Psychological Therapies Flashcards
Describe how exposure therapy works.
Treat phobias through exposure to the feared CS (e.g. car) in the absence of the UCS (e.g. accident) Response prevention is used to keep the operant avoidant response from occurring This is highly effective at reducing anxiety states
Why is exposure therapy controversial?
It causes intense temporary anxiety
Describe the basis in learning theory of exposure therapy.
It is influenced by both classic and operant conditioning approaches
Outline how cognitive therapy works.
Cognitive therapy diagram
Compare the effectiveness of CBT with the effectiveness of anti-depressants.
CBT has a much lower rate of relapse than anti-depressants
What conditions are psychological therapies recommended for in the NICE guidelines?
Depression Social anxiety Generalised anxiety disorder PTSD OCD Bulimia Panic disorder and specific phobia Schizophrenia
How do phobias develop?
- Before conditioning: e.g. raised heart rate, or supermarket
* No fear or anxiety - During conditioning: raised heart rate (CS) +Traumatic incident (UCS)
* Fear, anxiety (UCR) - After conditioning: raised heart rate, or supermarket (CS)
* High fear, anxiety (CR)
What is the Two-factor theory of maintenance of conditioned associations?
- Raised heart rate, supermarket (CS) + Traumatic incident (UCS)
* High fear, anxiety (CR) - Avoid raised heart rate, supermarkets etc.
* Fear is reduced
* Tendency to avoid raised heart rate, supermarkets etc.
is strengthened
What is the cognitive theory of panic?
What is the main goal and 3 major schools of psychological therapy?
- Goal of all psychotherapy is to help people change maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns
- Major schools:
- Psychodynamic
- Behavioural
- Cognitive
What are behavioural therapies based on?
Behavioural approaches believe that:
- Maladaptive behaviours are not merely symptoms of underlying problems
- The behaviours are the problem
- Problem behaviours are learned in the same ways normal behaviours are
What are the core features of cognitive behavioural therapy?
- Focuses on problematic beliefs and behaviours that maintain disorders (‘here and now’ rather than original causes).
- Goal oriented i.e. Specific and measurable
- Collaborative relationship between therapist and patient
- Brief (8-16 sessions)
- ‘Scientific’ approach e.g. Collecting data, testing hypotheses
What is the definition of a depressive episode?
A depressive episode is characterized by:
- a period of almost daily depressed mood or diminished interest in activities lasting at least two weeks
What are the symptoms of depression?
- difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness
- excessive or inappropriate guilt, hopelessness, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide,
- changes in appetite or sleep,
- psychomotor agitation or retardation,
- reduced energy or fatigue.
What are the NICE guidelines for treatment of depression?
- CBT is first line for mild to moderate depression
* Do not use antidepressants routinely to treat persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms or mild depression because the risk–benefit ratio is poor - Consider antidepressants for people with:
- a past history of moderate or severe depression or
- subthreshold depressive symptoms present for a long time or
- subthreshold depressive symptoms or mild depression that persist(s) after other interventions.
