Chapter Three Treatment of Abnormal Behavior

Biological Biological  Goal of Treatment: Alter biology to relieve psychological distress.  Primary Methods: Diagnosis and medication Psychopharmacology--study of the use of medications to treat psychological disturbances. Psychopharmacology--study of the use of medications to treat psychological disturbances. Psychotropic medications: chemical substances that affect the psychological state.Psychotropic medications: chemical substances that affect the psychological state.

Biological  Primary Methods (cont) Psychopharmacology Psychopharmacology Onset of effectivenessOnset of effectiveness Effects in people with mental disorders vs. people who are functioning normally.Effects in people with mental disorders vs. people who are functioning normally. Psychotropics alleviate symptoms but are not a cure for the underlying problem.Psychotropics alleviate symptoms but are not a cure for the underlying problem.

Biological Primary Treatment Methods (cont) Electroconvulsive Therapy- deliberate induction of a seizure by passing electricity through the brain. Electroconvulsive Therapy- deliberate induction of a seizure by passing electricity through the brain. Unilateral vs. bilateralUnilateral vs. bilateral Course of treatmentCourse of treatment Side effectsSide effects Psychosurgery-controversial treatment that involves the surgical removal of specific regions of the brain.

Biological  Role of Therapist: Active, directive diagnostician-psychiatrist  Length of visit: Brief with occasional follow-up visits.

Psychodynamic Therapies  Goal of Treatment- Gain insight into defenses and unconscious motives.  Primary Methods- Interpretation of defense mechanisms. Freudian Psychoanalysis Freudian Psychoanalysis Psychodynamic Psychoanalysis Psychodynamic Psychoanalysis  Role of Therapist- Passive, non-directive interpreter.  Length of Treatment- Usually long term, some new short-term treatments.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy  Focuses on emotional, cognitive, and behavior changes in the present and not insight about the past.  Goal of Treatment- Learn more adaptive behaviors and cognitions.  Primary Methods- Instruction, Guided Learning, Homework

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Exposure therapies- based on Pavlov’s theory of classical conditioning.  Systematic Desensitization-if fears could be learned they could be unlearned through learning relaxation techniques and systematic exposure.  Flooding-exposure to the feared stimulus all at once without any attempt to calm anxiety.  Flooding-exposure to the feared stimulus all at once without any attempt to calm anxiety.  Aversion Therapy-create an unpleasant response to behaviors such as addiction via drugs or shock.  Aversion Therapy-create an unpleasant response to behaviors such as addiction via drugs or shock.

 Contingency Management- goal is to reward desirable behavior and extinguish or punish undesirable behavior.  Social Skills Training- goal is to teach clients new ways of behaving that are both desirable and likely to be rewarded in every day life.  Cognition Techniques- based on correcting negative thinking.  Beck’s Cognitive Theory -Therapy challenges the negative distortions by gently confronting client’s cognitive errors in therapy.  Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)-also designed to challenge cognitive distortions thought to be caused by irrational beliefs.

Humanistic Therapies  believe that emotional distress results from the frustrations of human existence.  Goal of Treatment- Increase emotional awareness.  Primary Methods-Empathy, Support, Exploring Emotions. Client Centered Therapy Client Centered Therapy Gestalt Gestalt

Humanistic Therapies  Role of Therapist- Passive, nondirective, warm, supporter. Humanistic Therapist endeavors to share in another human’s experience and does not take the role of an expert.  Length of Treatment-Varies, length not typically structured.

Research on Effectiveness of Different Types of Therapy Does Therapy Work? Types of Psychotherapy Research  Psychotherapy Outcome Research -- meta-analysis-a statistical technique which allows the results from different studies to be combined and compared in a standardized way.  Psychotherapy Process Research: if it does work, then how does it work --common factors. --common factors.

Common Factors in Process of Psychotherapy  Meta-analysis comparisons reveal few differences in effectiveness of treatments.  Common Factors include: Psychotherapy as social support Psychotherapy as social support Psychotherapy as Social Influence Psychotherapy as Social Influence

Changing Social Systems: Couples, Family & Group Therapy-  Social Interventions  Couples Therapy-  Family Therapy-  Group Therapy  Prevention-

Case Study Frances-23 year old female, seeking help for depression Symptoms: Severe depression, little appetite, weight loss, erratic sleeping patterns, withdrawal from friends and family, lack of motivation, poor grooming, missing work. History: Happy childhood, depression beginning her senior year in college. After graduation, she wanted to move to New York and do something exciting, but moved in with parents instead. Parents are described as loving and giving. However she was often angry with her parents, losing lost her temper then feeling guilty. She felt pressured to marry her high school sweetheart who was an accountant, and was unhappy soon after the marriage. She blamed herself for problems with parents and husband.

Diagnosis and Treatment  Biological  Psychodynamic  Cognitive Behavioral  Humanistic