Psychotherapy

Question 1

What is psychotherapy?

Answer 1

The systematic use of a relationship between a patient and a therapist - as opposed to physical and social methods - to produce changes in feelings, cognition and behaviour

Question 2

What characteristics are important in psychotherapies?

Answer 2

• An intense, confiding relationship with helpful person
• Providing new info about the nature and origin of the patient’s problems and ways of dealing with them
• The patient developing hope that they will be helped
• Opportunities to achieve success, which helps to increase confidence
• The facilitation of emotional arousal

Question 3

What different types of psychotherapy are available in the NHS?

Answer 3

Psychodynamic therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Interpersonal therapy
Family or systemic therapies

Question 4

Describe psychodynamic therapy

Answer 4

Therapy focusses on the evolution of understanding of what the patient does and says in the therapy session.
Unstructured therapy, with therapist as a neutral party to enable the patient to talk freely.
Therapist will have therapy so they are aware f their own issues and can bring this to the therapy
Use past experience to help understand current behaviour.

1-2 sessions a week of about 50 minutes

Question 5

When would you use psychodynamic therapy?

Answer 5

Patients with:

• recurrent and chronic interpersonal difficulties
• psychological conflict
• psychological alienation

Personality disorders
Depression
Eating disorders
Some presentations of anxiety disorders

Question 6

Describe cognitive behavioural therapy

Answer 6

Behavioural - aims to tackle the operant learning and conditioning associated with behaviour, usually by exposure in order to reduce avoidance.

Cognitive - directly addresses the role of dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs in producing and maintaining undesirable emotional states and behaviour.

Very structured therapy - about 6-15 weekly sessions of an hour.

Question 7

What types of things are done in CBT?

Answer 7

The patient and therapist will form a idea about the origin and maintenance of the patient’s problems, which guides the subsequent therapeutic intervention.
The patient is given homework tasks (trying out new behaviours, identifying and challenging negative thoughts)

Question 8

When is CBT used?

Answer 8

Depression
Anxiety disorders
Eating disorders

Question 9

Describe interpersonal therapy

Answer 9

Therapy which uses the link between the onset of depressive symptoms with current interpersonal problems. It addresses current relationships and how these affect a persons mental health.
It is very time dependent - lasts only 6-12 weeks.

Question 10

When is interpersonal therapy used?

Answer 10

Depression

Eating disorders