Psychotherapy

Question 1

Definition of Psychotherapy

Answer 1

psychological treatment of emotional problems via a professional relationship, allowing for modification of existing symptoms mediating disturbing behavior patterns and encouraging personal growth

Question 2

what are some common characteristics of psychotherapy

Answer 2

non-judgemental

Emphasis on therapeutic rapport between Dr and Patient

confidentiality (except when safety concerns demand breach)

supervision of therapist

Question 3

What are the keys for effective psychotherapy

Answer 3

insight and motivation

Question 4

what is psychodynamic psychotherapy

Answer 4

Freud’s approach

early childhood plays a role in shaping experiences later on in life, feelings and behaviours are influenced by unconcious motives that are the result of early childhood experience

Question 5

What are some ways to look into the unconcious mind when undergoing psychodynamic psychotherapy

Answer 5

1) Dream analysis
2) Free association (when I say x say the first thing that comes to mind)
3) Slips of the tongue
4) Transference and counter-transference

Question 6

what is transference

Answer 6

unconscious redirection of a patient’s own beliefs/feelings, towards the therapist

Question 7

What is counter-transference

Answer 7

when a therapist projects pre-formed beliefs and transposes them to the patient

Question 8

What is the main task of psychotherapy

Answer 8

to establish a link between childhood defense mechanisms current symptoms

Question 9

What are the broad categories of defence mechanisms

Answer 9

Mature
Neurotic
Primitive

Question 10

What are examples of mature defence mechanisms

Answer 10

humour
altruism
anticipation 
sublimation 
affiliation

Question 11

What are some examples of neurotic defence mechanisms

Answer 11

displacement (transfer -ve feelings about 1 person to the other)
externalisation
intellectualisation (avoid emotions, get stuck on details)
repression
reaction formation (acting on impulse)

Question 12

what are some examples of primitive defence mechanisms

Answer 12

denial 
autistic fantasy 
passive aggressive
acting out
splitting
projection

Question 13

what is psychoanalysis

Answer 13

rigorous, 50-60min, 3-5x a week time intensive reflection focused on developing insight

Question 14

what is psychoanalysis best for, how often is it done nad for how long

Answer 14

long term personality disorders (except EUPD)

Question 15

what is psychodynamic therapy, how often is it done and for how long

Answer 15

1-2 per week, 50-60 min sessions, usually over 14-20 sessions but can be over 1-2 years

focuses more on current symptoms and defence mechanisms

Question 16

what is psychodynamic therapy used for

Answer 16

personality disorders and anxiety/mood disorders

Question 17

What is Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)

Answer 17

helps to manage difficult emotions by letting them experience recognise and accept them

typically done over a year

Question 18

what is DBT best used for

Answer 18

EUPD

Question 19

what are the 4 elements of DBT

Answer 19

individual
skill training in groups
telephone crisis coaching
therapist consultant groups

Question 20

what is problem-solving therapy

Answer 20

primary care based therapy, using a stepwise approach:

1) elicit problem
2) explain emotional symptom
3) reassure
4) clarification and collaborative problem solving
5) patient chouse of solution
6) review and repeat

Question 21

What is interpersonal therapy and what is it used for

Answer 21

active reframing/rebuilding of interpersonal relationship

used in depression

Question 22

what is supportive therapy

Answer 22

unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness, acting as someone to vent to and promote self management/support personal development

Question 23

what is family therapy

Answer 23

therapy focused on the system and not on the individual

Question 24

what is cognitive behavioural therapy

Answer 24

therapy focused on finding the cognitions behind our actions/emotions

Question 25

what is CBT most useful in

Answer 25

Anxiety or mood disorders

can also be used as an adjunct in schizophrenia and bipolar

Question 26

what sort of analysis does CBT utilise

Answer 26

ABC

antecedent: you have an exam
belief: i could fail, this could ruin my career
consequences: emotional/physical response

Question 27

how may CBT be delivered

Answer 27

in person
app
in a book
computer

Question 28

how often is CBT done

Answer 28

once weekly, 50-60min with homework between sessions

Question 29

what are some common cognitive errors identified in CBT

Answer 29

arbitrary inference
overgeneralisation 
selective abstraction 
magnification 
minimisation 
personalisation 
dichotomous thinking

Question 30

what is an example of arbitrary inference

Answer 30

My GF is out, she must be cheating

Question 31

what is an example of overgeneralisation

Answer 31

“i missed the bus, i must be useless”

Question 32

what is an example of selective abstraction

Answer 32

“tom says he likes me but didnt complement my dress which means he actually hates me”

Question 33

what is an example of magnification

Answer 33

“if i dont submit this assignment the lecturer will think i’m useless”

Question 34

what is an example of minimisation

Answer 34

“she said well done because she’s in a good mood”

Question 35

what is an example of personalisation

Answer 35

“my team did not get a prize in the quiz, it’s my fault”

Question 36

what is an example of dichomotomous thinking

Answer 36

“if i dont get an A, I have failed”

Question 37

what is the general sequence that CBT goes through

Answer 37

Pt records a brief description of a triggering event with the automatic verbatim thoughts following the event , recording the intensity of the feelings, the behavioural response following them

cognitive errors are then identified and challenged, and the therapist and patient work together to find ways the beliefs can be challenged