Module 55 -- The Biomedical Therapies and Preventing Psychological Disorders

Drugs such as Xanax and Ativan, which depress central nervous system activity, can become addictive when used as ongoing treatment. These drugs are referred to as _______________ drugs.

antianxiety

The drugs given most often to treat depression are called ______________. Schizophrenia is often treated with ______________ drugs.

antidepressants; antipsychotic

antianxiety drugs

drugs used to control anxiety and agitation (anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder) depress central nervous system activity can be addictive

mood stabilizers

drugs used to control mood swings in patients with bipolar mood disorders Lithium and Depakote

brain stimulation

presumed problem: depression (ECT is used only for severe, treatment-resistant depression) therapy aim: alleviate depression, especially when it is unresponsive to drugs or other forms of therapy therapy technique: stimulate brain through electroconvulsive shock, mild electrical stimulation, magnetic impulses, or deep-brain stimulation

drug therapies

presumed problem: neurotransmitter malfunction therapy aim: control symptoms of psychological disorders therapy technique: alter brain chemistry through drugs

therapeutic lifestyle change

presumed problem: stress and unhealthy lifestyle therapy aim: restore healthy biological state therapy technique: alter lifestyle through adequate exercise, sleep, nutrition, and other changes

An approach that seeks to identify and alleviate conditions that put people at high risk for developing psychological disorders is called

preventive mental health

When drug therapies have not been effective, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used as treatment, largely for people with

severe depression

Some antipsychotic drugs, used to calm people with schizophrenia, can have unpleasant side effects, most notably

sluggishness, tremors, and twitches

psychosurgery

surgery that removes or destroys brain tissue in an effort to change behavior (ex: lobotomy) presumed problem: brain malfunction therapy aim: relieve severe disorders therapy technique: remove or destroy brain tissue

repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

the application of repeated pulses of magnetic energy to the brain; used to stimulate or suppress brain activity

resilience

the personal strength that helps most people cope with stress and recover from adversity and even trauma

psychopharmacology

the study of the effects of drugs on mind and behavior

What are some examples of lifestyle changes we can make to enhance our mental health?

Exercise regularly, get enough sleep, get more exposure to light (get outside and/or use a light box), nurture important relationships, redirect negative thinking, and eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

What is the rationale for preventive mental health programs, and why is it important to develop resilience?

Preventive mental health programs are based on the idea that many psychological disorders could be prevented by changing oppressive, esteem-destroying environments into more benevolent, nurturing environments that foster growth, self-confidence, and resilience. Struggling with challenges can lead to posttraumatic growth. Community psychologists work to prevent psychological disorders by turning destructive environments into more nurturing places that foster competence, health, and well-being.

What is the difference between preventive mental health and the psychological and biomedical therapies?

Psychological and biomedical therapies attempt to relieve people's suffering from psychological disorders. Preventive mental health attempts to prevent suffering by identifying and eliminating the conditions that cause disorders.

How do researchers determine if particular drug therapies are effective?

Researchers assign people to treatment and no-treatment conditions to see if those who receive the drug therapy improve more than those who don't. Double-blind controlled studies are most effective. If neither the therapist nor the client knows which participants have received the drug treatment, then any difference between the treated and untreated groups will reflect the drug treatment's actual effect.

Why is therapeutic lifestyle change considered an effective biomedical therapy, and how does it work?

Therapeutic lifestyle change is considered a biomedical therapy because it influences the way the brain responds. Mind and body are a unit; affect one and you will affect the other. Our exercise, nutrition, relationships, recreation, relaxation, and religious or spiritual engagement affect our mental health. People who undergo a program or aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, light exposure, social engagement, rumination reduction, and better nutrition have gained relief from depressive symptoms.

How do double-blind studies help researchers evaluate a drug's effectiveness?

They help to avoid the placebo effect and researcher bias :)

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

a biomedical therapy for severely depressed patients in which a brief electric current is sent through the brain of an anesthetized patient effective, last-resort treatment for people with severe depression who have not responded to other therapy

lobotomy

a psychosurgical procedure once used to calm uncontrollably emotional or violent patients. The procedure cut the nerves connecting the frontal lobes to the emotion-controlling centers of the inner brain *lobotomies are no longer performed*

antidepressant drugs

drugs used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. (Several widely used antidepressant drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—SSRIs.) often increase the availability of serotonin and norepinephrine modest effectiveness

antipsychotic drugs

drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of severe thought disorder some block dopamine activity possible side effects: tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of facial muscles, tongue, and limbs) or increased risk of obesity and diabetes

Severe depression that has not responded to other therapy may be treated with ________________, which can cause brain seizures and memory loss. More moderate neural stimulation techniques designed to help alleviate depression include ______________ direct current stimulation, ______________________ magnetic stimulation, and ________________________ stimulation.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); transcranial (tDCS); repetitive transcranial (rTMS); deep-brain (DBS)

A simple salt that often brings relief to patients suffering the highs and lows of bipolar disorder is __________.

lithium

deep brain stimulation (DBS)

mild electrical stimulation through an electrode that is surgically implanted deep in the brain said to work by calming an overactive brain region linked with negative emotions, and has shown benefit in some patients

posttraumatic growth

positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crises

biomedical therapy

prescribed medications or procedures that act directly on the person's physiology