...Understanding Early Drug Use and Its Benefits on Future Drug Treatments Laura-Ryan Brooks Argosy University Abstract Drug abuse is a growing problem in the world today. Past studies have been conducted in efforts to recognize similar patterns in addicts’ lives that may have contributed to their behavior. The emerging results from this research suggested that it was due to several maltreatments occurring during the addicted individual’s adolescent years that were behind their early drug use. It is during the critical years of adolescence, when the brains of young adults are still developing, that the youth of today are most susceptible to a number of issues that can lead towards drug addiction, such as problems at home, abuse, and peer-pressure. Exploring these adversities will help shed some light on why adolescents make the decision to use drugs. This paper will address what influences drug use and how this knowledge can help treat addiction. Issues surrounding why addicts began drug use and how this information could be beneficial in treating substance abuse in the future will be explored. . Understanding Early Drug Use and Its Implications on Future Drug Abuse Treatment Addiction has been defined as a “misguided attempt at self-repair” (du Plessis, 2012 para. 53). But who is in danger of becoming addicted or may be feeling the need of some “self-repairing? During a 2013 testing of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), a tool to assess certain...
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...Writer’s Memo Through doing the research about dreams I have learned a vast about of important information from how to write an annotated bibliography, how to use VCU’s library system online, how to critically dissect as well as review my paper and the most important what different people believe a dream means to them. Once again my knowledge of VCU’s online library research system came in handy. Because I knew the correct ways to search of information through this data base it helped eliminate unneeded information. The writing workshops gave me and in depth look and how to read a paper from the readers point of view versus just the writer’s voice. It also gave me a chance to see how other people would create such a paper and gave me tips on where I was lacking strength. Having someone else read and criticized your work humbles you as well as gives you room to grow as a writer. Along with the workshop having you look over my paper and giving me your feedback helped be discover ways I could elaborate and fix my claim. Since this is the second time I have written and read research on the topic of dreams I feel like I have a stronger understanding of how beneficial dreams are to your lives. If I have dream that frightens me I know have a idea of where it came from and how it relates to my day to day life because I have read so many different views and opinions on dream analysis. Learning about the different ways people view the ‘meaning’ of a dream really...
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...Team C Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Laura Carranza Armanda Meadows Quoc Nguyen Andrea Sanchez Julann Wygal PSY/300 May 8, 2012 Mary Madrigal PhD Abnormal Psychology and Therapy The purpose of this paper is to discuss abnormal psychology and therapy. First this paper will define what abnormal psychology is. Then this paper will compare and contrast normal and abnormal psychology. Then the paper will examine at least two mental disorders from the perspective of psychology. Next the paper will examine two mental illnesses from the perspective of psychology. Finally the paper will discuss the similarities and difference among two different therapies in the schools of thought in psychology for treating mental disorders. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Normal vs. Abnormal Psychology The study of "normal" psychology is simply the study of someone who is in good health both mentally and physically. Said person adheres to and is responsive to social norms, and engages in activities that are socially acceptable and do not stray from the norm. Normal psychology is the study of the mind and the study of behavior. When unusual patterns of behavior, thought and emotion are studied, it falls under the branch of psychology called Abnormal psychology. The control and understanding of behavior that is considered to be deviant or aberrant either statistically or morally, has been the subject of much research and debate. Psychologists who focus on abnormal psychology identify the...
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...Major Depressive Disorder and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Argosy University Abnormal Psychology Brandy Rhodes 12/08/11 Abstract: Major depression disorder is a wide and complex disorder than many Americans suffer from. This paper will review the research and material of major depression disorder and the effective treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy. Although there are several types of therapy available to treat depression and other mood disorders, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) has been one of the most widely used and thought to be very effective in treating the disorder. First the paper will review what the disorder is and the criteria needed to diagnosis one with major depressive disorder and then we will take a look at how CBT helps the client overcome the signs and symptoms of the disorder. Lastly the paper will follow up with why CBT is thought to effective with treating major depressive disorder. Major Depressive Disorder and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Many clients’ that are seen in today’s clinics suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD) which is one of the most common disorders. “Major depressive disorder has a life time prevalence of 15.8 % (Mor and Haran, 2009). Many times MDD is characterized by early onset with development occurring throughout the life span. MDD is a disorder characterized by extreme depressed mood that lasts at least 2 weeks and includes cognitive symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and indecisiveness;...
