CHP 15 TREATMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Flashcards
Biological therapies
medical approaches to disease/illness
perspective that mental disorders result from abnormalities in neural + biological processes
Psychotherapy
formal psychological treatment (interactions between practitioner and client) aimed at changing patterns of emotion, thoughts, and behavior
Psychopharmacology
use of medications that affect the brain or body functions
Insight
the goal of psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis (early psychodynamic therapy)
treatment involved uncovering unconscious feelings and drives that gave rise to maladaptive thoughts and behaviors
techniques: free associatoin, dream analysis
Psychodynamic therapy
approach in which therapists help clients identify their needs, defenses, and motives, in order to better understand the cause of their distress
Behavior therapy
based on the idea that behavior is learned and can be unlearned through the use of classical and operant conditioning
learn through modeling
Exposure
type of behavioral therapy treatment in which clients are repeatedly exposed to an anxiety-producing stimulus or situation
effective for psychological disorders that involve anxiety and fear (including OCD)
prolonged exposure is effective for PTSD
Dopamine and behavioral therapy
dopamine-releasing neurons code prediction error (a dip in dopamine after the US doesn’t follow the CS weakens negative association)
Cognitive therapy
distorted thoughts produce maladaptive behaviors and emotions, and treatments attempt to modify these thought patterns
Cognitive restructuring
helping clients recognize and change maladaptive thought patterns
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
therapy that uses techniques from cognitive and behavioral therapies to change maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns
Client-centered therapy
focus on empathy, encourages people to fulfill their individual potentials for personal growth through greater self-understanding
show unconditional positive regard for client
Reflective listening
a technique in client-centered therapy in which the therapist repeats the client’s concerns to help the person clarify their feelings
Motivational interviewing
a client-centered therapy technique that involves pointing out the positive changes in client through treatment
Group therapy
advantageous because it provides members an opportunity to practice social skills and learn from each other’s experiences
Psychotropic medications
drugs that affect mental processes
1. Anti-anxiety drugs
2. Anti-depressants
3. Antipsychotics
4. Mood stabilizers (lithium)
5. Anticonvulsants (for seizures)
Anti-anxiety drugs
type of psychotropic med that is used to treat anxiety (commonly called tranquilizers) ex. Valium, Xanax
they INCREASE activity of GABA (which inhibits neural transmissions, induce drowsiness, and are highly addictive
Antidepressants
type of psychotropic meds used to treat depression
have monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, tricyclics antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that block the reuptake of serotonin and increase the activation of serotonin receptors in postsynaptic neurons
Antipsychotics
type of psychotropic med used for treatment of disorders that involve psychosis (aka neurleptics)
side effect is tardive dyskinesia (involuntary twitching of muscles)
Alternative biological treatments
Electroconvulsive therapy
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Deep brain stimulation
Electroconvulsive therapy
a type of biological treatment in which a strong electrical current is administered to the patient’s brain to produce a seizure (disrupts nerulogical patterns)
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
a type of biological treatment in which a powerful electrical current produces a powerful magnetic field, which is switched off and on rapidly to induce an electrical current in the brain
Single-pulse TMS
disruption of the brain activity occurs only during the brief period of stimulation
Repeated TMS
multiple pulses of TMS occur over extended period which strengthens neurological patterns
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
electrodes are surgically implanted deep within the brain, then mild electricity is used to stimulate the brain at an optimal frequency and intensity
Psychological treatment’s 3 distinguishing features from generic psychotherapy
- treatments vary by psychological disorder and person’s specific psychological symptoms
- treatment techniques have been developed in a lab by psychologists
- treatment is based on evidence of its effectiveness
Counterproductive treatments
scaring (kids from drugs, crimes, etc.)
using hypnosis to recover painful memories
Treatment for anxiety
cognitive-behavioral therapy and anxiety-reducing drugs (sometimes)
Treatment for specific phobias
behavioral techniques (systematic desensitization)
Treatments for panic disorder
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
cognitive restructuring (recognize irrationality of fear)
breaking connection between trigger symptom and resulting panic
Treatments for OCD
CBT is most effective, can pair with antidepressants (they alone don’t work super well)
CBT: exposure and response prevention
Antidepressant treatment
SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), they have fewer serious side effects than MAO and tricyclics
Treatments for depression
CBT and antidepressants are equally effective, combining the two can be more effective
regular aerobic exercise
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is good for severely depressed
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), but needs repeated sesions
Treatments for bipolar disorder
psychotropic med (especially LITHIUM which is a mood stabilizer)
Lithium and side effects
a psychotropic medication that stabilizes mood. Side effects are thirst, tremors, excessive urination, memory problems. Works better for MANIA
Antipsychotic teatments for Schizophrenia
atypical antipsychotics like Cloapine
Clozapine improves positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia
it acts on receptors for dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and histamine
can have serious side effects related to heart problems and white blood cell count
Psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia
social skills training
Treatment for personality disorder
difficult because clients see their environment as the problem
for borderline personality disorder, use dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
used to treat boerderlinen personality disorder that combines elements of behavioral and cognitive treatments with a mindfulness approach
Phase 1: change extreme behaviors
Phase 2: explore past traumas that may be the cause of the disorder
Phase 3: develop feelings of independence and self-respect
Treatments for Antisocial Personality Disorder
wait until they’re 40 XD prevention is more promising than treatment
