A good question.  How does a person know which to choose, if any?  A basic understanding of the nature of different disorders is important in understanding which therapy is for what.  A session or two with a psychologist or psychiatrist (good at distinguishing between different disorders) is a very good idea.  Ask around.

Who Needs Drugs?

There are several disorders that appear to be genetically based or at least have a biological component.  These are best treated by medications which will help to normalize the disordered brain. There are basically 2 types:  The cognitive disorders, like schizophrenia, and the mood (or affective) disorders.  Just as each has its own symptoms and prognosis, each has its own group of drugs that work best. That’s why it’s extremely important to distinguish between the two.  When it comes to these 2 disorders medication will help you to be your best.  Not that therapy can’t be considered, especially in terms of coming to terms with your illness, it can, but for most part, medication will be needed to maintain the brains stability so that a person lives a normal life.

Know more about Behavioral Therapy!

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy has been popular for some time and is often used along with medication to treat behavioral problems that coexist with one of these disorders, but it can be used alone for less severe problems originating in the psyche.  Behavioral Therapy is based on learning theory which was a popular treatment for all disorders in until the 1960′s when research showed overwhelming evidence that medication was superior in these 2 disorders, to any other treatment.  There are many Behavioral Theorists:  Pavlov who caused dogs to salivate to a bell and B. F. Skinner, who demonstrated that even mice can learn not to press a bar if they’re shocked continually!(learned helplessness).  Whether or not the theories are appealing is moot: The point is, research has shown that Behavioral Therapy works in many cases, alluding to the possibility that certain problems are, in fact, just learned responses.  What is learned can be unlearned.

The DSMIV (Diagnostic Manual) lists neurotic disorders, which are types of maladaptive behavior that psychiatrists rarely deal with. Behavioral Therapy is usually done by a Behavioral Psychologist and is useful in changing all sorts of behavioral issues which are, essentially, habits. Behavioral People rarely rely on “neurosis” or other psychological terminology to define a person; rather, they define behaviors and ways to exchange these negative habits for more positive ones.

In reality there are many extremely bizarre behaviors that are not considered psychotic, just “extremely weird.” Once medical issues are ruled out there may be no reason for medication at all.  Sometimes anti anxiety agents are used while the behavior is changing, but the treating lies in the change of behavior itself.

We change behavior in animals by rewarding them with food when they do what we want.  The same learning curve that applies to animals applies to humans.  We all learn maladaptive behaviors of one sort or another in our lives which we can generally sort out ourselves, as we get older.  Some of the more severe anxiety disorders are coupled with symptoms that can make it very difficult for the person to live.  Phobias are an example of a pretty scarey set of symptoms that can be overcome behaviorally.

One of the primary concepts in behavioral therapy is reinforcement:  That a behavior becomes a habit (conditioned) when it’s being rewarded in some way and will continue as long as it’s reinforced.  Phobias are perfect examples of reinforcement because the lessening of anxiety is the primary reinforce.  The person is reinforced by avoiding the anxiety.

Know more about Behavioral Therapy!

You can teach a dog tricks by rewarding with food. People are more complex but we actually operate in the same manner:  We approach what is positive and avoid what is negative. Roosevelt was right when he said nothing to fear but fear itself:  As fearing fear turns it into panic and panic turns into phobia.  In phobia cases a person is desensitized to his anxiety by gradual exposure to whatever is feared.  If one can dispassionately experience their anxiety, note it and not become upset over it, the anxiety begins to lessen.  Over time it can be completely eradicated. Finding something more positive than avoiding extreme anxiety and/or panic is often very difficult and gradual exposure to the feared object is required.  With each exposure, the anxiety will subside a little, if the person doesn’t run.  People with phobias feel unworthy, frightened and out of control most of the time.  The reinforces in these cases is definitely the rise in self esteem, once the problem has been overcome.

So there are different types of disorders, some have a physical basis and need medication, some behavioral which can be treated by retraining our life responses.  Specific disorders benefit from medication and others do not.  Neither medication nor behavioral therapy is something that applies to everyone. It’s that simple.