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...Lisa W. Marshall Liberty University Abstract It is believed children exposed to early institutional rearing are at risk for developing psychopathology (McGoron, et. al., 2012). Comparisons were made to discover if Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) was more prevalent in children raised institutions, foster care or adoptive families. Measurements included the Observational Record of the Caregiving Environment, Strange Situation Procedure, Disturbances of Attachment Interview, and the Preschool Aged Psychiatric Assessment (Smyke, et. al. 2012), the Reynolds Adolescent Adjustment Screening Interview (Cone, et. al., 2009) in addition to the Reactive Affective Disorder Checklist (RAD-C) and the Relationships Problem Questionnaire (RPQ), in the diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder (Thrall, et al., 2009). These measurements were not only utilized to discover the existence of RAD, but to test the validity of the methods. Additionally, treatment studies including holding, narrative therapy, parenting skills training, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, psychodrama, and/or neurofeedback (Wimmer, et. al.,2009) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (Cone, et. al.,2009) are examined. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) lists Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) as a serious, directly linked outcome of early infant–mother attachment difficulties (American Psychiatric Association 2000). According to the DSM-IV-TR...
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...Process Problem solving can be used when a problem or issue arises. I have currently been going through a behavioral issue with my son that has been distressing me. I am separated from my son's mother and ordered by the attorney general to see him every other weekend with the exception of holidays. The shared parenting has made it harder for me to help my son with his behavior issues that he has developed at home with his mother. In this paper I will cover the problem solving process that I have taken to improve my son's bad behavior at home and at school. I was able to distinguish between the problems and issues from my son's behavior. The situation is an issue because it also involves partisan involvement from school staff and future involvement of professionals. How can I find an effective treatment to fix my son's behavioral issues that he is experiencing at home and at school? I have begun to research effective therapies that I have learned through the completed courses from my human services field of study. An effective treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy or also known as CBT. I am also taking tips from my girlfriend who is an early childhood graduate. In addition, I am also using strategies that I learned from working at a behavioral treatment center. The solution to my son's behavioral issue is to effectively combine the cognitive behavioral therapy with the information acquired from my girlfriend's profession and my personal experience from work. The CBT...
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...A review paper published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal provides a summary of the current understanding of ASD and suggests a comprehensive set of guidelines on best practices for detection, diagnosis and treatment for children with autism based on the currently available evidence randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews. - See more at: "We have come to understand ASD as a remarkably heterogeneous constellation of conditions that covary with other disabilities and disorders (e.g., intellectual disability, epilepsy, ADHD, anxiety disorders) and various medical problems," writes Dr. Stephen Scherer, senior scientist and director of The Centre for Applied Genomics at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and director of the McLaughlin Centre at the University of Toronto, with coauthors. "Recent discoveries of underlying genomic factors have shown great complexity and implicate various networks of causal factors." ASD, which includes a variety of traits that range from mild to severe, is estimated to affect about 1% of the population, although it is under-recognized in the developing world. The review, by specialists in pediatrics, psychiatry, epidemiology, neurology and genetics from across Canada, outlines the current understanding of ASD and best practices for pediatricians, family doctors and specialist clinics, and identifies resources for clinicians. Topics include: What causes autism? The causes are thought to be multi-factorial: genetic...
