...An Overview of Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is one of the leading eating disorders worldwide alongside anorexia nervosa and continues to pose a major health threat as sufferers experience psychological and medical symptoms that most often lead to complications (Le Grange & Lock, 2007, p. 4). One of these complications is the tendency of bulimic patients to commit suicide because of aggravating sense of despair and loss of hope. According to Pompili, Girardi, Ruberto & Tatarelli (2006), “suicide in anoxeria nervosa and bulimia nervosa is a major cause of death” (p. 1). Aside from suicide, one of the disturbing realities about bulimia nervosa is how it tends to affect women and adolescents. The usual onset or starting point of bulimia is set at adolescence (Le Grange & Lock, 2007, p. 3) when young adults are starting to form their own self-identity, a process tied to the notion of body image. The seriousness of bulimia nervosa compels one to understand the ‘entire story’ of this eating disorder that includes knowing its history and nature, the etiology, symptoms and prognosis as well as the innovative treatments that have emerged in the recent years that can solve the case and problem that is bulimia nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa: At a Glance Characteristics and symptoms often associated to BN are known to have existed and observed in the ancient times. Emperors Claudius and Vitellius of ancient Rome are found to have exhibited the typical features of bulimia...
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...Teen Suicide Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Teen Suicide Teen suicide is one of the most serious problems that exist in the modern world. In particular, it is one of the most important issues to be addressed in the United States of America in order to support social wealth of the nation, promote its development, and contribute to the well-being of each separate community. According to the statistics, the number of teenage suicide has doubled within the last twenty years. Today, 30 per cent of people aged 14-24 are believed to have suicidal thoughts; 6 per cent of males and 10 per cent of females take suicidal actions. Approximately 90 per cent of teenage suicides are committed by people who have some psychological disorders, and only 10 per cent of those who try to commit suicide are mentally healthy. Nevertheless, in most cases, teenagers try to commit suicide in order to attract attention of adults. Also, there are teenagers who try to kill themselves because of some physical or psychological trauma. However, regardless of the reason behind such attempts, it is necessary to address the issue and prevent any further suicidal actions. First of all, the number of teen suicides should be reduced to the minimum because friends of teenagers who commit suicide are likely to follow their actions. Since the majority of suicide attempts are made in order to attract attention of others and this method works regardless of the result...
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...Mental Illness Psychological disorder, also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and/or create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms (Cherry Kendra). Films could be used as a medium for teaching anyone about psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, counseling, and even literature. Or media studies about mental illness and psychopathology (Movies and Mental). As such, I had watched a psychological thriller film in my earliest day and the film gave an example about psychological disorder. The film was “The Number 23.” The Number 23 film was released in 2007, February 23th and directed by Joel Schumacher. The film starred with Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Danny Huston, and Logan Lerman. Also, the film was Jim Carrey first leading role in a suspense thriller and the psychological disorder about the film is “Dissociative disorders.” Dissociative disorders are so-called because they are marked by a dissociation from or interruption of a person's fundamental aspects of waking consciousness (Maser Jack). In other word, the individual can’t remember their identity and history because of memory loss. From the film, Carrey acted as an animal control officer named “Walter Sparrow,” have a wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen) and a son, Robin (Logan Lerman). The story from the film began when Walter was reading a book (his wife brought it from the book store where they were and decided to be as...
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... Assessment of Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders Marifel is a 19-year-old woman of Filipino decent who was in a boating accident last summer while participating in graduation celebration activities. While celebrating with boating, Marifiel’s boat hit a rock and she lost control, seriously injuring herself and killing one of her friends. As a result, Marifel had to be treated for her injuries and she was given opiates to help control her pain. The opiates worked beyond Marifel’s prescribed treatment and helped to ease the psychological pain of her friend’s death. The orients helped her to act the way she did beyond her accident, psychologically. However,...
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...abnormality and psychological disorders for humans. Before I go into the different abnormalities and the disorders, I think it is best if you first understood what is considered “abnormal.” Everyone has their own view on what is normal or abnormal; you may think someone is normal when they actually are a threat to the people around them. Also, you can see someone in the park wearing something outlandish and think he or she is very weird, but that just might be their sense of style. This would be known as social nonconformity, where the person may be wearing an unusual outfit or they may have colorful tattoos and piercings covering their whole body. This does not necessarily mean that the person is mentally unstable. There is also something called statistical abnormality, where the person scores extremely high or extremely low on a score of some dimension, like an IQ test. These very high or very low scores will fall in the top and bottom 2.5% on a bell-curve graph. The lower 2.5% is the portion that is categorized with different disorders. The study of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders is called psychopathology. These psychological problems are classified using the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders). This book helps psychologists determine what disorder a person has and the best way to treat the patient. A mental disorder is a significant impairment in psychological functioning. There are many different types of mental disorders, all of them...
