Psychological intervention explained

Psychological intervention
Specialty:Applied psychology
Outcome:Change

In applied psychology, interventions are actions performed to bring about change in people. A wide range of intervention strategies exist and they are directed towards various types of issues. Most generally, it means any activities used to modify behavior, emotional state, or feelings. Psychological interventions have many different applications and the most common use is for the treatment of mental disorders, most commonly using psychotherapy. The ultimate goal behind these interventions is not only to alleviate symptoms but also to target the root cause of mental disorders.

To treat mental disorders psychological interventions can be coupled with psychoactive medication. Psychiatrists commonly prescribe drugs to manage symptoms of mental disorders. Psychosocial interventions have a greater or more direct focus on a person's social environment in interaction with their psychological functioning.

Psychological interventions can also be used to promote good mental health in order to prevent mental disorders. These interventions are not tailored towards treating a condition but are designed to foster healthy emotions, attitudes and habits. Such interventions can improve quality of life even when mental illness is not present.[1]

Interventions can be diverse and can be tailored specifically to the individual or group receiving treatment depending on their needs. This versatility adds to their effectiveness in addressing any kind of situation.[2]

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, promotes a relationship between a trained psychotherapist and a person suffering from a psychological disorder.

Positive activity interventions (PAIs) are a part of positive psychology. PAIs can be used in psychotherapy as well as outside of it. Examples include helping clients to focus on good things, the future self, gratitude, affirmation of the self and kindness towards others.[3]

Psychotherapy is a method that addresses both psychological and emotional issues/challenges by using verbal communication between a certified therapist and an individual, family, or couple, etc.[4] The treatment aims to elevate the patients well-being, lower their stress levels, and promote personalized growth. It can be seen being used to treat mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. Psychotherapy can be dated back to the late 19th century, where Freud created the early system of psychotherapy, which is psychoanalysis.[5] From the 19th century til today, psychotherapy has evolved into a widely used practice, contributing to the care for mental health worldwide.[6] This form of therapy stands out for its holistic and long-term approach to addressing psychological challenges that people face. The effects of Psychotherapy don't diminish as medications effects would, the self-help strategies developed in Psychotherapy are viewed as sustainable.

Pharmaceutical therapy

Pharmaceutical drugs are a frequently used intervention in the field of psychiatry, with targeted drugs available for a wide variety of conditions e.g Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, among others.[7] [8] A typical course of treatment with psychotropic medication will involve an initial psychiatric screening, followed by periodic monitoring over the course of treatment to adjust specific dosages or prescriptions, as efficacy and potential side effects vary widely across differing medications[9]

The first available psychiatric drugs on the market were neuroleptics, now commonly known as antipsychotics, such as Thorazine, which are used to treat disorders with psychotic symptoms such as Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder, though are sometimes prescribed off-label to treat others such as depression with or without psychotic symptoms.[10] [11] These drugs typically work as dopamine antagonists, in line with the dopamine hypothesis of psychotic manifestation.[12] Although showing significant efficacy in reducing acute symptoms of psychosis and its rate of occurrence, antipsychotics have a comparatively higher side effect profile to other psychotropic drugs, such as weight gain, movement disorders (dyskinesia), or, in rare cases, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a severe and potentially fatal reaction to antipsychotic drugs.[13]

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely prescribed psychotropic drugs prescribed in the United States, due to their comparatively mild side effects and versatile efficacy profile compared to other psychotropic drug classes, and are primarily used for treating major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders.[14] Effectiveness varies substantially between individual drugs, with negative or unsatisfactorily mild effects being experienced by some patients.[15] [16] In patients experiencing treatment resistant depression or anxiety disorders, psychiatrists may prescribe SSRIs in combination with other drugs such as antipsychotics or benzodiazepines[17]

Cognitive Intervention

Cognitive intervention is a therapeutic approach that focuses on addressing and modifying cognitive processes, thoughts, and beliefs to bring about positive changes in an individual's emotional and behavioral well-being.[18] This form of intervention is commonly used in the field of psychology and mental health to help individuals overcome various challenges, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)[19]

Key elements of cognitive intervention include:

