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Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Psychopathology

Video Exercises

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Undoing Depression

You can train dogs to bark or sit. But what about training mice to grow new brain cells? A Nobel Prize winning scientist has done that, and he says it could lead to new ways to treat depression in people.

Interviewee: Eric Kandel, Columbia University?

Copyright © ScienCentral, Inc.

It may seem odd to study mice to understand clinical depression, but Dr. Eric Kandel shows that mice can provide important insights into human problems.

1.
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Dr. Kandel produced “depression” in mice by putting them in a hopeless situation until they gave up trying to escape. He found that giving the antidepressant drugs could revive their motivation to save themselves. If these drugs are similar to ones given to humans, what neurotransmitters are likely to be the target of these drugs?
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The video indicates that the animals have been given “behavioral therapy.” Behavioral therapy is based on learning principles that you studied back in Chapter 6. The researchers trained the mice to feel safe in the presence of a particular sound. Is the treatment described in this video based on classical conditioning or operant conditioning?
3.
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If drugs can effectively treat people for depression, is there any reason to develop techniques like the one described in the video? Is there any practical value in this type of research?
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Anti-Stress Video Game

A simple video game has been shown to reduce stress. As this ScienCentral News video explains, researchers at McGill University also found that playing the game resulted in increased productivity.

Interviewee: Mark Baldwin, McGill University, Canada

Copyright © ScienCentral, Inc., with additional video courtesy Mark Baldwin

New technologies can put a lot of demands on us, causing stress and anxiety. This video suggests that we can also use technology to reduce our feelings of stress.

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Based on your reading in several chapters, is there any reason to believe that stress has an influence on our physical or mental health?
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Describe the basic technique shown in this video to help people cope with stress. What behavioral tendency should they show after doing the video “therapy”?
6.
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Which of the therapeutic approaches described in the section Psychotherapy Is Based on Psychological Principles emphasizes principles that are most compatible with this video training as therapy?
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Virtual Alcohol Control

Scientists are using virtual reality to help alcoholics cope with situations that might get them in trouble. This ScienCentral News video explains.

Interviewee: Patrick Bordnick, University of Houston?

Copyright © ScienCentral, Inc., with additional footage courtesy Patrick Bordnick and Virtually Better.

Clinical psychologists often work with people who suffer from addictions, such as those discussed in this video. However, in this exercise, we will try to think of other uses for this amazing technology.

7.
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The value of virtual reality is that it allows a person with a psychological problem to confront a situation they find difficult or threatening. The person and the therapist can see how they react to that situation, and they can work directly on the reaction. One of the major problems people encounter in depression is negative thought patterns and responses to other people that push them away. How might virtual therapy be adapted for working with someone who is depressed?
8.
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How might virtual therapy be adapted for treatment of panic disorder?
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On of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia is loss of social skills. How might a therapist use virtual therapy to help someone with schizophrenia who is fearful and awkward in interacting with other people?
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Could virtual therapy be used to help children with ADHD? If so, how could this new technology be used?

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