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...discrimination. One of the most prevalent things homosexuals suffer from is mental health issues. Findings from a study that was conducted in Norway, gave evidence that homosexuals suffer from more mental health problems such as substance use disorders, mood disorders, and suicide than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Why are mental health issues so prevalent amongst the homosexual community? What is the reason homosexuals suffer from psychological issues?...
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...In Jana Levin’s book, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, there are two main characters, Kurt Godel and Alan Turing. Levin walks through their lives and discusses the turmoil that the two men go through. In the end, both men end up committing suicide. Kurt Godel died by malnutrition and Alan Turing died because of self-induced poisoning (Levin). Another man that lived out a life similar to Turing and Godel is an engineer by the name of Edwin Armstrong. Armstrong died by jumping from a window on the thirteenth floor of his apartment (Tsividis). A common theme that can be found is that these men’s suicides can be attributed to social psychological factors. According to psychologist Gordon Allport, social psychology is a type of psychology that...
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...INTRODUCTION It is obvious that we are faced with an aging population. Within three decades individuals aged 65 years or older are expected to make up 23% of the Australian population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). This is a stable increase from 13% in 2007, emphasising Australia as an aging country (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). This is evident not only within the demographic regions of metropolitan and rural cities and towns of Australia but also among other countries in the world. It is with this discrepancy that presents such a large challenge within the population and from a health perspective. This essay will explore the social, cultural and psychological health related issues linked with growth in the aging population and will focus on the baby boomer generation and the co-morbidities that are notably prevalent in the elderly. This essay will also consider the future role of the nurse and how their profession will be impacted in response to these trends. WHY DO WE FACE AN AGING CRISIS? As fertility rates decline and longevity increases we are coming to face a shift in population distribution with a greater proportion of older adults (Anderson and Hussey, 2013). It is important to note that this increase is due particularly to the Baby Boomer generation growing older and associated aging co-morbidities on the rise. The Baby Boomer generation consists of those born from the years 1945-1964 (Berman et al., 2012). As this generation grows older...
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...Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in soldier Abstract This paper will be discussing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in soldiers. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD), classified as an anxiety disorder, has become increasingly important because of wars overseas, natural disasters, and domestic violence. Typically the individual with PTSD persistently avoids all thoughts, emotions and discussion of the stressor event and may experience amnesia for it. However, the event is commonly relived by the individual through intrusive, recurrent recollections, flashbacks and nightmares. The characteristic symptoms are considered acute if lasting less than three months, chronic if persisting three months or more, and with delayed onset if the symptoms first occur after six months or some years later. PTSD is distinct from the briefer acute stress disorder, and can cause clinical impairment in significant areas of functioning. We will be discussing how PTSD affects the soldiers coming from war, their behaviors, and interaction with society and suicide incidence. Keywords: PTSD, anxiety disorder, soldiers. Post Traumatic Stress disorder in soldier As of today a great number of soldiers that have returned from the Iraq war are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The most current military combats in Iraq, which have involved the ground combats as well as air battle embarked by the United States since the war in Vietnam almost 50 years ago, bring up very essential...
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...Psychological Disorders Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when someone has gone through or experienced a traumatic event in their life. The person suffering from PTSD experiences reoccurring episodes of the traumatic event they experienced. There are many different types of traumatic events that could trigger this disease. Some examples that may lead to PTSD are witnessing a crime, domestic abuse, and war. The most experience I have had with PTSD is learning about soldiers who have been affected by fighting in war. I’ve read several fiction novels that display a soldier dealing with PTSD. In Tim O’Brien’s fiction novel The Things They Carried, many soldiers are affected by fighting in the Vietnam War. The book takes the reader through the soldiers’ experiences while fighting, and then fast-forwards to years down the road when the veterans are much older. The reason for this is to show how the veterans are still affected by the war many years later. One particular soldier, Norman Bowker, spent his late years reflecting on his time in the war. He blamed himself for what happened to his fellow soldiers. He first handily watched one of his good friends die in combat. Bowker had the chance to save his friend, but he was unable to do so. Norman had reoccurring episodes where he found himself in the middle of combat, not knowing what to do. After these episodes occurred, he felt no purpose of living anymore. The aftermath of the war is what got to Bowker...
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...facility but what the fail to publicize is that they are also house by people who are not mentally stable, and who may receive different treatment from regular inmates. Correctional facilities have many types of inmates and undergo various dilemmas therefore they must try to deal with the cost of the inmates, provide different treatment and must undergo special screening in order to determine if they are ill or not. Population of Mentally Ill Inmates in the Correctional Facilities The country that has the greatest rate of adult imprisonment is the United States; it has 2.2 million presently in the correctional facilities (Annaceri, 2007). Individuals with psychological problems have been progressively more imprisoned within the last three decades, most likely the consequence of the deinstitutionalization of the state psychological system (Annaceri, 2007). Correctional institutions have developed into the in effect state hospice, and they are much dangerously and indefatigably psychologically ill in jail instead of a regular state hospice (Annaceri, 2007). An efficient analysis of “ 62 assessment of the imprisoned populace from 12 Western countries 3 found that, amongst men, 3.7 percent had psychotic...
