1. PSYC 101
Week 14

2. Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Topics:
Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Cognitive
Humanistic
Group
Interpersonal
Biomedical Therapy
Drug Therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy

3. Psychodynamic Approaches
Focus is to bring unconscious elements to consciousness
Desires, wants, needs, impulses deemed unacceptable by consciousness so sent to “live” in unconsciousness
Also includes unresolved issues from the past

4. Psychodynamic Approaches continued
Based on “defense mechanisms”
These defense mechanisms shield and protect one’s consciousness from the unacceptable and/or inappropriate thoughts, feelings, impulses, behaviors
Using therapy seeks to uncover and expose hidden and/or deflected thoughts, feelings, impulses, behaviors that have settled into one’s unconsciousness
Exposing these elements brings them into consciousness and allows the individual to more efficiently and effectively interact with and resolve these issues

5. Psychodynamic Approaches continued 2
Psychoanalysis
Intense type of psychodynamic therapy
Almost forceful in his “extraction” techniques
Uses free association
a word game asking patients to say whatever comes to mind when given a word or topic
Freud drew many conclusions from these “associations”
Uses dream interpretation
Dreams are clues to what is occurring in unconscious
Includes
Manifest content: what the issue or element shows up as
Latent content: what the issue or element really is (not disguised)

6. Psychodynamic…continued 3
Freud was often convinced that his patients were experiencing resistance, which was an unwillingness (voluntary or unvoluntary) to discuss certain issues
Transference can occur, where the patient transfers his or her feelings and emotions for someone in his or her past onto the therapists

7. Behavioral Approaches
Based on understanding that all behavior is learned
Focus on reteaching, therefore relearning, new, appropriate (normal) behaviors to replace old, inappropriate (abnormal) ones

8. Behavioral Approaches continued
Types of behavior therapies
Classical conditioning
Aversive: unpleasant stimulus is paired with undesired behavior in attempt to reduce and then eliminate the behavior
Systematic desensitization: gradual, increasingly difficult exposure (scaffolded) until feared element is able to be experienced
Exposure: feared element is brought face-to-face with individual who fears it; can be sudden or gradual

9. Behavioral…continued 2
Operant conditioning
Desired behavior is rewarded; undesired behavior is either punished or ignored
Token system
Contingency contract
Observational learning
Dialectical behavior therapy
Personal acceptance of self, even though may not (most likely does not and will not) match idealistic view
One strong argument against behavioral therapies is that the external issues are worked on while there may be internal causes that are ignored

10. Cognitive Approaches
Based on understanding that behind psychological issues, abnormal behaviors, are inaccurate cognitions (ways of thinking)
Cognitive treatment
Focuses on changing inaccurate thinking into appropriate, accurate thinking (ex: anorexia)
Cognitive-behavioral treatment
Same concept of focusing on changing cognitions but also includes some behavioral elements

11. Cognitive Approaches continued
Rational-emotive behavior therapy
Rather than focusing on cognitions this therapy focuses also on changing belief system (morals, values) into a more rational and realistic version
Cognitive Therapy (Beck)
Therapy is designed to guide clients to come to own realizations and understandings about the inaccuracy and/or unrational elements of their current system and then change it based on new understandings

12. Humanistic Therapy
Places treatment options, solutions, and success as individual’s responsibility
Not a do-it-on-your-own but rather a self-motivated journey to seek out help
Humanistic therapists guide clients to find a personal outcome
Person-centered therapy
Focused on self-actualization
Provides unconditional positive regard (unconditional acceptance and understanding)

13. Interpersonal Therapy
Focuses on an individual’s relationships, particularly those relationships they are currently engaged and involved in
Shorter time frame than other therapies
12 to 16 weeks versus others that can last 20+ weeks
Effective
Shown effective in dealing with:
Depression
Anxiety
Addictions
Eating disorders

14. Group Therapy Types of groups: Group therapy Family therapy
Unrelated individuals dealing with similar issues meet in a group setting to receive therapy
Group is guided by one therapist
Individual may also receive support and/or guidance from other members of the group (though not in same form or structure as from therapist)
Family therapy
Related members receive therapy in same session together
Self-help therapy
Similar to group therapy but does not involve guidance, presence, or assistance from a licensed therapist

15. Does Psychotherapy Work?
Personal opinions:
Why or why not?
Personal experiences:
Effective?
Participation?
Outcome?
Remission experiences?
***Remember: therapy is personal and needs to be evaluated on an individual basis***

16. Drug Therapy
Psychological disorders are controlled through use of prescription drugs
Functions through altering neurotransmitter or neuron activity
Inhibition of (specific) neurotransmitters or receptor neurons
Excitation of (specific) neurotransmitters or receptor neurons

17. Drug Therapy continued
Antipsychotic drugs
Drugs that reduce severe symptoms in deeply disturbed patients
Antidepressant drugs
Can be used for severe depression
Sometimes used in eating disorder patients
Mood stabilizers
Works with mood disorders, including bipolar disorder
May also be preventive in nature
Antianxiety drugs
Treats temporary and chronic anxiety issues

18. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Used to treat severe depression
Electric pulses are administered to the individual’s head
Very controversial
Mostly only used when all other options have been exhausted
Used when quick treatment is needed immediately
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
also treats depression
Magnetic pulses directed to specific areas of brain

19. Biomedical Therapy, Future
Gene therapy
Introduction of specific genes to a certain part of the brain in order reverse and/or prevent biochemical events that create psychological disorders
There may be new reactions or elements
May not solve underlying issues (such as cognitive issues or emotional elements)