Modalities
Biological Treatment Therapies
Psychotropic Medication:
Alter the biochemistry of the brain
Too much/too little dopamine, seratonin
Ritalin (ADHD)
Paxil/Xanax (anxiety)
Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa (depression)
Lithium (Bi-polar disorder)
Deep Brain Stimulation Revisited:
Thin electrode surgically implanted so electrical
currents can be delivered to the brain
Clip: electrodes in a brain with a pacemaker as a
depression treatment. Shows 1st woman after
feeling optimistic and happy. They dont want
the patient to feel artificially happy. 2nd woman:
OCD --> when the battery failed, intrusive
thoughts re-entered, surgery to replace batteries
to bring her back to normal
Psychosurgery:
Lesion/destroy problematic areas of the brain to
eliminate disruptive behaviors (lobotomy, ocd surgery)
Deep Brain Stimulation Revisited
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): shock therapy
Beneficial to hose with severe depression which are not
responsive to medication/therapy
Can lead to memory impairment
Unclear on why/how it works
Psychoanalysis
Based on Freudian principles believing in the
impact of early childhood
Uses Free Association
Saying whatever comes to mind
Dream Interpretation
Transference
Develop relationship with therapist based on other
people in ones life
Therapist is non-responsive, patient gets made says, You
never listen to me, you dont hear a word I say. Therapist
concludes, Do you have other people in your life that dont
listen to you?
Goal to uncover UCS conflicts to decrease
anxiety/stress caused by guilt
Psychodynamic Therapies:
Looks at unconscious conflicts, defense
mechanisms, and symptom resolution in a
broader manner than Freud
Psychodynamic Therapies, cont.
Humanistic or Client-Centered Therapies:
Belief that people need to be supported and set
the pace of their own therapy (Rogers)
Basic Principles Include:
Unconditional positive regard
Help build self-esteem and feelings of
acceptance with genuineness and empathy
Psychodynamic Therapies, cont.
Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Systematic Desensitization:
Step by step process of eliminating a fear.
Uses counter conditioning to pair techniques
with relaxation feared situation (Ex. Slowly make someone not afraid
of snakes)
Virtual Reality Therapy / Exposure (movie)
Aversion Therapy:
Substitutes punishment for the reinforcement of a bad habit
Ant-abuse for alcoholics
Shock for pedophiles
Nail biters (make nail taste bad so dont bite it again)
Psychodynamic Therapies, cont.
Flooding:
Immersion into the feared situation /
circumstance as an intervention to decrease the
phobic / feared response
Psychodynamic Therapies, cont.
Cognitive Therapies:
Help identify beliefs and expectations which
maintain problems and conflicts. Challenges
distortions in thinking
Identify faulty thinking and encourage realistic
reappraisal with therapist support
Includes a variety of behavioral elements including
modeling and rehearsal
Ex. My friend is going to get made at me, and then never
talk to me again. OR I have 3 exams next week and my life
is going to be over (Therapist: so suppose you DID fail the
exam, what happens next?)
Psychodynamic Therapies, cont.
Family/Couples Therapy:
Focus on the dynamics in the family as a
system with different rules, roles and
motivations
Treat each person as integral to the bigger system;
identified patient is symptom bearer in the family
Changes one part of the system and the whole
system needs to adapt
Ex. A kid is not doing well (in class?), so bring the
whole family in, and realize the kids acting out the
problem of the mom or dad.
Psychodynamic Therapy, cont.
Group Therapy:
People with similar or different problems come
together to provide support, strategies
Normalization a key component
Can aid in social skills, modeling of adaptive
strategies and encourages empathy
Efficient use of resources
Psychodynamic Therapies, cont.
Psychotherapy Outcome Research:
1. Various therapies see similar success rates
though this is challenged statistically (regression
to the mean)
2. Different beliefs that some therapies do better
for some disorders (anxiety, phobias)
3. A positive therapeutic relationship to the
therapist can be vital
Exam Extra Credit Q!!! #2
WHO did dr. fogi ? Treat with a behavioral
intervention???
YOGI THE DOG