Unit 13: Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Question 1

What are the four major theoretical approaches for psychological treatment?

Answer 1

Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Behavioral
Cognitive

Question 2

Most counseling psychologists draw from more than one theoretical approach - this is called:

Answer 2

Eclectic

Question 3

What are some of the major problems with a person in therapy according to psychoanalysis

Answer 3

Past trauma
Underdeveloped superego
Overdeveloped Id
Repressed desires
...

Question 4

What is the main focus of therapy in psychoanalysis

Answer 4

To uncover the unconscious using projective tests

Question 5

When a person uses their mental “filter” during a projective test - which prevents their unconscious from truly coming out

Answer 5

Resistance

Question 6

The subjective “grading” of projective tests

Answer 6

Interpretation

Question 7

Tests in psychoanalysis designed to uncover a person’s unconscious thoughts

Answer 7

Projective tests

Question 8

Patients can sometimes transfer their thoughts or emotions onto a therapist

Answer 8

Transferrence

Question 9

What are some ways that humanistic perspective differs from psychoanalytic

Answer 9

• Focus on achieving full potential (good) instead of repressed trauma (bad)
• Focus on present and future instead of past
• Focus on a client’s dynamic ability to change their future instead of learning how past events have altered their lives

Question 10

The process of accepting a client regardless of their circumstances proposed by Carl Rogers

Answer 10

Unconditional Positive Regard

Question 11

Slowly and gradually exposing a client to their fears to decondition them

Answer 11

Systematic Desensitization

Question 12

Pairing an unpleasant stimulus with an undesirable behavior with hopes of eliminating the behavior

Answer 12

Aversive conditioning

Question 13

A system of representative money to reward good behavior (e.g. Monopoly money given in class for correct answers could be cashed in for candy at the end of the semester)

Answer 13

Token economy

Question 14

The irrational “end of the world” thoughts a person might have about anxiety provoking situations

Answer 14

Catastrophizing beliefs

Question 15

The most effective, and most widely used combination of the four theoretical perspectives

Answer 15

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Question 16

Psychotherapist with a medical doctor’s licence - able to prescribe medicine

Answer 16

Psychiatrist

Question 17

Counselor with a PhD level education that primarily deals with more severe mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar,…) - cannot prescribe medicine in most states

Answer 17

Clinical Psychologist

Question 18

Counselor with a master’s level education that deals mostly with less severe, or day-to-day struggles (e.g. Major depression, anxiety, marital issues, substance abuse)

Answer 18

Counselor (Many licenses would apply for this description, such as a “Licenced Professional Counselor, or LPC)

Question 19

The study of drugs and their effects

Answer 19

Psychopharmacology

Question 20

Neurotransmitter that deals with movement

Answer 20

Acetylcholine

Question 21

Possible symptoms of having too much acetylcholine

Answer 21

Seizures

Question 22

Possible symptoms of having too little acetylcholine

Answer 22

Paralysis

Question 23

Disorder relating to an overabundance of dopamine

Answer 23

Schizophrenia

Question 24

Disorder relating to a shortage of dopamine

Answer 24

Parkinson’s Disease

Question 25

Disorder relating to a shortage of Serotonin

Answer 25

Depression

Question 26

A synthetic neurotransmitter which mimics the actual neurotransmitter well enough to bind to the receptor site AND send a signal to the dendrite of a neighboring neuron

Answer 26

Agonist

Question 27

A synthetic neurotransmitter which mimics the actual neurotransmitter well enough to clog up the receptor site so that other neurotransmitters are unable to bind (but not well enough to send a signal to the dendrite of a neuron)

Answer 27

Antagonist

Question 28

The process of reabsorption of neurotransmitters from the synapse back into the axon terminal

Answer 28

Reuptake

Question 29

The process by which the body reduces its naturally occurring neurotransmitters to compensate for increased levels of synthetic neurotransmitters (e.g. drugs)

Answer 29

Tolerance

Question 30

The unpleasant feelings associated with the body’s reduced level of natural neurotransmitters, after achieving tolerance with a drug - and quitting the drug

Answer 30

Withdrawal

Question 31

One possible negative side effect of prolonged use of anti-psychotic drugs - similar to Parkinson’s disease

Answer 31

Tardive Dyskinesia

Question 32

An antidepressant class of drug that works by forcing serotonin to remain in the synapse so that it is more easily accessible

Answer 32

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)

Question 33

Typical length of time for an SSRI to take effect

Answer 33

2-3 weeks

Question 34

Other empirically validated therapies (non-drug)

Answer 34

Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Deep Brain Stimulation

Question 35

What disorder is Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy used for?

Answer 35

Major Depression

Question 36

The now unused process of sticking an ice pick into a person’s head and wiggling it around to selectively destroy brain tissue

Answer 36

Lobotomy

Question 37

Six suggested lifestyle changes, that had a 48% increase over controls in experimental trials in persons with psychological disorders

Answer 37

• Aerobic Exercise
• Adequate Sleep
• Exposure to Light
• Social Connection
• Anti-Rumination (don’t continually think about the disorder)
• Nutritional Suppliments