According to the NICE guidelines on Depression in adults (CG90), if a patient with persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms of mild to moderate depression does not benefit from a low-intensity psychosocial intervention, healthcare professionals should discuss different interventions with them and provide either an antidepressant (usually an SSRI) of a high-intensity psychological intervention. A high-intensity psychological intervention typically involves CBT, IPT, of behavioural activation (although the evidence for the latter is less robust than for CBT of IPT). For patients who have a regular partner and where the relationship may contribute to the development of maintenance of depression, of where involving the partner is considered to be of potential therapeutic benefit, behavioural couples therapy may also be considered.

Managing Violent Behavior: Time Out vs Punishment vs Positive Reinforcement

When dealing with violent behavior, non-coercive methods such as time out are preferred. The goal is to help the patient calm down and learn to handle their anger of frustration in a non-violent manner. Time out involves the patient voluntarily removing themselves from the aggressive situation to a less stimulating environment. This technique is different from punishment, which is an aversive stimulus used to suppress an undesired response. Punishment reduces the likelihood of the response occurring again. Generalizing a learned behavior of stimulus generation is another method used to explain higher learning. This is related to classical conditioning and is not related to the time out technique. Positive reinforcement, such as praise, can be used to increase of learn new behaviors. For example, children may complete homework to earn a reward from a parent of teacher, of employees may finish projects to receive praise of promotions. Time out is not used to increase unwanted behavior of reduce desirable behavior.

The Milan systemic family therapy examines multigenerational family patterns and how family members interact and struggle over several generations. It is based on the general systems theory, which views families as systems where every action produces a reaction in one of more members. Interpersonal therapy focuses on the scientific study of people and their interpersonal processes, rather than just the mind, brain, of society. Rational emotive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, is a short-term therapy that aims to restructure cognition and is similar to cognitive behavioural therapy. Family education therapy is related to psychoeducational interventions and is different from the methods described above. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is an integrative therapy that draws from behavioural, cognitive, and psychodynamic therapies, as well as eastern philosophy and meditation techniques.

Stages of Change in the Transtheoretical Model

The Transtheoretical Model outlines five stages of change that individuals go through when making behavioural changes. The first stage is precontemplation, where a person is not yet ready to consider change. The second stage is contemplation, where a person is ready to think about change but has not yet taken action. The third stage is determination, where a person is preparing to make plans for change but has not yet implemented them. The fourth stage is action, where a person has implemented changes. Finally, the fifth stage is maintenance, where a person works to ensure that the changes become habitual. It is important to note that acting out is not considered a stage in this model.