...Schizophrenia, also known as split-personality disorder, is a severe and chronic mental disorder that affects a person’s overall thinking and behavior. Often times, sufferers of schizophrenia seem to have lost touch with reality, caused by the disabling symptoms of the disorder. Schizophrenia has a variety of treatments, both medical and psychological. Because this illness affects people is many different ways, there are many subtypes to schizophrenia. Although there is no known cause for schizophrenia, there is a range of theories that suggest causes; from genetics and biology to a viral infection and immune disorder. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be categorized into two main groups: positive symptoms and negative symptoms. Positive...
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...Bibliography The topic of this paper will be the mental disorder schizophrenia, and what the potential is for the diagnosis to affect someone’s life. The paper’s main focus is to explain the harm of simply diagnosing an individual with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia and relating mood and psychotic disorders will be explained versus the severity range of the associated symptoms.Other topics that will be examined include the potential for over diagnosing of schizophrenia and the disparate amount of diagnoses awarded to african-american patients. The term schizophrenia has been around since early in the 20th century. Schizophrenia and other similar mental disorders have been the targets of many extensive studies in recent medical history. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective and other disorders that fall under a broad spectrum of intermingling symptoms can have crippling effects on the affected patient’s life, potentially including all aspects of their personal and social life. Such mental disorders have had a long-standing history of association with the poor and underprivileged, despite this, many individuals with such disorders have managed to cope with their symptoms and lead successful lives. Despite extensive research, there are few definite answers as to a cause for such disorders and diagnosis do not include any sort of physiological evidence. Because of the history of violence or instability associated with such disorders there is now a social taboo associated with...
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...Psychiatric disorders, diseases, and drugs Psychological disorders and diseases are common among people throughout the world as well as it being a common situation people also have to suffer or deal with the consequences. Psychological disorders are disorders that can be consider malfunctions of the brain that interrupt or interfere with their daily living. Many people have suffered with different disorders and diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, mania, anxiety disorder and Tourette syndrome. There are some treatments of psychological disorders that range from cognitive or behavioral therapy to medication treatment. Research has shown that some psychological disorders can be passed down from generation to future generations. Through research it has been proven that mental disorders can often be related to violence or higher rates of aggression. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses and to behave normally in social situations. Commonly associated with the concept of madness, schizophrenia attacks about 1% of people of all races and cultural groups that typically begins in the adolescence stages of life or early adulthood (Pinel, 2009). When being diagnosed with schizophrenia, psychiatrists are guided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) which is produced by the American Psychiatric Association...
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...6, 2015 Wanda Meneese Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Psychology is defined as the scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). There are two types of psychology that will be compared and contrasted within this paper; normal and abnormal. What is considered normal? What is considered abnormal? What distinguishes one from the other? How are both types alike? Abnormal Psychology is associated with diagnosis and therapy, while normal psychology focuses on understanding the cognition and behavior of those who are not. Both types of therapy can enlist many different types of approaches such as psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, biological, and humanistic. There is no clear and concise way to define abnormal behaviors that are studied within psychology. Abnormal behaviors are considered those behaviors within a certain society or group that are atypical. Determining a way to define abnormal behavior has been a work in progress for centuries. Social behaviors that are typically not considered acceptable within a group may classify someone as abnormal while in another group these behaviors may be acceptable and thus the person would be considered normal. Individuals that are considered abnormal have a difficult time functioning and adapting to specified conditions. Abnormal behavior studies include mental processes and psychopathology. According to McLeod (2008), “They may be unable to perform the behaviors necessary for...
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...Schizophrenia, Psychosis, and Lifespan Development University of Phoenix Psy 410 November 19, 2012 Schizophrenia, Psychosis and Lifespan Development Disorders are categorized by the DSM-IV-TR and put into different levels of occurrences. Some of these are age specific and developmentally. One such category is Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, and adolescence (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Many of these disorders can be spotted at any stage of life the prevalence of some of them is more likely at different developmental times. Some of these disorders are Schizophrenia, psychosis, and lifespan developments with the psychological stress and physical disorders thrown in there. This paper will also look at the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of schizophrenia/psychosis and lifespan developments. Schizophrenia/Psychosis Psychosis is defined as a state of being profoundly out of touch with reality (Hansell & Damour, 2008, Pg.455). The symptoms of this disorder consist of a complete loss or separation with what is considered normal reality. Hallucinations and delusions are often the most common symptoms that are noticed first and help to diagnose someone with this disorder. Psychosis is popular in many different mental illnesses but is found more often than any other in schizophrenia. In personality disorders, though, the bizarre thinking and experiences are less severe than they are in schizophrenia (Kring,...
