THREE APPROACHES TO MENTAL ILLNESS

1
PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES
2
TREATMENT
3
THERAPY

• COME TO UNDERSTAND UNDERLYING CAUSES
• MAKE UNCONSCIOUS CONSCIOUS
• OVERCOME RESISTANCE OF PATIENT

4
THERAPY (CONT.)

• SUSPENSION OF NORMS - FREE ASSOCIATION
• DREAM ANALYSIS
• TRANSFERENCE
• VERY LONG AND INTENSIVE
• CATHARSIS

5
STRENGTHS OF THEORY

• DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECT
• PEOPLE ARE OFTEN IRRATIONAL
• BEST EXPLANATION OF BIZARRE SORTS OF NEUROSES
• IMPACT ON CHILD REARING AND SEXUALITY
• IMPACT ON ART AND LITERATURE

6
WEAKNESSES

• UNSCIENTIFIC - UNOBSERVABLE AND UNFALSIFIABLE
• OVEREMPHASIZES EARLY CHILDHOOD, UNDEREMPHASIZES
  ADAPTABILITY
• RESISTANCE TO MEDICATIONS
• HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY SPECIFIC

7
WEAKNESSES OF THERAPY

• LITTLE EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS
• IMPRACTICAL - EXPENSIVE, LONG, CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC
  
• DOESNT WORK WITH MOST SERIOUSLY ILL

8
DECLINE OF DYNAMIC THEORY 1970S TO PRESENT

• CONFLICT WITH SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL NORMS
• CONFLICT WITH INSURANCE NEEDS TO MEASURE
  DISEASES AND CURES
• RISE OF MANAGED CARE
• CONFLICT WITH RISE OF DRUGS
• COULDNT TREAT SERIOUSLY ILL

9
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY

• NO SINGLE THEORY BUT ECLECTIC

10
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL

• EMPHASIS ON THOUGHTS
• EMPHASIS ON CURRENT PERCEPTIONS
• CHANGE WAYS PERSONS THINKS ABOUT SELF AND WORLD
• SPECIFIC, DIRECTIVE, AND SHORT THERAPIES

11
COGNITIVE

• MOST USED IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
• SEEMS EFFECTIVE, AT LEAST IN SHORT RUN
• CHEAPER AND MORE EFFICIENT THAN DYNAMIC
• WEAKNESS IS WHEN ACTUAL CONDITIONS CAUSE PROBLEMS

12
FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY

• VIEW SYMPTOMS IN RELATIONSHIP TO FAMILY SYSTEM
• SYMPTOMS TO MAINTAIN FAMILY EQUILIBRIUM
• MUST CHANGE FAMILY DYNAMICS, NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL
  PATIENT
• TREAT FAMILY, NOT INDIVIDUAL

13
FAMILY SYSTEMS

• STRENGTH IS THEORY
• WEAKNESS IS PRACTICE BOTH CURRENT FAMILY AND
  FAMILY OF ORIGIN
• NOT WIDELY USED

14
HUMANISTIC

• FOCUS ON TOTAL EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUAL
• CONCERN WITH BROAD HUMAN PROBLEMS
• MEANING, DEATH, FULFILLMENT
• UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD

15
HUMANISTIC

• OVERLY GENERAL AND DIFFUSE
• NOT WIDELY USED
• NOT REIMBURSED NO SPECIFIC ILLNESS