Treating Mental Disorders

Read Complete Research Material



Treating Mental Disorders



Treating Mental Disorders

Behavioral Approach to the treatment of mental disorders

The behavioral approach to the treatment of mental disorders is based on a basic assumption that without gaining insight into the underlying causes of maladaptive behavior, it can be influenced and changed. Behavioral approach depends on precise and accurate observation of human behavior and concentration on its symptoms. This approach assumes that both abnormal and normal behaviors are learned and maintained in the same way, so events and procedures that modify normal behavior should also be useful in modifying maladaptive behavior. Evidence has shown that behavioral therapy is favorable for patients with anxiety, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and depression, where patients may have possibly learned how to be anxious, obsessive-compulsive or depressed.

The manner in which we behave directly affect and determine how do we think and feel. The individual who puts off his studies till the last minute for an upcoming exam is more likely to experience distress on exam day than an individual who has prepared well in advance for exam. Behavioral approach to the treatment of mental disorders helps and support people to discover and learn new behaviors to cope with situations and events that often involve the learning and mastering particular skills. The best example is acquiring and developing social skills. Poor social skills often lead to a less ability on the part of individual to cope with problematic situations such as intimacy or criticism. Poor social skills also results in less or no support that an individual can gain from the people around him. Developing required skills and behave in a desired way results in a Success of an individual in social situation which is a key to develop self-esteem and focus on related to “desired” performance of an individual in social settings and situations that behavioral therapy sessions tries to bring about in an individual with mental disorders. Behavioral approach of treating individuals with mental disorders such as anxiety or distress emphasizes on behavioral change/alteration which reduces a fear for certain things (patients are made to define those fears in behavioral therapy sessions) which are proving to be problematic for them by decreasing their ability to succeed in social situations. Reduced fear helps individual to face problematic situations instead of avoiding them and demonstrate certain behaviors to cope with those situations and fully engage themselves in a range of daily activities. Behavioral therapists gradually expose their patients to fearful situations in a safe and controlled environment which ultimately weakens the link between feared and problematic situation and the fearful and anxious symptoms it triggers (Baker et al., 2006).

Cognitive Approach to the treatment of mental disorders

The cognitive approach to the treatment of mental disorders is direct and straight form of psychotherapy which is based on the interpretation of events and situations that determine and establish how an individual behaves and feels. Like behavior approach, cognitive approach assesses current situations and events and uses methods that are directive. The basic premise on which cognitive therapy/approach is based ...
Related Ads