5.5 Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Describe research and trends in the treatment of psychological disorders.

• Many researchers who have conducted metaanalytic studies of psychotherapy conclude that psychotherapies are generally effective. Many psychologists use evidence-based interventions to develop treatment plans. Therapists should exhibit cultural humility and establish a therapeutic alliance with the client to deliver therapy successfully.

Describe research and trends in the treatment of psychological disorders.

• Due to the increased use and effectiveness of psychotropic medication therapy, hospitals and asylums deinstitutionalized massive numbers of people in the late 20th century. Therapists now prefer to treat in decentralized ways, often with a combination of medication and psychological therapies.

Describe ethical principles in the treatment of psychological disorders.

• Psychologists in clinical or therapeutic situations must follow certain ethical principles as established by the APA, including nonmaleficence, fidelity, integrity, and respect for people’s rights and dignity.

Describe techniques used with psychological therapies.

• Psychodynamic therapies employ free association and dream interpretation to uncover the unconscious mind.
• Cognitive therapies may employ cognitive restructuring or fear hierarchies to combat maladaptive thinking. Cognitive therapy proposes that people should focus on the cognitive triad—negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.
• Applied behavior analysis involves applying principles of conditioning to address mental disorders and developmental disabilities. Exposure therapies (such as systematic desensitization), aversion therapies, and token economies all employ principles of applied behavior analysis. Biofeedback uses principles of conditioning to help clients regulate body systems (such as the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems) that contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapies, such as dialectical behavior therapy and rationalemotive behavior therapy, combine techniques from the cognitive and behavioral perspectives to treat mental and behavioral disorders.
• Therapy from the humanistic perspective, commonly referred to as person-centered therapy, employs active listening and unconditional positive regard.

Explain how group therapy is different from individual therapy.

Describe effective uses of hypnosis.

• Hypnosis has shown effectiveness in treating pain and anxiety. Research does not support the use of hypnosis to retrieve accurate memories or regress in age. IVE

Describe interventions derived from the biological perspective.

• Psychoactive medications, such as antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, lithium, or antipsychotic medications, interact with specific neurotransmitters in the central nervous system to address possible biochemical causes of mental disorders. Psychoactive medications can have side effects such as tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder related to the regulation of dopamine in the nervous system).
• Surgical or invasive interventions include psychosurgery (which may involve lesioning), TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), or electroconvulsive therapy. The lobotomy is a form of psychosurgery that was popular in the mid-20th century but is rarely, if ever, performed today. 127