&hw. Res. Thu. Vol. 26. No. 5. pp. v-viii, 1988 Pergamon Press plc. Printed in Great Britain

PREFACE

On the occasion of the Third World Congress of Behaviour Therapy in September 1988, it is a great pleasure to introduce the publication of this Special Issue of Behatliour Research and Therapy. There can be no doubt that the Journal has played an immensely important formative role in development of behaviour therapy throughout the world. It is therefore fitting that this Journal should mark the occasion of the Edinburgh Congress with a publication of papers from some of the most outstanding contributors to behaviour therapy. I am delighted to have this opportunity of giving a very warm welcome to those contributing to this Special participating in the 1988 World Congress of Behaviour Therapy.

Behuviour

Issue, and to everybody

ANDREW MATHEWS Programme Chair

Therapy World Congress Edinburgh, 1988

WELCOME TO EDINBURGH

Edinburgh is one of the world’s most beautiful and interesting cities. It is also one of the most friendly and welcoming. Delegates to the World Congress will find a wide range of activities to suit their taste. Just before the Congress, the Edinburgh Festival will be held, during which renowned artists, singers, opera companies, dancers, actors and musicians from around the world will take part in literally hundreds of performances. Other events are held at the same time from street comedy or jazz to a book festival and from high-brow to low-brow. Some of the events will continue during the Congress, but why not combine business with pleasure and attend the full Festival? Details are available from the Festival Society Office, Market Street, Edinburgh.

Apart from the Festival, Edinburgh has a range of cultural attractions as befits an ancient capital city. Many galleries, museums, theatres, cinemas and concert halls can be found, often free of entry charge. A major attraction of Edinburgh is that it is a marvellous place to walk round, with lots of gardens and green open space, castles, Georgian streets, quaint alley-ways, beautiful old buildings, and interesting shops and cafes.

Eating and drinking are well provided for, with many local restaurants being recent holders of international awards for culinary excellence. Particularly numerous are Indian, Chinese and Italian restaurants, but there are also restaurants ranging from Russian and Armenian to Japanese and Thai. Most pubs in Edinburgh also sell good but moderately priced food, as well as excellent beer and whiskies. High quality wines from all over the world can be obtained from several local dealers. Delegates will be given a specially prepared list of the best restaurants and pubs.

Edinburgh has excellent facilities for sport and recreation. Spectators can watch soccer, rugby, athletics, ice-hockey and horseracing amongst others. Participants can play golf on several impressive courses, play tennis, go swimming in the Commonweath Games pool, go fishing, or ski on a dry slope. The Pentland Hills are a superb area for hill-walking, sloping down to the edge of the city. Despite their proximity and ready accessibility, they have a remarkably remote atmosphere. Other activities catered for include water sports, rock-climbing, butterfly collecting, amateur botany, industrial archaeology and horse-riding. No matter what you want to do, you can probably do it in Edinburgh!

Edinburgh is a good centre for touring around Scotland. Just to the south are the Border hills, beloved of Walter Scott and Robert Burns. The Highland mountains are within easy reach, as are numerous quaint fishing villages. Glasgow with its famous Burrell Art Collection and Garden Festival is only one hour away.

In addition to all this, an extensive programme of entertainment will be laid on for delegates to the Congress.

Scotland’s behaviour therapists hope you will be able to attend, and will be proud to welcome you to Edinburgh.

DAVE PECK Department of Psychiatry

Uniuersity of Edinburgh Scotland

(Member of the Congress Organizing Committee)

EDITORIAL

It is no coincidence that this World Congress of Behaviour Therapy is taking place one year after we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of this Journal. The National and International Associations of Behaviour Therapy and the Journal, are fruits of the same events, and they serve some common functions. Behauiour Research and Therapy, the first journal in the field, was established to provide a medium for encouraging, collating and disseminating the ideas and results of the new approach to psychotherapy, and to clinical psychology in general. The national associations pursue the same ends.

Our original hope was that the publication of the Journal would stimulate scientific interest in the ideas which are fundamental to behaviour therapy and to promote the introduction of the new methods of therapy and new methods of investigation. In his “History of Behaviour Modification”, Kazdin noted that the Journal and its followers mirrored the creation of behaviour therapy, but we like to believe that Behaviour Research and Therapy has been more than a passive conduit; we have attempted to do more than distribute material received.

As Professor Wolpe writes in his contribution to this Special Issue, there was a debate about the advisability of establishing a journal devoted specifically to behaviour therapy. It was feared that such a journal might siphon off the best material on the subject, and impede the penetration of behaviour therapy into conventional, established publications. During this same period there was a similar debate about a plan to establish a separate institution for behaviour therapy, a combined clinic, teaching and research institute-an Institute of Behaviour Therapy.

In the event, the establishment of the Journal did not prevent the dissemination of publications into general journals, at least not in psychology. The presence and influence of behaviour therapy is evident in all of the leading journals. The same cannot be said for journals of psychiatry, but this division between psychology and psychiatry obviously has deeper roots than journal policy. The greater acceptability of behaviour therapy in psychology than in psychiatry is a complex matter, and goes far beyond the influence of Behaviour Research and Therapy.

The debate concluded and the Journal was established in 1963. It flourished and was followed by the appearance of several competitors. The debate about the advisability of establishing a separate Institute of Behaviour Therapy, had a different ending. The critics who felt that setting up a separate institution might result in the growth of an isolated cult, won the debate and the planned institute was never established. The two dilemmas were, I believe, correctly resolved.

We trust that the Journal has played a significant and productive role in the development of behaviour therapy and research, and are therefore particularly pleased, and proud, to participate in this impressive meeting of scientists and clinicians from so many countries. In recognition of this historical event, it was decided to publish this Special Issue.

DR S. RACHWAN The Editor

Department of Psychology University of British Columbia

Canada

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