Lecture 5: Innovative non-pharmacological treatments

Which topics are covered in the lecture?

Bright light therapy, chronotypes, placebo, classical conditioning, electroconvulsive therapy, TMS, antidepressants, rTMS.

Which topics are discussed that are not discussed in the literature?

There were no topics discussed that are not discussed in the literature.

Which recent developments in the field are discussed?

There was always an discussion about giving placebos to people who suffer from a disease. The question was if this is ethical, because the person is being fooled. Nowadays, we have the open label placebo. With this, the doctor tells the patient that he is going to get a placebo to stop his pain for example, but the doctor tells him also that he thinks this will work. Now the patient knows that it is a medicine without a working substance and he can give permission.

In the 20^th century people were testing if ECT should help people with psychological diseases. There were many people who died because of these treatments. With ECT your body gets an enormous shock, which can result in breaking bones and a vague feeling in the brain. Nowadays, we are much more careful with this treatment. Before we use it on a patient, we give him muscle relaxants. In this way, there won’t be broken bones.

Which comments are made by the lecturer with regard to the exam?

There were no comments made by the lecturer with regard to the exam.

Which questions are dealt with that can be asked during the examination?

There were no questions asked that can be asked during the exam.