Overall, cognitive intervention aims to empower individuals to gain better control over their thoughts and emotions, leading to improved mental health and enhanced coping skills to navigate life's difficulties. It is a widely respected and evidence-based approach in the field of psychology and psychotherapy.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Feldman DB, Dreher DE . Can hope be changed in 90 minutes? Testing the efficacy of a single-session goal-pursuit intervention for college students. 2012. Journal of Happiness Studies. 13. 4. 745–759. 10.1007/s10902-011-9292-4. 254702767 .
  2. Domínguez Martínez T, Manel Blanqué J, Codina J, Montoro M, Mauri L, Barrantes-Vidal N. Rationale and state of the art in early detection and intervention in psychosis. 2011. Salud Mental. 34. 4. 341–350.
  3. Book: Layous KT, Lyubomirsky S . 2012. The how, why, what, when, and who of happiness: Mechanisms underlying the success of positive interventions. http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/496/layous-lyubomirsky-in-press.pdf. Gruber J, Moscowitz J . The light and dark side of positive emotions. New York. Oxford University Press. 473–495.
  4. Web site: Psychotherapies - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) . 2023-12-05 . www.nimh.nih.gov . en.
  5. Web site: 2023-01-04 . The History of Psychotherapy - Restoring Wellness Solutions . 2023-12-05 . restoringwellnesssolutions.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: Casarella J . Types of Psychotherapy . 2023-12-05 . WebMD . en.
  7. Web site: DeAngelis T . When do meds make the difference? . February 2008 . 39 . 2 . 48 . 2023-12-06 . www.apa.org.
  8. Sathyanarayana Rao TS, Andrade C . Classification of psychotropic drugs: Problems, solutions, and more problems . Indian Journal of Psychiatry . 58 . 2 . 111–113 . 2016 . 27385840 . 4919951 . 10.4103/0019-5545.183771 . free .
  9. Web site: Clinical Psychopharmacology . 2023-12-06 . www.apa.org.
  10. Book: Weinmann H, Bola S, Read J . 2013 . Antipsychotic Drugs . Read J, Dillon J . Models of madness: Psychological, social and biological approaches to psychosis . 105–124 . Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group . 2023-12-06 . en.
  11. Wang P, Si T . Use of antipsychotics in the treatment of depressive disorders . Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry . 25 . 3 . 134–40 . June 2013 . 24991148 . 4054548 . 10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2013.03.002 .
  12. Book: Chokhawala K, Stevens L . Antipsychotic Medications . 2023 . StatPearls . 2023-12-06 . Treasure Island (FL) . StatPearls Publishing . 30137788 .
  13. Ware MR, Feller DB, Hall KL . Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management . English . The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders . 20 . 1 . 27030 . January 2018 . 29325237 . 10.4088/PCC.17r02185 .
  14. Book: Antidepressants: past, present, and future . 2004 . Springer . 978-3-540-43054-4 . Alarcon RD, Preskon SH . Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology . Berlin Heidelberg . 244 \.
  15. Web site: The most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant . 2023-12-06 . Mayo Clinic . en.
  16. Jakobsen JC, Katakam KK, Schou A, Hellmuth SG, Stallknecht SE, Leth-Møller K, Iversen M, Banke MB, Petersen IJ, Klingenberg SL, Krogh J, Ebert SE, Timm A, Lindschou J, Gluud C . 6 . Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors versus placebo in patients with major depressive disorder. A systematic review with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis . BMC Psychiatry . 17 . 1 . 58 . February 2017 . 28178949 . 5299662 . 10.1186/s12888-016-1173-2 . free .
  17. Moret C . Combination/augmentation strategies for improving the treatment of depression . Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment . 1 . 4 . 301–309 . December 2005 . 18568111 . 2424118 .
  18. Lissek VJ, Ben Abdallah H, Praetorius A, Ohmann T, Suchan B . go4cognition: Combined Physiological and Cognitive Intervention in Mild Cognitive Impairment . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease . 89 . 2 . 449–462 . 2022-09-13 . 35871331 . 10.3233/JAD-220145 . 250997666 .
  19. Pigeon WR, Heffner KL, Crean H, Gallegos AM, Walsh P, Seehuus M, Cerulli C . Responding to the need for sleep among survivors of interpersonal violence: A randomized controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioral insomnia intervention followed by PTSD treatment . Contemporary Clinical Trials . 45 . Pt B . 252–260 . November 2015 . 26343743 . 4675039 . 10.1016/j.cct.2015.08.019 .
  20. Stefan S, Cristea IA, Szentagotai Tatar A, David D . Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder: Contrasting various CBT approaches in a randomized clinical trial . Journal of Clinical Psychology . 75 . 7 . 1188–1202 . July 2019 . 31004521 . 10.1002/jclp.22779 . 125038451 .

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