Psychological disorders are among the most critical public health issues in contemporary society. Regardless, various approaches, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, have successfully been applied in addressing mental health disorders over the years. While psychopharmacology involves administering drugs and medicines to reduce the symptoms, psychotherapy helps the patient develop ways of eliminating or coping with the symptoms through positive behaviour, attitudes, experiences, and perspectives. Psychotherapy has become an effective intervention in recent years because it is more individualized, targets a wider scope, and produces more positive and lasting outcomes (Munder et al., 2019).
Since scanty evidence exists on how psychotherapy alters brain functions, it remains unclear whether it has a biological basis (Javanbakht & Alberini, 2019). I believe psychotherapy is founded on biological processes for various reasons. Firstly, psychotherapy focuses on the brain and initiates changes according to its functions, development and maturity. Again, psychotherapy relies on evolutionary adaption processes, which address psychological disorders in the same way they emerge (Tyron, 2016).
According to Tyron (2016), the brain maps and stores all experiences and memories using cortical memory. Typically, negative memories and experiences produce symptoms associated with psychological disorders. In this situation, psychotherapy replaces defective with new mappings, thereby alleviating the symptoms. According to evidence from several brain imaging studies, psychotherapy has a biological standpoint. For instance, a study involving the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) procedure demonstrated that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was effective in reducing glucose levels and treating OCD. Such results prove that psychotherapy is a biological treatment with similar results as other interventions and minimized harm on the patient.
Another study by Amano & Toichi (2016) was conducted to test the effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating PTSD using the Eye Desensitization and Reprocessing psychotherapy technique. After the therapy, the patient’s (oxy-Hb) was measured using multichannel spectroscopy. As per the findings, changes in (oxy-Hb) indicating brain activation were noted in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and superior temporal sacculus (STS). Such findings prove that psychotherapy involves specific areas in the brain like the amygdala that link with memories and emotions.
Religion, Culture and Perspectives on Psychotherapy
According to Wegner & Rhoda (2015), cultural beliefs greatly influence popular perspectives on psychotherapy. In this case, culture affects how people perceive psychotherapy and care-seeking behaviours. For instance, in cultures where mental health is associated with stigma and shame, people are reluctant to seek treatment to avoid labelling and embarrassment. Again, specific myths and misconceptions regarding mental illnesses influence outlooks on psychotherapy. For example, some cultures link psychological disorders with curses; hence, they apply traditional and divine interventions instead of psychotherapy.
Like culture, religious perspectives also influence perspectives and attitudes towards psychotherapy. In this case, patients may seek divine interventions like prayers to address psychological disorders. For example, since Christians and Muslims believe in God’s power and healing, they mostly rely on holy teachings to cope with stress and trauma linked to psychological disorders. Lastly, socioeconomic status greatly influences popular views on psychotherapy. According to vast studies, people from impoverished backgrounds and those earning low income are more likely not to seek psychotherapy treatments than those within a higher socioeconomic level. Sripada et al. (2015) state this disparity stems from treatment costs. Besides, most people from different socioeconomic statuses lack information concerning the effectiveness and significance of psychotherapy.
Difference between individual and group/family therapy and ethics
The difference between individual and group therapy is that the patient only engages and interacts with the treating clinician in the former. At the same time, therapeutic processes involve two or more clients in the latter. According to McClanahan (2014), various ethical implications apply to individual and family/group therapy. For instance, informed consent and increased access to care are highly upheld in both cases. However, there are notable differences between both settings. For instance, although confidentiality binds all members in group therapy, it is not guaranteed like in individual therapy. In this case, all participants should always maintain confidentiality and privacy. Besides, the therapists should recognize that the treatment dynamics change drastically in both cases and apply the necessary approaches (Wheeler, 2020).
Reference
Amano, T., & Toichi, M. (2016). Possible neural mechanisms of psychotherapy for trauma-related symptoms: cerebral responses to the neuropsychological treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder model individuals. Scientific reports, 6(1), 1-10.
Javanbakht, A., & Alberini, C. M. (2019). Neurobiological models of psychotherapy. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 13, 144.
Munder, T., Flückiger, C., Leichsenring, F., Abbass, A. A., Hilsenroth, M. J., Luyten, P., … & Wampold, B. E. (2019). Is psychotherapy effective? A re-analysis of treatments for depression. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28(3), 268-274.
Sripada, R. K., Richards, S. K., Rauch, S. A., Walters, H. M., Ganoczy, D., Bohnert, K. M., … & Valenstein, M. (2015). Socioeconomic status and mental health service use among National Guard soldiers. Psychiatric Services, 66(9), 992-995.
Tryon, W. W. (2016). Psychotherapy integration via theoretical unification. International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, 7, 1-26.
Wheeler, K. (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. Springer Publishing Company.
