Discussion: Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis?

Discussion: Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis?

The Biological Basis of Psychotherapy Treatments

Psychotherapy treatments are deeply rooted in the brain-mind and their effects on behavior and maladaptive responses, making them a crucial tool in addressing psychopathological conditions (Javanbakht & Alberini, 2019). A comprehensive understanding of the biological underpinnings of psychotherapy is vital for enhancing the approach to mental health issues. This essay explores the biological foundations of psychotherapy and how cultural, socioeconomic, and religious factors influence individuals’ perspectives on psychotherapy treatments.

Biological Basis of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy’s biological foundation lies in its direct influence on brain function. Tyron (2016) elucidates that psychotherapy targets maladaptive brain processes and reconfigures them by replacing them with positive pathways. The brain encodes experiences through neurons, and psychotherapy aims to rewire faulty neural mappings. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a common form of psychotherapy, can induce structural changes in the brain. Tyron’s study (2016) revealed that CBT led to a reduction in glucose metabolism in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), resulting in an improvement in OCD symptoms.

Cultural Influence

Cultural beliefs significantly shape individuals’ perspectives on psychotherapy. Some cultures stigmatize mental illness, viewing it as a taboo topic, which may discourage people from seeking psychotherapy and lead them to rely solely on pharmacological treatments (Wegner & Rhoda, 2015). These cultural attitudes can create barriers to accessing mental health care and hinder individuals from receiving the benefits of psychotherapy.

Religious Beliefs

Religious convictions can also play a pivotal role in shaping an individual’s approach to mental health treatment. Some people may turn to divine healing as their first choice when dealing with mental health issues, which could deter them from seeking psychotherapy (Goncalves et al., 2015). The intersection of religious beliefs and mental health care underscores the complexity of addressing mental health issues within the context of diverse belief systems.

The Value of Critical Thinking in the Field of Psychology Assignment

Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic status has a substantial impact on an individual’s ability to seek psychotherapy treatment. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may perceive psychotherapy as an expensive endeavor, deterring them from pursuing such treatment (Sripada et al., 2015). This socioeconomic barrier further exacerbates disparities in mental health care access.

Conclusion

The biological basis of psychotherapy is evident in its capacity to influence the brain’s maladaptive processes and facilitate healing. Cultural beliefs, religious convictions, and socioeconomic status significantly influence an individual’s perspective on psychotherapy treatments and their ability to access them. Recognizing and addressing these factors is essential for delivering equitable mental health care and promoting the benefits of psychotherapy.

References

Goncalves J, Luchetti G, Menezes P, & Vallada H. (2015). Religious and spiritual interventions in mental health care: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Psychol Med, 45(14), 2937–2949.

Javanbakht, A., & Alberini, C. M. (2019). Editorial: Neurobiological Models of Psychotherapy. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 13, 144. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00144

Sripada R, Richards S, Sheila R, Walters H, Bohnert K, Gorman L, Kees M & Blow A. (2015). Socioeconomic Status and Mental Health Service Use Among National Guard Soldiers. Psychiatric Services, 1(66), 992-995;

Tyron W. (2016). Psychotherapy Integration via Theoretical Unification. International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, 7(1), 1-26.

Wegner, L. & Rhoda, A. (2015). The influence of cultural beliefs on the utilization of rehabilitation services in a rural South African context: Therapists’ perspective. African Journal of Disability, 4(1), 128-136.

Discussion: Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis?

Many studies have found that psychotherapy is as effective as psychopharmacology in terms of influencing changes in behaviors, symptoms of anxiety, and changes in mental state. Changes influenced by psychopharmacology can be explained by the biological basis of treatments. But how does psychotherapy achieve these changes? Does psychotherapy share common neuronal pathways with psychopharmacology? For this Discussion, consider whether psychotherapy also has a biological basis.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate biological basis of psychotherapy treatments
• Analyze influences of culture, religion, and socioeconomics on personal perspectives of psychotherapy treatments

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect on foundational concepts of psychotherapy.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!

