Psychotherapies

Question 1

What is the main aim of psychotherapy?

List some of the ways this is achieved

Answer 1

To help people understand the way they feel

• Develop therapeutic relationship
• Listen
• Change way pt sees world and themselves
• Allow expression of emotion
• Help cope with past stressors and deal with current ones

Question 2

What are the 3 most simple forms of psychotherapy?

Answer 2

Psychoeducation
Counselling
Supportive psychotherapies

Question 3

What is psychoeducation?

Answer 3

Delivery of information to help pt understand/cope with condition

Question 4

What is the main aim of counselling?

What is it best for?

Answer 4

Encourages self-help by providing a non-judgemental listener

Best for immediate crises rather than longstanding problems

Question 5

What is supportive psychotherapy?

Answer 5

Simple form of psychotherapy which helps people to cope with chronic/disabling problems rather than inducing change

Question 6

Outline the 2 core components of CBT

Answer 6

Cognitive - identify and challenge negative thoughts and behavious, and modify underlying core beliefs.

Behavioural - specific to problem, e.g. exposure therapy for phobias, relaxation training for anxiety. All based on operant conditioning.

Question 7

What is the theory behind “core beliefs” and their role in mental health illness

Answer 7

Thought that some people hold unhelpful core beliefs learned early in life from traumatic experiences - leads them more vulnerable.
When exposed to stressor, core beliefs activated - triggers automatic negative thoughts.

Question 8

List some indications for CBT

Answer 8

Depression
Bipolar
EDs
Anxiety
Chronic pain

Question 9

Outline the aims and principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy

Answer 9

• Derived from Freud’s psychoanalysis
• 1 - 2 hrs per wk for months to yrs
• Unconscious explored through free association - pt says whatever comes to mind, and therapist interprets it
• Hence pt develops insight to change maladaptive behaviour

Question 10

What is meant by the terms “transferance” and “counter-transferance”?

Answer 10

Transferance - patient re-experiences strong emotions from past relationships through therapeutic relationship

Counter-transferance - therapist is affected by powerful emotions felt by patient, and reflects these

Question 11

Give some indications for psychodynamic psychotherapy

Answer 11

• Dissociative disorder/somatoform conditions
• Certain PDs
• Recurrent depression
• Longstanding personal/relationship difficulties

Question 12

Name some other forms of psychotherapy

Answer 12

• IPT
• EMDR
• DBT
• Family therapy

Question 13

What is interpersonal therapy, and which conditions is it used for?

Answer 13

• Focusses on interpersonal problems using techniques from CBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Used in depression/EDs

Question 14

What is EMDR?
What is it used for?
What does it involve?

Answer 14

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
Used for PTSD
Involves recalling traumatic events while focussing on external stimulus, e.g. moving eyes back and forth

Question 15

What is DBT?
What does it aim to do?
Which condition?

Answer 15

Dialectical behavioural therapy
Provides coping strategies to avoid DSH
EUPD

Question 16

What is the aim of family therapy?

Answer 16

Targets system that generates the problematic behaviour