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...Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper David Brown, Charles Hodge PSY/300: General Psychology Susan Bonnell June 2, 2015 University of Phoenix Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper Abnormal psychology is the study of unusual behavior, thoughts, and emotion by members of a society (American Psychological Association, 2015). To meet the definition of abnormal, the behavior, actions, or thoughts must be atypical of the culture (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). Herein is where the challenge lies, due to the fact that our world encompasses many cultures and definitions of normal are significantly different from one region to the next. The paper will provide examples of abnormal psychology in the form of mental disorders and illnesses. Additionally, treatments for these disorders and illnesses will be discussed. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Normal and abnormal psychology can differ by culture. One’s normal behavior is that which allows for a society to maintain a productive and relationship driven life that does not differ drastically from the normalcy of said society (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). When an individual’s behavior is maladaptive to the culture he or she belongs, others will then classify said behavior as abnormal, and then will attempt to change that behavior. Wen-Sing Tseng, M.D. (2013), described a Latino man who hit his body and yelled very loudly, alone while in public, upon hearing of his wife’s death. The treating doctor was unsure if the man’s behavior...
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...criteria of children and adults are the same, with the exception that children may display irritability rather than depressed or sad mood, and loss of weight may be seen as a failure gain appropriate weight milestones. Diagnosis and treatment should take into account developmental stage, suicidality, severity of depression, and social and environmental factors. The recommended therapies for mild depression include interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavior therapy and serve as appropriate adjuvant to medical treatments for those with moderate and severe depression. This paper explore depression among children, outlines different types of diagnosis, as well as the parameters for rare situations in which practitioners can try antidepressants when psychotherapeutic options fail and the depression is in severe stage. Introduction About 2.8 percent of children younger than 13 years suffer from depression at any given point in time (Clark, Jansen, & Cloy, 2012). The incidence of depression among children is a major concern because of the damaging and acute consequences associated with the disorder. Research shows that 60 percent of adolescents with depression experience recurrences throughout adulthood (Clark, Jansen, & Cloy, 2012). Moreover, adults with history of depression have high chances of committing suicide compared to those without history of the disorder (Clark, Jansen, & Cloy, 2012). The symptoms of depression in children vary, and often pass undiagnosed and...
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...brain disorder, has taken over controversial issue debates, and impacted families all across the globe. Autism has been a part of my life beginning at age five, before I could even conceptualize what a complex disorder it truly is. I was in kindergarten and like any other five year-old, I was curious about how other people acted. I noticed that some kids were more socially isolated than others, had trouble making friends or even playing with others. I noticed that when it got really loud, or whenever we were doing an activity involving a lot of tactile input, certain kids would pull away and repeat certain behaviors. One particular kid would hunch his back, hyper-extend his fingers, shake them vigorously, as if to dry them off in absence of paper towels, and rock back and forth on his heels. These types of behaviors were relatively commonplace in my experience and I accepted them as absolutely harmless. I had seen the calming affect these rituals had on my classmate. My five year-old self was unknowingly picking up on behaviors that were the hallmark of autism. I attended an elementary school that was located in the autism hub of the county; so several students with autism were mainstreamed, or assimilated, into my classes. These students were not the majority. Rather, neurotypical students, a term used to describe children without a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder, composed the majority of our school’s population. As I have received more schooling and worldly experience...
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...Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Social Work Values: A Critical Analysis A. Antonio González-Prendes, Ph.D. Wayne State University aa3232@wayne.edu Kimberly Brisebois Wayne State University Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, Volume 9, Number 2 (2012) Copyright 2012, White Hat Communications This text may be freely shared among individuals, but it may not be republished in any medium without express written consent from the authors and advance notification of White Hat Communications Abstract Increasing numbers of clinical social workers use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in their practice. This article analyzes how CBT fits with social work values and in particular with social justice. We propose that CBT is a good fit with the values of the profession and make suggestions for areas of improvement. Keywords: cognitive-behavioral therapy, social work values, social justice, social work practice 1. Introduction In a day when evidence-based practice has become so important to the social work profession, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has become one of the most frequently used forms of psychotherapeutic intervention. Extensive research supports the effectiveness of CBT approaches for a wide range of psychosocial issues (Dobson & Dobson, 2009; Granvold, 2011). It is one of the most widely researched and published models of therapy, with more than 325 published outcome studies that validate its efficacy (Butler, Chapman, ...
