Therapy, any of various techniques used in the treatment of physical or mental illnesses. Therapy is used not only during the course of a disease but also after recovery if the patient suffers lingering effects. Although some disorders may be treated by only one form of therapy, a combination of therapeutic techniques is often required.
In treating physical diseases, probably the most common form of therapy in Western medicine is chemotherapy, or drug therapy. The many drugs available range from commonly used compounds like aspirin, which reduces fever and relieves pain, to the complex chemicals used in the treatment of cancer. Some physical conditions can be corrected through surgery while others may be effectively treated by radiotherapy, which involves the use of X rays or other types of radiation . Radiotherapy is frequently used in the treatment of cancer, often in combination with surgical treatment and chemotherapy. Therapeutic methods drawn from non-Western traditions are collectively referred to as alternative medicine and include techniques such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and homeopathy.
Like physical disorders, mental illnesses may be treated with drugs, particularly antidepressants. However, while drugs help relieve the patient’s symptoms, they seldom cure the underlying problems. More useful therapies include techniques that rely heavily on verbal and emotional communication. Collectively referred to as psychotherapy, these techniques help the patient to express, understand, and cope with underlying problems that are not due to physical disease. Emotionally disturbed children who cannot express their problems verbally may be treated by play therapy. The children are encouraged to engage in certain forms of recreation or to act out scenes on the theory that this process will reveal their feelings. Similar treatment, sometimes called psychodrama, may be used to help adults.
The final stage in treatment of physical and mental illnesses is often rehabilitation. This may include physical therapy, which involves exercise, massage, and the application of heat and water (hydrotherapy) to improve or restore functioning to damaged and weakened parts of the body. People with disabilities also benefit from recreational and occupational therapy, which helps people master their personal and work-related activities, such as buttoning clothes or cooking while seated in a wheelchair. Speech therapy is given to people who have speech problems of physical or psychological origin. In addition, people with disabilities may require psychotherapy to help them overcome the emotional and psychological problems that are sometimes associated with disability.
In treating physical diseases, probably the most common form of therapy in Western medicine is chemotherapy, or drug therapy. The many drugs available range from commonly used compounds like aspirin, which reduces fever and relieves pain, to the complex chemicals used in the treatment of cancer. Some physical conditions can be corrected through surgery while others may be effectively treated by radiotherapy, which involves the use of X rays or other types of radiation . Radiotherapy is frequently used in the treatment of cancer, often in combination with surgical treatment and chemotherapy. Therapeutic methods drawn from non-Western traditions are collectively referred to as alternative medicine and include techniques such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and homeopathy.
Like physical disorders, mental illnesses may be treated with drugs, particularly antidepressants. However, while drugs help relieve the patient’s symptoms, they seldom cure the underlying problems. More useful therapies include techniques that rely heavily on verbal and emotional communication. Collectively referred to as psychotherapy, these techniques help the patient to express, understand, and cope with underlying problems that are not due to physical disease. Emotionally disturbed children who cannot express their problems verbally may be treated by play therapy. The children are encouraged to engage in certain forms of recreation or to act out scenes on the theory that this process will reveal their feelings. Similar treatment, sometimes called psychodrama, may be used to help adults.
The final stage in treatment of physical and mental illnesses is often rehabilitation. This may include physical therapy, which involves exercise, massage, and the application of heat and water (hydrotherapy) to improve or restore functioning to damaged and weakened parts of the body. People with disabilities also benefit from recreational and occupational therapy, which helps people master their personal and work-related activities, such as buttoning clothes or cooking while seated in a wheelchair. Speech therapy is given to people who have speech problems of physical or psychological origin. In addition, people with disabilities may require psychotherapy to help them overcome the emotional and psychological problems that are sometimes associated with disability.
