Ch 16- Treatments and therapy

What are the three essential features of all therapies?

1. A sufferer who seeks help, 2. A trained healer, 3. A series of contacts between healer and sufferer

What is psychotherapy?

A treatment system where a client and therapist use words and acts to overcome psychological difficulties

What is biological therapy?

The use of physical and chemical procedures to help people overcome psychological difficulties

How has the demographic of therapy seekers changed over time?

Used to be mostly wealthy people; men are now more willing to enter therapy

What factors contribute to ethnic minority groups seeking therapy less often?

Cultural beliefs, socioeconomic issues, stigma, and lack of access to culturally appropriate therapy

What role does stigma play in seeking mental health care?

It can deter individuals from acknowledging mental issues and seeking treatment

Who typically conducts therapy?

Psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, social workers, and other therapeutic professionals

What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient treatment?

Outpatients receive same-day treatment and go home; inpatients stay overnight until treatment is complete

What does the Canadian Mental Health Act outline?

Patient rights and conditions for involuntary admittance to hospitals

What historical perceptions exist about psychiatric care?

Many perceive it as similar to the treatment in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', which is no longer representative of current mental health care

What is the importance of admitting to having a psychological problem?

It should not be stigmatized; seeking treatment is a positive step

What are some commonly used formats of therapy?

Individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and couples therapy

What is the goal of therapy?

To change attitudes, emotional states, or behaviors of the sufferer

What is the role of public awareness campaigns in mental health?

They have helped reduce stigma associated with mental illness

What types of professionals are most likely to conduct therapy?

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and psychologists

What is a common misconception about mental health facilities?

That they resemble the negative portrayals in films like 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

What is a key takeaway from Dr. Leavitt's message about treatment?

Learn to differentiate between good and bad treatments/therapies

What is a common characteristic of therapies that are not effective?

They often exploit those suffering from psychological challenges

What is the significance of the therapist's expertise?

It must be accepted by the sufferer and their social group

What has changed regarding the gender ratio in therapy seekers?

Women used to outnumber men in therapy by four to one; now men are more willing to seek help

What is the impact of cultural beliefs on therapy seeking behavior?

Cultural beliefs can discourage individuals from seeking treatment for mental health issues

What is the focus of cognitive-behavioral therapies?

To change patterns of thinking or behavior that contribute to psychological problems

What is the role of a trained healer in therapy?

To guide the sufferer through the therapeutic process and facilitate change

What was the historical approach to treating the mentally ill?

Terrible facilities that locked up the mentally ill indefinitely.

What is the current focus in mental health care?

Finding a balance between coercive institutionalization and humane, dignified approaches.

What are the five main treatment approaches in mental health?

Biological, Psychodynamic, Behavioural, Cognitive-Behavioural, Humanistic and Existential.

What is the goal of biological treatments?

To improve structural or biochemical functioning and relieve symptoms.

What do psychotropic drugs primarily act on?

The brain.

Name a type of medication used for treating psychosis.

Antipsychotics.

What are common examples of antipsychotic medications?

Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), Clozapine (Clozaril).

What type of medication is primarily used for depression?

Antidepressants.

What are SSRIs and why are they commonly used?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; they are more effective than tricyclics with fewer side effects.

What is the purpose of mood stabilizers?

To treat acute symptoms of manic or depressive episodes.

What is a controversial use of Ketamine in mental health treatment?

It is being considered for treatment-resistant mood disorders.

What are benzodiazepines used for?

To alleviate anxiety symptoms.

What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) used for?

To trigger a brain seizure to relieve abnormal functioning, particularly depression.

What is vagus nerve stimulation?

A procedure that sends electrical signals to the brain to help reduce depression.

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

A procedure that sends a current into the prefrontal cortex to treat depression.

What is trephination?

Creating a hole in the skull to treat ailments, historically believed to release evil spirits.

What is a lobotomy?

A surgical practice of cutting connections between the frontal lobe and lower brain centers, often leading to severe side effects.

