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
Highly effective at reducing anxiety states
Why is exposure therapy controversial?
Causes intense temporary anxiety
Describe what influences the basis in learning theory of exposure therapy.
Both classic + operant conditioning approaches
Describe the cognitive model of panic disorder.
Individuals with panic interpret certain bodily sensations in a catastrophic fashion
Sensations (esp. those involved in normal anxiety responses e.g. palpitations) are considered to be a sign of impending physical or psychological disaster
e.g. palpitations = “I’m having heart attack”
What is the cognitive theory model?
Stimulus
Cognitive appraisal
Response
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 + specific phobia Schizophrenia
What is a panic attack? What symptoms may accompany a panic attack?
Sudden onset of intense apprehension + fear
Shortness of breath
Palpitations
Chest pain
Define agoraphobia
Fear + avoidance of places/ situations that might cause panic
What do behavioural approaches believe?
Maladaptive behaviours are not merely symptoms of underlying problems
The behaviours are the problem
Problem behaviours are learned in the same ways normal behaviours
What does psychodynamic therapy aim to address?
ID (instincts)
Ego (decisions)
Superego (values)
Describe the course of the cognitive theory of panic
Internal/ external trigger Perceived threat Anxiety Physical/ cognitive symptoms Misinterpretation (cycles back to anxiety)
What does CBT for cardiac anxiety focus on? What techniques may this involve?
Problematic beliefs + behaviours that maintain disorders
Goal oriented i.e. Specific + measurable
Psychoeducation, relaxation techniques, graded exposure
What characterises a depressive episode?
Almost daily depressed mood or diminished interest in activities lasting >, 2 weeks
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Change in appetite/ sleep
When is there a highly significant difference in symptom improvement between antidepressants and placebos?
In severe baseline depression
