1) The treatment of psychological disorders is linked to their proposed etiology or cause. Biopsychological treatments that incorporate drug therapy, individual therapy, or group therapy are often the most effective when biological factors are involved. 2) Individual therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically aim to change negative or distorted thoughts and behaviors. CBT typically involves 12-20 weekly sessions to help patients identify and correct faulty thinking patterns. 3) Cultural considerations and social contexts must be taken into account in therapy. Religion, community, and family are particularly important influences to incorporate in some cultures and regions like Malaysia.

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Abnormal psychology (166-171)
Possible relationship between etiology and treatment
The purpose of the diagnosis is to find the suitable treatment for the patient. The treatment of
the psychological disorder is linked to the etiology.
Contemporary abnormal psychology adopts a number of approaches to treatment depending
on the disorder.
Biopsychological treatment is the most efficient. It includes drug treatment, individual
therapy, or group therapy.
The biomedical approaches are based on the assumption that biological factors are involved in
the psychological disorder. A number of drugs are used to treat various disorders based on the
brain chemistry. Drugs help in changing the person’s mood in a positive direction.
In individual therapies, a therapist works one on one with a client. They include some kind of
cognitive therapy by changing negative thoughts.
In group therapies, individuals who suffer from the same problems meet together and get
therapy. Sharing experience and talking to each other help in improvement.
Cultural considerations in treatment
In therapy cultural differences should be taken in consideration. In Malaysia for example
religion takes part in therapy.
The setting of social life takes part in the therapy to help people feel emotional connection.
The use of electric approaches
Electric therapy recognises the strengths and the limitations of the various therapies, they also
take a short time.
A growing number of studies is showing that cognitive therapies are more effective than drug
treatment especially at preventing relapse or recurrence of symptoms.
Measuring the effectiveness of the therapy
It is found that even is an individual didn’t receive a therapy he would still improve due to a
natural process of recovery.
Here are the criteria considered when evaluating the effectiveness of a therapy:
 For how long a person showed a relief from his symptoms?
 Is a total absence of symptoms the only criterion that should be used?
 Should only observable behaviour change be used to assess success?

2. 07/03/2012 SL Psychology AssiaChelaghma
 Is it possible to gather quantitative data on the effectiveness of therapy, or only
qualitative data?
 Another key question is who decided?
 Other issues that include the self-reporting of the client.
Other psychologists use outcome studies which focuses on whether the client showed
improvement or no. however, these types of studies have shortcomings.
Abnormal psychology p 171/176
Biomedical approaches to the treatment of depression
It is based on the assumption that if the problem is based on biological factors then drugs
should be used to restore the biological system.
Drugs typically operate by affecting transmission in the nervous system of neurotransmitters.
The basic idea is to restore the balance of neurotransmitters.
Antidepressant drugs are used to elevate the mood of people suffering from depression.
Evaluation of drug therapy
They are generally effective; however they are not suitable for all cases. A controversial study
conducted by Kirsch and Sapirstein analysed the results from 19 studies, covering 2318
patients. They found that the antidepressant weren’t that much effective as they are believed
to be. On the other hand, drugs offer long-term treatment for mood disorders, especially with
preventing suicides.
The side effects of drugs are red flags that raise many ethical issues. It cannot be given
without a patient’s consent. Another problem is that drugs reduce symptoms but they don’t
cure the disorder.
Individual approaches to the treatment of depression
One of the symptoms of depression is distorted cognitions. Thus replacing negative thoughts
by positive ones will help the depressed person.
Principles of Aaron Beck’s theory:
 Identify negative thoughts
 Determine the connection between the negative thoughts and depression
 Investigate if negative thoughts can be supported
 Replace negative thoughts with realistic ones.

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Therefore, improving the schema used by the individual is the main method to defeat
depression.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
CBT is a brief from of psychotherapy used to the treatment of adults and children with
depression. It is focused on the current issues and symptoms exhibited by the patient. There
are around 12-20 weekly sessions combined with daily practise to develop personal skills.
The aim of the therapy is to identify and correct faulty thoughts though cognitive
reconstructing.
The six patterns of faulty thinking:
 Arbitrary reference: drawing wrong conclusions by invalid connections.
 Selective abstraction: drawing conclusions by focusing a single åart of a whole.
 Overgeneralization: applying single incident to all similar incidents.
 Exaggeration: overestimating the significance of negative events.
 Personalization: assuming that the others’ behaviour is done with the intention to hurt
or humiliate you.
 Dichotomous thinking: black or with thinking.
People with psychological disorders tend to think negatively, and focus on failaures more than
successes.
CBT also aims to encourage people to increase gradually any activities that could be
rewarding to boost their self-esteem. It also helps them monitor thought processes and then
test them against reality.