Health Psych : Treatments

Psychodynamic Therapies

• Free Association – A technique where patients say whatever comes to mind to uncover unconscious thoughts.

• Dream Interpretation – Analyzing dreams to reveal unconscious desires and conflicts.

• Unconscious Mind – The part of the mind that holds thoughts, memories, and desires outside conscious awareness.

• Resistance – When a patient unconsciously blocks therapy progress by avoiding distressing topics.

• Transference – When a patient projects emotions from past relationships onto their therapist.

Cognitive Therapies

• Cognitive Restructuring – Changing negative thought patterns to healthier, more constructive ones.

• Fear Hierarchies – A list ranking fears from least to most anxiety-provoking, used in exposure therapy.

• Cognitive Triad – Aaron Beck’s theory that depression is linked to negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.

Applied Behavior Analysis (Behavior Therapy)

• Counterconditioning – Replacing an unwanted response with a new, positive one.

• Biofeedback – Using technology to monitor and control physiological responses (e.g., heart rate).

• Exposure Therapies – Techniques that help patients confront fears gradually.

• Systematic Desensitization – Gradual exposure to a feared object while practicing relaxation techniques.

• Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy – Using VR simulations to help patients face fears in a controlled environment.

• Aversive Conditioning – Associating unwanted behaviors with unpleasant stimuli to reduce their occurrence.

• Token Economy – A reward system using tokens to reinforce desired behaviors.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – A therapy that balances acceptance and change, often used for borderline personality disorder.

• Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) – A therapy developed by Albert Ellis that challenges irrational beliefs to improve emotions and behavior.

Humanistic Approach to Therapy

• Insight Therapies – Focus on self-awareness and understanding to promote personal growth.

• Person-Centered Therapy – Carl Rogers’ therapy that emphasizes a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.

• Active Listening – A communication technique where the therapist paraphrases and clarifies the patient’s words.

• Unconditional Positive Regard – Accepting and valuing a person without conditions or judgment.

Therapy Formats

• Group Therapy – Therapy involving multiple clients who share experiences and support one another.

• Family Therapy – Therapy that treats family dynamics to resolve conflicts.

• Individual Therapy – One-on-one therapy sessions between a patient and therapist.

Hypnosis and Dissociation

• Hypnosis – A state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility.

• Posthypnotic Suggestion – A suggestion given during hypnosis that influences behavior afterward.

• Dissociation – A psychological state where a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, or identity.

Biomedical Therapies

• Psychopharmacology – The study of how drugs affect the mind and behavior.

• Psychoactive Medications – Drugs that alter mood, perception, or behavior.

• Antidepressants – Medications that help treat depression by balancing neurotransmitters.

• Antianxiety Disorders – Medications that reduce anxiety symptoms, such as benzodiazepines.

• Lithium – A mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder.

• Antipsychotic Medications – Drugs used to manage schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders.

• Tardive Dyskinesia – A side effect of long-term antipsychotic use, causing involuntary movements.

Other Biomedical Treatments

• Psychosurgery – Surgery that alters brain function to treat severe mental disorders.

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – A noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain areas linked to depression.

• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – A procedure that induces seizures to treat severe depression and other disorders.

• Lobotomy – A historical psychosurgery procedure that severed brain connections to alter behavior (now obsolete).

Posttraumatic Growth

• Posttraumatic Growth – Positive psychological changes experienced after struggling with a major life crisis.

Research and Effectiveness in Therapy

• Meta-Analysis – A statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to determine overall effectiveness.

• Psychotherapy – Treatment of mental disorders through psychological methods rather than medical means.

• Evidence-Based Interventions (Evidence-Based Practice) – Treatments that have been scientifically tested and proven effective.

• Therapeutic Alliance – The trust and collaboration between a therapist and client, crucial for successful therapy.

Biomedical Approaches to Therapy

• Biomedical Therapies – Treatments that focus on physiological interventions, such as medication or brain stimulation.

• Psychotropic Medication Therapy – The use of drugs to treat psychological disorders by altering brain chemistry.

Historical and Social Aspects of Mental Health Treatment

• Asylums – Institutions historically used to house individuals with mental illnesses, often with poor conditions.

• Deinstitutionalization – The movement to shift mental health treatment from institutions to community-based care.

• Psychological Therapies – Various non-medical treatments aimed at improving mental health, including cognitive, behavioral, and humanistic therapies.

Ethical Principles in Therapy

• Ethical Principles – Guidelines ensuring responsible and moral treatment in therapy.

• Nonmaleficence – The commitment to avoiding harm to clients.

• Fidelity – Maintaining trust, honesty, and professional responsibility in therapy.

• Integrity – Practicing honesty and strong moral principles in psychological treatment.

• Respect – Valuing clients’ rights, dignity, and autonomy.