Behavior Pathology Case Study

Axis I would be: 300.4 Dysthymic Disorder, Late onset, the Axis II is the area for Personality Disorders and/or Mental

Personality disorders are included as mental disorders on Axis II of the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association and in the mental and behavioral disorders section of the ICD manual of the World Health Organization Personality disorders are conditions in which an individual differs significantly from an average person, in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others. Changes in how a person feels and distorted beliefs about other people can lead to odd behavior, which can be distressing and may upset others There are three recognized personality disorder clusters, cluster A odd and eccentric, Paranoid Personality Disorder Schizoid Personality Disorder Schizotypal Personality Disorder dramatic and emotional, Borderline Personality Disorder Histrionic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder and anxious and fearful Avoidant Personality Disorder Dependent Personality Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Personality Disorders: Management

It is believed that certain individuals are predisposed or vulnerable to addiction based on biological, psychological and social influences. The euphoric high produced by many addictive substances is the result of overstimulation of the “pleasure center” of the brain. This is the same area that controls emotions, fear, self-control and overall feelings of wellness. The presence of these foreign chemicals creates a response that the brain will crave as soon as it fades. The brain’s chemistry works against its own health, as it rewires its decision making faculties around the primary goal of finding and taking more of the drug” (1). Many people mistakenly believe that psychological addiction is somehow less serious or real than physical addiction. The psychological aspects of addiction are much more challenging to repair and recover from than the physical addiction. Psychological addiction can last for years or even a lifetime.

It is paramount to attempt to understand why individuals become ‘addicts’/ drug dependent, as in doing so treatments and therapies may be adopted in line with the needs of the drug dependent individual. A greater understanding in the area of causality may produce more effective interventions at earlier stages of drug misuse.

This research paper will evaluate the biological aspects of addictive substance or behavior and how it affects the brain and organs. Biological aspects include dopamine levels that are replaced in the brain due to the reward system being overtaken and the absorption rate of the drug once it is ingested will be discussed. The biological aspects are extensive and permanent if the individual does not get the help they need. Furthermore the clinical issues of addictive substance or behavior will be discussed along with medical treatments and ethical issues. This includes treatments such as counseling

The definition provided above is accessible and easy to understand; however, it initiates false beliefs among individuals because it fails to acknowledge that drug addiction is a mental health problem. Moreover, when words such as, “dependence”, “control” and “craving” are used to define drug addiction, it leaves an impression to the reader that addicts are indeed “people who cannot control their impulses.” Consequently, when we fail to recognize that drug addiction is a mental health problem, our focus is diverted towards the physical aspect of drug addiction. This could cause the belief among individuals that drugs alone cause the addiction. It is essential to acknowledge that there are chemical hooks in drugs; however, individuals need to understand that drugs alone do not cause the addiction. We need to identify and distinguish the “root cause” of addiction and ask ourselves: what caused the individual to take the drug in the first place?

The main two psychological issues are addiction and eating disorders and the concept of addiction has developed over the past several years. Substance dependence is the most closely related concept of the everyday meaning of addiction, and to meet the criteria for substance dependence one must demonstrate several, but not all of the following criteria:

The disease model of addiction rests on three primary assumptions predisposition to use a drug, loss of control over use, and progression (Krivanek, 1988, p.202). These physiological alterations cause an undeniable desire to take more drugs (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Addicts are viewed as individuals with an incurable disease with drug addiction as the symptom. The disease model argues users cannot be held accountable for their addictions (Kirvanek, 1988).

A diagnosis is the act of discovering or identifying the exact cause of an illness or a problem. A psychological problem is a mental behavior pattern that causes distress and disability. Symptoms are a change in your body or mind that shows that you are not healthy.

A “Substance Use Disorder” is new to the DSM-5. Previously, the terms “abuse” and “dependence” where used instead. In general, the DSM-5 considers a Substance Use Disorder to be recurrent drug use that causes impairment and continued use despite substance use related problems. The DSM-5 also focuses on how substance use causes a change in brain functioning. The change is primarily responsible for intense drug cravings, as well as repeated relapses. Finally, the DSM-5 divides the criteria for Substance Use Disorder into four groupings: impaired control (Criteria 1-4), social impairment (Criteria 5-7), risky use (Criteria 8 and 9), and pharmacological criteria (Criteria

Johnny 's heart is beating at over a hundred and thirty beats per minute. He can 't sleep again and is sweating profusely. Johnny hears a voice saying "Don 't do it Johnny. You know how this will end." Then he hears another louder, more insistent voice saying to him, “Come on Johnny, no one will know. Just one more time and then we will stop”. Johnny is disgusted with himself as he reaches for the phone to make that call to his drug connection. How do we help someone like Johnny? Some people

Ever since their introduction, drugs have been been both beneficial and harmful to those who have used them. The term deviant drug use refers to drug use that is used in private and outside of groups, most often this form is not supported by the majority. Drug misuse can be defined as the use of prescription drugs in greater amounts than the doctor or manufacturer originally intended. Drug abuse is exactly what it sounds like, abusing drugs for recreation as opposed to what they were made for, in other words, regular use of addictive or illegal drugs. Drug addiction can be characterized as constantly going out to find a drug no matter the consequences. It also

Among the numerous definitions for addiction, there lies yet another to define it from a biochemical perspective. Milkman (1983) defines it as “self-induced changes in neurotransmission that result in social problem behaviors." This definition encompasses the psychological, biochemical and social aspects of addictive processes. It is not limited to substance abuse and can be applied to any activity characterized by compulsion, loss of control and continuation of the substance despite harm. This has helped investigators gain a better understanding of the nature of addiction.

Nearly everyone knows someone who is dependent upon drugs or alcohol. Substance dependence is an issue, with lifetime alcohol dependence from 2001-2002 in the United States alone being 12.5%, and lifetime drug dependence on drugs being 2.6%. (Fleury, Grenier, Bamvita, Perreault, and Caron 204). Risk for substance dependence varies from one person to another; there are so many factors that can influence it, including just personality and certain attitudes people have. The psychology of a person’s brain is so complex that it would be impossible to determine every single thing that affects a person’s risk for substance dependence. There are some factors, however, that can be studied and measured - and studies have been done on those factors

The disease model: This theory states that an individual who abuses drugs requires medical treatment rather than moral punishment or exhortation. This theory also justifies spending money to research substance abuse in the same way that money is spent to research other diseases. However, usually the term disease is reserved for a state in which we can identify an abnormal biochemical or physical condition. No abnormal biochemical or physical condition has been found in the case of substance addiction, although mounting evidence suggests that some individuals are genetically predisposed to addiction more so than others. Nevertheless, this theory continues to appeal to researchers, and an intensive effort is always being made to identify the physiological “switch” that establishes addiction after exposure to a drug (Lee, 2010).