Psychological Treatment, By David Barlow: Article Analysis

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The article Psychological Treatment, by David Barlow, discusses the needs to create a more honed definition for psychological treatments such that it is separated from the broader definition that is psychotherapy. Barlow, believed that using treatments that are specified to disorders, is just as effective as providing patients with prescribed medication. The efficacy of treatments that had been proven time after time, he believes should be grounds to include them in the health care system. Barlow, believed that using medication alone does not provide any real guarantee of remission or relief of symptoms even if pharmalogical companies market their drugs as the “be-all and end-all” of solutions. For example, hormone replacement therapy was the …show more content…
Some approaches are developed for specific psychological concerns, such as depression or PTSD. The article discussed that the effective of a treatment can be tied for various factors, one of which is the clinicians experience and expertise in their treatment field. Theoretical approaches require heavy evidence to be implemented in practice, however, if left in the hands of non-psychologist one can not rely on proper administration of the treatment. Barlow states that therapist experience can aid in choosing what strategies to implement for different patients, something that a novice in the field may not be able to do. Another therapy discussed in lecture was Cognitive-Behavioral therapies, which focuses on thought processes which are seen as mediating behavior. One of the main items discussed in lecture in terms of this therapy, is that the treatment is tailored to the client. Once again, suited tailoring can be left in the hands of a novice (i.e. non therapist) or in experienced therapist that can identify key items to tailor …show more content…
Medication alone can’t be the sole answer. As Barlow exemplified HRT. HRT, believed to the solution to postmenopausal symptoms and even believed to provide additional benefits, was found to do quite the opposite of its marketed benefits. Barlow noted that as psychological interventions are proven to be effective time as after time, they are also proved to be as effective (and sometimes even more effective) than medications to specific disorders. Why administer medication, that may help the individual psychologically but ruining their organs and metabolic processes. For example, much of the marketed medications of depressions or ADHD list “suicidal thoughts and behaviors” as a main side-effect. Although, helping depression symptoms it’s creating suicidal ideation in patients, not quite the benefits expected. However, using psychological treatments that has been proven to be effective of depressive disorders does not place patient at risk of suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, what is great about including psychology treatments more intensively in the health care system is that if there is needed for the administration of medication, it can be done so as a complement to treatment. Additionally, if treatment alone does not yield the expected improvement low doses of medication can be given rather than administering higher doses. Why place patients at

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