Unit 5 - Lesson 8

AP Psychology Lesson: Modern Treatment Options and Methods

Unit: Mental and Physical Health | Lesson: 8 of 8 | Topic: Modern Treatment Options and Methods
AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25%
Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by filling in the blanks and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring modern psychological treatments. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically.

Warm-Up

Purpose: Get you thinking about how modern treatments address mental disorders.
Questions:

1. How might therapy help someone with anxiety?
2. Why might medication be combined with therapy for depression?
   Your Answers: Write a short response (1–2 sentences) for each question.

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Key Concepts

Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).
Content: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) targets distorted thoughts and behaviors to treat disorders like depression. Psychotherapy includes talk therapies like CBT or humanistic approaches. Biomedical treatments use medications or procedures (e.g., antidepressants for serotonin imbalances). Example: CBT helps a person with OCD reduce compulsions by challenging irrational thoughts. Client-centered therapy (Rogers) emphasizes empathy and self-acceptance. Treatment efficacy depends on client-therapist fit and cultural factors. Modern treatments aim to improve behaviors like emotional regulation or social functioning.

1. Define cognitive-behavioral therapy in your own words: _______________________________
2. Define biomedical treatments in your own words: _______________________________
3. Define client-centered therapy in your own words: _______________________________
4. Explain how CBT influences a behavior, using a specific example:

5. Explain how biomedical treatments influence a behavior, using a different example:

6. How does client-centered therapy promote mental health recovery?

7. Why might cultural factors affect treatment effectiveness?

8. How could combining CBT and biomedical treatments improve outcomes?

Guided Activity

Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the two tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.
Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A student with anxiety reduces worry through CBT sessions. Analyze how CBT and psychotherapy contribute to their recovery. For example, consider how thought-changing or talk therapy improves their behavior.
Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of each concept in the recovery.

Class Share for Task 1: Note one point you’ll share.

Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a person with depression improves with medication and client-centered therapy. Apply the concepts of biomedical treatments and client-centered therapy to explain their progress. For example, evaluate how medication or empathy affects their mood.
Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the progress.

Class Share for Task 2: Note one point you’ll share.

Class Assignment: Refer to the assignment file for this lesson

Instructions: Complete the tasks below to deepen your understanding of modern psychological treatments.
Study Summary 1: A 2019 study found that CBT reduced symptoms of depression more effectively than medication alone in young adults.
Question 1: How does this study demonstrate the role of CBT in treating depression, and what might enhance its effectiveness?

Study Summary 2: A 2020 study showed that client-centered therapy improved self-esteem in patients with anxiety, especially in supportive settings.
Question 2: Evaluate how this study illustrates the impact of client-centered therapy, and suggest one limitation of its findings.

AP Exam Connection: This practices analyzing and evaluating research, a key skill for FRQs.

AP Exam Practice

Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how cognitive-behavioral therapy, biomedical treatments, and client-centered therapy interact to influence treatment outcomes for a specific disorder (e.g., depression or anxiety). Provide one example for each treatment (CBT, biomedical, client-centered) and analyze how they interact to shape recovery.

Closure

Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of two key ideas you learned today about how modern treatments address psychological disorders.

Extended Practice

Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.

1. Review your answers from this lesson.
2. Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life treatment scenario (e.g., how therapy helps someone you know). Include references to CBT, biomedical treatments, and client-centered therapy, and explain their interaction.

3. Find a short article or study on modern psychological treatments (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).