Psychotherapy and Biomedical Therapies

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of couple therapy?

Improving communication (correct)

Conducting family interventions

Addressing individual psychological disorders

Administering medication

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of family therapy?

Addresses communication patterns

Treats the family as a unit

Focuses on individual issues (correct)

Assumes the family is a system

What is the purpose of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

To treat schizophrenia

To alleviate anxiety symptoms

To induce a brief brain seizure for treating severe depression (correct)

To provide long-term psychotherapy

Which statement about modern electroconvulsive therapy is true?

Patients are given muscle relaxants before the procedure. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of patients with severe depression typically show improvement after ECT?

80% Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of psychotherapy?

To enhance self-knowledge and personal fulfillment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the method of free association in psychoanalysis?

Patients recounting all thoughts and feelings as they come to mind Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of traditional psychoanalysis?

It is often a slow and expensive process. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT considered essential for a therapist in Carl Rogers' client-centered therapy?

Directive leadership Signup and view all the answers

What technique in psychoanalysis is utilized to analyze dreams for hidden meanings?

Dream interpretation Signup and view all the answers

Biomedical therapy typically does NOT include which of the following methods?

Psychological counseling sessions Signup and view all the answers

What outcome does humanistic therapy primarily aim to achieve?

Greater psychological safety and acceptance Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of client-centered therapy?

To create a warm and accepting climate for clients. Signup and view all the answers

Which technique involves pairing relaxation with fear-provoking images?

Systematic Desensitization Signup and view all the answers

How does operant conditioning primarily affect behavior in therapy?

By increasing desired behaviors through positive reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of Token Economies?

They reward desired behaviors with points that can be exchanged for items. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of cognitive therapies?

To recognize and alter unhealthy thinking patterns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

A treatment that integrates cognitive and behavioral approaches. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable advantage of group therapy over individual therapy?

It allows for observation of patient interactions. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates self-help groups from professionally conducted group therapy?

Self-help groups are typically led by nonprofessionals. Signup and view all the answers

What does positive reinforcement in operant conditioning aim to achieve?

To increase the incidence of desired behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of behavior therapy?

It emphasizes insight into past experiences. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Therapies

Two main types of therapy: psychotherapy and biomedical therapies
Psychotherapy treats emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal problems using psychological techniques to modify feelings, behaviors, or relationships.
Biomedical therapies treat symptoms of psychological disorders via medications, electroconvulsive therapy, or other medical treatments.

Seeking Help

People seek psychotherapy for diverse reasons, including overcoming severe psychological disorders, coping with daily challenges, improving relationships, or gaining self-knowledge and fulfillment.

Psychotherapy Subtypes

Psychoanalytic Therapy: A form of therapy developed by Sigmund Freud, focusing on uncovering unconscious conflicts.
- Freud used "free association" where patients express thoughts as they come.
- Patients lie on a couch during sessions; the therapist sits out of their view.
- Dream interpretation: A technique to analyze the content of dreams for disguised/symbolic wishes, meanings, and motivations.
  - Traditional psychoanalysis involves multiple sessions per week for several years.
  - Traditional psychoanalysis is a lengthy, expensive process.
Humanistic Therapy:
- Client-centered therapy (developed by Carl Rogers) is a core humanistic therapy type.
- Therapists are non-directive and reflective; the client directs the therapy session focus.
- The therapist's qualities are crucial: genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy.
- This therapeutic climate fosters psychological safety, acceptance, and feelings of value.
- Client self-concept and worldview gradually improve in this environment.
- Therapists strive to create a warm, accepting environment. Clients freely explore troubling issues.
Behavior Therapy:
- Uses learning principles such as classical, operant, and observational conditioning.
- Techniques aim to directly modify behaviors.
- Systematic Desensitization: Phobic responses are diminished by pairing relaxation with progressively fearful mental images (examples given such as a public speaking hierarchy provided).
- Operant Conditioning: Using reinforcement techniques such as positive reinforcement to enhance desired behaviors and reduce undesired ones (examples such as token economies provided)
Cognitive Therapy:
- Assumes psychological issues stem from dysfunctional thinking patterns.
- Cognitive techniques help clients recognize and alter maladaptive thinking.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Combines cognitive and behavioral methods, emphasizing the interplay of thoughts, moods, and behaviors.

Group and Family Therapy

Group Therapy: Involves one or more therapists working with multiple individuals at mental health clinics, from small groups to large ones.
- Group therapy offers cost-effectiveness, facilitates observing patient interactions, and fosters a sense of shared experience. It demonstrates that problems are not unique.
Couple Therapy: Focuses on enhancing communication, intimacy, and relationship bonds for people in committed relationships.
Family Therapy: Views the family as a unified system, treating the family unit for optimal functioning.

Biomedical Therapies

Biomedical Therapies: Treatments for symptoms of psychological disorders.
- Include medication and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Antipsychotic Medications: Reduce psychotic symptoms typically used to treat schizophrenia.
- Antianxiety Medications: Alleviate anxiety symptoms.
- Antidepressant Medications: Diminish symptoms associated with depression.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT):
  - This therapy involves electrical stimulation to induce a seizure to treat depression.
  - ECT is used in severe depression cases, typically when antidepressant medications are ineffective.
  - In modern ECT, patients receive anesthetic and muscle relaxants, then mild electrical pulses induce a short seizure.

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Description

This quiz explores the two main types of therapy: psychotherapy and biomedical therapies. It delves into how psychotherapy addresses emotional and behavioral issues while biomedical therapies focus on medical treatment of psychological disorders. Understand the subtypes such as psychoanalytic therapy and techniques like free association and dream interpretation.