Download Mods 40 – 42 Therapy Unit Essay Question Options 1. Briefly

Mods 40 – 42 Therapy Unit Essay Question Options
1. Briefly describe each of the disorders listed below. For each disorder, include a general
description of the disorder, a review of symptomology, the mode of treatment currently
viewed as most effective, and the rationale for use of this treatment.
A. Anxiety disorder
Description- Continuous state of tension, apprehensive and in a state of
autonomic nervous system arousal.
Symptoms- Anxious, headaches, general state of distress.
Treatment-Benzodiazepines . Antianxiety drugs.
Rationale-which enhances actions GABA, reduces activity of arousal centers.
B. Bipolar disorder
Description- mood disorder, alternates between extreme highs (mania) and
lows (depression).
Symptoms- Poor judgement, but can fuel creativity. depression, paranoia,
agitation
Treatment- Lithium.
Rationale- Stabilizes mood swings. Less dramatic effect of neurotransmitters,
norepinephrine.
C. Schizophrenia
Description- Altered perception of reality.
Symptoms- Hearing voices, hallucinations (positive and negative symptoms)
Paranoid and disorganized.
Treatment- Antipsychotic drugs, clozapine.
Rationale- Dopamine overactivity. Blocks dopamine receptors.
2. Briefly discuss the cause(s) and treatment(s) of depression from the perspective of
each of the following psychological approaches.
A. Psychodynamic/psychoanalytic
Causes- based on the idea that a persons behavior is affected by the
unconscious mind and past experiences
Treatments- helps patients explore the full range of their emotions. The
therapist helps their patient become consciously aware of their unresolved issues and
understand why it’s still affecting them.
B. Biological/medical
Causes- the development of depression is influenced by neurotransmitters
(norepinephrine, serotonin) and hormones and other biological processes of brain function
Treatments- Medicine to regulate hormones and other biological processes. In
extreme cases electroconvulsive therapy may be used.
C. Cognitive
Causes- depression results from irrational thinking turning into distorted
thoughts and judgments. Peoples who are treated by the cognitive approach tend to be
negative thinkers.
Treatments- cognitive therapy tries to defuse negative thoughts. Patients
might write down their thoughts and feelings to monitor their mental images to
recognize the links between their thoughts. THe therapist will help the patient to
recognize their negative thoughts and to turn these thoughts around.
3. Describe the therapeutic procedure called systematic desensitization. Select a
specific disorder for which this therapy is effective and explain how the basic phenomena
listed below play a part in successful treatment.
Systematic desensitization is a method used to eliminate anxiety or stress related to a
disorder. Systematic desensitization is especially useful for treating phobias. For
acrophobia, the fear of heights, the anxiety hierarchy would start with low heights, and
move to greater heights while practicing relaxation at each step.
A. Anxiety hierarchy
The anxiety hierarchy is used to help the person get over their phobia by making them
think of themselves in a highly stressful situation while being relaxed. A hierarchy for
acrophobia may look something like this:
1.Standing on a diving board over a backyard pool
2. Standing on a high dive
3. going up in an elevator
4. standing next to a window in a 6 story building
5. seeing someone outside a skyscraper
6. seeing a plane/ helicopter
7. being in a plane/ helicopter
B. When going through the steps of the hierarchy it is important to stay relaxed the
whole time. The relaxation method used should be easy to initiate, easy to maintain, and
should make the patient feel safe and secure.
C. Generalization
Since the person is picturing their phobias while being relaxed they then feel relaxed in
those and other similar situations in a real life.
D. Extinction
As the patient gets to the final step of the hierarchy and feels no anxiety, it is believed
that the acrophobia is no longer an issue for the patient.
4. A. Discuss the cause of anxiety from each of the following perspectives.
* Behavioral
* Psychodynamic/psychoanalytic
* Biological/medical
* Cognitive
B. Discuss a specific treatment technique for reducing anxiety used by professionals
representing each of the four perspectives.
* Behavioral
* Psychodynamic/psychoanalytic
* Biological/medical
* Cognitive
Behavioral:
A. Caused by external stimuli in his/hers environment. Conditioned by things around
them.
B. Operant conditioning, rewarding for positive behavioral. Positive reinforcement.
Psychodynamic:
A. Caused by past issues, often in childhood.
B. Would focus on clients childhood, would use free association to see what conflicts
cause issues now. Once you know the issues, that is the resolution.
Cognitive:
A. Negative thinking causes stress. How they see the things happening around them.
Irrational beliefs and thoughts.
B. Rational-Emotive therapy. Create new ways to view things around them.
Biological:
A. Anxiety runs through family and DNA/genes.
B. Anti-anxiety drugs valium, xanax