Differentiate between how mental illnesses were explained in past eras and describe how those explanations affected the approach to the treatment of psychological disorders at the time. Contrast these historical approaches with current treatment approaches.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The historical treatment models are supernatural, medical, and psychological. The supernatural model explained psychological disorders as the result of supernatural forces that caused the abnormal behavior.
The supernatural treatment approach focused on ridding the person of evil or punishing the behavior through prayer, fasting, or an exorcism. There is no scientific evidence supporting these identified causes of mental illness or the effectiveness of these treatments, so the majority of these practices are no longer used today.
The medical model focuses on illness or bodily dysfunction as the sources of mental illness, which led to the use of medical treatments, which were often cruel and ineffective, including being confined to mental institutions, exposure to electric shocks or attempts to drain extra blood from the brain. The medical model is still in use today, but it follows the ethical practices required for therapists.
The psychological model gained momentum in the 18th and 19th centuries, as people began to fight for better treatment of those suffering from mental disorders. Mental disorders were considered to be the result of problems in the mind, not the body, and they could be treated by changing aspects of the person's environment and thought processes. The psychological model is still subscribed to currently, but therapeutic approaches have been updated and improved through applications of research.
Current approaches to treating psychological disorders use an evidence-based treatment approach, meaning that scientific evidence is used to guide treatment approaches. Therapists receive specialized training in therapeutic techniques and procedures, and are usually licensed by the state.