Introducing SYPRENE: An International Practice Research Network for Strategic and Systemic Therapists and Researchers

Abstract

SYPRENE, a new international Systemic Practice Research Network (PRN), has been established to fill the gap in practice-based research on the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic therapies. This article presents the rationale for the creation of SYPRENE and describes data collection methods, and the encoding system implemented within this PRN. More developments are expected in the recruitment of practitioners, the types of data collected, findings, and the implementation of SYPRENE in supervision, trainings, and professional schools.

Redundant Attempted Solutions: 50 Years of Theory, Evolution, and New Supporting Data

“…SYPRENE (Vitry et al, 2020) takes into account different elements (in order to better analyse the link between the intervention and the effect obtained: (1) RAS with evaluation of the problem‐solving outcome from the client’s and therapist's perspective; (2) effect of homework and reframing; (3) emotional change; and (4) since 2019, the ORS/SRS 5 (Miller & Duncan, 2004) have also been administered. When larger data samples are collected, these assessments will make it possible to better understand the processes that help to resolve clients’ problems.…”

“…Data in SYPRENE are collected from both practitioners and clients, and then entered digitally into the data‐recording system by the practitioners (Vitry et al, 2020). Practitioners all undergo an initial 90‐minute training in the use of SYPRENE, and then engage in a monthly online conference to discuss cases and assessments.…”

“…RAS (Vitry et al, 2020, 2021) are: ‘Communication actions repeatedly attempted by the person, his entourage or his cultural system to solve a life difficulty with him/herself, others or the world, without succeeding; they create a problem that they perpetuate and aggravate by keeping the affected person(s) blocked in a restricted perception of the situation. These redundant actions, which can generate further emotional distress, take the form of language, behaviors or thoughts, intentional or unintentional.…”

“…SYPRENE, a systemic practice research network created by LACT 1 Research (Vitry et al, 2020), is a unique online data collection tool which allows naturalistic studies of the differential effectiveness of therapeutic processes by type of problem treated. Although MRI strategic‐interactional therapy has ‘stood the test of time’ (Hale & Frusha, 2016) and there is some empirical support that strategic therapy works (e.g., see Horigian et al, 2016; Jackson et al, 2018; Wittezaele & Nardone, 2016), the limited transferability of laboratory‐based efficacy research into everyday clinical practice is often stressed in the literature (Baucom et al, 2018; Seligmann, 1995; Tasca et al, 2015; Teachman et al, 2012).…”

“…Looking for solutions to fill the gap between laboratory and naturalistic psychotherapy outcome studies, practice research networks (PRNs) were introduced in the 1990s, in the hope that large numbers of cases coming from real‐life clinical practice would allow specific information valid for everyday practice and thus greater generalisability of results and conclusions to be obtained. SYPRENE was developed to accomplish this with systemic therapies, beginning with the MRI strategic approach (Vitry et al, 2020).…”