Psych 105 Chapter 16

How many people suffer from mental disorders

1 in 5 Canadians suffer from a mental disorder at some point in their life

Receiving Treatment

• about 50% of individuals with major depression receive adequate treatment

• 1/3 who receive treatment say their needs are not fully met

• 75% of children do not have access to specialized care, raising concerns about early intervention

Psychotherapy

• A therapeutic interaction between a clinician and a client suffering from psychological issues

• Eclectic psychotherapy involves drawing techniques from different forms of therapy depending on the client.

Psychodynamic Therapy

• Focuses on exploring childhood experiences to gain insight into current psychological problems

• Assumes that repressed aggressive and sexual urges are from childhood and cause psychological issues

• Not too effective, needs work

Humanistic Approach

Focuses on personal growth and self-actualization, emphasizing the importance of reaching one’s potential

Existential Approach

emphasizes finding meaning in life, suggesting that feelings of despair arise from a lack of purpose

Humanistic Therapy

• Person-centered therapy

• Developed by Carl Rogers

• assumes individuals inherently strive for growth and fulfillment

• Provides a supportive environment characterized by acceptance empathy and congruence

• goal to help clients understand and reflect on their experiences, facilitating personal growth.

Existential Therapy

• Gestalt therapy aims to increase awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviors, encouraging clients to take responsibility for their experiences

• Focuses on real-time experiences during therapy sessions, promoting immediate awareness and action

• Techniques like empty chair technique, which helps clients express feelings and resolve conflicts

Behavioral Therapy

A form of therapy that focuses on changing maladaptive behaviors through conditioning techniques and rewards, emphasizing the role of learning in behavior modification.

Techniques include:

1. Operant conditioning (Utilizing reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors and discourage for unwanted ones)

2. Token Economy (A system whenre clients earns tokesn for exhibiting desired behaviors which can be traded in for rewards)

3. Exposure therapy (Slowly exposes clients to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety responses

Cognitive Therapies

A group of therapies that focus on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and beliefs, aiming to improve emotional well-being and behavior through cognitive restructuring.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Combines cognitive and behavioral strategies to address psychological problems.

• It is a problem-focused and action-oriented transparency between therapist and client.

Kazdin and Blase

• Suggest a reevaluation of psychotherapy and research practice

• They advocate for development of a portfolio of treatment delivery approaches that leverage technology

• Online therapy platforms, smartphone apps and group based CBT via social media

• Emphasizes the need for evaluation the effectiveness of these new methods

Antidepressant Medication

• Primarily used to treat mood disorders, including depression and anxiety

• Most common prescribed today are SSRI’s and SNRIs, which target serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain

Old Antidepressants

• MAOIs and tricyclics, are used less frequently due to their side effects and dietary restrictions

Antipsychotic Medication

• Primarily used to treat schizophrenia and related disorders, with chlorpromazine being one of the first introduced

• These medications work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway

Side effects of antipsychotic drugs

• Weight gain

• Metabolic Syndrome

Antianxiety Medication

• Benzodiazepines

• Enhance action of GABA (neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity, for calming)

• Valium, Ativan and Xanax

• Issues of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal and significant concerns with long-term use of these medications

Herbs and Natural Products

Used as alternatives or supplements to traditional medications for mental health treatment, with varying degrees of scientific support. Common examples include St. John's Wort for depression and kava for anxiety.

Phototherapy

• Repeated exposure to bright light (for people with SAD depression)

Omega 3 and Fatty Acids

Nutrients found in fish and certain plants, believed to support brain health and may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. More consumption = less depresssion

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

• A medical treatment for severe depression that involves sending electric currents through the brain to induce a seizure, often used when other treatments have failed.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Placing a powerful pulsed magnet over a person’s scalp, altering neural activity in the brain to help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Psychosurgery

A surgical procedure that involves making changes to the brain's structure to treat severe mental disorders, often used as a last resort when other treatments have been ineffective.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS)

A neurosurgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes deep within the brain to modulate abnormal neural circuits, often used for severe depression and other mental health disorders.

Potential Illusion of treatment

1. Natural improvement

2. Placebo Effect

3. Reconstructive Memory (When the client’s motivation to get well causes errors in memory for the original symptoms)

Double Blind experiments

A research design in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving the treatment or placebo, minimizing bias and ensuring the reliability of results.

Latrogenic Illness

• A condition inadvertently caused by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures, often resulting from errors in treatment or side effects of medications.