Therapies

Flashcards on Therapies.

Psychotherapy

Treatment of emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal problems using psychological techniques.

Biomedical therapies

Uses medications, electroconvulsive therapy, or other medical treatments to treat symptoms of psychological disorders.

Psychoanalysis

A type of psychotherapy originated by Sigmund Freud that explores repressed or unconscious impulses and conflicts.

Short-Term Dynamic Therapies

Therapies based on psychoanalytic theory that are time-limited and have specific goals, focusing on current relationships.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy that focuses on current relationships, assuming symptoms are caused by interpersonal problems.

Humanistic perspective

Emphasizes human potential, self-awareness, and freedom of choice, focusing on the individual's conscious and subjective perception of self.

Client-centered therapy

Nondirective therapy where the therapist creates conditions that allow the client to direct the focus of therapy.

Motivational interviewing (MI)

Helps clients overcome mixed feelings about committing to change, strengthening self-motivated statements.

Behavior therapy

Therapy that uses learning principles to directly change problem behaviors.

Behavior modification

Focuses on changing maladaptive behavior patterns using basic learning principles and techniques.

Exposure therapy

Techniques recognized as effective treatments for anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD involving reliving frightening experiences under controlled conditions.

Systematic desensitization

Behavior therapy that involves learning a new conditioned response (relaxation) incompatible with the old conditioned response (fear and anxiety).

Aversive conditioning

Involves repeatedly pairing an aversive stimulus with undesirable behaviors or thoughts.

Token economy

A system for strengthening desired behaviors through positive reinforcement in a structured environment.

Cognitive Therapies

Therapies based on the assumption that psychological problems are due to maladaptive thinking.

Rational-emotive behavior therapy

Cognitive therapy that focuses on changing a client's irrational beliefs.

Cognitive therapy (CT)

Focuses on changing the client’s unrealistic and maladaptive beliefs that lead to distorted perceptions and interpretations of events.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Integrates cognitive and behavioral techniques, based on the assumption that thoughts, moods, and behaviors are interrelated.

Mindfulness

Meditation technique that involves present-centered awareness without judgment.

Group therapy

Form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working simultaneously with a small group of clients.

Family therapy

Form of psychotherapy that treats the family as a unit.

Network therapy

Based on the assumption that broad networks of family and friends are the core of social support.

Marital or couple therapy

Helps with difficulties in marriage or other committed relationships.

Biomedical therapies

Medical treatments for the symptoms of psychological disorders, including medication and electroconvulsive therapy.

Psychotropic medications

Medications that alter mental functions and alleviate psychological symptoms.

Antipsychotic medications

Prescription drugs used to reduce psychotic symptoms, frequently used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Newer antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors in brain regions associated with psychotic symptoms, decreasing side effects

Benzodiazepines

Reduce anxiety by increasing the level of GABA; regarded as highly effective medications.

Buspirone

Doesn't affect GABA; may affect dopamine or serotonin; may take up to two or three weeks to work; used to treat anxiety.

Lithium

Naturally occurring substance used to treat bipolar disorder, interrupt acute manic attacks, and prevent relapse

Antidepressant medications

Prescription drugs used to reduce symptoms associated with major depressive disorder

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Biomedical therapy used primarily in the treatment of major depressive disorder involving electrically inducing a brief brain seizure.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Similar to ECT, but uses a small fraction of the electricity.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Involves stimulation of certain regions of the brain with magnetic pulses of various frequencies.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

Involves surgical implantation of a device that provides brief, intermittent electrical stimulation to the left vagus nerve.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS)

Utilizes electrodes surgically implanted in the brain and a battery-powered neurostimulator surgically implanted in the chest that sends electrical signals to the brain.