1. EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (7th Edition in Modules) David Myers
PowerPoint Slides
Aneeq Ahmad
Henderson State University
Worth Publishers, © 2008

2. Evaluating Psychotherapies
How can we evaluate psychotherapy?
Client testimonials—overwhelmingly positive, BUT…
People enter therapy in crisis
Clients want to believe in effectiveness of therapy
Clients speak kindly of therapists
Clinicians’ perceptions
Most testify to clients’ successful treatment, but that’s actually really tough to measure

3. Evaluating Psychotherapies
Eysenck:
2/3 of psychotherapy patients reported improvement
2/3 of untreated persons also improved noticeably
Raised important questions about how the effectiveness of psychotherapy should be measured

4. Measuring Effectiveness
Meta-analysis: combines the conclusions of multiple controlled studies
Psychotherapy leaves treated patients better off (by about 80% of untreated individuals)
Untreated individuals may improve on their own too
Psychotherapy is proven to help patients recover more quickly, with less risk of a relapse AND it’s cost-effective

5. Evaluating Alternative Therapies
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—anxious thoughts lift when eyes are moved rapidly, spontaneously about
Seems to work, but the degree of effectiveness is still suspect
Light Exposure Therapy—used to treat seasonal depression

6. Therapeutic Alliance
Emotional, trusting bond between therapist and client
Western therapists reflect their cultures’ emphasis on individualism

7. Building Resilience
Resilience—personal strength that individuals possess which helps us cope with adversity/trauma

8. The Biomedical Therapies Module 73

9. Therapy The Biomedical Therapies Drug Therapies Brain Stimulation
Psychosurgery

10. The Biomedical Therapies
These include physical, medicinal, and other forms of biological therapies.
Drug Therapies
Brain Stimulation
Psychosurgery

11. Psychopharmacology is the study of drug effects on mind and behavior.
Drug Therapies
Psychopharmacology is the study of drug effects on mind and behavior.
Preview Question 11: What are the most common forms of biomedical therapies? What criticisms have been leveled against drug therapies?
With the advent of drugs, hospitalization in mental institutions has rapidly declined.

12. Les Snider/ The Image Works
Drug Therapies
However, many patients are left homeless on the streets due to their ill-preparedness to cope independently outside in society.
Les Snider/ The Image Works

13. Double-Blind Procedures
To test the effectiveness of a drug, patients are tested with the drug and a placebo. Two groups of patients and medical health professionals are unaware of who is taking the drug and who is taking the placebo.

14. Antipsychotic Drugs
Classical antipsychotics [chlorpromazine (Thorazine)]: Remove a number of positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations.
Atypical antipsychotics [clozapine (Clozaril)]: Remove negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia such as apathy, jumbled thoughts, concentration difficulties, and difficulties in interacting with others.

15. Atypical Antipsychotic
Clozapine (Clozaril) blocks receptors for dopamine and serotonin to remove the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

16. Antianxiety Drugs
Antianxiety drugs (Xanax and Ativan) depress the central nervous system and reduce anxiety and tension by elevating the levels of the Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter.

17. Antidepressant Drugs
Antidepressant drugs like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) that improve the mood by elevating levels of serotonin by inhibiting reuptake.

18. Mood-Stabilizing Medications
Lithium Carbonate, a common salt, has been used to stabilize manic episodes in bipolar disorders. It moderates the levels of norepinephrine and glutamate neurotransmitters.

19. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Brain Stimulation
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is used for severely depressed patients who do not respond to drugs. The patient is anesthetized and given a muscle relaxant. Patients usually get a 100 volt shock that relieves them of depression.
Preview Question 12: What is electroconvulsive therapy? When is it used?

20. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Alternatives to ECT
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
In rTMS, a pulsating magnetic coil is placed over prefrontal regions of the brain to treat depression with minimal side effects.

21. 200 such operations do take place in the US alone.
Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery was popular even in Neolithic times. Although used sparingly today, about
200 such operations do take place in the US alone.
Preview Question 13: Under what conditions might psychosurgery be considered for changing behavior or moods?

22. Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery is used as a last resort in alleviating psychological disturbances. Psychosurgery is irreversible. Removal of brain tissue changes the mind.

23. Therapeutic Lifestyle Change

24. Psychological Disorders are Biopsychosocial in Nature