... English 101 Dr. Rose November 24, 2014 The Disease of Drug Addiction A major problem in the United States today is the disease of addiction. The disease of addiction is unlike many other diseases, people generally struggle greatly while making an attempt to change for the better. In many cases, the addicts may be clean for a various amount of time, but generally will have a relapse. The media produces tales of inspiration and hope, but also pressure for the addict in various ways. The disease presents various problems with the addict’s behavior, appearance, and attitude. The views of society make it hard for addicts to change, so the addict’s chances of ever being fully clean are slim. Drug addiction is a serious physical and psychological impairment that is very difficult to ever truly recover from. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (Science of Addiction). Since addiction is labeled as a brain disease, the addict’s brain cannot function properly without the drugs. Drug addicts act on their cravings for the drug, and they do not think about the repercussions of the drugs. The high of a drug is like no other, and they keep coming back for more and more. Other than the fact the person is addicted to drugs, there is many different reasons people abuse drugs. One of the many reasons people start doing drugs is to do better at something, like their job. For...
Words: 1759 - Pages: 8
...| Disorders, Diseases, & Drugs | | | Amber Kluever | 3/9/2014 | In this paper you will learn about psychological disorders and diseases, the drugs used to treat those disorders and the negative side effects of those drugs being used for treatment. | Schizophrenia is a disease most commonly associated with madness, also called “the splitting of psychic functions.” They called it that because they assumed that was the primary symptom of the disorder, meaning that the emotions, thoughts, and actions were being broke down. Schizophrenia attacks about 1 % of individuals of all races and culture groups. It usually starts when a person is an adolescence or early adulthood. The hardest part of treating schizophrenia is being able to define it and the symptoms. They symptoms overflow and are the same as some other disorders so you might think it is one disorder and find out that it is actually schizophrenia. Some positive symptoms, meaning there are symptoms that represent an excess or distortion of normal function include, delusions: delusions of being controlled, delusions of persecution, or delusions of grandeur. Hallucinations are imaginary voices telling them to do something. Failure to react with the appropriate emotion to positive or negative events is a sign of inappropriate affect. Odd behavior is when a person has a hard time performing daily tasks such as, personal hygiene, catatonia, and talking in rhymes. Some of the negative effects include, alogia...
Words: 1565 - Pages: 7
...The Disease of Drug Addiction Joanne Frye HSER 340 Abstract Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive seeking and use of addictive substances despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Introduction Dramatic advances in science over the past 20 years have shown that drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that results from the prolonged effects of drugs on the brain. (Leshner, 1997) It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain structure and how the brain works. (Volkow and Schelbert, 2007) As with many other brain diseases, addiction has embedded behavioral and social-context aspects that are important parts of the disorder itself. Therefore, the most effective treatment approaches will include biological, behavioral, and social-context components. Recognizing addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use can impact society’s overall health and social policy strategies and help diminish the health and social costs associated with drug abuse and addiction (Leshner, 1997). Addiction as a Disease For decades, the orthodox view in neuroscience and psychiatry has been that addiction is a psychiatric disease (Jellinek, 1960). In 1968 it was included in the second revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, positioning it explicitly as a mental illness for the purpose diagnosis and treatment...
Words: 1701 - Pages: 7
...Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases and Drugs PSY 240 Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases and Drugs There are a multitude of different psychiatric disorders and diseases that affect millions of people every year. These disorders and diseases interfere with the person sufferings everyday lives, emotions, productivity, physical well being and personal relationships. We will discuss theories associated with disorders and diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorder, mania, and tourettes syndrome. We will also discuss the drugs that can remedy these disorders and diseases or lessen the symptoms of them so people can live their daily lives as well as looking at the negative sides of these drugs. Schizophrenia is a very damaging mental disorder. Anyone that has this disorder can lose all sense of reality and can cause delusions, hallucinations and possible chances of extreme paranoia. The ages of those with the first signs of schizophrenia does range. According to (NIMH Schizophrenia, n.d.) males in their late teens, early twenties and women in their twenties to early thirties are the average age range of sufferers. A person suffering from schizophrenia normally makes some recovery, but will likely deal with some of the symptoms of this disorder for the rest of their lives. Many people with schizophrenia become quite suspicious of others and summon a story in their minds of paranoia, like others are out to get them. This type of behavior of paranoid schizophrenia can...
