientific foundation of psychiatric practice and underscore psychotherapy’s critical role in improving patient outcomes. The editors reaffirm that psychotherapy is essential to clinical psychiatry and welcome contributions to ensure its continued growth and relevance.