Topic 8: Psychological Treatments

Question 1

Goals of major therapies

(therapeutic context)

Answer 1

reaching diagnosis DSM-5

treatment planning - min/eliminate symptoms

making a prognosis

proposing possible aetiology (cause)

Question 2

Who provides therapy/care?

Answer 2

clinical psychologists

counsellors/mental health workers

scientist-practitioner model (research based practice/research, based on empirical evidence, validity)

Question 3

Psychodynamic therapies - goal

Answer 3

understanding own psychological processes (insight)

developed from Freud

Question 4

Psychodynamic therapies

what the disorder results from

Answer 4

unconscious conflicts/compromises = anxiety

fears/wishes

maladaptive view of self/relationships

maladaptive ways of dealing with unpleasant emotions

Question 5

What is the therapist-patient relationship within psychodynamic therapies?

Answer 5

therapeutic alliance

Question 6

What are some varieties of psychodynamic therapy?

Answer 6

Freudian psychoanalysis

intensive/prolonged technique for exploring unconscious motivations/conflicts

guide patient to insight

3-5 sessions per week, several years

Question 7

Psychodynamic therapies

Answer 7

shorter, goal directed

emphasis on clients current social environment

continuing experience of life and its influence

social motivation + interpersonal r/ships

ego functioning and development

Question 8

Psychodynamic techniques

Answer 8

free association - say what comes to mind, reveal unconscious processes

interpretation - therapists interprets patient and conflicts/motivations

resistance

catharsis - emotional release

transference - reproduction of emotions/experiences for a new person

Question 9

Does psychodynamic therapies work?

Answer 9

psychoanalysis functioning 75% better than those who didn’t receive treatment

conflicting evidence on brief psychotherapy

Question 10

Psychoanalysis VS psychodynamic psychotherapy

Answer 10

analysis: therapist behind patient on couch, free association
therapy: face to face, goal directed

Question 11

Behaviour therapies

Answer 11

observable behaviours

abnormal behaviour - acquired through learning processes (conditioning + reinforcement)

short-term, focus on current behaviours

Question 12

What is behavioural analysis?

Answer 12

problem behaviour + stimulus associated

Question 13

Behaviour therapies

Exposure therapies

Answer 13

Systematic desensitisation - prevent arousal by confronting fear relaxed

Flooding - put directly into phobic situation, all at once

Graded exposure - gradual exposure

Virtual reality exposure - virtual images of feared stimulus

Question 14

Behaviour therapies

Skill training

Answer 14

teaching skills to accomplish goals

Social skills training/relaxation technique

Behavioural rehearsal - visualisation of behaviour

Question 15

Behaviour therapies

Social/observational learning

Answer 15

observe models of desirable behaviours being reinforced

Imitation of models

participant modelling

self-efficacy

Question 16

Behaviour therapies

Contingency management

Answer 16

based on operant conditioning - change behaviour by modifying consequence

Aversion therapy - attractive stimulus + noxious stimulus (eg electric shock)

Positive reinforcement strategies

Question 17

Cognitive therapies

Answer 17

changing dysfunctional cognitions = what people think (content) and how they think (process)

changing false beliefs

Question 18

Cognitive therapies

Beck’s cognitive therapy

Answer 18

challenging cognitive distortions + changing maladaptive patterns of thoughts/behaviour

may not be aware of neg thoughts (automatic thoughts)

1. patient records thoughts
2. therapist questions evidence which assumptions are based
   = challenge/change thinking
   challenging, evaluating, re-attributing, discussing

Question 19

Cognitive therapies

Rational-emotive therapy

Answer 19

Irrational thought patterns (musts, shoulds, oughts) = rational thinking key to eliminating symptoms

polarized thinking - black/white with no middle ground

Question 20

Humanistic therapies

Answer 20

way individuals consciously experience self, r/ships, world

self awareness - recognise one’s strength - full potential

Question 21

Humanistic therapies

Gestalt therapy

Answer 21

focus on present self

acknowledge feelings to act in accordance with them

too much control over thoughts/behaviour to conform

Question 22

Humanistic therapies

Client-centred therapy

Answer 22

accept difference between actual/ideal self

unconditioned positive regard

therapist facilitates client search for self-awareness/acceptance

Question 23

Therapies with 1+ clients

Answer 23

Group therapies - work on therapeutic goals, exploration of own issues in context of group processes

Family/couples therapy - change maladative interaction patterns

Question 24

Biomedical therapies

Drug therapy

Answer 24

restore normal function to brain

alter functions of neurotransmitters

antipsychotic drugs - dopamine (schizophrenia)
antidepressant drugs - norepinephrine, serotonin (depression)
antianxiety drugs - benzodiazepine (anxiety)

Question 25

Biomedical therapies

Psychosurgery (neurosurgical approach)

Answer 25

intentional damage to the brain to alter behaviour - pacify psychotic patients, relieve extreme neurotic symptoms

laser psychosurgery, pre-frontal lobotomy

Question 26

Biomedical therapies

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Answer 26

intentional induction of a brain seizure by shock (bi/unilateral)

= immediate improvement in mood

Question 27

Evaluating psychological treatments

Successful treatment

Answer 27

duration, cost, symptom reduction, effectiveness, efficacy, relapse rates

Question 28

Does therapy work?

Evaluating therapeutic effectiveness

Answer 28

psychotherapy + medication = most successful

lack of control group and what is success?