21. Psychotherapy Flashcards
Describe: Psychotherapy (3)
- treatment in which a person with mental or physical difficulties aims to achieve symptomatic relief through interactions with another person
- psychotherapy is delivered by a trained counsellor, social worker, nurse, psychologist, general practitioner, or psychiatrist
- various types of therapy exist based on diverse theories of human psychology and mental illness etiology
Name Common Factors of Psychotherapy (3)
- good evidence that effective psychotherapy creates observable changes in brain circuitry and connectivity, but these changes are different from those observed with successful pharmacologic and other treatment modalities
- studies suggest that up to 60-90% of therapy outcome is due to common factors with only 10-40% due to specific factors
- common factors are: warmth (unconditional positive regard), accurate empathy, genuineness, goodness of fit, relationship with provider predicts positive outcomes
Describe: Freudian Psyche (3)
- id: instinctual drives, unconscious
- superego: person’s conscience, formed by societal/parental norms
- ego: latin “I”, sense of self, conscious actions, attempts to satisfy drives of id within confines of reality and demands of superego
Name indications: Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic therapy (5)
- Anxiety
- obsessional thinking
- conversion disorder
- sexual dysfunction
- depression
Describe approach, technique and theory: Psychoanalytic/ Psychodynamic therapy (3)
- Theory: Exploration of meaning of early experiences and how they affect emotions and patterns of behaviour
- Recollection (remembering), repetition (reliving with the therapist), working through (gaining insight)
- Techniques: free association, dream interpretation, transference analysis
Name ideal candidates: Psychoanalytic/ Psychodynamic therapy (3)
- Psychologically minded, highly motivated, wish to understand selves and not just relieve symptoms
- Able to withstand difficult emotions without fleeing or self-destructive acts
- High level of function
Describe duration: Psychoanalytic/ Psychodynamic therapy (2)
Time intensive:
- Psychoanalysis: 4-5 times/wk for 3-7 yr
- Psychodynamically oriented therapy: 2-3 times/wk for fewer years
Name indications: Supportive Therapy (2)
- Adjustment disorders
- somatic symptoms and related disorders
- severe psychotic or personality disorders
Describe approach, technique and theory: Supportive Therapy (2)
- Ameliorate symptoms through behavioural or environmental restructuring to aid adaptation and facilitate coping
- Help patients feel safe, secure, and encouraged
Name ideal candidates: Supportive Therapy (2)
- Individuals in crisis or with severe symptoms in acute or chronic settings
- Low insight, low motivation, ”weak” ego systems
Describe duration: Supportive Therapy (1)
Variable (single session to years, though often short-intermittent)
Name indications: Interpersonal Therapy (1)
Mood disorders
Describe approach, technique and theory: Interpersonal Therapy (3)
- Focuses on how interpersonal relationships impact symptoms
- 4 key problem areas addressed:
- 1 grief and loss
- role transitions
- conflict
- interpersonal deficits
- Break the interpersonal cycle: depression, self- esteem, social withdrawal
Name ideal candidates: Interpersonal Therapy (2)
- Individuals with depression or bipolar disorder with some insight and difficult social functioning
- Absence of severe psychotic process, personality disorder, or comorbid substance abuse
Describe duration: Interpersonal Therapy (1)
Weekly sessions, 12-20 sessions
Name indications: Behavioural Therapy (1)
- Most mental health disorders benefit from specific application of behavioural therapy (i.e. behavioural activation for depression; exposure therapy for phobias; contingency management for anorexia nervosa and substance use disorder)