Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy is the domain of physicians (psychiatrists)
because this form of treatment requires medical training. By far the
most common example of somatic therapy is the use of psychotropic medications,
medicine that will relieve psychological symptoms. Less common
examples are electroconvulsive shock treatment, in which the client is tranquilized
and administered a brief electric current to the brain to induce a
convulsion, and brain surgery, such as leucotomy and lobotomy (rarely
practiced).
The use of medications for psychological disorders has become enormously
popular since 1970. Three main reasons are that the biological approach
to understanding psychopathology is becoming more prominent;
new drugs are being released each year that have fewer side effects; and a
great deal of research is being conducted to show that an ever-increasing
number of disorders are helped by medication. The use of medication for
psychological disorders is not viewed as a cure. Sometimes drugs are used to
help a person through a difficult period. At other times they are an important
adjunct to psychotherapy. Only in the most severe forms of psychopathology
would a person be medicated for the rest of his or her life.