After completing this chapter you should be able to:
- Identify the main classes of drugs prescribed for mental disorders and their use.
- Discuss limitations of drug treatments, including the placebo effect, high relapse and dropout rates, dosage problems, and long-term risks.
- Discuss the use of psychosurgery, electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
- Describe the goals of psychoanalysis and describe techniques used in treatment.
- Identify and describe behavioral and cognitive techniques used in therapy.
- Discuss the basic tenets of humanist and existential therapies.
- Discuss the basic tenets of family therapy.
- Examine the problem of the scientist-practitioner gap.
- Discuss factors that promote successful therapy, including qualities of the participants, the therapeutic alliance, and cultural connections.
- Summarize the research on the efficacy of therapies and techniques to treat specific problems.
- Identify and discuss risks of psychotherapy.
