...It is mentioned in his book, The God Delusion, that he once presented a documentary on religion entitled The Root of All Evil? – though thankfully Dawkins admits that that is an exaggeration, as “no one thing is the root of all anything” (Dawkins 23). A part of the advertisement was the Manhattan skyline, with the twin towers of World Trade Center still standing tall. This is a smart move on Dawkins part if his goal is to convince the readers (or, in that case, the viewers) that religion has the potential to cause large-scale violence, and has done so. 9/11 is still relatively recent, and many can recall where they were when the news broke and how they felt at the time. However, the fact of the matter is that, even if the number of atheists and agnostics in that world is growing, the majority of the world’s population is still religious, meaning that if religious is so innately deleterious, then religious crime and conflict would be a lot more widespread and common than it actually is. It is easy to see a few incidents and generalize based on those, but when the facts are actually viewed, religiously motivated crime is actually far less common than one might assume at first, something that Dawkins is more than willing to...
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...The author of this work is currently employed as a community psychiatric nurse whose remit is to work with those clients with serious and enduring mental illness, the majority of whom have a medical diagnosis of schizophrenia and related psychosis. Over the past 10 years there's been a growing movement towards diverse treatments for schizophrenia other than the acknowledged role of medication as a treatment modality (Birchwood and Tarrier 1993). Developments in psychological theory have led to a number of innovative psychological treatments drawn from human experimental psychology such as behavioural and social psychology and cognitive science. Therapies based on cognitive behavioural theory have been rapidly developing, initially for the so called ‘neurotic disorders’ but in recent years evidence has accumulated to suggest that these cognitive behavioural approaches can be effective for those people suffering from psychosis ( Williams 1995). The aim of this assignment is to explore the basis of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and review its’ therapeutic application to schizophrenia. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an evolutionary paradigm that came about a from the merging of the established paradigm of behavioural therapy and contemporary cognitive therapy (Clarke and Fairburn 1997). Behavioural therapy historically focused on anxiety, phobic and obsessional disorders. Treatments were aligned to the learning theories of Pavlov and Skinner,...
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...his head he has no option, but even then he knows he will simply get punished and return to his home in Cordelia Street (perhaps a fate worse than death to him). So what can be attributed to Paul’s ultimate decision? The answer can be found deep within Paul’s psyche. His decision to take his own life was a last resort act of desperation that was rooted from his feelings of emptiness and fear of mediocrity, disdain for other people, as well as disconnect from the world and reality. Paul’s actual case is one of great debate, and there are a lot of theories as to what his “problem” was or if he even had one to begin with. Despite all the debate, it is undeniable that a large part of Paul’s problems are rooted within his own feelings and delusions. The biggest problem for Paul is this underlying sense of emptiness and fear of smallness. “he had always been tormented by fear, a sort of apprehensive dread … There had always been the shadowed corner, the dark place into which he dared not look” (Cather 95). Paul’s longing for a life of luxury and grandeur is his fantasy or escape from the dreading feeling of monotony and mediocrity in his life. The feeling of being simply average and not special is what he...
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...Appendix 1 – Assessment Summary (diagrammatic) Appendix 2 – Formation of paranoia Appendix 3 – Risk assessment and management Appendix 4 – Letters Appendix 5 – Judging by appearances a behavioural experiment Confidentiality statement The name and other identifiable information relating to this patient have been changed to maintain confidentiality. Introduction This case study describes the CBT assessment, formulation and treatment of delusions of persecution and associated paranoid beliefs. Referral Letter Roger, a 29 year old single man was referred to the Psychological Therapies Department. The letter noted that he had had one inpatient admission three years previously due to paranoia and risk of suicide. He was currently being supported by community mental health services. A differential diagnosis of Delusional Disorder – Paranoid Type, (ICD 10- F22.0) and Paranoid Personality Disorder (ICD 10 – F60.0) as defined by the ICD 10 manual (World Health Organisation, 1992) was indicated. Theoretical perspectives Delusions are irrational beliefs, held with a high level of conviction, that are resistant to change even when the delusional person is exposed to forms of proof that contradict the belief. Paranoia is driven by the anticipation of danger (Freeman, 2007), and the condition involves excessive vigilance for danger, misinterpretation of threat and attentional and memory biases for threat-related material (Bentall, Kinderman, Corcoran, Howard & Blackwood...
