Psychotherapies Practice Questions

Q: Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique used in which of the following conditions?

Phobia. **Explanation:** **Systematic Desensitization** is a behavioral therapy technique developed by **Joseph Wolpe**, based on the principle of **Classical Conditioning** (specifically **Reciprocal Inhibition**). The core concept is that a person cannot be anxious and relaxed at the same time. It involves three steps: training in deep muscle relaxation (Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation), constructing a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking stimuli, and gradual exposure to these stimuli while maintaining a relaxed state. * **Why Phobia is Correct:** Systematic desensitization is the treatment of choice for **Specific Phobias** (e.g., fear of heights, spiders). By pairing the feared object with relaxation, the "anxiety response" is replaced by a "relaxation response" (Counter-conditioning). **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Dissociation:** Managed primarily through supportive psychotherapy, hypnosis, or "Amobarbital interviews" to recover repressed memories, rather than behavioral conditioning. * **Schizoid Personality:** This is a personality disorder characterized by social detachment. Treatment focuses on social skills training or supportive therapy; desensitization is ineffective as there is no specific phobic stimulus. * **Psychosis:** Conditions like Schizophrenia require pharmacotherapy (Antipsychotics). Behavioral therapies are used only for social rehabilitation, not for treating core psychotic symptoms. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Founder:** Joseph Wolpe. * **Basis:** Reciprocal Inhibition / Counter-conditioning. * **Hierarchy:** Uses the **SUD scale** (Subjective Units of Distress) to rank fears. * **In-vivo vs. Imaginal:** While Wolpe used imaginal exposure, **In-vivo exposure** (real-life) is now considered more effective for most phobias. * **Flooding:** A related technique where the patient is exposed to the maximum intensity of the feared stimulus immediately (preventing the avoidance response).

Q: Along with a pleasant stimulus, noxious stimuli are given in the treatment of alcohol dependence or sexual disorder. This is which of the following types of behavior therapy?

Aversion therapy. ### Explanation **Correct Answer: B. Aversion Therapy** **Aversion therapy** is a form of behavior therapy based on the principle of **Classical Conditioning**. It involves the repeated pairing of an undesirable but pleasant stimulus (e.g., alcohol or paraphilic triggers) with an unpleasant/noxious stimulus (e.g., electric shocks, emetics like disulfiram, or unpleasant odors). Over time, the patient develops a conditioned aversion to the previously pleasurable stimulus, leading to a reduction in the unwanted behavior. It is commonly used in treating alcohol dependence, smoking, and certain sexual disorders. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **A. Negative Reinforcement:** This involves the **removal** of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the frequency of a desired behavior (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache). In the question, a noxious stimulus is *added*, not removed. * **C. Punishment:** While similar, punishment is an **Operant Conditioning** concept where a consequence follows a behavior to decrease its frequency. Aversion therapy is specifically the *pairing* of stimuli to change the emotional response (Classical Conditioning). * **D. Flooding:** This is a technique used for phobias and OCD where the patient is directly exposed to their maximum feared stimulus (prolonged exposure) until the anxiety response extinguishes. It does not involve noxious stimuli like shocks or chemicals. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Disulfiram (Antabuse):** A classic example of aversion therapy (pharmacological) used in alcohol dependence by causing a toxic reaction (DER). * **Covert Sensitization:** A variation of aversion therapy where the noxious stimulus is merely **imagined** rather than physically applied. * **Systematic Desensitization:** The opposite of flooding; it involves graded exposure combined with relaxation techniques (based on reciprocal inhibition).

Q: A child who wins the first prize in school is given chocolates that he likes. He tends to get high marks in the future. This scenario best illustrates which line of therapy?

