Psychology: Chapter 16 - Therapy and Treatment

Therapy & Treatment

  • Many therapy forms treat diverse problems. Ocean Therapy at Camp Pendleton uses surfing and discussions to aid veterans, especially those with PTSD.

Mental Health Treatment

  • About 19% of U.S. adults and 13% of adolescents (8-15) experience mental illness yearly. One-third to one-half of affected adolescents get treatment, more often for behavior-related disorders.

Treatment in the Past

  • Mental illness was once blamed on supernatural forces.

    • Methods included exorcism, trephining, and execution.

18th Century

  • Asylums: early institutions that housed people with psychological disorders which focused on ostracizing individuals from society rather than treatment.

    • Philippe Pinel advocated humane treatment, which improved patient outcomes.

19th Century

  • Dorothea Dix advocated for mentally ill and helped create American asylums by lobbying state legislatures and Congress.

20th Century

  • 1954: Antipsychotic drugs improved psychosis treatment.

  • 1975: Mental Retardation Facilities & Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act promoted deinstitutionalization.

    • This led to asylum closures and community-based treatment, but underfunding caused issues.

Mental Health Treatment Today

  • Homelessness and mental illness remain linked.

  • Psychiatric and community hospitals emphasize short-term care due to costs and insurance limits.

  • Treatment can be voluntary or involuntary.

  • Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists provide treatment in various settings.

Types of Treatment

  • Psychodynamic, play, behavior, cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic therapies each offer unique approaches.

Psychoanalysis

  • Freud's psychoanalysis aimed to uncover repressed feelings.

Play Therapy

  • Uses toys to help children express emotions and traumas.

Behavior Therapy

  • Applies learning to change behaviors through classical and operant conditioning.

Exposure Therapy

  • Systematically reduces anxiety by gradually exposing individuals to feared stimuli.

Cognitive Therapy

  • Addresses thought patterns to change emotional reactions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

  • Modifies cognitive distortions and behaviors.

Humanistic Therapy

  • Focuses on self-awareness and acceptance.

Biomedical Therapies

  • Include medications like antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers, as well as ECT and TMS.

Treatment Modalities

  • Therapists assess client needs and provide individual or group therapy.

Individual Therapy

  • One-on-one sessions in a confidential setting.

Group Therapy

  • Addresses common issues in a group setting.

Couples & Family Therapy

  • Helps improve relationships with family or partners.

Addiction

  • Chronic substance use alters brain structure, often involving relapse and comorbid disorders (MICA).