Words: 1236 - Pages: 5
...Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Psychiatric disorders and diseases are those conditions defined by the presentation of abnormal behavior. Abnormal behavior is often defined by the mental health profession as behavior which is unusual or atypical. In addition, the individual suffering from a psychiatric disease or disorder may have difficulty with perception of reality or the hindered ability to interpret reality which may cause significant personal distress, self defeating behavior or otherwise dangerous behavior to oneself or others. Often times these behaviors are also socially unacceptable to ones specific culture (Nevid & Rathus, 2005). Schizophrenia is one of the most complex psychiatric diseases of all time. The disease name means “the splitting of psychic functions” (Pinel, 2007, p.481). The individual diagnosed with schizophrenia will commonly present symptoms which include bizarre delusions, inappropriate affect, hallucinations, incoherent thoughts and odd behavior with these symptoms varying in severity (Pinel, 2007). Various theories on schizophrenia have come to fruition over time. It is the belief of some researchers that schizophrenia has a genetic predisposition and that combined with experiences involving immense trauma or stress the disease can be triggered for development. In addition, those individuals with a genetic predisposition for schizophrenia who suffer hindered neurodevelopment at...
Words: 1222 - Pages: 5
...Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs By Stacy Davis Psych 240 Week 8 Stephanie Neuhring There are many psychological disorders and diseases that affect many people in this world and some of the people with these diseases are being treated with certain medications. Some of the disease most commonly treated is schizophrenia which means the splitting of psychic functions. Antipsychotic drugs are the cornerstone in the management of schizophrenia. Although, these medications don’t cure this disease they greatly reduce the symptoms and allow the patient to function better. The first antipsychotic drug was Thorazine, it was made by accident and was used to treat schizophrenia. The first antischizophrenic drug, chlorpromazine. Chlorpromazine was originally developed as an antihistamine. Soon after other medications such as; Haldol, Prolixin, Navanem Loxapine, Stelazine, Trilafon, and Mallaril were used also. These drugs are known as “neuroleptics” (meaning, “take the neuron”) because these treat positive symptoms they cause cognitive dulling and involuntary movements, among other side effects. The older drugs are not as effective against negative symptoms such as apathy, decreased motivation, and lack of emotional expressiveness. In 1989, new antopsychotics were developed, these were called atypical antipsycoltics, and these had fewer side effects which include, muscular rigidity, painful spasms, restlessness, and tremors. The first new drug, Clozaril is the only one shown...
Words: 792 - Pages: 4
...Drug Addiction a Disease by Choice “Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a dependence on a legal or illegal drug or medication. Keep in mind that alcohol and nicotine are legal substances, but are also considered drugs.” (Mayo Clinic, “Drug Addiction” 2014, para.1). There needs to be an understanding that addiction is a disease. “When scientists began to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people addicted to drugs were thought to be morally flawed and lacking willpower”. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction” 2014, para.1). This formed society’s reaction to drug abuse, treating it as a choice not a disease. In today’s world scientist have changed our views on addiction. The findings about the brain have given scientists an understanding on addiction. The initial choice to try drugs is intentional for most people, but overtime the brain changes and a person’s self-control hinder their ability to resist impulses to use drugs. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drugs Abuse, and Addiction” 2014, para.1). Drugs change the brains structure and how it works. Drugs contain different chemicals that interfere with communication in the brain; such as sending, receiving and processing information. Drugs such as marijuana have similar chemicals as messengers in the brain...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Susan Harvey Psy/240 June-8-2014 Autumn Harrell Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Discuss any associated theories behind the disorders and diseases. * Schizophrenia * Depression * Mania * Anxiety Disorder * Tourette Syndrome The first disorder I am going to discuss is Schizophrenia, this is defined as “the splitting of psychic functions.” There are positive as well as negative symptoms to determining schizophrenia. Some of these symptoms include for the positive, delusions of being controlled, delusions of persecution or delusions of grandeur, hallucinations (voices), inappropriate affect “failure to react with the appropriate emotion to positive of negative events”, incoherent speech or thought, and odd behavior. The negative symptoms are, affective flattering, alogia “reduction or absence of emotional expression” avolition “lack of motivation” anhedonia “inability to experience pleasure.” The recurrence of any two of these symptoms “positive or negative” for one month is sufficient for diagnosis of schizophrenia. (Tamminga & Holcomb, 2005; Walker et al 2004) 1% of the population develops schizophrenia. If a family member has this disorder, then the parents, or siblings have a greater chance (10%) to develop the same disorder (Kendler & Gruenberg, 1984; Rosenthal et al 1980) Dopamine theory of schizophrenia is the theory that schizophrenia is caused by too much dopamine and conversely...
