#1 Treatments for Compulsions, Obsessions & Depression
Treatments for Compulsions and Obsessions
Until recently, compulsions and obsessions were refractory to every form of
psychological and psychopharmacological treatment. Neither systematic
desensitization, the various insight therapies, nor chemotherapy appeared to have much effect.
Recently, however, new techniques based on client directed
in vivo flooding and participant modeling have shown enormous
promise in alleviating compulsions. As discussed in Chapter II, when a
client interrupts his own compulsive rituals after watching a model demonstrate
the technique, there is a marked decline in the incidence of that
symptom (Marks, Rachrnan, and Hodgson, 1975; Roper, Rachman, and
Marks, 1975). Using self-interruption to alleviate obsessions, however, has
not worked as dramatically as the technique has worked to relieve the compulsions.
Thus, powerful techniques for dealing with the problem of obsessions
have yet to be devised (Rachman and Hodgson, 1980). See treatment recommendation below...
Treatments for Depression
There are several powerful techniques for treating
depression. Cognitive therapy is an especially useful treatment in unipolar
depression, as are three biological treatments: tricyclic antidepressants,
monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and electroconvulsive shock therapy. In addition,
lithium is an excellent treatment of bipolar or manic-depression.
Cognitive therapy encourages clients to identify those thoughts that are
inaccurate, distorted, and that produce depression. These are replaced by
objectively more accurate cognitions in a context where the therapist provides
feedback and reinforcement for both cognitive and behavioral change.
It takes two weeks or so before its effects are seen, but in spite of the delay,
cognitive therapy appears to be a quite powerful treatment, more so than
even the tricyclic antidepressants, which are the most commonly used
treatments against depression (Rush, Beck, Kovacs, and Hollan, 1977;
Beck, Rush, Shaw, and Emery, 1979).
Cognitive therapy is widely practiced, and those who seek psychological
treatment for depression may need to consider alternatives. Rational-
emotive therapy is similar in structure and orientation to cognitive
therapy and can be expected to have similar results. Behavior modification
techniques, which involve behavior rehearsal and therapist-directed activity
(Lewinsohn, 1974), appear less effective than cognitive therapy (Shaw,
1977), but they are probably more effective than psycho dynamically oriented
psychotherapy, or no treatment at all.
Over a period often days to three weeks, tricyclic antidepressants gradually
block the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. These antidepressants,
clinical wisdom suggests, work best with severe depressions where loss
of interest in life and somatic symptoms are involved. Their use is limited,
however, by the fact that they have a variety of mild side effects, such as dry
mouth, as well as moderately serious effects in clients with cardiovascular
disease and urinary problems.
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors gradually prevent the breakdown
of norepinephrine and serotonin, again over ten days to three weeks. They
are prescribed less often than the tricyclics because their side effects can be
lethal. Taken with cheese, alcohol, or a variety of other medications, MAO
inhibitors can actually kill.
Although it is viewed with dread by some people, electroconvulsive shock
therapy (ECT) is clearly a quick and effective treatment for severe unipolar
depression. Half of the people who do not respond to the tricyclics or the MAO
inhibitors respond favorably to ECT. ECT can be particularly effective
with suicidal persons. ECT too, however, has powerful short-term side
effects, which include memory loss and motivational changes, and occasional
long-term memory loss as well. But these effects are neither as dramatic
nor as long-lasting as the public imagines.
The treatment of choice for bipolar depression and for mania itself is lithium.
Eighty percent of bipolar depressives either fully or partially remit their
symptoms as a result of lithium administration (Depue and Monroe, 1979).
Repeated administration with individuals who are predisposed to bipolar
depression may prevent the occurrence of that disorder or alleviate its severity.
Lithium, however, has serious side effects that can be lethal unless its
administration is carefully supervised by a knowledgeable physician
throughout the entire course of treatment.
Until recently, compulsions and obsessions were refractory to every form of
psychological and psychopharmacological treatment. Neither systematic
desensitization, the various insight therapies, nor chemotherapy appeared to have much effect.