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...episodes of hallucinations and delusional thinking, distorted thoughts or behaviours, even personality changes. Current criteria for diagnosis includes experiencing one or more symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behaviour, negative symptoms; disturbed social cognition and functioning, bizarre behaviour, emotional labiality (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Traditionally treatment and conceptualisation of psychotic symptoms has been more the domain of psychiatry. The use of ‘psychosis’ as a term first emerged towards the end of the 1800’s as a new label for ‘madness’ and as a way of classifying illness of the mind. It wasn’t until the mid 1900’s there was a shift in the perception of psychosis and possible psychological processes contributing to psychotic experiences. Bentall (1993) further supported this by writing about understanding psychotic symptoms based on an individuals’ presenting distress/ difficulties rather than focusing on a medical model of psychosis treatment. Though Aaron Beck in the development of the cognitive approach to emotional disorders did explore the idea of adapting a cognitive model to psychosis in a paper in 1952, “Successful outpatient psychotherapy of a chronic schizophrenic with a delusion based on borrowed guilt”, it hasn’t been until the last few decades, with the expanse and empirical evidence for cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment mode, and a focus of treatment of clients...
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...For the last few years, veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been hot and heavy topics in the headlines. The media is all too quick to tell us about these dangerous madmen in our midst, probably because it attracts readers. It seems it’s been one incident after another with veterans in the news, and it is all too easy to follow with pointing the finger at PTSD. The perception is out there that veterans have now turned into crazed monsters. It is a stigma that is running rampant in this country. The media is doing nothing but feeding that frenzy, which is apparent with the latest eye-catching headlines, “White House intruder was an Army vet with PTSD, family says.” The facts of this story are tucked in bits and pieces of this news story and that. To grasp the complexity of this situation you have to go back a few years from his return from deployments. At home, Omar Gonzalez, an Army veteran, went from a jokester who would break into antics to make people laugh to being a haunted figure who became excessively paranoid according his former wife, Samantha Bell, who left him when she said she couldn't take it anymore. According to court documents, Gonzales told Secret Service agents after being apprehended that the “atmosphere was collapsing” and that he had to tell the president so he could warn the public. Gonzales’ record reveals his military occupation was Cavalry Scout, which the Army calls the “eyes and ears of the commander during battle.” The President...
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...V. Thought Content and Mental Trends 1. Neologism- Throughout the conversation appropriate words were used by A.B. She did not incorporate new words made by herself in her sentences. 2. Word salad- Words and and phrases used made sense and there were no incoherent mixture of words. 3. Circumstantial- She does not manifest this trait. 4. Tangentiality- Her answer to the questions asked of her was direct to the point. 5. Incoherence- During the first half of the conversation it went smoothly. There is relevance to her responds. However, during the later part of the conversation there were some changes to the information she had given us earlier. And some of the information were unsure of. 6. Verbigerate- There were no repetition of words. The construction of her sentences were fairly good. 7. Echolalia- Psychopathological repitition of words and phrases were not manifested. 8. Loosening of association and flight of ideas- A.B stays on subject and responds relevantly to the questions being asked however towards the end of the interaction she looses association and answers illogically. Question |Answer |Evaluation | "Naa kay anak?"|"Wala. Pero ganahan ko magka anak"|Good. Appropriate words were used. She did no incorporate new word made be herself.| "Naa kay asawa?"|"Wala. Naa rakoy uyab."|Good. Words anf phrases used made sense and there were no incoherent mixture of words"| “Unsa’y mga permi nimo buhaton diri?”|“Diri lang mag higda...
