Essay Quiz

The Case of Fred

Remember: Assess what the theories of Freud and his successors tell us about the structure and development of personality

Fred is a 23-year-old college student who has been referred to a local psychologist. He is about halfway through his bachelor's degree in business and has begun to exhibit some strange behaviors and is reporting some distressing events. His troubles began when he started to have frequent bouts of severe stomach pain for which he was treated in the local hospital. Though doctors have been mystified by his symptoms, it is clear he is in a great deal of pain. He has been given large amounts of painkillers and has endured several tests to try to find the cause of his illness.

Along with his stomach pain, Fred reported that he has been "spacing out" for long periods of time, and often forgets where is his and how he has gotten there. This has caused him a great deal of anxiety, so much so that Fred has stopped going to class and is in danger of being suspended from his college due to his poor grades and attendance.

Fred has always done very well in school and reports that he has always had high marks, though personal and social relationships have always been difficult. Fred reported that he was a lonely and isolated child and experienced extreme isolation and bullying throughout school. He also stated that he missed a good deal of school due to frequent illnesses and reported anxiety attacks that were a result of his continued harassment at school.

Fred reported that religion plays a very large role in his life. Though he has not attended church since his most recent illness, he feels close with God and that God will deliver him from the stomach illness that he has contracted. Fred stated that the reason the doctors cannot find the source of his pain is because he is being persecuted by the devil. Fred also maintains that God is his only comfort during these illnesses and spends much of his time in prayer, believing that perhaps his illness is a test of faith.

As Fred described this to his therapist, he began to speak a different language consisting of a continuous stream of random consonants and vowels that lasts for about 3 minutes. When Fred continued his conversation he reported that God talks to him and has just told him that he should tell the staff about the good news of Christ and the coming end times.

The Case of Fred Again

Remember: Explain psychodynamic approaches to therapy;
Explain behavioral approaches to therapy

Consider the case Fred described above. How do you plan to treat his symptoms? For each of the following types of therapy, describe how each might approach Fred's treatment.

Biomedical therapy:
____________________________________________________________________
Psychodynamic therapy:
____________________________________________________________________
Psychoanalysis:
____________________________________________________________________
Behavioral treatment approaches:
____________________________________________________________________
Dialectical behavior therapy:
____________________________________________________________________
Cognitive treatment approaches:
____________________________________________________________________
Cognitive-behavioral approach:
____________________________________________________________________
Rational-emotive behavior therapy:
____________________________________________________________________

Weighting the Pros and Cons

Relate: Explain psychodynamic approaches to therapy;
Explain behavioral approaches to therapy

Each approach to therapy is unique, and some types of interventions are more helpful in certain cases than in others. Look at Fred's symptoms. What are the pros and cons of each type of therapy? Describe how you think this particular approach would work for Fred.

Biomedical Therapies:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Psychodynamic therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Psychoanalysis:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Behavioral treatment approaches:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Dialectical behavior therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Cognitive treatment approaches:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Cognitive-behavioral approach:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Rational-emotive behavior therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Looking at your answers, is Fred's behavior normal or abnormal? Support your conclusion.

What Would You Do?

React: Explain psychodynamic approaches to therapy;
Explain behavioral approaches to therapy

What approach would you use with Fred? Explain your answer.

Fred's Therapy, Round II

Remember: Explain psychodynamic approaches to therapy;
Explain behavioral approaches to therapy;
Illustrate interpersonal therapy;
Explain group therapy, family therapy, and self-help groups;
Assess the effectiveness of psychotherapy

Consider the case of Fred again. For each of the following types of therapy, describe how each might approach Fred's problem.

Humanistic Approach:
____________________________________________________________________
Interpersonal Therapy:
____________________________________________________________________
Group Therapy:
____________________________________________________________________
Self Help:
____________________________________________________________________
Family Therapy:
____________________________________________________________________

Balancing the Scales

Relate: Explain psychodynamic approaches to therapy;
Explain behavioral approaches to therapy

Look at Fred's symptoms. What are the pros and cons for using each type of therapy in Fred's case? List them out for each type of therapy. Then comment on how you think this particular approach would work for Fred.

Humanistic Therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Interpersonal Therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Group Therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Self Help:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________
Family therapy:
Pros Cons
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Personal Opinion:
____________________________________________________________________

What Would You Do?

React: Discuss the humanistic approaches to therapy;
Illustrate interpersonal therapy;
Explain group therapy, family therapy, and self-help groups;
Assess the effectiveness of psychotherapy

Looking at this new set of therapeutic options, which approach would you now use with Fred? Explain your answer.

Is It Worth It?

Remember: Explain electroconvulsive therapy;
Offer perspective on biomedical therapies;
Discuss the community psychology movement

As the textbook mentioned, biomedical therapies are some of the most controversial issues in the field of psychology. Using information presented in the chapter, list the pros and cons of using biomedical and drug therapy to treatment illnesses.

Pros	Cons
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________

Understanding ADHD

Relate: Offer perspective on biomedical therapies

The treatment of children with ADHD with stimulant medications is a controversial issue. The medication used to treat most children is a stimulant, or amphetamine, and is used on very young kids. With children with ADHD, the medication can be extraordinarily helpful. Research some of the effects of stimulant medications on ADHD. List the specific pros and cons for this particular issue below.

Pros	Cons
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________
_______________________	_______________________

You Decide

React: Offer perspective on biomedical therapies

What do you think? Should we administer stimulants to children? Explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________

What Do You Think?

React: Discuss the community psychology movement

Imagine for a moment that a community support agency wanted to open a group home next door to you for eight men with schizophrenia who had recently been discharged from a mental hospital. What questions do you suppose you and your neighbors would ask about this?
____________________________________________________________________
It is common for group homes to be established in residential neighborhoods because of the concerns of neighbors. Neighbors have many fears about this. Imagine now that the decision to approve or disapprove this group home came before a council vote. How would you vote? Explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________

Your Results:

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