Study Guidelines

1. Describe how mental illness used to be treated and how Philippe Pinel and Dorothea Dix improved treatment

   1. Mental Illness treatment in the past:

      1. exorcisms, trephination, execution and imprisonment

      2. late 1400-1600 those accused of witchcraft were often burned at the sake

      3. 18th century mental treatment: “mentally ill” placed into asylums where they were chained and left completely alone unless they were being beaten.

         1. asylums focused on isolating mentally ill from society

      4. Paris, 1795 Pinel: unchained, spoke to, and treated patients allowing some back into society

         1. argued for more humane treatment

      5. 19th century DIX: lobbied state legislatures and US congress, efforts led to 1st mental asylums in the US

      6. 20th Century:

         1. antipsychotics introduced

         2. federal funding and support of community mental health centers which started process of deinstitutionalization, once patients were released they were not met with ideal circumstances as the new system was not effectively set up.

            1. centers were underfunded, staff untrained to handle severe mental illness

            2. led to increase in homelessness

2. Identify the difference between voluntary and involuntary treatment

   1. Voluntary treatment: person chooses to receive treatment

   2. involuntary treatment: treatment that is not the individual’s choice

3. Define, describe the primary features and recognize examples of cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, psychoanalytic therapy and behavior therapy

   1. CBT: work to change cognitive distortions and self-defeating behaviors

   2. Cognitive Therapy: awareness of cognitive processes helps patients eliminate thought patterns that lead to distress

   3. Psychoanalytic therapy: talking about unconscious and how childhood impacts behavior

      1. free association, dream analysis, transference

   4. behavior therapy: principles of learning applied to change undesirable behaviors

      1. classical conditioning- conditioning principles are applied to recondition clients and change their behavior

      2. counter conditioning- client learns a new response to a stimulus that has previously elicited an undesirable behavior

         1. aversive conditioning- uses unpleasant stim to stop undesirable behavior

         2. exposure therapy- seeks to change the response to a conditioned stimulus

            1. use for fear/anxiety

            2. client is repeatedly exposed to the object/situation that causes their problem, with idea that they will eventually get used to it

4. Describe what group therapy and couples therapy focus on and how they benefit clients

   1. group therapy: several clients meet with trained therapist to discuss common issue

      1. may decrease shame and isolation, clients may have concerns about confidentiality or feel uncomfortable sharing problems with strangers

   2. Couple’s Therapy: therapist helps to work on difficulties in relationship, aims to help resolve problems and implement strategies that lead to healthier and happier relationship

      1. primarily uses CBT

5. Describe the intake process and the protections in place for clients

   1. therapist gathers info on patients immediate needs

      1. presenting problem, client’s support system, insurance status

   2. therapist informs patient of confidentiality, fees and what to expect during treatment

   3. treatment goals are discussed and a treatment plan is formed

6. Define cultural competence and recognize examples of good and bad cultural competence

   1. cultural competence: mental health professionals must understand and address issues of race, culture, and ethnicity and use strategies to effectively address needs of various populations