Psychotherapy and Psychosocial Interventions
Core concepts
Know the indications and mechanisms of major modalities:
- CBT: depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD (trauma-focused), psychosis (CBTp).
- Psychodynamic therapy: enduring patterns, personality difficulties.
- DBT: borderline personality disorder - distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness.
- Family therapy / psychoeducation: schizophrenia (reduces relapse), eating disorders (family-based treatment for anorexia in adolescents).
- Motivational interviewing: substance use, ambivalence.
- Supportive therapy: crisis and chronic illness.
Traps
- Assuming one therapy fits all - match modality to diagnosis and patient preference.
- Forgetting psychoeducation and family involvement in first-episode psychosis.
- Missing risk assessment during therapy sessions.
- Confusing DBT with CBT.
Rule of thumb
Combine pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy where evidence supports it (e.g., moderate–severe depression, OCD, schizophrenia).