Words: 852 - Pages: 4
...Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Marah Lacey-Woods PSY/240 05/05/2013 Dr. RAYMOND MC CLENEN Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. Schizophrenia is a group of severe brain disorders in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior. About one percent of Americans have this illness. People with the disorder may hear voices other people don't hear. Contrary to some popular belief, schizophrenia isn't split personality or multiple personality. The word "schizophrenia" does mean "split mind," but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated. People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking. Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for them selves, so they rely on others for help. Treatment helps relieve many symptoms of schizophrenia, but most people who...
Words: 1389 - Pages: 6
...PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, DISEASES, AND DRUGS Assignment: Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Mental illness has a detrimental effect on psychosocial functioning of individuals, but Schizophrenia is among the worst. There are many other forms of psychiatric disorders these include, depression, mania, anxiety disorders, and Tourette syndrome. Psychiatrists or clinical psychologists typically treat such disorders (Pinel, 2007, p. 481). Each disorder is unique, and symptoms vary from one individual to the next. In fact, as psychiatrists and psychologists continue to discover new facts about these disorders as they encounter different cases. This paper will discuss the serious mental illness of Schizophrenia; the symptoms, treatment, and medications. The symptoms of Schizophrenia are bizarre and frightening. Persons who suffer from Schizophrenia face a loss of reality, strange behavior, social withdrawal, hallucinations and delusions (Pinel, 2007, p. 482). MSN Encarta (2009) points out that, "A person with Schizophrenia may have difficulty telling the difference between real and unreal experiences, logical and illogical thoughts, or appropriate and inappropriate behavior." These symptoms are sometimes genetically based, which will leave the person with a possible ten per cent chance of developing the disorder is a close relative was afflicted with schizophrenia. Additionally, jumbled thinking is another symptom of Schizophrenia. The person is described as speaking in...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...Psychiatric Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Barb Parker PSY/240 April 7, 2012 Rebecca Gazda Psychiatric disorders and neuropsychological disorders were, in the past, thought to be caused by two different abnormalities (Pinel, 2009). Now there is enough evidence to qualify both disorders as disorders of dysfunctional brains (Pinel, 2009). There are a few differences in the causes; psychiatric disorders are more influenced by experience and are harder to diagnose (Pinel, 2009). This summary will briefly describe the different theories with the psychiatric disorders of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, bulimia nervosa, and Tourette syndrome, as well as drug therapies used to treat them. Schizophrenia in itself has no clear definition because of its relationship with other brain disorders (Pinel, 2009). Because of the various symptoms produced by schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, inappropriate reactions to events, illogical thinking, and periods of catatonia, many professional refer to the disorder as schizophrenias (Pinel, 2009). There are several abstract thoughts behind the causes of schizophrenia including the developmental, genetic, and dopamine theories. The genetic theory suggests that people can be predisposed genetically to schizophrenias when certain environmental experiences interact, but it is not known how (“Schizophrenia: Current Theories”, 2011). The developmental hypothesis is based on complications occurring during...
