Outline and evaluate behavioural therapies to treat mental disorders Essay Example for Free

Outline and evaluate behavioural therapies to treat mental disorders EssayBecause of the genius of the behavioural model which measure specific behaviours in precise terms such as how many times a negative behaviour is performed, improvements screwing be accurately measured. Which in turn means therapies goodness can to a fault be measured. The classical conditioning therapies have been proved to be effective by Wolpe who found an 80-90% success rate with these therapies. Barlow and Lehmen also found a success rate of 77% following treatment. However medication can throw in with systematic desensitization because medication suppresses anxiety. Operant conditioning is also based on scientific principals proven to be effective by Azrin who examined female patients in a mental hospital who were incapable of doing everyday tasks. Using token economies, positive behaviour in these women increased. However studies looking at children and students by Lepper and Deci also found that rewarding intrinsic interests actually reduces behaviour. A strength of the classical conditioning therapies is that the patients have a high level of control. In token economies merely patients have very little control over their therapies.This give rises ethical issues as informed consent is non achieved for token economies, instead they ar enforced with or without the patients consent. Token economies are also open to abuse and can be deemed as a form of social control. Classical conditioning therapies also raise ethical issues in terms of putting their patients at risk of emotional harm. Other problems with classical conditioning therapies include the fact that some patients may non have a vivid enough imagination for flooding, and social desensitization may be difficult to arrange and control, whereas token economies are practical as they can be done anywhere.A problem with token economies though, is that changes are due to external rewards and not an innate desire to chan ge and so if the rewards are removed the positive behaviour may cease. Finally debate will also continue whether the treatments provided by the behavioural model only treat the symptoms and not the causes, and if only the symptoms are treated, does it matter?