Question

You should prepare for this lab by covering the week 23 online lesson. Be sure that you are familiar with the different types of treatments: medication and psychological, the basic mechanisms by which they work, and the type(s) of disorders for which they are best suited. For your preparatory work, please answer ONE of the following two questions in approx. 200 words (these are similar in format to questions you will see on the midyear and final exams). 1. Describe behavioural and cognitive-behavioural therapy, and describe the mechanisms by which they work. OR 2. Explain the ways in which the drugs prescribed to treat depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety work.

Answer 1

Behavioral therapy work on the principle of reinforcement i.e. Law of Effect. Reward and punishment are tools that are used to promote desired behavior and inhibit undesired one respectively. It is cost and time effective therapy . However , it does not focus on cognitive aspects and provides only temporary relief .

Cognitive behavioral therapy takes into account t cognitive aspect and combine it with behavioristic principle to provide therapy , especially to life problems. It is based on premise that deviant behavior is result of incorrect interpretation of life events and thus , focuses on modifying the thought process which will change the behavior and feeling .

Client is facilitated by therapist in realizing their irrational belief and then overcoming them . As per APA, in CBT , client becomes their own therapist and resolve their problem by active participation and support of therapist.