Therapy Foley 2013 Worth Publishers Better living through

Better living through chemistry and other brain interventions § § § Drugs (Medications): Psychopharmacology Antipsychotic drugs Antidepressant drugs Antianxiety drugs Mood stabilizers How some medications work at the synapse § Electroconvulsive Therapy § Magnetic Stimulation § Deep-Brain Stimulation § Psychosurgery § Therapeutic Lifestyle Change

Biomedical Therapies Interventions in the brain and body can affect mood and behavior. Biomedical therapies refer to physically changing the brain’s functioning by altering its chemistry with medications, or affecting its circuitry with electrical or magnetic impulses or surgery.

Drug (Medication) Therapies Psychopharmacology refers to the study of drug effects on behavior, mood, and the mind.

Types of Medication Antipsychotic Reduces the symptoms of schizophrenia, What they especially “positive” do symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions How they work Antianxiety Antidepressant Temporarily reduces worried thinking and physical agitation; might permanently erase traumatic associations Improves mood and control over depressing and anxious thoughts nervous Blocking dopamine Slowing system activity in receptors the body and brain Obesity, diabetes, and movement problems (sluggishness, Side effects twitching, or eventually tardive dyskinesia--odd facial/tongue and body movements) Slowed thinking, reduced learning, addiction, and withdrawal Increasing levels of serotonin (sometimes norepinephrine) at synapses by inhibiting reuptake; possible neurogenesis Dry mouth, constipation, and reduced sexual desire and/or response

Inhibiting Reuptake Many medications increase synaptic neurotransmitter levels; they stop the sending neuron from taking back its chemical messages.

Types of Medication Mood Stabilizers Reduce the “highs” of as well What they mania as reduce the do depressive “lows” How they work ADHD “Stimulants” Help control impulses, and reduce distractibility and the need for stimulation including fidgeting Blocking Under reuptake of investigation dopamine from synapses Various; blood levels Side effects must be monitored Decreased appetite

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) § Electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] induces a mild seizure that disrupts severe depression for some people. § This might allow neural re-wiring, and might boost neurogenesis.

Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Another option is repeated deepbrain stimulation using implanted electrodes. Like ECT, these techniques may disrupt depressive electrochemical brain patterns.

Psychosurgery A lobotomy destroys the connections between the frontal lobes and the rest of the brain. This decreases depression, but also destroys initiative, judgment, and cognition. Microsurgery might work by disrupting problematic neural networks involved with aggression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Change We can indirectly affect the biological components of mental health problems. § Exercise can boost serotonin levels and reduce stress. § Changing negative thoughts can improve mood and even rewire the brain. § Mental health problems also can be reduced by meeting our basic needs for sleep, nutrition, light, meaningful activity, and social connection.

Preventing Psychological Disorders In addition to treating mental health disorders, some mental health professionals, especially social workers, also work to reduce the risk of mental health disorders. Such prevention efforts include: § support programs for stressed families. § community programs to provide healthy activities and hope for children. § relationship-building communication skills training. § working to reduce poverty and discrimination.