...Psychological disorders and diseases PSY 240 November 2, 2014 Psychological disorders and diseases Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder for which there is no cure; however, it can be managed. Although researchers are not sure what causes schizophrenia, they think a person’s environment coupled with genetics play a significant role in the development of the disease. Other factors may include abnormalities in the neurotransmitters called dopamine, and glutamate. It causes people to think abnormally, and exhibit various combinations of abnormal behavior. (Mayo clinic staff, 2014). According to Mayo clinic staff (2014), symptoms include “hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior” (Schizophrenia). Some antipsychotic drugs are that are prescribed to treat schizophrenia are; chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol (haldol), and perphenazine. Often there are other types of medications that are used in conjunction with the antipsychotic drugs such as antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications. The medications and dosages are mixed and matched until the right dose and drug start to manage the symptoms based on the individual’s circumstances. Most medications only work when they are taken as prescribed. The problem with schizophrenics they rarely think they are sick, so they either choose not to take the medication as directed, or not at all. This is a problem called anosognosia. ("National Alliance on Mental Illness", 2014). ...
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...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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...Psychiatric disorders are defined in our text as disorders of psychological function sufficiently severe to require treatment. The clinical psychologist or the psychiatrist has their work cut out for them when it comes to diagnosing psychiatric disorders. Each disorder has its own diagnosis, treatment method, and medication. Schizophrenia can make it hard to live everyday life without treatment. Schizophrenia can affect how you think, react, and just live in the world. With schizophrenia they have two categories for symptoms, positive and negative. Positive symptoms 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...
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...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...
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...Psychiatric disorders differ from neuropsychological disorders. A psychiatric disorder is a type of psychological function or lack of, relating to common functionality in an individual. A neuropsychological disorder is different yet hard to separate due to defining difficulties leading to unclear differences between the two types of disorders. Researchers show that the main difference between the two disorders begins with the archaic mind-brain. In other words the neuropsychological disorders are thought to be a product of a dysfunctional brain. Psychiatric disorders are those assumed to be products of dysfunctional minds, absent in the brains pathology. In recent studies we have learned these two types of disorders are closely related however, there tends to be some differences between them such as experiential factors. Some common psychiatric disorders are schizophrenia, depression, mania, anxiety disorders, and tourette syndrome. No matter what research shows us as far as relation of two types of disorders, it is important to remember how serious some of them can be. In order to understand some of the disorders one should know about what they do and what happens to the individual who suffers from them including drugs that can help or negative effects of association by certain drugs used in common psychiatric disorders. The term schizophrenia was coined in the early 20th century, meaning- splitting of psychic functions. Schizophrenia is the disease which most commonly...
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...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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...kills her self-esteem, and she's stuck at home with her mom in the soul-crushing boredom of the suburbs for the rest of the summer. Climax Esther attempts suicide, but is saved in the nick of time. As the summer wears on, Esther's behavior grows more erratic as her despair deepens. A visit to a psychiatrist and electroshock therapy only accelerate her decline. After a few hesitant attempts at suicide, Esther decides to end it all by crawling into a hollow underneath her house and swallowing a bottle of sleeping pills. She's discovered a few days later, barely alive. Suspense After her nightmarish experience in the psychiatric wards of two different hospitals, Esther ends up at a private, psychiatric institution where she finds a more supportive environment. It's touch-and-go for Esther for the first few weeks after her suicide attempt. The first two psychiatric wards do nothing to help her condition. Finally,...
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...The biggest controversy of diagnosis has been on bipolar disorder. There has been a 4,000% increase in children diagnosed with bipolar disorder. There are kids being diagnosed everyday even though we do not yet fully understand the symptoms. Doctors are treating these symptoms with drugs they are not sure even work. It seems like if doctors can alleviate over 50% of the symptoms the drug is acceptable. Antipsychotics are now being prescribed to children. They are in direct result having a hard time controlling their actions and behaviors. There is no definitive test for any psychiatric illnesses. Dr. Bacon chooses the medicine before he knows the diagnosis. Getting the right treatment can take a long time. This is due to the number of drugs and the symptoms that may respond to the drugs. We have mood stabilizers and (A)-typical antipsychotics, just to name a few. It’s an experiment trying these medications on these children. Our other option is we must let them be symptomatic. It’s a gamble trying medications on children at such a young age. Upping medications may bring on other symptoms that did not previously exist. Many psychologists think it is impossible to diagnose bipolar disorder in children. All the debate and confusion has led to over diagnoses. Many children with bipolar disorder are being treated by physicians or family doctors who are not familiar with the disorder. The thoughtful and careful examination of the symptoms and thinking through the problem does not exist...
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...The Peculiar Case of Walter Stokes Dr. Charles Goodman sat in his high back office chair behind a large wooden partner’s desk. He fit in among the antiques as he had been working at the Bedlam Psychiatric Hospital for over thirty years. His large framed glasses perched on top of his broad, crooked nose. Vast, bushy eyebrows accompanied by a crinkled brow sat below his silver hair. As he sipped his coffee, he reviewed the paperwork on a new patient named Walter Stokes. Walter’s family called the Psychiatric Hospital with great concern about his mental health. Earlier that morning, he attempted to commit suicide. The family delivered him to the Hospital and Walter had been waiting for his psychiatric evaluation in the waiting room guarded by two orderlies. When Dr. Goodman...
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...Adverse Events Associated With Organizational Factors of General Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Care Environments Nancy P. Hanrahan, Ph.D., R.N. Aparna Kumar, M.A., M.P.H. Linda H. Aiken, Ph.D., R.N. Objective: Although general hospitals receive nearly 60% of all inpatient psychiatric admissions, little is known about the care environment and related adverse events. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of adverse events and examine the extent to which organizing factors of inpatient psychiatric care environments were associated with the occurrence of these events. The events examined were wrong medication, patient falls with injuries, complaints from patients and families, work-related staff injuries, and verbal abuse directed toward nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from a 1999 nurse survey linked with hospital data. Nurse surveys from 353 psychiatric registered nurses working in 67 Pennsylvania general hospitals provided information on nurse characteristics, organizational factors, and the occurrence of adverse events. Linear regression models and robust clustering methods at the hospital level were used to study the relationship of organizational factors of psychiatric care environments and adverse event outcomes. Results: Verbal abuse toward registered nurses (79%), complaints (61%), patient falls with injuries (44%), and work-related injuries (39%) were frequent occurrences. Better management skill was associated...
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