Question

Describe three ways learning processes can lead to or sustain specific phobias.

What is psychotherapy?

What key ingredients are important for the success of any form of psychotherapy?

Briefly define behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy.

How is cognitive-behavioral therapy used to treat depression?

Name two kinds of drugs used to treat depression, and briefly explain how they work.

What does research indicate is the best way to comprehensively treat depression?

List some examples of drugs used to treat anxiety disorders.

How is behavioral therapy used to treat specific phobias?

Answer 1

1. (i) Learning about negative experiences- hearing about negative experiences or information such as plane crashes, snake attacks, atc and relating that information to one's own thoughts leads to development of specific phobia.

(ii) Classic conditioning- pairing or associating for say dark places with spider will lead to develop specific phobias of dark places and spiders as well.

(iii) Observational learning- people also learn by observing others. Observing another person to react in specific way could also make other person's to react in the same manner.

Psychotherapy also known as talk therapy is the way to help people with the broad and wide varities mental disorders. It uses psychological methods based on personal interactions to promote well being by eliminating their sufferings.

Key ingredients for the success of psychotherapy:

? establishment of relationship based on trust and collbartion

? maintaining confidentiality

? being empathetic and an active listener

? clear communication between the therapist and client

? being supportive towards the problem of client

Behavioral and Cognitive therapy:

Behavioral therapy- this form of therapy uses psychotherapy techniques derived from behaviorism. This therapy is based on the premise that a behavior is learned and faulty learning leads to abnormal behavior. An important aspect of behavioral therapy is that it focuses on the current problems and attempts to make a patient unlearn a behavior that seems to be troublesome. Examples of behavioral therapy are Systematic desensitization, flooding, and aversion therapy.

Cognitive therapy- it is a form of therapy which aims to improve the well being of the person by modifying dysfunctional thoughts and ideas. It is based on the concepts that the way we think of things effects the ways we feel emotionally.

Cognitive behavior therapy for treating depression-

CBT is a blend of behavioral and cognitive therapies whereby therapists helps the client to understand or identify their negative and distorted or dysfunctional thoughts and responses to stressful situations. It is a short term approach lasting for six to maximum 20 sessions. Throughout each session the therapist helps the client to identify negative thought patterns and how these dysfunctional ideas effect their view of themselves and the world.

Two drugs for treating depression:

? SSRIs - these drugs help to cure depression by decreasing serotonin reuptake in the brain, leaving more serotoni available to the brain. SSRIs include Fluxotine, Citalopram, Paroxtine, etc.

? SNRIs- these drugs helps to improve serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. SNRIs include Duloxtine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, etc.

Best way to treat depression as suggested by researchers is the combine treatment of CBT and medicines.

The most widely drugs used to treat anxiety are SSRIs which include:

Prozac, Zoloft, paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa.

CBT is the most effective way to treat phobias. It includes pairing up the anxiety response from the feared situation. CBT for treating phobias involves the sum up of all the followings:

Systematic desensitization

Exposure therapy

Cognitive restructuring

Flooding