Behavior therapy. ### Explanation The scenario described is a classic example of **Operant Conditioning**, a core principle of **Behavior Therapy**. **Why Behavior Therapy is Correct:** The child’s behavior (studying hard/winning a prize) is followed by a rewarding stimulus (chocolates). This is known as **Positive Reinforcement**. According to B.F. Skinner’s theory of Operant Conditioning, when a behavior is followed by a desirable consequence, the probability of that behavior being repeated in the future increases. Behavior therapy focuses on modifying observable actions through reinforcement, punishment, or extinction. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT):** Focuses on improving current interpersonal relationships and social functioning to resolve symptoms (commonly used in depression). It does not use reward-based conditioning. * **C. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):** A specific type of CBT used primarily for Borderline Personality Disorder. it focuses on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. * **D. Dynamic Therapy:** Based on Psychoanalysis (Freud), it explores unconscious conflicts, childhood experiences, and defense mechanisms rather than focusing on immediate behavioral modification through rewards. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Positive Reinforcement:** Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., chocolates for high marks). * **Negative Reinforcement:** Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache). * **Token Economy:** A specialized form of behavior therapy often used in psychiatric wards where patients earn "tokens" (secondary reinforcers) for desired behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards. * **Systematic Desensitization:** Another behavior therapy technique based on *Classical Conditioning* (Wolpe) used for phobias.

Q: All of the following psychotherapy modalities are used to treat anxiety disorders except?

Sensate focus therapy. ### Explanation The correct answer is **D. Sensate focus therapy**. **1. Why Sensate Focus Therapy is the correct answer:** Sensate focus therapy is a specific behavioral technique developed by **Masters and Johnson**. It is primarily used to treat **sexual dysfunctions** (such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and female orgasmic disorder) by reducing "spectatoring" and performance anxiety during intimacy. It involves a series of graduated touching exercises where the focus is on physical sensation rather than sexual arousal or intercourse. It is **not** a primary modality for generalized or phobic anxiety disorders. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options (Used in Anxiety Disorders):** * **A. Systematic Desensitization:** Developed by **Joseph Wolpe**, this is a classic behavioral therapy for **Phobias**. It involves pairing a relaxation response with a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking stimuli (counter-conditioning). * **B. Relaxation Techniques:** Methods like Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation (JPMR) and deep breathing are core components in managing **Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)** and Panic Disorder to physiological arousal. * **C. Flooding:** This is a form of exposure therapy where the patient is directly exposed to their maximum feared stimulus for a prolonged period until the anxiety response extinguishes. It is used for **Specific Phobias** and **PTSD**. **3. Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Reciprocal Inhibition:** The underlying principle of Systematic Desensitization (one cannot be relaxed and anxious simultaneously). * **Spectatoring:** A key concept in Sensate Focus where the individual monitors their own sexual performance from a third-person perspective, leading to dysfunction. * **First-line Psychotherapy:** For most anxiety disorders (OCD, Panic, Phobias), **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** is considered the gold standard.

Question 1

Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique used in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Phobia

Answer

Dissociation

Answer

Schizoid personality

Answer

Psychosis

Question 2

Along with a pleasant stimulus, noxious stimuli are given in the treatment of alcohol dependence or sexual disorder. This is which of the following types of behavior therapy?

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy

Answer

Negative reinforcement

Answer

Punishment

Answer

Flooding

Question 3

A child who wins the first prize in school is given chocolates that he likes. He tends to get high marks in the future. This scenario best illustrates which line of therapy?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy

Answer

Interpersonal therapy

Answer

Dialectic therapy

Answer

Dynamic therapy

Question 4

All of the following psychotherapy modalities are used to treat anxiety disorders except?

Accepted Answer

Sensate focus therapy

Answer

Systemic desensitization

Answer

Relaxation techniques

Answer

Flooding

Question 5

A male patient with bipolar disorder has experienced 5 episodes of mania and 1 episode of depression in the last 8 years. His condition is currently controlled by a mood stabilizer, but manic symptoms reappear when he tapers down the medication. Which of the following interventions should be carried out to improve drug compliance?

Accepted Answer

Psychoeducation

Answer

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Answer

Supportive psychotherapy

Answer

Insight-oriented psychotherapy

Psychotherapies — MCQs

Psychotherapies — MCQs

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