Words: 1240 - Pages: 5
...Addison’s Disease is a condition in which your endocrine system is not sufficiently producing needed steroid hormones, including glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens (the male sex hormones) that are produced by the adrenal glands. Therefore, hormone replacement therapy is key. Glucocorticoids influence the body’s ability to convert food sources into energy by the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. In other words, they raise blood sugar (glucose). They also help with the system’s response to inflammation, and are responsible for helping the body’s response to stress by producing cortisol, the most abundant glucocorticoid. Mineralocorticoids are hormones that help to regulate mineral metabolism by balancing water and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium. This helps maintain blood pressure. For example, when mineralocorticoid production is low, the kidneys are not able to regulate salt and water balance which causes blood volume and blood pressure to drop. Aldosterone is the main mineralocorticoid because it increases sodium re-absorption by acting on the distal tubules of the kidneys. Androgens are also important because with Addison’s Disease there is an excess of androgens (hypersecretion). This can cause symptoms like excessive body hair and cessation of menstruation in girls, and early puberty in boys. Common medications prescribed for Addison’s Disease include the oral corticosteroids fludrocortisone to replace aldosterone (like...
Words: 329 - Pages: 2
...Psychiatric disorders, diseases, and drugs Tylicia Bell Psy/240 Beth PepMiller 01/27/13 1 Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is characterized as a person having a split of psychic functions. It was found in the early years and is the breakdown of emotion, thought and actions. Schizophrenia is associated with madness and attacks about 1% of people. It doesn’t discriminate because it can affect all races and cultures. It starts in the early adulthood stage. Schizophrenia has positive and negative symptoms. Some positive symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, and odd behavior. Some negative symptoms include alogia (reduce of speech, and anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure). Drugs that lesson these effects are chlorpromazine, haloperidol, Prolixin, Navane. These drugs work by altering the activity of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. They transmit signals from one brain cell to another. These drugs have side effects like many other drugs. Such side effects can include muscle spasms, tremor, dry mouth, blurred vision, and drowsiness. There are some symptoms that are more on the negative side. A person can have a long term side effect called TD (Tardive Dyskinesia). This is where a person can have involuntary movements which can affect the lips, mouth, tongue and sometimes the trunk of the body. It occurs in 15 to 20 percent of patients who are taking the old antipsychotic drugs. The symptoms are so mild...
Words: 878 - Pages: 4
...represent an excess or distortion of normal function. Negative symptoms represent a reduction or loss of normal function. Some positive symptoms include; delusions, hallucinations, inappropriate affect, incoherent speech or thought, and odd behavior. The negative symptoms include; affective flattening, alogia, avolition, and anhedonia. One way that clinical psychologist and psychiatrist determine if a person has schizophrenia is if they have any two of the symptoms occur for one month. The main symptoms that are looked for are delusions that are bizarre or an hallucination that includes voices. One of the biggest treatments for schizophrenia are antipsychotic drugs. The antipsychotic medication is effect because it changes the balance of chemicals in the brain and can help control symptoms. The negative effects of these drugs are that they are many side effects. Common side effects are; dizziness, feelings of restlessness or jitteriness, sleepiness, slowed movements, tremors, and weight gain. Depression is actually pretty common today. All of us at some point have experienced depression, whether it was grieving over a lost loved one, loss of self-esteem, or the loss of health. There are some people that fall into a deep depression called anhedonia, this is when they lose the capacity to experience...
Words: 973 - Pages: 4
...“Drugs are bad for you.” People have been hearing this sentence since kindergarten. Not all illegal drugs are bad though. Some of drugs have a better effect on people and their health than one might think. Marijuana, for example, is not all that bad. If legalized marijuana would have many uses like being helpful with medical issues, being less harmful than other addictive substances, and being able to lower crime rates. Presently, people who get in accidents or are born with debilitating diseases. Since medicine today is limited, people who are in these situations need assistance dealing with the pain that modern medicine cannot help with. People with Parkinson’s disease have an incredibly difficult time staying still. Parkinson’s makes one...
Words: 309 - Pages: 2
