In outcome research, what term is used to describe the phenomenon where a patient improves over time simply by attending therapy, irrespective of what actually occurs in the sessions?
Explanation
This question defines 'nonspecific treatment effects,' highlighting the therapeutic benefit of the therapeutic context itself, separate from the specific techniques employed.
Other questions
To receive a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), an individual must display a certain number of symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity for a minimum duration. What are these criteria?
What is the definition of psychotherapy as described in the text?
According to a study of psychotherapists' practices referenced in the text, which therapeutic approach is reported as being the most commonly practiced?
In the context of psychodynamic therapy, what is the technique of free association?
Carl Rogers's person-centered therapy emphasizes the creation of a positive therapeutic alliance. Which of the following is NOT one of the three conditions he argued were essential for a productive therapeutic environment?
What is the fundamental principle that forms the basis of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT)?
Exposure therapy, a technique used in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and phobias, is based on which classical conditioning principle?
What is the typical duration for a course of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) treatment?
Which behavioral treatment for phobias involves the creation of a 'hierarchy of fears' and combines confronting the feared object with relaxation exercises?
Aversion therapy, used to treat behaviors like nail biting and alcoholism, is a type of behavior therapy that employs what principle?
What is the primary goal of the therapist in Albert Ellis's rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)?
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is an eclectic treatment approach proven successful for treating borderline personality disorder (BPD). While it is essentially a cognitive therapy, what particular emphasis does it include?
What is the basic premise that underlies the use of drug therapies for treating psychological disorders?
A disorder involving hyperactivity is often treated with a psychostimulant, a drug that normally increases activity. How is this seemingly contradictory treatment effective?
In what percentage of children who take them do stimulant medications for ADHD dramatically improve major symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity?
What is the mechanism of action for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most prescribed type of antidepressant today?
Why are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other standard antidepressants often insufficient for the treatment of bipolar disorder?
Benzodiazepines, a common class of tranquilizers that includes Ativan and Valium, are effective for treating mild anxiety disorders. What is a significant risk associated with their use?
How do antipsychotic drugs, also known as neuroleptics, primarily function to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia?
What is tardive dyskinesia, a potential consequence of long-term antipsychotic drug use?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered a very effective treatment for severe depression. Approximately what percentage of people who undergo three sessions of ECT report dramatic relief?
Despite the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a significant drawback is the rate of relapse. What proportion of patients who undergo ECT experience a relapse within one year?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a newer method of brain stimulation for treating depression. What is a key advantage of TMS when compared to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
The prefrontal lobotomy, a well-known form of psychosurgery developed by Egas Moniz, involved what specific procedure?
When evaluating the effectiveness of therapies, researchers must account for several confounding factors. What is the concept of 'natural improvement'?
What is a meta-analysis, as used in the context of evaluating the effectiveness of psychotherapy?
In the influential 1980 meta-analysis by Smith, Glass, and Miller, which reviewed 475 studies on psychotherapy outcomes, what was the calculated average effect size for the influence of therapy?
According to meta-analyses and research on therapeutic effectiveness, what is a key element that all good therapies have in common?
An analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) databases for antidepressant medications approved between 1987 and 2004 found what overall average effect size?
What is identified in the text as a primary problem with drug therapies for psychological disorders?
Which of the following is described as a key advantage of group therapy?
What is the typical size of a therapy group guided by a professionally trained therapist?
What is the fundamental assumption that forms the basis of family therapy?
What is the primary goal that distinguishes community mental health services from traditional therapy?
In community mental health, which level of prevention is aimed at all members of the community, such as programs encouraging all pregnant women to avoid alcohol?
What is the focus of secondary prevention in the context of community mental health services?
What does tertiary prevention in community mental health involve?
In psychoanalysis, what is the concept of transference?
Based on data showing the proportion of different therapies practiced in the United States, what percentage of psychotherapists report practicing psychodynamic therapy?
In the behavioral therapy technique of flooding, where a client is exposed to the source of their fear all at once, what is a primary disadvantage?
What is the core therapeutic technique used in Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy?
What does it mean for a therapist to use an 'eclectic therapy' approach?
Antianxiety medications like benzodiazepines help relieve fear and anxiety by increasing the action of which neurotransmitter?
What is the term for the modern, more limited form of psychosurgery that is still performed today in very rare cases?
In studies evaluating the effectiveness of a medical treatment, what are 'placebo effects'?
Based on meta-analyses, a list of 'empirically supported therapies' has been developed. Which of the following is cited in the text as an example of an empirically supported therapy for depression?
A 2005 study by Herbert et al. compared the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) alone with CBT combined with social skills training for social anxiety disorder. What was the main finding of this study?
What is a characteristic feature of self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous?
According to the summary of ethical principles for psychologists, what information are therapists obligated to inform their clients about at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship?