Biomedical Therapies and Psychological Disorders Study Notes

Andy in Therapy for Depression
- Andy experiences positive outcomes solely due to the power of his belief in the therapy's effectiveness.
- Concept Demonstrated:
- c. Placebo effect

Dr. Chambers
- Recently licensed therapist.
- Obligation: Benefit clients and do no harm.
- Ethical Guideline Represented:
- b. Beneficence and nonmaleficence
Learning Targets:
- a. Fidelity and responsibility
- b. Beneficence and nonmaleficence
- c. Respect for people’s rights and dignity
- d. Integrity and justice

Biological Perspective Treatments:
- Definition: Biomedical therapy includes treatments derived from biological perspectives that alter the brain's chemistry with drugs, affect its circuitry through electrical stimulation, and influence responses through lifestyle changes or hypnosis.
- Difference from Psychotherapy: Biomedical therapies can have significant side effects unlike talk therapies.

Drug Therapies:
- Most commonly used biomedical treatments today.
- Interact with the nervous system to treat disorders.
- Common Prescribers: Primary care providers, psychiatrists, and in some U.S. states, psychologists.
- Psychoactive Drugs: Interact with specific neurotransmitters to address biochemical causes of psychological disorders.
- Psychopharmacology: Strategies developed since the 1950s have revolutionized treatment and deinstitutionalized many patients.
- Concerns of Deinstitutionalization: While treatment helps in some cases, it leads to homelessness for others who cannot care for themselves.
- Placebo Effect: Just believing in treatment can relieve symptoms; double-blind studies help distinguish true effects from perceived benefits due to expectations.

Importance of Double-Blind Studies:
- Evaluates actual treatment effects apart from participant and staff expectations.
Research Considerations:
- Recovery rates without treatment.
- Recovery rates affected by drug vs. placebo.

Definition: Drugs used to treat schizophrenia and severe thought disorders.
Key Concepts:
- First-generation antipsychotic drugs (e.g., Chlorpromazine/Thorazine) dampen responsiveness to irrelevant stimuli.
- Effectiveness: Best for treating positive symptoms like auditory hallucinations and paranoia; less effective for negative symptoms like apathy.
Dopamine Connection:
- Traditional antipsychotics mimic dopamine molecules to block receptor activity, reinforcing the belief that an overactive dopamine system contributes to schizophrenia.
- Side Effects: Can lead to tardive dyskinesia, which involves involuntary movements.
Newer Generation Antipsychotics:
- E.g., Risperidone (Risperdal), Olanzapine (Zyprexa) have fewer side effects but may increase risks of obesity and diabetes.
- Better targeting and support systems have improved outcomes for many patients.

Definition: Drugs used to control anxiety and agitation (e.g., Xanax, Ativan).
Mechanism: Depress central nervous system activity; should not be combined with alcohol.
Long-Term Concerns:
- Criticized for not resolving underlying issues.
- Can become addictive, causing withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Definition: Used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and PTSD.
Mechanism of Action:
- Increase availability of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin.
- Most common types are SSRIs (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil) that block normal reuptake processes.
Extended Uses: Increasingly prescribed for a variety of disorders beyond depression.
Timing of Effects: Symptoms can take several weeks to improve, alongside the risk of diminished sexual desire and other side effects.

Examples: Lithium and Depakote; effective for bipolar disorder.
- Lithium: Found to calm manic episodes and lower suicide risks among individuals with bipolar disorder.
Research Findings:
- Historical context of lithium's discovery and its continuing effectiveness for a significant proportion of bipolar patients.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT):
- ECT is effective for severe depression in treatment-resistant patients.
- Modern ECT procedures use anesthesia and prevent convulsions.
- Study shows ECT’s effectiveness in treating a high percentage of severe depression patients.
Transcranial Stimulation Techniques:
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): Applies weak electrical current with positive findings for depression.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Uses magnetic stimulation to treat depression and shows potential to impact schizophrenia symptoms.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Used for severe, resistant cases when other treatments fail, resulting in significant improvements.

Definition: Involves irreversible procedures to modify behavior and usually conducted as a last resort.
- Lobotomy: Historically used but now considered obsolete.
- Modern Psychosurgery: Includes more precise approaches aimed at controlling severe emotional conditions with lower risk.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC):
- Principles supporting the view that lifestyle affects mental health; involves exercise, nutrition, relationships, and relaxation.
Hypnosis:
- Can effectively function in reducing pain and anxiety.
- Mechanisms include social influence, dissociation, and selective attention.
Connection to Mental Health Interventions: Positive impacts on patients and effective in treating various disorders.

Preventive Mental Health: Focuses on alleviating conditions that lead to psychological disorders.
- Examples include addressing social conditions such as poverty and discrimination.
Building Resilience: Key to coping with stress and trauma, can lead to posttraumatic growth in individuals with strong supportive relationships.
Community Psychology Focus: Community psychologists aim to create environments that support psychological health and reduce disorder prevalence.

Key Concepts Revisited:
- Comparison of drug therapies, brain stimulation, and psychosurgery methods.
- Prevention approaches and the importance of resilience in mental health.

Relevant Exam Questions:

Dr. McQueen discusses a. Side effects with patients receiving antidepressants.
Penelope's therapy using suggestions indicates her therapist uses d. hypnosis.
Dana's antipsychotic medication will most likely affect b. Dopamine.
Zeke's bipolar disorder can be treated effectively with a. Lithium.
Dr. Etchiverie's study can benefit from implementing a double-blind procedure to avoid the placebo effect.