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...Analyzing Psychological Disorders 3/8/2013 Psy/240 Dr. Elizabeth Kindell Biopsychology is the study of the central nervous system and how it affects mental health or illness. In this paper I will discuss the psychological disorder known as Schizophrenia. I will evaluate the brain areas that are affected by this disorder, some of the possible casual factors, the characteristics symptoms, the neural basis and the drug treatment that works. The case studies I have chosen to review are Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa, the eating disorder. I will use the nature vs. nurture theories to analyze these two disorders. I will also discuss the accepted drug therapies and alternative treatment for these two disorders. Part A: Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is known as a “splitting of psychic functions” (Pinel 2001, pg. 467). It is a chronic brain disorder that affects close to 2.5 million Americans and more than 24 million people worldwide. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it hard for the person suffering to tell the difference between what is real and not real. They have a difficult time having normal emotional responses and acting normally in social situations. A person that has Schizophrenia has a significant loss of brain gray matter. Neuroscientist have detected up to 25% loss of brain...
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...This case study takes a look at a kid named Jim, who developed a long-term mental disorder called Schizophrenia. Although the precise cause of schizophrenia is not known, certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing the disorder. In Jim’s case, there are many factors that put him at risk for developing schizophrenia. Of the few, the most important factors are the old age of his father, the history of mental disorder in his mother, the mental stress Jim experienced as a result of his father’s hospitalization, and his frequent abuse of marijuana. Unfortunately, Jim’s brain is naturally targeted by the disorder because of these factors. Jim’s symptoms became apparent shortly after he graduated high school. He started feeling that he could mentally influence the way people think and act. Eventually, his hunch turned into a concrete belief, which in reality was an obvious delusion. Stemming from these initial thoughts, Jim started to become paranoid around other people and developed extreme anxiety because he thought they were aware of his powers. He also began to perceive hallucinations and voices in his head, which eventually led him to showcase his symptoms in front of his mother. All of Jim’s symptoms led him to the hospital bed, where he...
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...Psychological Disorders Psychological disorder - a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior Disturbed, or dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, or behaviors are maladaptive - they interfere with normal day-to-day life. Understanding Psychological Disorders Medical Model Brutal treatments may worsen, rather than improve, mental health. Philippe Pinel opposed such brutal treatments. He insisted that sickness of the mind is caused by severe stress and inhumane conditions. Curing them requires “moral treatment’” including boosting patients’ moral by unchaining them and talking with them. Medical model - the concept that diseases, in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in more cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital Biopsychosocial Approach The biopsychosocial approach emphasizes that mind and body are inseparable. Negative emotions contribute to physical illness, and physical abnormalities contribute to negative emotions. Epigenetics - the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change Classifying Disorders & Labeling People Classification aims to: * Predict the disorder’s future course * Suggest appropriate treatment * Prompt research into causes DSM-5 - the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition;...
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...Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects the human brain. This mental disorder is characterized by delusions and hallucinations, but other characteristics include disorganized thoughts, poor concentration, and bundled emotions (Nordqvist, 2016). The many obvious effects of schizophrenia an individual has are not the only symptoms taking place in the life of that individual. Many of the effects that schizophrenia has on a person connect deeper than just their personalities, linking to abnormal brain development, flat affect, delusions and hallucinations, catatonia, and genetics. Schizophrenia is a severe disorder in which the person suffers from disordered thinking, bizarre behavior and hallucinations, and is unable to distinguish between...
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...Schizophrenia Throughout history people with schizophrenia have been rejected and treated indiscriminately. According to the article, “Attacked by gods or mental illness?” in antiquity, a person with insanity was believed the result of demonic possession of the body. People that were severely mentally ill had been misdiagnosed, misunderstood, isolated in asylums, and killed. However, the study “Cognitive model and cognitive behavior therapy for schizophrenia” summarized the recent research using model methods of therapies with schizophrenic people, and giving them the chance to live an equal life, and be more acceptable by society. Culture and society play a great role in the way people think and behave. Also, cultures and society may...
