Buddhism and behaviour modification

Confluence of Western Psychotherapy and Religious Teachings in Mental Healthcare of an Asian Buddhist Community: Sri Lanka

Buddha lived 2600 years ago in Northern India, and his teachings were established in Sri Lanka in the third-century BC. In the nineteenth century, the British established the modern mental health services in Sri Lanka. This article aimed to highlight the association between Western psychotherapeutic techniques with Buddhist teachings and the relevance of this confluence to the mental health care in the country. Many schools of Western psychotherapy employ principles which are also described in Buddhist philosophy. Understanding this connection helps to deliver a culturally acceptable and relevant mental health care to the Sri Lankan population.

The tsunami and its aftermath in Sri Lanka: explorations of a Buddhist perspective

This paper discusses the tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka with special reference to Buddhism, which is the majority religion in the island. The role of religious beliefs and of religion in general in strengthening coping skills is well known. Buddhism, with its specific views on the human condition and its use of psychological strategies, is almost unique among world religions. The Buddhist responses to the tsunami have been discussed widely, if largely informally, in Sri Lanka, and many concepts and practices have been highlighted and focused on. This paper provides an overview of the relationship between culture and traumatic experiences, with a brief discussion of the role of religion in mental health. It then goes on to explore some relevant Buddhist concepts and practices which can be used in clinical settings.

Faith-assisted cognitive therapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to report the rapid resolution of obsessions when the patient invoked Christ to treat her obsessions.

CLINICAL PICTURE

A 25-year-old female presented with obsessions (doubts) that: (i) while driving she will knock down a pedestrian; and (ii) she will be charged with sex abuse.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME

Cognitive therapy (cognitive restructuring and thought-stopping) was offered. After a single session a complete remission was reported when she replaced her doubts with firm convictions that 'Christ will help me drive safely' and 'Christ will not let me do anything wrong'. She was reported to have remained well at the end of 5 months at which time she relocated and was then lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Religious faith can have a healing effect, and cognitive therapy is not incompatible with religion. Although unusual in standard clinical practice, rapid resolution of obsessions is possible.

Biblical behavior modification

Although we may have formalized and systematized the field of behavior modification in the last few decades, people around the world have been using behavioral change strategies throughout history. Premack's (1965) theory of reinforcement is often called "Grandma's rule" because grandmothers have long been using it (e.g. You must finish your vegetables before you may go out and play). Franks (1969, p. 4), in one of the first behavioral texts, gave historical examples from China, Turkey, France, and Italy. Knapp and Shodahl (1974) showed how Benjamin Franklin used behavior modification. And de Silva (1984, 1985) gave examples of behavior modification by the Buddha and other early Buddhists. Conspicuously absent from our literature are examples from the Judeo-Christian tradition. In this paper, we provide a number of behavior modification examples from the Bible (New International Version). Footnotes provide references for many more examples. In the discussion, we explore implications for education and therapy. Examples are grouped by the following categories: operant conditioning, respondent conditioning, modeling, and cognitive interventions. However, the Biblical examples, like contemporary case studies, do not always fall neatly into discrete categories. They often are a combination, particularly operant and respondent conditioning interweaving.

The practice of behavior therapy among clinical psychologists in Hong Kong

A survey was conducted to assess the extent to which behavior therapy techniques were employed by clinical psychologists in Hong Kong. The most popular techniques included those that could be grouped under the self-management package and the least popular techniques generally involved an aversive element, or were in vivo. The use of behavior therapy was correlated with the younger age range of the treatment clientele. The results and the future development of behavior therapy were discussed in terms of cultural issues, training and the theoretical orientations of the respondents.

Reflections on the philosophy of caring in mental health

The trend towards definition of the role of the nurse as 'therapist' in mental health has resulted in clarification of what some nurses might do, with some patients, to resolve fairly specific problems of living. Not all psychiatric nurses are, however, satisfied that the developments which arise from this role definition will necessarily benefit the service overall. Indeed, the concept of the nurse-as-therapist has led, indirectly, to an expression of anxiety over the balance of 'care' versus 'therapy'. This is manifested at a time when nurses outwith the mental health setting are describing the need for a stronger emphasis upon therapeutic factors in nursing care, especially involving psychosocial variables.

Behavior therapy in Sri Lanka

The development of behavior therapy in Sri Lanka is presented. Its beginnings in the decade of the 70s in the two medical schools in Colombo and Peradeniya and its current status are reviewed, and future prospects are discussed. The need for developing and expanding behavior therapy practice in the country, and possible directions in training, are commented on.