Recently, however, new techniques based on client directed
in vivo flooding and participant modeling have shown enormous
promise in alleviating compulsions. As discussed in Chapter II, when a
client interrupts his own compulsive rituals after watching a model demonstrate
the technique, there is a marked decline in the incidence of that
symptom (Marks, Rachrnan, and Hodgson, 1975; Roper, Rachman, and
Marks, 1975). Using self-interruption to alleviate obsessions, however, has
not worked as dramatically as the technique has worked to relieve the compulsions.
Thus, powerful techniques for dealing with the problem of obsessions
have yet to be devised (Rachman and Hodgson, 1980). See treatment recommendation below...
Treatments for Depression
There are several powerful techniques for treating
depression. Cognitive therapy is an especially useful treatment in unipolar
depression, as are three biological treatments: tricyclic antidepressants,
monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and electroconvulsive shock therapy. In addition,
lithium is an excellent treatment of bipolar or manic-depression.
Cognitive therapy encourages clients to identify those thoughts that are
inaccurate, distorted, and that produce depression. These are replaced by
objectively more accurate cognitions in a context where the therapist provides
feedback and reinforcement for both cognitive and behavioral change.
It takes two weeks or so before its effects are seen, but in spite of the delay,
cognitive therapy appears to be a quite powerful treatment, more so than
even the tricyclic antidepressants, which are the most commonly used
treatments against depression (Rush, Beck, Kovacs, and Hollan, 1977;
Beck, Rush, Shaw, and Emery, 1979).
Cognitive therapy is widely practiced, and those who seek psychological
treatment for depression may need to consider alternatives. Rational-
emotive therapy is similar in structure and orientation to cognitive
therapy and can be expected to have similar results. Behavior modification
techniques, which involve behavior rehearsal and therapist-directed activity
(Lewinsohn, 1974), appear less effective than cognitive therapy (Shaw,
1977), but they are probably more effective than psycho dynamically oriented
psychotherapy, or no treatment at all.
Over a period often days to three weeks, tricyclic antidepressants gradually
block the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. These antidepressants,
clinical wisdom suggests, work best with severe depressions where loss
of interest in life and somatic symptoms are involved. Their use is limited,
however, by the fact that they have a variety of mild side effects, such as dry
mouth, as well as moderately serious effects in clients with cardiovascular
disease and urinary problems.
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors gradually prevent the breakdown
of norepinephrine and serotonin, again over ten days to three weeks. They
are prescribed less often than the tricyclics because their side effects can be
lethal. Taken with cheese, alcohol, or a variety of other medications, MAO
inhibitors can actually kill.
Although it is viewed with dread by some people, electroconvulsive shock
therapy (ECT) is clearly a quick and effective treatment for severe unipolar
depression. Half of the people who do not respond to the tricyclics or the MAO
inhibitors respond favorably to ECT. ECT can be particularly effective
with suicidal persons. ECT too, however, has powerful short-term side
effects, which include memory loss and motivational changes, and occasional
long-term memory loss as well. But these effects are neither as dramatic
nor as long-lasting as the public imagines.
The treatment of choice for bipolar depression and for mania itself is lithium.
Eighty percent of bipolar depressives either fully or partially remit their
symptoms as a result of lithium administration (Depue and Monroe, 1979).
Repeated administration with individuals who are predisposed to bipolar
depression may prevent the occurrence of that disorder or alleviate its severity.
Lithium, however, has serious side effects that can be lethal unless its
administration is carefully supervised by a knowledgeable physician
throughout the entire course of treatment.
More on Depression at:
http://social-anxiety-treatment-cure.weebly.com/depression-treatment-breakthrough-for-major-depression-disorder.html
Of course you know the breakthrough treatment method I recommend!
http://theliberatormethod.com/Welcome.html
http://social-anxiety-treatment-cure.weebly.com/depression-treatment-breakthrough-for-major-depression-disorder.html
Of course you know the breakthrough treatment method I recommend!
http://theliberatormethod.com/Welcome.html