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...and effective treatment plan people with psychiatric disorders can lead normal lives. I will address my feelings about certain psychiatric disorders and the people who suffer from them. Next I will discuss co-occurring disorders and how some are more serious than others. I will disclose my feelings about medical treatment of mental illnesses with pharmacotherapy. Finally I will discuss weather treating mental illness with psychopharmacology drugs are a poor solution or great advancements. Contrary to popular belief Psychiatric disorders are more prevalent than society wants to admit people simply avoid seeking treatment because of the social stigma attached. Psychiatric disorders are those that affect the thoughts and mood of individuals. However, when one hears the phrase Psychiatric disorder the first thought is insanity to the point of being confined to mental institution. Nevertheless this is far from the truth. While these disorders can wreak havoc in lives they can also be managed effectively when the correct treatment plan is coupled with counseling and medication. While treating these disorders can prove a difficult task it is the only way to prevent self-management with drugs and alcohol. While I do believe that people with psychiatric disorders can be effectively treated, one must understand all aspects of the puzzle to ensure the treatment method is effective. Most patients who would be diagnosed as having a mental illness engage in other mood altering drugs in an attempt...
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...Crazy Like Us “Crazy Like Us” is a enlightening book written by San Francisco journalist, Ethan Watters, in which he contends that the exportation of typical American psychological disorders included in the DSM to other countries is an ineffective approach at attempting to aid mental health patients in those countries. Watters educates readers about the dangers of applying American mental disorders to individuals in other countries due to differences in diets, culture, and social norms. He documents a series of case studies in which victims of mental health disorders in various countries are affected by culture and societal norms. He argues that classifying a mental illness under a generic American disorder is dangerous and downright inappropriate. American mental disorders are not “one size fits all” and exportation of them can cause significant damage to the people in the countries who suffer from mental health disorders. I concur with Watters’ chief point that cultural specificity must be accounted for and significant cultural differences exist throughout the globe, particularly in the field of mental health. The first case involves anorexia in Hong Kong, in which a 14-year old girl died suddenly. When reporters investigated her death, they entered her symptoms into the Google search bar to attribute a cause of death. The results configured symptoms very similar to American anorexia. Due to this revelation, the media orchestrated awareness campaigns, which stimulated an...
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...his top-secret code-breakers and things go awry. Things take a turn when Nash is supposed to be giving a lecture and people who he thinks are Russian spies start to chase him. The audience learns that these “spies” are from a psychiatric ward, and that they have come to take Nash into their care. These top secret missions and numerous assignments that Nash has been working on are, in fact, the symptoms of his illness -a psychological disorder called schizophrenia. In actuality, the assignments are not based on reality and are instead products of Nash’s mind. The audience notices first sign of Nash’s schizophrenia at this point in the movie, - when Nash is talking to Charles at the ward but in reality, no one is present other than the psychiatrist. This is when Nash is faced with the harsh reality that the life he has been living is a lie. The audience has discovered that all of his top-secret missions are made up and that Charles, his best friend, does not even exist… except for in his mind. The movie highlights Nash’s struggles with the disorder and the ways it impacts his close...
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...Biruk Fitru EEG 130 Assignment 1 One of the major brain disorders is Schizophrenia, a very serious mental disorder that is often mistakenly confused with multiple personality disorder. Although, some of the symptoms of multiple personality disorder are very similar to schizophrenia. Unlike, multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that could be characterized by a variety of positive and negative symptoms like: disorganized behavior of thoughts and emotions, hallucination, and delusion. Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental illnesses. Although, the word “schizophrenia” is less than 100 years old the very first time this disorder was recognized as a mental illness was in 1887 by Dr. Emily Kraepelin....
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...Essay Topic – PsychoEducation is a fundamental part of routine care for people with mental illness, using current literature, discuss the use of psychoeducation in mental health care under the following headings; Opportunities for psychoeducation in clinical settings Role of the nurse/therapist in providing psychoeducation Effectiveness of psychoeducation in enhancing mental health outcomes for people with mental disorders The current therapeutic model for the treatment of mental health disorders embraces a combination of pharmacological and psychological interventions. Psychoeducational methods are employed in clinical procedures for all mental health disorders and are critical to integrated health care (Bedell, Hunter & Corrigan, 2009). Creamer and O'Donnell (2008) refer to psychoeducation as education, which is specially targeted to psychological health and aims to produce changes in an individual’s knowledge, attitudes, and skills to improve health outcomes. This study is aimed at discussing what psychoeducation is, its role in clinical settings, its efficacy and how nurses figure in employing techniques attributed to psychoeducation. The study draws from evidence-based literature, including meta-analyses and research papers in the field. It is common practice to inform patients with any chronic disorder to be informed about their illness, prognosis and treatment. For instance, patients with diabetes will be educated on their...
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