Psychological Treatments Flashcards
Define ‘psychological treatment’
Treatment of emotional, behavioural or personality problems by psychological means
Characteristics of psychotherapies
An intense, emotionally charged, confiding relationship with a helping person
A rationale, which contains an explanation of the patient’s distress and of the methods for its release
Provision of new information about the nature and origins of the patient’s problems and of ways of dealing with them
Hope in the patient that he can expect help from the therapy
An opportunity for experiences of success during the course of therapy and a consequent enhancement of the sense of mastery
The facilitation ofemotional arousalin the patient
What is ‘behavioural psychotherapy’?
Focus of treatment is on changing behaviour, rather than feelings and thoughts
Primary aim is symptom relief, not an attempt to understand the mental representations sustaining the symptoms
Goal of treatment: to unlearn specific patterns of behaviour, through new learning,to replace them with more adaptive patterns
What is ‘cognitive psychotherapy’?
Concerned with the way in which maladaptive behaviour or feelings may be reinforced by thoughts
Cognitive therapist helps patient re-evaluate the assumptions they are making
What is ‘psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapy’?
Concerned with the way in which a person’s mental representation of self and the world may lead to inappropriate behaviour in present personal and working relationships
Seeks personal meaning for symptoms
Aims to increase patient’s understanding go their thoughts, feeling and behaviour
What is ‘interpersonal psychotherapy’?
Clarify current problems and find the best way of dealing with them
Therapist identifies triggers to the depression and factors, which maintain symptoms
The therapist is identifies problem areas and works with the patient to find alternative strategies to deal with depression in the future
What is ‘counselling’?
Non-directive approach
Therapist offers support and non-judgemental listening
What types of patient is counselling used for?
Those who consult their general practitioner with mild to moderate psychological problems such as symptoms of depression or anxiety
Those who usually cope adequately but have had a life crisis which is not resolving in the usual way, for example, a prolonged bereavement reaction
Hospital patients who have particular illnesses, for example those suffering from cancer or AIDS
What is ‘systemic therapy’ (family therapy)?
Aims to identify the function of the presenting problem in maintaining the family system
Helps the family identify alternative and more adaptive ways in which family needs can be satisfied
When is family therapy appropriate?
Childhood problems where one or more children in a family are showing behavioural or emotional difficulties within their family or where problems at school appear to be related to family difficulties
During adolescence and early adulthood where young people with psychiatric, psychological or emotional difficulties are still strongly bound up with their families or origin
Problems in dealing with their relationships with each other
Persistent difficulty negotiating a life problem, such as sickness, bereavement or divorce
Individual appears to have a psychiatric, psychological or emotional problem which affects and is affected by other members of his family