By Day 3

Post an explanation of whether psychotherapy has a biological basis. Explain how culture, religion, and socioeconomics might influence one’s perspective of the value of psychotherapy treatments. Support your rationale with evidence-based literature.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing an additional scholarly resource that supports or challenges their position along with a brief explanation of the resource.

 

The Role of Psychotherapy in Biological Basis and Epigenetic Modification

The question of whether psychotherapy has a biological basis may initially appear unclear, given the ongoing debate regarding the merits of psychopharmacology versus psychotherapy. However, research has indicated that psychotherapy can induce positive changes in the body’s and brain’s stress-response system, particularly in children and adults (Holttum, 2014). While the impact of medication on such changes is well-established, understanding how the brain self-corrects after psychotherapeutic intervention is a key focus.

Extensive research increasingly supports the notion that psychotherapy indeed exerts a substantial influence on biological and chemical brain activity. There is growing consensus that psychotherapy involves a unique learning process within the context of an emotional or therapeutic relationship, potentially leading to epigenetic modifications across various therapeutic treatment modalities (Jiménez et al., 2018). To delve deeper into comprehending how talk therapy can alter gene expression, it’s essential for nurse practitioners to grasp the role of epigenetics in neuroscience.

Epigenetics refers to phenotypic changes that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence but instead modify its chemical structure, thereby influencing whether a particular gene is expressed or silenced (Stahl, 2013). This is pertinent to psychotherapy as epigenetic changes are highly responsive to one’s environment (Kumsta, 2019). An environment that fosters active listening, goal-oriented dialogue, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches can positively influence epigenetic modifications. Psychotherapy is focused on gene regulation, ultimately leading to bottom-up changes in the phenotypic expression of various traits, consequently altering the biological underpinnings of an individual’s actions and emotions without the use of medication (Kumsta, 2019). Understanding this concept equips nurse practitioners with insights into the diverse impact of therapeutic modalities on individual clients.

The effectiveness of psychotherapy is also influenced by an individual’s cultural, religious, and socioeconomic background. For example, a homosexual individual from a conservative religious family may grapple with acceptance issues, while a family in poverty might face challenges in accessing consistent therapy or medications. The choice of psychotherapeutic approach must consider an individual’s biological background and treatment expectations.

Recovery-focused practice emphasizes recognizing people’s strengths and supporting them in achieving their self-determined goals, rather than imposing the provider’s goals (Holttum, 2014). Consequently, psychotherapy is successful in bringing about enduring changes in attitudes, habits, and both conscious and unconscious behavior. These changes are facilitated by alterations in gene expression that produce structural modifications in the brain (Jiménez et al., 2018). As future nurse practitioners, engaging in psychotherapy discussion enhances our understanding of the effectiveness of various treatment modalities, reducing overreliance on medication.

In this way, the nurse psychotherapist cultivates a healing presence characterized by acceptance, patience, compassion, nonjudgmental attitude, understanding, active listening skills, honesty, and empathy (Wheeler, 2014). This comprehensive approach to psychotherapy is essential for nurse practitioners, as it underscores the multifaceted impact of treatment on individual clients, considering both biological and environmental factors.

References

Holttum, S. (2014). When bad things happen our brains change but psychotherapy and support can help the recovery of our brains and our lives. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 18(2), 52–58. doi:10.1108/MHSI-02-2014-0006

Jiménez, J. P., Botto, A., Herrera, L., Leighton, C., Rossi, J. L., Quevedo, Y., Silva, J. R., Martínez, F., Assar, R., Salazar, L. A., Ortiz, M., Ríos, U., Barros, P., Jaramillo, K., & Luyten, P. (2018). Psychotherapy and Genetic Neuroscience: An Emerging Dialog. Frontiers in genetics, 9, 257. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2018.00257

Kumsta, R. (2019). The role of epigenetics for understanding mental health difficulties and its implications for psychotherapy research. Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice 92(2), 190–207. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1111/papt.12227

Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Wheeler, K. (Eds.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.