Psychological Disorders

The goal of this course is to provide students with an overview of topics related to abnormal psychology. The primary emphasis of this course will be on classification of psychopathology and the symptoms associated with different syndromes.

Tamika comes to a psychology clinic with complaints of poor concentration. As she was talking with the psychologist, she spoke very rapidly and it was difficult to follow her train of thought. Tamika reported that she felt invincible and had not slept for three days since she had been very busy with various tasks. She also reported that in the past, she had frequently experienced periods of time that she felt “down”.

In principle, psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders and their origin; in addition, this field of study examines the causes, development, and possible treatment for the disorders. Essentially, psychopathology encompasses three aspects that are considered as directly related to the mental disorders. These facets include the biological considerations, social issues, and psychological aspects of any mental condition. In fact, the initial perception of mental illness was associated with religious issues such

Proof written by David Auburn goes through the life of an esteemed mathematician plagued by mental illness. In the beginning of the play Proof we are introduced to a professor at a local Chicago College named Robert. We first are introduced to Robert through a delusion of Catherine’s, another main protagonist of David auburns play. Auburn shows Robert’s genius and madness at various stages throughout the play. Auburn goes on throughout his play to exemplify the impact mental illness has on everyday family life.

For most individuals with schizophrenia, a thorough treatment plan is vital to assist with medication adherence, reduce hospitalization and to provide improvement in quality of life. Typically a prescription for antipsychotics is necessary not only to reduce positive

There are numerous different types of medications that you can take with schizophrenia. There was “a 4-week of placebo-controlled trial in hospitalized patients with acute Schizophrenia.” “Risperidone was used as an active control in this study.” There are physiological treatments that include cognitive behavior therapy, family therapy and one-on-one therapy that contribute to help manage the schizophrenia. Anti-psychotic medicines are called “atypical”, it helps to contribute to improve and maintain symptoms. You can get them as injections, liquid form and also pills. You have to participate in a maintenance plan that helps to manage and prevent acute episodes from coming back

Schizophrenia is a life-long disorder that affects about one percent of the population (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). The cause of this mental illness is still unclear. Studies have suggested that Schizophrenia does not arise from one factor but from a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors (Liddle, 1987). People diagnosed with Schizophrenia struggle to deal with a multitude of symptoms that make it difficult to function (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Antipsychotic medications are a popular treatment of the symptoms of Schizophrenia (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Research is constantly being done to develop these medications to enhance the quality of life of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

There is no known or possible cure for schizophrenia. This was the worse news that has been given yet. I have been switching between different medications and dosages to help my symptoms for years. I was happy to hear that in the 1990s, new antipsychotic medications were developed (S.A. Roberts, Personal Communication, March 15, 2016). These new medications are called second-generation or atypical antipsychotics (Schizophrenia. n.d.). These medications were offered to me in the form of a pill and an injection that can be given once or twice a month. Other than medications, I have also been offered therapy. There are different kinds for different aspects. Personally, I have been receiving psychosocial treatments and cognitive behavioral

Psychosocial factors have been correlated with the development and maintenance of mood disorders. Psychosocial theories focus on

Treatment today can still be a long and draining process of trial and error to find the right medications which can last for years. However, due to the research and various studies that have been conducted throughout several centuries, there has been a tremendous growth of understanding of the mental illness and have found better ways to treat it for individuals who are struggling with such a mental disorder. Research on schizophrenia and the way to treat it is still something of a mystery even though progress has vastly been made. Currently, there is still no cure for schizophrenia. Studies are continuously being done and progress continues to be made in terms of better understanding the disorder, however, there is still much to learn. Hopefully, as time goes on, treatment options will continue to improve and ultimately, either a cure or a way to prevent the disorder will be

Psychological disorders are stated to be abnormalities of the mind, known as mental disorders (Klasco, 2011). Abnormalities of the mind cause persistent behaviors that affect an individual’s daily function and life (Klasco, 2011). The different types of psychological disorders include mood disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders (Klasco, 2011). The causes of these disorders are unknown, but factors that contribute to these disorders include childhood experiences, chemical imbalances in the brain, illnesses, heredity, stress, and prenatal exposures (Klasco, 2011). Psychological disorders can be serious and can be life-threatening

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are eating disorders that severely affect both men and women around the world. The cause of the eating disorder usually derives from psychological, biological and social forces. Eating disorders have become an epidemic in American society, twenty-four million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S. (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.\, 2011). There are many ways to address and treat an eating disorder. There have been multiple studies conducted to test the effectiveness of different types of treatment. My central research question analyzes the relationship between the continuation of the eating disorder with the presence of intervention or some

Treatment of schizophrenia may vary according to what clinicians believe to be its causes. For example, some believe (and this is backed by evidence) that the condition is caused by over activity of the dopamine system, so that the person experiences too much stimulation. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, so that in effect too much activity is occurring in the brain. Clinicians who believe this is the case are likely to use drug therapies to correct this over activity, and will use antipsychotic drugs.

There are treatments for this mental illness in today’s society. Y.W. Francis Lam, Phar.D. says, “A thirty-two year old Hispanic male with paranoid schizophrenia was given aripiprazole (30mg/day) and low-dose clozapine (75mg/day). This patient showed clinical improvement, with significant reduction in paranoia, auditory hallucinations and aggression.” (Y.W. Francis Lam, Phar.D. “Aripiprazole and low-dose clozapine”) With today’s technology advancements there are many medicated treatments that could cure schizophrenic patients. Treatments for paranoid schizophrenia may require more than just taking the right

A psychological disorder, also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. These symptoms are characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual 's cognitive, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental process underlying mental functioning. Mental disorders are usually associated with significant distress in social, occupational, or other important activities. Approximately 26 percent of American adults over the age of 18 suffer from some diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. (Cherry)