🧠🫂 Ch. 14 : Therapy Approaches & Biological Treatments

Psychoanalysis

A method of therapy asserting that clinical symptoms arise from unconscious conflicts rooted in childhood

Psychodynamic Approaches

Therapeutic approaches that derive from psychoanalytic theory but are less intensive, often face-to-face, and focus on symptom relief and insights.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

A psychodynamic approach that focuses on helping clients improve current relationships.

Humanistic Approach

Therapy centered around the idea that people must take responsibility for their lives and actions

Client-Centered Therapy (Person-Centered)

Humanistic therapy assuming individuals tend toward growth, which is facilitated by the therapist's acceptance and genuine reactions.

Motivational Interviewing

A brief, nonconfrontational, client-centered therapy designed to change specific problematic behaviors.

Gestalt Therapy

Aims to help patients integrate inconsistent aspects of themselves into a coherent whole by increasing self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Behavioral Approaches

Therapy focused on using learning principles to eliminate unwanted behavior, promote desired behavior, and reduce unwanted emotional responses.

Systematic Desensitization

A behavioral technique using gradual exposure (sometimes with VR) to an anxiety-provoking stimulus while practicing relaxation.

In Vivo Exposure

Direct, real-life exposure to a feared object or situation (a behavioral technique).

Token Economy

A behavior modification technique where patients' positive behaviors are reinforced with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards.

Contingency Management

A behavior modification technique where certain behaviors are reliably followed by well-defined consequences.

Cognitive Approaches

Therapeutic approaches based on the idea that maladaptive behaviors arise due to errors in thinking (maladaptive cognitions).

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

A cognitive approach where the therapist actively challenges the patient’s irrational beliefs.

Cognitive Restructuring

Techniques used in cognitive therapy for changing a person's maladaptive beliefs or interpretations.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Focuses on changing the patient's habitual interpretations of the world and ways of behaving (combining cognitive and behavioral techniques).

Third Wave Therapies (CBT)

New forms of CBT, including acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Eclecticism

The approach of using combined therapy approaches (e.g., using cognitive, behavioral, and psychodynamic methods).

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

An eclectic therapy for treating borderline personality disorder, which includes cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic elements.

Typical (Conventional) Antipsychotics

First-generation medications that block dopamine and primarily reduce the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Medications that block dopamine more selectively and also alter serotonin transmission.

Early Antidepressants

Included Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.

SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (e.g., Prozac, Paxil) that block the reuptake of serotonin.

SNRIs

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (e.g., Effexor)

Mood Stabilizer

Medications (e.g., Lithium carbonate) primarily used to treat bipolar disorder by managing manic, mixed, or depressive states.

Anxiolytic

A type of drug that alleviates the symptoms of anxiety (antianxiety medication)

Benzodiazepine

A type of anxiolytic (e.g., Xanax) that facilitates the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. (Note: They can be addictive and cause a rebound effect).

Psychosurgery

Surgical destruction of specific brain areas to treat a psychological disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A biological treatment that induces seizures to treat mental disorders, often severe depression.

Deep Brain Stimulation

A biological treatment that is targeted (like rTMS) and involves a surgically implanted device.

Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Electrically stimulating the vagus nerve with a small, battery-powered implant.