By Alex Booth
Other Medical therapies for
Psychological Disorders
Psychosurgery – is the general term for surgical
intervention in the brain to treat psychological disorders
Brain Stimulation Therapies- this is electrical
stimulation which is also known as Electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT)
Psychosurgery 1/3
Usually because psychosurgery deals with cutting parts of
the brain, this method of psychological treatment is
usually a last resort.
This method has dated back all the way to medieval
times in Europe. The surgeons back then would brake the
head open and take out “the stone of folly” which would
supposedly be the reason for a mad person being mad
(crazy.)
In modern times the best-known form of psychosurgery
involved the prefrontal lobotomy.
Psychosurgery 2/3
This operation was developed by a Portuguese psychiatrist Egas Moniz. This
method severed certain nerve fibers connecting the frontal lobes with deep
brain structures (thalamus and hypothalamus.)
The original candidates for Moniz’s scalpel where usually agitated
schizophrenic patients or compulsive/anxiety-ridden.
This operation did cure these mental disorders but permanently destroyed
basic aspects of the patient’s personalities. This also destroyed the ability for
the patient to plan ahead of what they where doing.
Psychosurgery 3/3
Today, no DSM-IV diagnoses are routinely treated
with psychosurgery.
Brain-Stimulation Therapies
Electroconvulsive Therapies (ECT) is a treatment used primarily
for depression and involving the application of an electronic
current to the head, producing a generalized seizure;
sometimes called “Shock Treatment.”
This method is usually used in patients whom drug therapy has
failed.
The patient knows about the seizure and relaxes before the
procedure and also takes drugs to further relax s/he. The
relaxing drugs knock the patient out so that the seizure will be
less violent and the physical muscle spams will be less.
Positive Affects of ECT
After the seizure the patient has no recollection of the
event.
Cruel as this method may be the tests of this working has
show multiple positive results within the patients.
The depression in the patient usually, after procedure,
goes away after three-four days.
This method is extremely useful for patients with suicidal
tendencies.
Negative Affects of ECT
The most worrisome criticism of this method are
the memory deficits sometimes caused by this
electrical spasm.
Because of this the National Institute of Mental
Health has limited the disorders this method can
endorse; like severe depression.
Revolution of the ECT
A new promising therapeutic tool for stimulating
the brain without a seizure and side effects of
memory loss. This is known as Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
This is still in its experimental stages.
Hospitalization and the Alternatives
• The Therapeutic Community- Jones’s term for a program of
treating mental disorders by making the institutional
environment supportive and humane for patients.
• Deinstitutionalization- The policy of removing patients,
whenever possible, from mental hospitals.
• Community of Mental Health- An effort to deinstitutionalize
mental patients and to provide therapy from outpatient clinics.
• A Therapy Checklist- A list of question to determine what
treatment to use upon a patient.
• Cautions- Treatments that should not be abused because of the
human biological system, behavior, and mental processes.
The Therapeutic Community
This was created by Maxwell Jones whom
proposed replacing traditional hospital
“treatment” for mental disorders with a
therapeutic community.
This Therapeutic Community where designed to
bring meaning to their patients lives.
Patients where soon able to do basic household
chores and everyday living needs.
Deinstitutionalization and Community
Mental Health
For all mental health clinics the ideal goal was to remove the patient
from the hospital so that they could live their own lives.
Proponents of community mental health envisioned that recovering
patients could live with their families, in foster homes, or in group
homes.
Therapy Checklist
Is medical treatment needed?- (does the issue have a biological basis?)
Is there a specific behavior problem?- (is it a phobia, sexual impulse, or
rebellion to authorities?)
Would group therapy be helpful?- (does being in a group and telling their
issues to a group of people who have issues to be positive for the patient?)
Is the problem of one stress, confusion, or choice?- (do they need help
sorting out their issues to stay relaxed?)
Cautions
Drug Therapies to Avoid: minor tranquilizers, this causes
insomnia and drug dependence in the patient.
Advice and Interpretations to Avoid: Psychodynamic
therapy can be helpful but some therapists give ill-
advised counsels in problems of anger management.