Treatment of Psychological Disorders Flashcards
Define the term clinical psychology and the model that underpins the training of psychologists in Australia and New Zealand
The delivery of psychological services in a health-care setting
The scientist-practitioner model
What are the four main approaches to therapy in Aus/NZ?
Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioural, Humanistic, group and family and Biological
What is the purpose of the psychodynamic approach?
Mental symptoms reflect unconscious conflicts that induce anxiety, and the goal of therapy is to gain insight into these conflicts
What are psychodynamic techniques?
Free association - patient is encouraged to say whatever comes to mind, in order to reveal the unconscious processes of the patient
Interpretation - therapist interprets the thoughts, feelings of the patient in order to reveal the hidden conflicts and motivations
Analysis of transference - patients bring into therapy their past troubled relationships, these are transferred to the therapist
What are the main contemporary forms of psychodynamic therapy?
Psychoanalysis - the patient lies on a couch with the therapist seated behind them. Patients are encouraged to free associate
Psychodynamic psychotherapy - patient and therapist are face-to-face. The techniques used are more goal-directed than those used in psychoanalysis
What are characteristics of cognitive-behavioural therapy?
use methods derived from behaviourist and cognitive approaches to learning, therapists are more directive, therapy is typically short-term and focused on the current behaviours of a person, initial focus is on detailed behavioural analysis
What are techniques of cognitive-behavioural therapies?
Classical conditioning - focus on associations people form between a neutral stimulus and an emotion (can alter emotional responses)
Systematic desensitisation - patient gradually confronts an imagined fear-inducing stimulus while in a state that inhibits anxiety
Response Prevention (exposure therapy) - preventing individual from producing responses that allow avoidance of feared stimulus
Flooding - confront phobic stimulus all at once; can be very frightening
Graded Exposure - modification to flooding where patient is gradually exposed to phobic stimulation
Virtual reality exposure - patient exposed to virtual images of feared stimulus
Post-traumatic growth: refers to positive psychological change observed in survivors of trauma
What do cognitive-behavioural therapies use to modify unwanted behaviours?
Reinforcement
Positive (reward desired behaviours)
Punishment (unpleasant stimulus after the behaviour)
How has learning theory changed since the 1960s?
Modelling - learning of appropriate behavioural responses through observation of others
Skills training - teaching the behaviours necessary to accomplish relevant goals
What is the focus of cognitive therapies?
changing dysfunctional thought patterns
List new and emerging cognitive-behavioural therapy?
Mindfulness practices - directing attention to present moment with acceptance and without judgement
Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) - changing relationships with thoughts encouraging people to behave in ways that are in line with their values
What is the focus of Humanistic therapy?
The way in which individuals consciously experience the self, relationships and world
What are examples of Humanistic therapies?
Gestalt therapy - helps people acknowledge their feelings so they can act in accordance with them
Client-centred therapy - helps clients accept the difference between their ideal self and their actual experiences through the use of unconditional positive regard
What is the aim of family therapies?
change maladaptive family interaction patterns
What do biological treatments involve?
pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, psychosurgery
What is involved in pharmacotherapy?
psychotropic medications - drugs that act on brain to alter mental function
can alter behaviour via, an interaction with neurotransmitters in brain and a placebo effect
antipsychotic medications - drugs that alleviate schizophrenia
antidepressants - correct depletion of norepinephrine and serotonin in synapses
Tricyclic antidepressants -block reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors - allow the neurotransmitter to work for longer periods
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - block the reuptake of serotonin
anti-anxiety - benzodiazepines increase activity of neurotransmitter GABA to dampen the neural activity of brain
What does Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) involve?
Intentional induction of a brain seizure by shock, administered to either or both hemispheres
produces immediate improvement of mood, more effective than some drugs, memory less is side effect
What does psychosurgery involve?
Intentional damage of brain to alter behaviour
Pretty much illegal in Aus (lobotomy)
Evaluate pharmacotherapy
drugs can be effective and focus on long-term treatment, issues are related to side effects of drugs and to high relapse rate when drugs are stopped, continued use of certain drugs can minimise relapse of mental disorder
How do therapists combine therapies?
Elective psychotherapy - clinicians combine techniques from different approaches to fit the particular client
Integrative psychotherapy - where clinicians choose elements from different approaches to develop their own unique approach to treatment
