Understanding Mental Health and Treatment

These flashcards cover key concepts related to mental health treatment, historical milestones, therapeutic approaches, and the evolution of mental health perceptions over time.

Trephination

An ancient medical practice where a hole is drilled into the skull to release evil spirits as a treatment for mental illness.

Imbalance of Humors

A theory proposed by Hippocrates where mental illness is caused by an imbalance of bodily fluids: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood.

Moral Treatment

An approach to mental health care developed by Philippe Pinel that emphasized kindness and rehabilitation in asylums.

Deinstitutionalization

The process beginning in the mid-20th century of closing large psychiatric hospitals and transitioning patients to community-based care.

Community Mental Health Centers Act (1963)

Legislation funding outpatient mental health services across three levels: primary prevention, secondary early detection, and tertiary aftercare.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A psychotherapy approach that helps patients change dysfunctional thinking patterns by addressing beliefs and consequences.

Exposure Therapy

A technique used in psychotherapy to help people confront their fears in a controlled manner.

Token Economy

A behavioral modification system where desired behaviors are reinforced with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards.

Biomedical Treatments

Medical interventions for mental illnesses using medications to target biological factors, such as neurotransmitter imbalances.

Humanism in Therapy

A psychological perspective emphasizing personal growth and the individual's ability to change, characterized by empathy and unconditional positive regard.