Course: Abnormal psychology
Year: 2
Semester:1
Week: three (3) and four(4)
Topic: Treatment of psychological disorders and
clinical assessment and diagnosis.
TREATMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER
There are many ways to treat psychological disorders, these
include: Biological Treatments, Psychodynamic
Psychotherapies, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Humanistic
Therapies. However, most treatments take an eclectic approach,
that is, using different treatments for different disorders.
How to tell the difference between each approach?
A biological therapist will not blame the psychological disorder
on environmental or social factors. But instead to link it to brain
structure and biology. They are more likely to treat the issue
through medications.
A Psychodynamic Psychotherapist is more likely to focus on the
patient’s defensive style and coping mechanism. They are more
, likely to look at the patient’s past and link it to his/her current
defensive mechanism and internal conflict before challenging
their mechanism. This can be linked to Psychodynamic theory
by Sigmund Freud.
A Cognitive-Behavior Therapist is more likely to change a
psychological disorder through improvement in cognitive and
behavioural patterns. The therapist will help the patient to
identify destructive and disturbing thoughts and make different
suggestions in order to teach their patient(s) new ways of acting,
thinking or feeling. This can be linked to REBT therapy by
Albert Ellis.
A Humanistic Therapist is most likely let the patient become
more aware of their emotions. They believe that the more aware
the person is of their emotions the more likely a change in
behaviour will occur. This can be linked to Carl Roger’s Theory.
Biological treatment
There are three (3) main ways to treat psychological disorders:
a. Electroconvulsive therapy: the passing of a 100 volt electric
current through the brain to intentionally cause a seizure.
Year: 2
Semester:1
Week: three (3) and four(4)
Topic: Treatment of psychological disorders and
clinical assessment and diagnosis.
TREATMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER
There are many ways to treat psychological disorders, these
include: Biological Treatments, Psychodynamic
Psychotherapies, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Humanistic
Therapies. However, most treatments take an eclectic approach,
that is, using different treatments for different disorders.
How to tell the difference between each approach?
A biological therapist will not blame the psychological disorder
on environmental or social factors. But instead to link it to brain
structure and biology. They are more likely to treat the issue
through medications.
A Psychodynamic Psychotherapist is more likely to focus on the
patient’s defensive style and coping mechanism. They are more
, likely to look at the patient’s past and link it to his/her current
defensive mechanism and internal conflict before challenging
their mechanism. This can be linked to Psychodynamic theory
by Sigmund Freud.
A Cognitive-Behavior Therapist is more likely to change a
psychological disorder through improvement in cognitive and
behavioural patterns. The therapist will help the patient to
identify destructive and disturbing thoughts and make different
suggestions in order to teach their patient(s) new ways of acting,
thinking or feeling. This can be linked to REBT therapy by
Albert Ellis.
A Humanistic Therapist is most likely let the patient become
more aware of their emotions. They believe that the more aware
the person is of their emotions the more likely a change in
behaviour will occur. This can be linked to Carl Roger’s Theory.
Biological treatment
There are three (3) main ways to treat psychological disorders:
a. Electroconvulsive therapy: the passing of a 100 volt electric
current through the brain to intentionally cause a seizure.