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...Bipolar Disorder PSY350: Physiological Psychology Instructor: Claire Decristofaro January 19, 2016 I have chosen to research and discuss Bipolar Disorder as my younger brother (31) wsa diagnosed with BD nearly ten years ago after an injury to the head. After he was diagnosed with BD, I began to put together his behavior over our life, and realized that the symptoms that my brother exhibited matched with BD. As far as I was aware, no one in our family had ever been diagnosed with Bipolar other than my brother, so I decided to reach out to my Aunt and found that we do have other family members that have this disorder as well. My Aunt’s brother and her daughter Nycol were diagnosed with BD; it appears that BD runs in our family and is genetic. Bipolar Disorder (BD) is classified as a mood disorder; however it can also be classified as a psychotic disorder because Bipolar Disorder has psychotic symptoms (Wilson, 2013). Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes a person to experience unusual shifts in mood, activity levels, and energy; this affects a person's ability to carry out normal, everyday tasks (nimh.nih.gov). A person diagnosed with BD experiences extreme highs and lows. During a mania phase, known as a high, a person goes through many different emotions and may experience (help.org): - Feelings of heightened energy - Hyperactivity - Require little sleep - Creativity - Euphoria...
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...SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDE REFERENCE MANUAL INTRODUCTION The Suicide Risk Assessment Pocket Card was developed to assist clinicians in all areas but especially in primary care and the emergency room/triage area to make an assessment and care decisions regarding patients who present with suicidal ideation or provide reason to believe that there is cause for concern. This reference guide provides more specific information and the rationale for the sections on the pocket card. The sections of the guide correspond with the sections of the card. The Reference Guide may also be used as a teaching aid for new providers, residents and students at all levels and disciplines as well as other caregivers. This introduction provides general information regarding the nature and prevalence of suicidal behaviors and factors associated with increased risk for suicide and suicide attempts. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (including suicide attempts and death by suicide) are commonly found at increased rates among individuals with psychiatric disorders, especially major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety, chemical dependency, and personality disorders (e.g., antisocial and borderline). A history of a suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of future suicide attempts, as well as death by suicide. Intentional self-harm (i.e., intentional self-injury without the expressed intent to die) is also associated with long-term risk for repeated attempts...
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...Mr. Butryn Contemporary Social Problems 18 November 2013 Teenage Suicide According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenage suicide is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. (Nock) Suicide is the act of intentionally taking one’s own life. Young people from ages fifteen to twenty four are more prone to commit suicide. Since 1996 more teenagers, and young adults have died from suicide than from diseases such as Cancer, Heart disease, AIDS, Birth defects, and chronic lung disease combined. (Shaffer) Most teenagers show signs before thinking of committing or trying to commit suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, there are roughly about twenty five attempts of suicides a day (Nock). Even in today’s society I ask myself and wonder why most young people are prone to committing suicide? The typical question that is asked is which teens would be at risk of committing suicide. According to a report done by the National Institute of Mental Health, research shows that key factors for suicide include depression as well as other mental disorders, and even substance abuse disorders. (Teen Suicide is Preventable) These teens are troubled and usually have a psychological disorder such as depression, and bipolar disorder. According to Hazelden.org, Suicide is often linked with drugs and alcohol abuse which could be a factor. (Preventing Teen suicide) Others might just be victims in some way, shape, or form. Dealing with...
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...Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can lead to psychological problems in many men and women, and especially veterans, due to traumatic events. “Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.” (Insel,2001,1) History This disorder is a relatively new diagnostic. In fact, before the diagnosis, veterans called these symptoms “Shell Shock.” It wasn’t until 1980 that the DSM III made Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) an official psychiatric diagnosis for veterans. Diagnostic Statistic Manual is a book used by the medical profession to diagnose a disorder. In 1994, DSM IV includes people that have been in traumatic events such as combat, sexual and physical assault, being held hostage or imprisonment. After the discovery, psychiatrist’s found out that this disorder affects millions of men and women through out the world. (Davis,2003,1) Traumatic Events: Symptoms People with PTSD will have flashbacks that re-experience the event. These flashbacks may be in different types of sensory forms. Usually when a person is experiencing this disorder, they will have a chronic hyper arousal in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). This can include jumpiness, rapid breathing, accelerated heart beat, and cold sweating. This can lead to loss of appetite, a bad night sleep and even sexual dysfunctions. (Rothschild,1997,6) Doctors often treat these symptoms without...
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