Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Psychotherapy

A treatment involving psychological techniques; consists of interactions between a trained therapist and someone seeking to overcome psychological difficulties or achieve personal growth.

Biomedical therapy

The use of prescribed medications or procedures that act directly on the person’s physiology.

Eclectic approach

A psychotherapy method that uses techniques from a variety of different therapies to treat a patient.

Deinstitutionalization

The process of releasing individuals from psychiatric hospitals into the community with alternative mental health care.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach championed by Sigmund Freud that involves techniques to uncover content from the patient’s unconscious mind.

Free association

A technique in psychoanalysis where patients speak freely to uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Resistance

Blocking from consciousness of anxiety-laden material in psychoanalysis.

Transference

Misplaced feelings for one’s therapist, such as anger or love.

Psychodynamic therapy

A therapy derived from psychoanalysis that focuses on unconscious forces and childhood experiences.

Behavior therapy

A treatment that applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors.

Counterconditioning

A procedure that uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli triggering unwanted behaviors.

Exposure therapy

Forcing patients to confront their fears to reduce anxiety.

Cognitive therapy

A therapy that teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking.

Biofeedback

A technique that helps individuals gain voluntary control over involuntary bodily functions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

An integrative therapy that combines cognitive and behavior change techniques.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

A type of psychotherapy that helps individuals manage intense emotions and improve relationships.

Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

A confrontational cognitive therapy developed by Albert Ellis that challenges illogical beliefs.

Social skills training

A therapeutic approach to improve interpersonal abilities through effective communication skills.

Insight therapies

Therapies aimed at improving psychological functioning by increasing awareness of motives and defenses.

Client-centered therapy

A therapeutic approach developed by Carl Rogers focusing on acceptance and empathy to facilitate client growth.

Group therapy

Treatment conducted in groups to promote interaction and support among patients.

Family therapy

A type of group therapy that treats individuals in the context of their family systems.

Hypnotherapy

A psychological treatment that uses hypnosis to help with mental and physical health conditions.

Psychopharmacology

The study of the effects of drugs on the mind and behavior.

Antipsychotics

Medications used to calm hallucinations and delusions.

Anti-anxiety medications

Drugs that depress central nervous system activity and treat anxiety disorders.

Antidepressants

Medications that elevate arousal and mood, used for depression and anxiety.

Mood stabilizers

Medications that balance extreme emotional highs and lows, primarily for bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Treatment using brief electrical currents on the brain to alleviate severe depression.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A method that uses magnetic energy to depress or stimulate brain activity.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

A procedure that uses implanted electrodes to send signals to specific brain areas.

Lobotomy/Lesioning

The removal or destruction of brain tissue used for severe cases of anxiety or depression.

token economies

patients earn points or tokens for exhibiting desired behaviors that can be exchanged for rewards

Systematic desensitization

in a relaxed state  incrementally expose the person to the object of anxiety

• Ex. Slowly reducing a fear of dogs through increasing steps of exposure. First they have to hold a picture of a dog, then a stuffed animal, then be in the same room as a live dog, until finally they can pet a dog without extreme fear.

Aversive conditioning

substitute a negative response with a positive one by pair undesirable behavior with negative stimulus

Ex. being prescribed medication that makes you ill if you ingest alcohol to curb addiction

Reveal beliefs

Question your interpretations, Rank thoughts and emotions

Test beliefs

Examine consequences, Decatastrophize thinking

Change beliefs

Take appropriate responsibility, Resist extremes

humanistic approach

therapy was championed by Carl Rogers and emphasizes people’s innate potential for self-fulfillment

active listening (humanistic)

hearing a client without providing judgment, opinion, or interruption while repeating or clarifying key points to demonstrate you have been paying attention

unconditional positive regard

a caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude) for their clients