Learning objectives college 1
Following the lecture and after studying the relevant literature the student is able to…
1. Explain the critical features of “good” theories and why theories can be best
seen as disposables (are not forever).
The critical features of good theories are able to be categorized in internal and
external. The internal features are that the theory is internally consistent, as
simple as possible and the fewer assumptions the better. The external
features are that it is consistent with known facts, it is testable and that when
it’s tested it shows predictive validity.
Theories can be best seen as disposables, because theories are not eternal.
When a better theory is available, you exchange it with your old theory.
2. Explain why it is critical/important for therapists to know how and why their
interventions work.
It is critical for therapists to know how their interventions work, because they
need to know what they are implementing in their therapy sessions. They also
need to know in what cases the intervention is suitable. They also need to
know why their interventions work, because you need to know why it’s
working so that you can understand how you can help your client. Besides
that it’s also good to know why the interventions work, because then you have
done your research and know how the intervention really works.
It also happens sometimes that there are treatments without theoretical
background, there are based on empirical findings. The pragmatist viewpoint
is that you don’t need theoretical background if you know that it works. This is
not the case, because what if it doesn’t work in a certain patient, and you
don’t have a foundation. Optimal interventions are techniques derived from
optimal theories, without optimal theories, the therapy is hocus pocus.
3. Describe and explain the arguments that have been raised against EMDR.
The arguments that have been raised against EMDR are based on the fact
that the intervention is not based on a theory. EMDR has been embraced by
therapists and is widely accepted, but we don’t really know how and why it
works. Because of this you don’t have a basis to optimize or modify your
therapy. If it doesn’t work for a client, you don’t why it doesn’t work and you
have no theory to explain it.
4. Explain the contribution of Marcel van den Hout’s experiments for our
understanding of how EMDR might work.
The experiments have contributed to our understanding of how EMDR might
work in a way that we know for sure that eye movement taxes the CE. In the
, experiments where they used sounds to tax the CE, the findings were that
binaural stimulation made no difference in reaction time than no dual task. It
does not require CE capacity, the mental arithmetic did tax the CE. In a later
experiment the binaural stimulation has an effect, but it is very subtle and
small in comparison with the eye movement. In addition to this, the eye
movement also has an effect on the vividness of memories. The binaural
stimulation has no effect on this. From these experiments we can conclude
that eye movement taxes the CE and is a very good method for EMDR
therapy. For the binaural stimulation there is just not enough limitation in the
CE capacity, therefor it is not a sufficient way to execute EMDR therapy.
5. Describe Clark’s cognitive model of panic disorder and explain how the
various components of the model have been tested.
Clark’s cognitive model of panic disorder works like a circle. The model states
that the panic attack starts with a trigger, either internal of external. After that
the person will perceive this trigger as a threat. Next apprehension starts and
this will lead to bodily sensations. These bodily sensations are being
interpreted as catastrophic. Various components of the model have been
tested with a panic group and a control group. Findings were that people in
the panic group interpreted the bodily sensations as catastrophic and that the
people in the control group didn’t had any catastrophic sensations.
6. Explain how (and where) the various effective interventions for panic disorder
tap in to Clark’s model.
An example of an effective intervention for a panic disorder would be drugs.
The drugs could blockade the interpretation of the bodily sensations and this
could have short term effects on panic. Another intervention is CO 2 inhalation
therapy, this reduces the frequency of the panic attack and the fear of
anatomic sensations. Overall these interventions are a cognitive – behavioral
package.
7. Describe the essence of the network approach (as discussed in the third
article “Psychiatric symptoms as pathogens” and also highlighted in the article
of Richard McNally) and explain how this perspective essentially differs from
the traditional latent factor models of mental disorders such as depression.
The essence of the network approach is that symptom covariance emerges
from dynamic, causal interactions among symptoms themselves. Symptoms
are associated and have correlations, that can have a causal meaning. This
perspective differs essentially from the traditional latent factor models of
mental disorders such as depression in the way that there is no such thing as
an underlying latent variable that is the common cause of symptom
covariance. The symptoms are not reflective of underlying disorders, they are
constitutive of them.
, Learning Objectives college 2
After the lecture on the life-span perspective (Lecture 2) the student can…
1. indicate and explain the implicit assumptions of psychopathology and some of
the drawbacks of the DSM(5);
The implicit assumptions of psychopathology are categorical differences,
underlying essence, univocal test and direct intervention. The categorical
differences are being explained as making a distinction between two or more
categories, you are ill vs healthy. The underlying essence can be described
as that there is an identifiable underlying cause of the behaviour. This is the
thing that causes the disorder. An univocal test can determine the category
and makes it detectible. With the direct intervention there is a way to cure the
essence.
The drawbacks of the DSM(5) are that it looks at disorders as categorical
entities. Therefore it doesn’t take the comorbidity into account. But if you look
at all the symptoms in the DSM(5) there is a very high overlap between
symptoms. The DSM(5) also looks at symptoms as passive indicators of
latent conditions.
2. indicate the uniqueness and value of the developmental (process) perspective
on psychopathology, as discussed during the lecture and in the literature;
The uniqueness and value of the developmental perspective are indicated in
the new and ground breaking studies and results that have been found. There
are differences in the psychopathology in children and adults. Most of the
disorders in adults, have a very early age of onset. So, when you can find the
high risk samples, you can research how and why a disorder develops in a
child or adolescent. In that way you can also offer the best treatment and
intervention methods.
3. indicate the uniqueness and value of the complex systems approach to
psychopathology, as discussed during the lecture and in the literature;
The complex system approach is the study of interconnected elements and
feedback loops that form patterns that evolve over time. Instead of treating a
specific symptom or a problem area of the disorder, they focus on treating the
patterns of the disorder and use a more complete approach. The complex
systems approach is of very high value, because it explains the process by
which change occurs and because of the complete approach it tackles
limitations of the traditional methods. The approach looks at attractor states,
the states that are preferred and govern system behaviour. By changing these
attractor states, by learning and repeating new, healthy behaviour, you can
treat a disorder. This approach is unique in its way that it’s a new approach to
behaviour in disorders and how these behaviours exactly work, and can be
treated.
