Abnormality Treatments
There are four treatments for abnormality that you need to know for the exam:
Physiological Treatment = Biological treatments (DRUGS & CBT)
Psychological Treatments = Behavioural treatments (SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION)
Combined Cognitive and Behavioural treatments (CBT)
Psychodynamic treatment (PSYCHOANALYSIS)
Physiological Treatment = Biological treatments (DRUGS & CBT)
Psychological Treatments = Behavioural treatments (SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION)
Combined Cognitive and Behavioural treatments (CBT)
Psychodynamic treatment (PSYCHOANALYSIS)
Biological Treatments
Drugs
The Biological approach states that all abnormal behaviour has a physical cause.
Drug treatmentis the main treatment for mental disorders.
It based on the assumption that chemical imbalance is at the root of the abnormality.
There are 3 groups of drug treatment:
Þ Anti-anxiety drugs (Phobias and Generalised Anxiety Disorder) eg. Vallium
Þ Anti-depressant drugs (Depression) eg.Prozac (SSRI)
Þ Anti-psychotic drugs (Schizophrenia) eg. phenothiazines
The Biological approach states that all abnormal behaviour has a physical cause.
Drug treatmentis the main treatment for mental disorders.
It based on the assumption that chemical imbalance is at the root of the abnormality.
There are 3 groups of drug treatment:
Þ Anti-anxiety drugs (Phobias and Generalised Anxiety Disorder) eg. Vallium
Þ Anti-depressant drugs (Depression) eg.Prozac (SSRI)
Þ Anti-psychotic drugs (Schizophrenia) eg. phenothiazines
Biological Treatments
Electroconvulsive Therapy
A treatment that uses electric shocks to stimulate the brain and is used to treat depression.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) works for severe depression, but it is only used when antidepressants and other treatments have not worked.
Originally used by Cerletti and Bini (1938) to help patients with schizophrenia but was deemed an ineffective treatment for schizophrenia.
Today its used to treat people with clinical depression. Treatments are usually given 2-3x a week for 3-4 weeks.
Johnston (2003) Over 11’000 patients in England and Wales received ECT treatment in 1999, two thirds were women.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) works for severe depression, but it is only used when antidepressants and other treatments have not worked.
Originally used by Cerletti and Bini (1938) to help patients with schizophrenia but was deemed an ineffective treatment for schizophrenia.
Today its used to treat people with clinical depression. Treatments are usually given 2-3x a week for 3-4 weeks.
Johnston (2003) Over 11’000 patients in England and Wales received ECT treatment in 1999, two thirds were women.
Behaviourist Treatments
Systematic De-sensitisation
- If maladaptive behaviours have been learnt by classical or operant conditioning it should be possible to change them.
- ‘SD’ takes a practical problem-solving approach based upon classical conditioning.
- It uses reverse conditioning to replace a maladaptive response to a stimulus with an adaptive response.
A02: Evaluation of systematic de-sensitisation
The first criticism of systematic de-sensitisation is that there are quicker alternative treatments for abnormality such as flooding. This means that SD is time consuming in comparison to other behavioural methods. This is a problem because clients may drop out of this treatment as it requires high levels of motivation. they may also prefer a shorter treatment where by they deal with their phobia quickly.
The second criticism of SD is that some people are unable to imagine a situation (In-vitro). This means that the procedure of SD is an unsuitable treatment for some people. This is a problem because it suggests that it is ineffective if the individual cannot imagine. However the client could apply using In-vivo which is more long lasting.
One strength of SD is that if a person it able to 'tollerate imagined stressful situations' then it will be followed by a reduction in anxiety. This means that the treatment is effective if a client can apply their learnt behaviour to real life. However it should be noted that relapse rates are high, this may be due to newly learnt behaviours.
A second strength of SD is that there is research evidence to support the treatment. McGrath et al (1990) demonstrated that SD is effective for 75% of people with phobias. This empirical evidence demonstrates that SD is an effective technique.
The second criticism of SD is that some people are unable to imagine a situation (In-vitro). This means that the procedure of SD is an unsuitable treatment for some people. This is a problem because it suggests that it is ineffective if the individual cannot imagine. However the client could apply using In-vivo which is more long lasting.
One strength of SD is that if a person it able to 'tollerate imagined stressful situations' then it will be followed by a reduction in anxiety. This means that the treatment is effective if a client can apply their learnt behaviour to real life. However it should be noted that relapse rates are high, this may be due to newly learnt behaviours.
A second strength of SD is that there is research evidence to support the treatment. McGrath et al (1990) demonstrated that SD is effective for 75% of people with phobias. This empirical evidence demonstrates that SD is an effective technique.
Behaviourist Treatment
Aversion Therapy
- Based upon Classical Conditioning.
- Rid an individual of an undesirable habit by pairing the habit with an unpleasant (aversive) consequence.
- Used to treat addictions such as smoking or alcoholism.
- Stopping excessive drinking:
Pair an alcoholic drink with an emetic (a nausea-inducing substance).
After a few pairings of alcohol and feeling nauseous, the person will avoid the smell or the taste of alcohol.