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...and Peter Doyle are both co-directors and licensed psychologists. Co-authoring many articles and book chapters, Dr. Angela Doyle also presents her work at national and international conferences. Dr. Peter Doyle authored and pre-authored numerous articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and delivers invited speaks of eating disorders at notional and international conferences. Angela Davis earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology worked at Harborview Medical Center on a study evaluating cognitive behavior therapy for over-weight and obese adults with binge eating disorders. She has also received extensive training in the latest version of cognitive-behavior therapy for eating disorder. Dr. Davis has authored and co-authored book chapters and research articles and journals. She has presented her work at national and international conferences. She is also an active member of the Academy for eating disorder, and the Association for Behavioral and cognitive therapies. Alison Leary received her Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology and has extensive experience...
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...Personality Disorder AbstractThe DSM-IV is widely used in the mental health field. Some of its many uses include providinga common language among professionals about psychopathology and delineating criteria for diagnosing individuals with mental disorders. This paper explores the purpose, history, andlimitations of the DSM diagnostic approach. A case study is provided and the DSM-IV-TR isused to diagnosis borderline personality disorder. The disorder is described and an empirically- based treatment plan is offered.2 Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder: DSM Diagnosing and Empirically-Based TreatmentThe APA (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is widelyused by mental health professionals. It provides a common language about psychopathologyamong clinicians, researchers, students, and other mental health professionals. Since its inceptioninto the field of mental health, it has made a huge impact on clinical practice, research, andeducation. Although it has advanced the field of mental health, there is still criticism of theDSM classification system. Despite its limitations, it continues to be considered an importantreference for mental health professionals. This paper will explore the DSM’s use within the fieldof psychopathology. Then it will be applied to a case study of a 15 year-old girl with mentalhealth concerns including a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Her symptoms will bedescribed, criteria for diagnosis...
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...Approaches to Psychotherapy and Existential Theory Bonnie Cole Abstract This paper seeks to explain the concept of psychotherapy, and the dominant psychotherapeutic methods used for the treatment of individuals. These methods are: psychoanalytic, humanist, behavioral, and cognitive (jointly called cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT). I further explore existential psychotherapy, as it is the method I found most appealing in my research. I included quotations from several journal articles, and from our textbook, “Discovering Psychology, Fifth Edition”. Approaches to Psychotherapy and Existential Theory Psychotherapy is an official term that normally goes by different names: counseling, treatment, psychiatric therapy, even head shrinking. They all mean the same thing, and have a common goal. Psychotherapy seeks, through the use of trained professionals, to help individuals improve their mental health using a variety of different approaches. A much more comprehensive definition can be found in the textbook Discovering Psychology, Fifth Edition, which states that psychotherapy is: “The treatment of emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal problems through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage understanding of problems and modify troubling feelings, behaviors, or relationships”...
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...Agoraphobia as defined by the APA Dictionary of Psychology is literally the fear of the market place. Agoraphobia is manifested as anxiety about being in places or situations, fearing one may have panic symptoms or a panic attack, throwing up or having diarrhea in public. Those with agoraphobia live with the terror that they may become trapped, desperately avoiding situations where they feel that they would not be able to escape quickly or that may not be able to get help if they need it.κ Those with agoraphobia have a hard time feeling safe in public places, and most especially where crowds gather. Common areas that most people suffering from agoraphobia dread are elevators, sporting events, bridges, lines, driving, public transportation, malls and airplanes. In the more serious cases of agoraphobia, one’s fears become so intense that they are just trapped in their own homes because that is the only place they truly feel safe.λ Unlike most phobias and fears, Agoraphobia usually begins between late adolescence and the mid-30s. This phobia is often passed along in families. It can also occur if a person grows up with an overprotective parent or a parent that is a perfectionist. According to the Mayo Clinic, between 1 and 5 percent of people in the United States develop agoraphobia in their lifetime. Nearly 80% of those suffering from this phobia are women.μ Something familiar to all of us is anxiety at its minor symptom level. This often seems to weigh against...
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