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...The first thing I did was try to understand the word paranoia. After checking a few dictionaries I found that it was a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution, grandeur, or excessive distrust. What is a delusion? It's a false belief held despite evidence to the contrary. Are extreme security measures acting on false threats that don't really exist? Some consider some of my security strategies a bit extreme. I call it meticulous precaution. Sure, the threat might not be real. No one may ever actually want what you have on your PC. But does that really matter? Does the threat have to be real to warrant strong security? Sometimes I have a "Password Day" where I change every password I own on the same day, just in case someone might happen to have one of my passwords. I frequently change my passwords after traveling. Its not that I think someone is trying to hack me, but I also don't think someone is not trying to hack me. That's really not the point. There's no need to analyze the threat of every situation. Just practice strong security always and you should be okay. I frequently see people posting PGP signed e-mails to security mailing lists. It's not that these people are afraid of someone actually spoofing fake comments from them on the latest CGI flaw; they just make it a practice to sign every e-mail, no matter how trivial it might be. Sure, these people are signing e-mails when it's really not important, but I doubt they get caught not signing...
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...Fantasy is a world that is welcome to the minds of all because it replaces worldly pain with something more enjoyable instead. In moderation, fantasy can be a healthy part of our lives. However, if the affinity for the fantastical is taken to the extreme, reality can be forgotten altogether. In life, all individuals have certain obstacles they must overcome that cannot be faced with illusion, no matter how painful the obstacle may be. Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire shows the tensions between reality and fantasy, common sense and imagination, and between male and female. The theme of reality versus fantasy is demonstrated by the DuBois sisters throughout the duration of the play. Blanche's immense universe based off of delusion is categorized by her pedophilic relationships, attempts to revisit her youth, and her obliviousness in the direction of reality of life. Stella is also unable to cope with the fact that her sister is suffering from mental illness. Both characters use fantasies and illusions to allow themselves to make life as they want it to be rather than how it really is. Blanche is portrayed as a delusional woman who creates a more preferable life by using her imagination to avoid the trials and tribulations of her physical existence. Blanche even admits that she finds living in fantasy more satisfying than living in reality. While talking to her newest lover, Mitch (long live Allan Grey), she admits that she would take the world of illusion over...
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...however when experiencing psychosis symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, may provoke the experience of stimuli such as hearing voices or visual disturbances that are not rooted in reality. There is some evidence that psychotic symptoms may be provoked or aggravated by emotional distress, the negative relationship between negative affect and psychotic symptoms, therefore, supports the use of psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Family Intervention (FI) in ameliorating psychotic symptoms. As such we should consider our choice strategy when targeting psychotic symptoms,...
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...searching for damning evidence that will expose Shutter Island as an expensive, cutting-edge torture chamber. Only during the final act (unless you've connected the foreshadowing dots), when our barometer falls off the charts, do we realize that the narrative is really about tragic psychosis and elaborate role play. Overall, I found the film to be a very intense, somewhat entertaining discussion of lines - the kind of elusive, easily blurred lines that exist between perception and reality, normalcy and insanity, even exceptional and subpar filmmaking. There is another extremely relevant though largely ignored line of which I'd like to discuss, the line between realistic and melodramatic portraits of clinical psychology. Although issues like delusions and 20th century inpatient treatment are aggressively examined within the plot, many of it's exclamation points are in fact question marks that warrant further discussion: Related Articles Cyrus: Fights, Dysfunction and Poor Attachment All Around Why are we so "obsessed" with OCD? Secrets of Psychotherapy: What's Love Got to Do With It? Part Two Happiness, Jacques Tati, and the Substantia Nigra Is There an Epidemic of Vampire-Imitating...
