Friday January 23 2015 Ch 3 Treatment of Psychological Disorders Psychotherapy The use of psychological techniques and the therapist client relationship to produce emotional cognitive and behavioral change Most mental health professionals describe themselves as eclectic Using different treatments for different disorders Evidence based treatments The practical and scienti c approach to therapy A clinician who uses research to select the most effective form of treatment is using this According to Kessler about two thirds of people with a diagnosable disorder fail to receive treatment Four Views of Frances Biological therapist Draws an apology with physical illness Focuses on diagnosis Considers genetic predisposition or chemical imbalance Recommends medication Psychodynamic therapist Likely to focus on defensive style Develop the client s insight Expect changes as a result of increased emotional awareness Cognitive behavior therapist Focus on cognitive behavioral patterns Therapist is directive 1 Friday January 23 2015 Identify cognitive distortions Assign homework Change behaviors Humanistic therapist Likely to focus on lack of emotional genuineness Therapist is non directive Encourage the client to own her feelings Biological Treatments First a diagnosis is developed and re ned Second clues about causes are put together In the case of Frances a biologically based therapist would view her interpersonal problems as the result of her depression Psychopharmacology The use medications treat psychological disturbances Psychotropic medications are chemical substances that affect psychological state 21 of American women and half as many men are taking antidepressants Alleviate symptoms not cure causes of illness Psychotropic medications are prescribed by primary care physicians not psychiatrists Electroconvulsive Therapy Causing seizures by passing electricity through the brain Involves 6 to 12 sessions over the course of a few weeks Current is approximately 100v Bilateral ECT Current passes through both hemispheres Unilateral ECT 2 Friday January 23 2015 Current passes through one hemisphere Psychosurgery Surgical destruction of speci c regions of the brain Psychodynamic Psychotherapies Freudian Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis Free association reveals aspects of the unconscious mind Free association reveals aspects of the unconscious mind Psychoanalytic Techniques Freudian Psychoanalysis Insight Bringing formerly unconscious material into conscious awareness Interpretation Resistance Transference Analyst suggest hidden meanings to patient s accounts Patient must discover the hidden meaning Patients transfer their feelings about some key gure The Decline of Freudian Psychoanalysis Requires substantial amount of time expense and self exploration Psychodynamic psychotherapy Derived from psychoanalysis Psychotherapists are more directive and engaged and treatment may be brief Does psychotherapy work 3 Friday January 23 2015 Trying to determine whether and to what extent psychotherapy is effective requires use of outcome research Examines the outcome or result of psychotherapy Research shows that if you engage in therapy you are better off than 8 of people who do not engage in therapy 4
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