Psychological therapies Flashcards
What is CBT and what can it be used for?
Cognitive behavioural thearpy is a programme usually lasting ~12 weeks. It focusesses on the here and now, how our thoughts relate to our feelings and behaviour and is problem and goal focussed.
It can be done in an individual or group setting or as a self help book/computer programme.
Therapist helps patient to access whether thoughts are unrealistic or unhelpful (thinking errors) and then the patient is given hoemwork to challenge these unhepful thoughts.
As with all the psycholoical therpies, this can only help if the patient engages.
CBT is particularly good for depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD and PTSD.
What is behavioural activation?
Focus on avoided activites:
requires patients to schedule activities they would have avoided, the looks at the cognitive process involved in advoidance.
Focuses on what predicts and maintains an unhelpful response by various reinforcers. Patient is taught to anaylse unintended consquences of their way of responding.
Particularly good in depression as it causes people to avoid alot of things, however it can be difficult for people with depression to do these things as depression robs then of the joy, energy, want ect
What is Interpersonal psychotherapy? (IPT)
Treatment used for depression and anxiety
Usually 12-16 weeks long
Focused on the present rather than looking at the past.
Depression often occurs after a disturbing change in someones life an interpersonal event such as a berevement, dispute, role transition or interpersonal deficit (difficulty relating to others).
What IPT does is maps out the patients key relationships and identify where difficulties might be, then focus is placed on areas that may be causing/maintianing these depressive symptoms and how the patient relates in these relationships. Then each week they set goals to try and acheive/ do within their relationships.
No formal homework so may be preferable for some people.
requires the ability to reflect and can be difficult in someone has limited interpersonal support/relationships to work on.
What is motivational interviewing?
Used where behaviour change is being considered (e.g. stopping smoking), when a patient may be unmotivated or ambivalent to change.
Is more effective than just giving advice.
Express empathy- understand the patient’s predicament
Avoid argument- arugments make people defensive
Support self-efficacy -patient sets agenda, generates what they might consider changing
