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than dispositional
aspects of individuals
d) Job of family therapist is understanding the structure of the
family and the forces acting on it
B. Community Support Groups
1. Self-help groups help many people obtain psychological support in
the community setting
2. Address four basic problem areas:
a) Addictive behavior
b) Physical and mental disorders
c) Life transition or other crises
d) Trauma of family and friends of those with specific
problems
VII. Biomedical Therapies
A. Psychosurgery and Electroconvulsive Therapy
1. Psychosurgery is the general term for surgical procedures performed
on brain tissue to alleviate psychological disorders, with the
prefrontal lobotomy being best known
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CHAPTER 16: THERAPIES FOR PERSONAL CHANGE
2. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is the use of electroconvulsive shock
to treat psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mania, and,
most often, severe depression
a) ECT is successful in treatment of severe depression. It works
quickly.
b) Potentially negative effects of ECT include temporary
disorientation and memory deficits
B. Drug Therapy
1. Psychopharmacology: the branch of psychology investigating the
effects of drugs on behavior
2. The three major categories of drugs used today are:
a) Antipsychotics alter symptoms of schizophrenia. Examples
include Thorazine, Haldol, and Clozaril.
b) Antidepressants increase the activity of the neurotransmitters
norepinephrine and serotonin. Examples include Tofranil,
Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft
c) Antianxiety agents (anxiolytics) adjust levels of
neurotransmitter activity in the brain. Examples include
Valium and Xanax.
3. Prescriptions for Psychoactive Drugs
a) The rate at which drugs are prescribed changes over time
b) From 1985 to 1994, prescription of antianxiety tranquilizers
decreased from 52 to 33 percent of all mental health doctors
visits, while prescriptions for antidepressants increased from
30 to 45 percent
4. When Is Drug Therapy Necessary?