What are the strengths of biological treatments?

They often bring relief when other approaches have failed and offer promising options.

What are some criticisms of biological treatments?

They can have undesirable side effects and may overlook the interaction between biological and non-biological factors.

What is the focus of psychodynamic therapies?

Addressing past emotional trauma.

What is free association in psychodynamic therapy?

Discussions initiated by the client to uncover unconscious events.

What is transference in psychodynamic therapy?

When a client shifts feelings for figures from childhood onto the therapist.

What is catharsis in psychodynamic therapy?

Reliving past repressed feelings to resolve conflicts.

What is the goal of short-term psychodynamic therapy?

To focus on a single problem and work through related issues.

What is relational psychoanalytic therapy?

A therapy approach where therapists disclose their reactions and beliefs as part of the process.

What is the primary goal of therapists in establishing relationships with clients?

To create more equal relationships as opposed to distant analytic relationships typical of standard psychoanalysis.

What is a strength of psychodynamic approaches?

They were the first to demonstrate the value of systematically applying both theory and techniques to treatment.

What is a major criticism of psychodynamic approaches?

Their effectiveness is not supported by research and they can be lengthy and expensive.

What is the main premise of behavioral therapies?

Abnormal behavior is learned in the same way as normal behaviors and can be replaced with healthy behaviors.

What technique is used in classical conditioning to treat phobias?

Systematic desensitization.

What is aversion therapy?

A technique that increases anxiety responses to harmful stimuli desired by the client, such as excessive drinking.

What is the purpose of a fear hierarchy in systematic desensitization?

To gradually expose clients to fear objects and help them learn a different reaction.

What is the goal of operant conditioning techniques?

To provide rewards for desirable behavior and withhold rewards for undesirable behavior.

What is a token economy?

An operant conditioning program where participants receive tokens for displaying desired behaviors.

Who pioneered the modeling techniques in therapy?

Alberta Bandura.

What are the three kinds of cognitive-behavioral therapies?

1. Ellis's rational-emotive behavioral therapy, 2. Beck's cognitive therapy, 3. Second-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies.

What is the goal of Ellis's rational-emotive therapy?

To identify irrational assumptions that lead to disordered emotions, behaviors, and thinking.

What is Beck's cognitive therapy primarily used for?

It is widely used for treating depression.

What do second-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies emphasize?

Recognizing problematic thoughts as just thoughts and accepting them rather than judging.

What is the main strength of cognitive-behavioral therapies?

They are well supported by research and effective for various disorders.

What is a criticism of cognitive-behavioral therapies?

The role of cognition is unclear for some disorders.

What is the aim of humanistic and existential therapies?

To help clients look at themselves and their situations more accurately and acceptingly.

What does Roger's client-centered therapy emphasize?

Unconditional positive regard, accurate empathy, and genuineness from the therapist.

What is Gestalt therapy focused on?

Guiding clients towards self-acceptance through challenging and frustrating techniques.

What is the role of existential therapists?

To encourage clients to accept responsibility for their lives and recognize their freedom.

What is individual therapy?

A one-on-one treatment format between a therapist and a client.

What is group therapy?

A format where a therapist meets with several clients with similar problems simultaneously.

What is family therapy?

A treatment format where the whole family is treated as a unit.

What is community treatment?

A mental health approach emphasizing community care and prevention.

What types of therapies should be approached with skepticism?

Therapies that treat unchangeable issues as changeable, promise excessive results, or lack scientific grounding.

What do therapy outcome studies investigate?

The effects of various treatments and their effectiveness compared to no treatment or placebo.

What is a common finding about the effectiveness of therapy?

Therapy is generally more effective than no treatment or placebo treatments.

Which therapies are effective for specific problems like phobias?

Behavioral therapies.

What is the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders?

Effective for social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression.

How do cultural factors influence therapy effectiveness?

Members of ethnic minority groups often seek therapies less and benefit less than majority-group members.