Psychological therapies Flashcards
What groups of mental health conditions can be treated using psychological therapies
Affective (mood) & anxiety disorders:
Substance misuse disorders
Disorders of reaction to psychological stress
Give examples of affective & anxiety disorders that can be treated using psychological therapies
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Panic disorder & Phobic anxiety disorders
Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD)
Give examples of substance misuse disorders that are amenable to psychological therapies
Disorders due to:
- alcohol
- tobacco
- opioids
- benzos
- stimulants - eg amphetamines
Give examples of disorders of reaction to psychological stress that are amenable to psychological therapies
PTSD
What are the 4 main psychological therapies that can be used in treating mental health conditions?
CBT - Cognitive behavioural therapy
Behavioural activation
IPT - Interpersonal therapy
Motivational interviewing
What is the focus of CBT?
What conditions is it useful for?
Focusses on how our thoughts relate to our feelings and behaviours. Therapists help the patient to identify unhelpful ‘thinking errors’ and correct these.
Useful for:
depression (MDD)
anxiety (GAD)
phobias
OCD
PTSD
What is the idea behind behavioural activation?
Focusses on the patient doing activities
activities function as avoidance and escape from aversive thoughts, feelings and external situations
As effective in treating depression as CBT
What is the idea behind IPT?
What can it be used to treat?
Interpersonal therapy
Depression often follows a disturbing change in or contingent with significant Interpersonal event
eg - divorce, berievement etc
IPT focusses on the patients relationships with others so the patient better understands interpersonal problems
Used in depression (MDD) and anxiety disorders
What are the strengths of IPT?
Very effective in treating depression
No formal homework (unlike CBT, BA) which may be better for unmotivated patients
Client can continue to practice the skills after the 12-16 week course is done
What are the limitations of IPT?
Requires self-reflection - which may be difficult
Not effective if patient has poor social network - ie they need interpersonal relationships for IPT to work
What is motivational interviewing used to treat?
Especially useful for substance misuse disorders - eg alcoholism
When is motivational interviewing indicated?
Used where behaviour change is being considered, when patient may be unmotivated or ambivalent to change
In the context of motivational interviewing - what are the 5 stages of change?
Pre-contemplation
Contemplation
Planning/determination
Action
Maintenance
