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[23] Wandersman, A., & Florin, P. (2003). Community interventions and effective prevention. American Psychologist, 58(6 –7),
441–448; Wilson, D. B., Gottfredson, D. C., & Najaka, S. S. (2001). School-based prevention of problem behaviors: A meta-
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13.5 Chapter Summary
Psychological disorders create a tremendous individual, social, and economic drain on society.
Psychologists work to reduce this burden by preventing and treating disorder. Psychologists base
this treatment and prevention of disorder on the bio-psycho-social model, which proposes that
disorder has biological, psychological, and social causes, and that each of these aspects can be
the focus of reducing disorder.
Treatment for psychological disorder begins with a formal psychological assessment. In addition
to the psychological assessment, the patient is usually seen by a physician to gain information
about potential Axis III (physical) problems.
One approach to treatment is psychotherapy. The fundamental aspect of psychotherapy is that the
patient directly confronts the disorder and works with the therapist to help reduce it.
Psychodynamic therapy (also known as psychoanalysis) is a psychological treatment based on
Freudian and neo-Freudian personality theories. The analyst engages with the patient in one-on-
one sessions during which the patient verbalizes his or her thoughts through free associations and
by reporting on his or her dreams. The goal of the therapy is to help the patient develop insight—
that is, an understanding of the unconscious causes of the disorder.
Humanistic therapy is a psychological treatment based on the personality theories of Carl Rogers
and other humanistic psychologists. Humanistic therapies attempt to promote growth and
responsibility by helping clients consider their own situations and the world around them and
how they can work to achieve their life goals.