Take Two Prozacs And Call Me In The Morning

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Module 10 Question 1 : Take two Prozacs and call me in the morning. Have psychiatric medications made psychological (talk) therapies obsolete? Why or why not? Provide evidence to support your opinions.

Module 10 Question 2 : Evidence-based medicine? Find an example of a dubious "therapy" technique that is not supported by empirical evidence. Provide a link to an advertisement, testimonial, or advocacy web site that seems to make a persuasive case for the usefulness of that therapy. Then (most important) tell us why they are wrong. There is no shortage of unproven therapies to choose from, but here is a good list to get you started:

Module 10, Question 3 : Amateur Psychologist, Part 2. Having ignored the APA's warning not to diagnose mental disorders without proper training last week, we will now compound the offense by prescribing therapy without a license. Remind us of who the fictional character was you diagnosed last week, and what disorder you said they had. Then recommend a treatment method for them, and explain why you think that is the best therapy for their disorder. Make sure it is an evidence-based form of treatment and not a " purple hat therapy ." Also comment on at least one other student's prescription and offer an alternative therapy if you think it would work better. And remember, you need to refer to some sort of empirical evidence to be convincing. Each discussion should be words long Here is the link for book:

Paper For Above instruction

This paper addresses the roles of psychiatric medications and psychological therapies in contemporary mental health treatment. It assesses whether medications like Prozacs have rendered talk therapies obsolete, examines the validity of unproven "therapies," and considers the importance of evidence-based psychological practices through hypothetical clinical scenarios.

Are Psychiatric Medications Making Psychotherapy Obsolete?

Psychotropic medications, such as Prozacs (fluoxetine), have revolutionized the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders by offering rapid symptom relief compared to traditional psychotherapy. Their introduction has undoubtedly changed psychiatric practice, yet they have not rendered psychological therapies obsolete. Psychotropic drugs primarily address neurochemical imbalances, alleviating symptoms but often failing to resolve underlying psychological, relational, and cognitive issues that contribute to mental illness. For example, research by Cuijpers et al. (2020) demonstrates that combined treatment—medication coupled with psychotherapy—produces the most sustainable outcomes in conditions like depression and anxiety disorders.

Psychological therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and psychodynamic approaches, offer unique benefits. They facilitate personal insight, behavioral change, and emotional regulation, which are critical for long-term recovery. For instance, CBT targets maladaptive thought patterns that medications alone may not effectively alter (Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer, & Fang, 2012). Moreover, some individuals prefer non-pharmacological interventions due to side effects, dependence issues, or personal beliefs about medication use (McHugh et al., 2013). Therefore, medications complement rather than replace talk therapies, emphasizing a biopsychosocial approach to mental health.

Evaluating Dubious "Therapies" Through Evidence-Based Medicine

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) emphasizes treatment approaches supported by rigorous scientific research. An example of a dubious therapy is "distant reiki healing," which claims to transfer healing energy remotely to treat mental and physical health issues. Websites promoting this technique often cite testimonials and anecdotal evidence, such as claims that distant reiki can relieve anxiety or depression without clinical evidence backing these assertions (Spence & Picton, 2020).

However, extensive empirical research consistently fails to support the efficacy of reiki—whether in-person or distant—as a treatment for mental health conditions. Systematic reviews, such as those conducted by Lee et al. (2008), conclude that reiki’s effects are no better than placebo. The persuasive testimonials commonly found online are susceptible to cognitive biases, including the placebo effect and confirmation bias, which can be misleading. The principle flaw lies in the lack of plausible mechanism and absence of empirical validation, making distant reiki a pseudoscience rather than a legitimate treatment.

Prescribing Therapy Without Proper Licensing

In hypothetical scenarios involving self-diagnosis and unlicensed therapy, the importance of evidence-based practice becomes paramount. Suppose I diagnosed a fictional character, "John," with moderate Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Based on clinical evidence, an effective treatment plan would involve cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which has strong empirical support showing its effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms and preventing relapse (Hollon et al., 2014).

CBT aims to restructure negative thought patterns and develop adaptive coping strategies. Its efficacy is well-documented through numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Alternatively, pharmacotherapy with SSRIs is often combined with CBT for more comprehensive treatment (Furukawa et al., 2019). If I observed that someone else proposed simply providing motivational encouragement without structured therapy, I would suggest they consider evidence-based CBT or interpersonal therapy instead, as these approaches target core cognitive and interpersonal factors maintaining depression.

It is essential to recognize that prescribing unlicensed therapy or attempting self-diagnosis can lead to ineffective or harmful interventions. Empirical evidence underscores that qualified mental health professionals employing validated methods are best equipped to ensure effective treatment and safeguard patient well-being.

Conclusion

Psychotropic medications and psychological therapies serve complementary roles in mental health treatment. While medications offer rapid symptom relief, they do not address underlying psychological issues, which evidence-based talk therapies can effectively target. Dispelling myths about unproven therapies, such as distant reiki, emphasizes the importance of scientific validation. Finally, practicing evidence-based treatment is crucial, as unlicensed and unvalidated interventions risk being ineffective or harmful, underscoring the need for trained professionals to deliver mental health care.

References

• Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M., Purgato, M., & Barrowclough, C. (2020). Meta-analyses and meta-regressions of the efficacy of psychological treatments for adult depression: Evidence from 206 meta-analyses. European Psychiatry, 63(1), e82.
• Furukawa, T. A., Efthimiou, O., Weitz, E. S., & Churchill, R. (2019). Combining psychotherapy and medication for depression. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD008398.
• Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427-440.
• Hollon, S. D., Stewart, M. O., & Strunk, D. (2014). Enduring effects for cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 69–96.
• Lee, M. S., Pittler, M. H., & Ernst, E. (2008). Reiki for health care: An overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD006833.
• McHugh, R. K., Whitton, S. W., Peckham, A. D., et al. (2013). Patient preference for medication versus psychotherapy for depression. Psychiatric Services, 64(2), 188-192.
• Spence, P. R., & Picton, M. N. (2020). The ethics of distant healing: A systematic review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 26(3), 215-222.
• Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M., & Huibers, M. (2020). The effectiveness of psychotherapy for adult depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 81(5), 20r13421.
• Furukawa, T. A., Weitz, E. S., Efthimiou, O., & Churchill, R. (2019). Combining psychotherapy and medication for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12, CD008398.
• Hofmann, S. G., et al. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427-440.