Cognitive & Behavioural Treatment
Cognitive behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- CBT focuses upon encouraging people to examine their beliefs and expectations underlying their unhappiness.
- Replaces irrational and negative thoughts with a more positive, adaptive way of thinking.
- Therapists and clients work together to set new goals that are more realistic and rational beliefs are incorporated into their way of thinking.
- Treats depression, schizophrenia and stress.
Outline taken from http://www.chris-uk.org/cognitive-behaviour-therapy
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) describes a number of therapies that all have a similar approach to solving problems – these can range from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression. CBT works by changing people’s attitudes and their behaviour. The therapies focus on the thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes that we hold (our cognitive processes) and how this relates to the way we behave, as a way of dealing with emotional problems.
An important advantage of CBT is that it tends to be short, taking three to six months for most emotional problems. Clients attend a session a week, each session lasting either 50 minutes or an hour. During this time, the client and therapist are working together to understand what the problems are and to develop a new strategy for tackling them. CBT introduces them to a set of principles that they can apply whenever they need to, and which will stand them in good stead throughout their lives.
CBT is a form of psychotherapy which combines cognitive and behavioural therapy. Cognitive therapy looks at how our thoughts can create our feelings and mood. Behavioural therapy pays close attention to the relationship between our problems, our behaviour and our thoughts. CBT may focus on what is going on in the present rather than the past, but often the therapy will also look at how thinking patterns may have begun in early childhood and the impact patterns of thinking may have on how we interpret the world as adults.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) describes a number of therapies that all have a similar approach to solving problems – these can range from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression. CBT works by changing people’s attitudes and their behaviour. The therapies focus on the thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes that we hold (our cognitive processes) and how this relates to the way we behave, as a way of dealing with emotional problems.
An important advantage of CBT is that it tends to be short, taking three to six months for most emotional problems. Clients attend a session a week, each session lasting either 50 minutes or an hour. During this time, the client and therapist are working together to understand what the problems are and to develop a new strategy for tackling them. CBT introduces them to a set of principles that they can apply whenever they need to, and which will stand them in good stead throughout their lives.
CBT is a form of psychotherapy which combines cognitive and behavioural therapy. Cognitive therapy looks at how our thoughts can create our feelings and mood. Behavioural therapy pays close attention to the relationship between our problems, our behaviour and our thoughts. CBT may focus on what is going on in the present rather than the past, but often the therapy will also look at how thinking patterns may have begun in early childhood and the impact patterns of thinking may have on how we interpret the world as adults.
A02 Evaluation of CBT
One strength is that cognitive behavioural therapies have become more popular and diverse in their applications.
Increasingly used within the NHS by clinical psychologists as they are short term and economic.
Cognitive behavioural therapies are used in stress management, education, marital and family problems.
A second strength is that CBT appeals to clients who find insight therapies (eg. Psychoanalysis) too threatening.
CBT empowers clients by educating them into self-help strategies.
However clients can become dependent upon their therapist.
A third strength is that there is research evidence to support that CBT is an effective treatment for depression.
Research has shown that CBT is at least as effective as drugs in treating depression.Fava et al concluded that for some patients, CBT is a successful alternative to long-term drug treatment for preventing relapse.
A fourth strength is that CBT is ethical as the client is treated as an equal and has control over their own treatment.
It is a collaborative therapy that aims for an equal relationship between client and therapist.This is and advantage because it ensures that clients feel safe in their treatment.
Increasingly used within the NHS by clinical psychologists as they are short term and economic.
Cognitive behavioural therapies are used in stress management, education, marital and family problems.
A second strength is that CBT appeals to clients who find insight therapies (eg. Psychoanalysis) too threatening.
CBT empowers clients by educating them into self-help strategies.
However clients can become dependent upon their therapist.
A third strength is that there is research evidence to support that CBT is an effective treatment for depression.
Research has shown that CBT is at least as effective as drugs in treating depression.Fava et al concluded that for some patients, CBT is a successful alternative to long-term drug treatment for preventing relapse.
A fourth strength is that CBT is ethical as the client is treated as an equal and has control over their own treatment.
It is a collaborative therapy that aims for an equal relationship between client and therapist.This is and advantage because it ensures that clients feel safe in their treatment.
Psychodynamic Treatment
Psychoanalysis
There are three techniques for psychoanalysis:
1. Dream Analysis
2. Free association
3. TRansference
1. Dream Analysis
2. Free association
3. TRansference
Anna O. (Freud, 1910) suffered severe paralysis on her right side along with nausea and difficulty in drinking.
During discussions with Anna O. It became clear she had developed a fear of drinking when a dog she hated drank from her glass. Her other symptoms had originated when caring for her sick father. She could not express her anxiety for his illness but did express it later, during psychoanalysis.
When she had the opportunity to make these unconscious thoughts conscious her paralysis disappeared.
During discussions with Anna O. It became clear she had developed a fear of drinking when a dog she hated drank from her glass. Her other symptoms had originated when caring for her sick father. She could not express her anxiety for his illness but did express it later, during psychoanalysis.
When she had the opportunity to make these unconscious thoughts conscious her paralysis disappeared.