AP Psych 8.6 - Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, & Biomedical Therapies

Goal of Behavioral Therapies

the application of learning principles to direct efforts to change clients' maladaptive behaviors

(classical conditioning, rewards/punishments)

Counterconditioning

conditioning an unwanted behavior or response to a stimulus into a wanted behavior or response by the association of positive actions with the stimulus

Exposure Therapy - Systematic Desensitization

step by step process used to reduce phobic clients' anxiety responses through using deep breathing & a hierarchy

Exposure Therapy - Flooding/Immersion

clients are confronted with situations that they fear so that they learn that these situations are really harmless

Which disorders are best treated using Exposure Therapies?

anxiety disorders, phobias, OCD, PTSD

Aversion Therapies

associates an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant feeling

ex: painting fingernails with nasty-tasting nail polish

Applied Behavioral Analysis

designed to improve interpersonal skills; child's behavior is charted & analyzed

- modeling: watch and learn

- behavioral rehearsal: practice through role-play

- shaping: slowly work toward complicated/delicate social situations

ABA is the best treatment for..?

autism, social phobia

Token economy

behavior modification based on the systematic reinforcement of a target behavior

ex: sticker chart, point system

Token economies are best used for..?

children and inpatient treatment

Biofeedback

uses principles of conditioning to help clients regulate body systems that contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression

ex: sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

Goal of cognitive behavioral treatments

verbal interventions + behavioral modification techniques to help clients change maladaptive patterns of thinking resulting in problematic behaviors

The Cognitive Triad

a theory that describes how people with depression think negatively about (1) themselves, (2) the

world, and (3) the future

Cognitive Restructuring

a psychotherapeutic technique that helps people identify and change unhelpful thoughts

Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET)

challenges and changes our irrational beliefs to reduce unhealthy emotions and self-sabotaging thoughts & behaviors

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

a type of therapy that teaches skills to manage difficult emotions, improve relationships, and increase distress tolerance

Goal of biomedical therapies

physiological interventions intended to reduce physical symptoms associated with psychological distress

Anti-anxiety drugs (anxiolytics)

relieves tension, apprehension and nervousness

Antipsychotics (neuroleptics)

gradually reduce psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia by decreasing dopamine activity

(works for ~70% of patients)

Tardive dyskinesia

a side effect of antipsychotics neurological disorder: involuntary writhing and tic-like movements of the mouth, tongue, face, hands or feet

Antidepressants

gradually elevate mood and help bring people out of a depression

- SSRIs: (serotonin)

- SNRIs: (norepinephrine)

Lithium/mood stabilizers

control mood swings associated with bipolar disorder

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

electric shock is used to produce a cortical seizure accompanied by the convulsions

*high relapse rate, short-term side effects

*used to treat major depression (MDD) & other psychiatric disorders (e.g. mania, catatonia)

Psychosurgery

severing/disabling (lesioning) different parts of the brain to treat mental illness

used to treat bipolar and OCD

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

temporarily enhancing or depressing activity in a specific area of the brain (cortex)

used to treat depression

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

electrode surgically implanted in brain and connected to implanted pulse generator so various electrical currents can be delivered to brain tissue adjacent to electrode

used to treat depression and OCD