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...1. Nurse Tim is caring for a client diagnosed with bulimia. The most appropriate initial goal for a client diagnosed with bulimia is to: a. Avoid shopping for large amounts of food b. Control eating impulses c. Identify anxiety-causing situations d. Eat only three meals per day Answer C. Bulimic behavior is generally a maladaptive coping response to stress and underlying issues. The client must identify anxiety-causing situations that stimulate the bulimic behavior and then learn new ways of coping with the anxiety. 2. For a female client with anorexia nervosa, the nurse is aware that which goal takes the highest priority? a. The client will establish adequate daily nutritional intake b. The client will make a contract with the nurse that sets a target weight c. The client will identify self-perceptions about body size as unrealistic d. The client will verbalize the possible physiological consequences of self-starvation Answer A. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, all humans need to meet basic physiological needs first. Because a client with anorexia nervosa eats little or nothing, the nurse must first plan to help the client meet this basic, immediate physiological need. 3. A female client who’s at high risk for suicide needs close supervision. To best ensure the client’s safety, the nurse should: a. Check the client frequently at irregular intervals throughout the night ...
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...Delusions Between Religion and Religious Beliefs Glenn Watkins Park University 3 December 2010 Abstract This paper discusses the results a study conducted by Mental, Health, Religion and Culture regarding a qualitative study examining the relationship between religious beliefs and delusions. The paper discusses the definition of delusions as well as religion and makes a stark comparison between the two. The paper includes many different religions and how each claims having a monopoly to salvation. The study included white males from seemingly the same background who were diagnosed as having symptoms of delusions ranging from ages 34 – 57. The paper also discusses several theories as discussed in class regarding thoughts from Erikson, Sullivan and Fromm. Finally, the paper concludes with a brief historical summary of why the author has contention with religion and religious beliefs. Key words: Delusional, fanaticisms, capricious, analogous, and tantamount. When one person suffers from delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from delusion it is called religion. - Robert M. Pirsig There is a close kinship to the relationship between religious beliefs and religious delusion. Merriam-Webster defines delusion as a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary; also: the abnormal state marked by such beliefs. Religion is defined as...
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...schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a disorder in the brain “that affects the way a person acts, thinks, and sees” the world around them (“Schizophrenia” 1). Due to the disease many people with it have delusions, hallucinations, poor behavior, scrambled speech, and other negative symptoms. The disease greatly changes the way people live their lives. Specifically, Jacob from “The Hitchhiker” by Anthony Horowitz, shows that he has delusions and disorganized behavior, caused by his intense case of schizophrenia. Primarily, Jacob has some delusions, mainly of persecution. The delusions that Jacob had were all ideas that the hitchhiker would hurt Jacob and his family. Delusions of persecution are delusions that people get which leads them to having the “belief that others, often a vague ‘they’” are out to get him or her (“Schizophrenia 1”). The delusions are also very strange: “delusions involve illogical or bizarre ideas or fantasies” with a “firmly-held idea that” one is out to get them (“Schizophrenia” 1). Hence, in “The Hitchhiker” Jacob was having one of these delusions...
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...Snail Sized By: Andrew Porch pg 1-2, Alex Kim pg 9-10, Dante Mantashev pg 3-4, Janis Appleton pg 7-8, Henry Robledo pg 11-12, and Ryan Kerbeck pg 5-6 Once upon a time, in New York city, there was a man by the name of Urf Skunkbottom. He worked as a janitor in Trump Tower. He had no wife, no kids, and was sadly an only child. He had nobody to talk to because both of his parents moved to Alaska and left him by himself when he was only 8 years old. One afternoon, Urf was heading out to lunch, when he had noticed that his normal route to the Hot-Dog stand had be closed off due to construction. The only other way to the stand was 10 minutes longer, so he decided to go through the construction area, like a savage, which would later turn out to be a bad idea. As Urf was taking his stroll through the construction site, he had been noticed by Tim, the supervisor of the area. Tim had yelled from about 150 ft. away at Urf, “Hey, you!” “Me?” questioned Urf. “Yeah you. What are you doing here without a hard helmet, and what’s your name?” Urf had never been more scared in his life, other than the time he had woken up in a McDonald’s bathroom, with a letter next to him saying that his parents had moved to Alaska. His was palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy, he told Tim, that real name was Eddy. Tim was furious. “Eddy? I don’t have Eddy working for me! Get out of here before I call the police!” Urf was being chased, with Tim close on his tail. Urf couldn’t run faster, he had...
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