PSYC 3604 Lecture 4: Treatment & Therapy

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3604
• Professor: Chris Motz

Document Summary

*all content belongs to christopher motz & where cited in lecture slides* Follows medical model approach in recognizing & treating physiological/neurological issues underlying mental illness. Important component of treatment often underlying biological component that cannot be addressed by talking therapies along. Medical treatment alone usually not enough to treat mental illness must be combined w/ therapy treating the person. Psychopharmacology: study of effects of drugs on psychological disorders. Many psychoactive drugs (behaviour-affecting drugs) have influence on effects of neurotransmitters. Agonists: drugs that facilitate effects of particular neurotransmitter: can stimulate production & quantity of n, release of n, take place of n (binding to post-synaptic receptor), prevent reuptake of n. Sedative-hypnotic drug category: serotonin agonists: (i. e. buspirone) facilitate binding of serotonin w/ post-synaptic receptors. Behavioural therapies focus on identifying reinforcements & punishments contributing to person"s maladaptive behaviours & on changing specific behaviours. Ferster (1973) emphasized importance of functional analysis of behaviour in understanding & treatment of behaviour.