Clinical Relevance of Physiological Psychology
-By Timothy Lyons
Physiological Psychology does have its place in clinical work. The Clinical Relevance of Physiological Psychology is in the area of psychoeducation. I can inform clients about what I understand from this perspective. I have found that my case load frequently consists of people who want to know why they are like they are. This is not to say that there is a solution to all of their problems with this knowledge. There is however what appears to be a lessened degree of cognitive dissonance and a greater degree of acceptance. This often translates into lessened anxiety and higher rates of compliance with treatment when a client can point to some new knowledge that they have received that helps them understand the biological basis for some of their issues. This can include the clients ability to translate this information into an explanation to others such as family and friends.
In many of my personal cases there has been an increase in empathy and understanding with family and friends of the sufferer. The social circle of those persons afflicted with mental disorders that result in pathological behaviors can better understand with knowledge from this perspective. In many treatment modalities there is a family component that is addressed.
With more knowledge of Physiological Psychology my ability to understand psychopharmacological interventions is increased. This assists me in the areas of informed care when a treatment team is involved. I will not be a prescriber of medication. I will interact with a team or with a prescriber so that my knowledge can guide medically assisted treatment decisions. There are so many times where there is little interaction on the part of the prescribing physician with the client and I now have the opportunity to use my own interactions to provide knowledge to the prescriber so that they are more effective in their ministrations.
I would like to temper this position with a bit of objectivity. The care that I provide is limited to psychological interventions. The knowledge of Physiological Psychology does not change that fact. Although I may be able to better tailor interventions to the specific client I still only have those tools with which I may work. There is scientific evidence that there are changes in the physical structure of the brain from the use of interventions in studies such as (Collerton, 2013). Our ability to measure those changes is limited. I do not think that the knowledge of physiological psychology will change the method of delivery or will assist in helping to make these neural changes.
References for Clinical Relevance of Physiological Psychology
Collerton D 2013 Psychotherapy and brain plasticity.Collerton, D. (2013). Psychotherapy and brain plasticity. Frontiers in Psychology, 4(548), . doi:http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00548 201701220914371495864153