Treatments

Therapy Defined

Therapy: techniques to help people deal with psychological problems

Focus on changing behavior

Connected to theoretical perspectives and beliefs about root of behavior

Providing Psychological Assistance

Psychotherapy: use of psychological principles/techniques to treat mental health disorders; assumes root is psychological

Biological therapy: use of medications or other medical interventions to treat problems; assumes root is biological

Who Is Qualified to Give Therapy?Clinical psychologists, licensed counselors,

etc.

Master’s degree is minimum

Psychiatrists or other MDs are only professionals legally allowed to prescribe medication

Modern Psychoanalysis

Psychodynamic or short-term dynamic therapy

Addresses current problems rather than childhood issues

Short-term (no more than a few months) and effectiveNot as effective for depression,

schizophrenia, autism

Humanistic Therapy: Empathizing to Empower

Focuses on conscious actions taken to control behavior

Believe behavior driven by view of world and awareness of feelings

Clients are striving towards personal growth

Behavior Therapies: Learning Healthier BehaviorsBehavior therapy focuses on changing

current behaviors; also called behavior modification

Behavioral perspective – behavior is result of environmental stimuli and consequences

Two categories of treatment: classical conditioning and operant conditioning techniques

Social Cognitive TherapyEllis’s Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET)

Rational emotive therapy: psychological problems stem from how people think about and interpret life events

Faulty or irrational beliefs are identified

Generally effective in treatment of depression and certain anxiety disorders

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy (CBT)Distorted thinking (cognitive distortions) -

negative automatic, thought patterns lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem

Less confrontational than RET; therapist and client work together to identify thought patterns, test validity of those, work on changing

Effective with depression, anxiety disorders, preventing relapses

Biomedical TreatmentMedications used to treat mental health

problems

Not a cure, but can reduce symptoms

Stabilizes symptoms so psychological issues can be addressed

Psychopharmacological treatmentsAntipsychotics – schizophrenia

Antidepressants – SSRIs – depression and panic disorders

Lithium – bipolar

Antianxiety – anxiety and panic disorders

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Series of treatments; anesthesia and muscle relaxant given; volts passed through brain inducing seizure; quick, painless

Treatment of last resort for depressed patients

LobotomyOperations that damage brain tissues in

the frontal lobe to treat mental illness

50,000 performed in the U.S. (1935-1955)

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