Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Many psychological disorders are present in modern life today. They range from trivial behavior quirks to severe cases of mental illness. One, which on the surface does not appear very important, is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet when looked at closer, this disorder afflicts thousands of people and is more serious that it first appears. This paper presents an explanation of the symptoms, their causes and the treatments that are currently used for obsessive compulsive disorder. The symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder consist of invasive and irrepressible thoughts (obsessions) or the need to perform specific acts repeatedly (compulsions), or both. While the most people have habits or routines, sufferers of obsessive compulsive disorder have rituals that take up a large amount of their time, causing them anxiety and affecting their ability to function normally. Some of those afflicted are so fearful of the imaginary dangers that they often refuse to leave the solace of their own homes. People with obsessive compulsive disorder are bombarded with obsessive thoughts that make them feel worried or scared. To handle that fear they revert to compulsive behavior. While compulsive behavior helps deal with those obsessions, the relief is only temporary, and the obsession always returns. The inability to rid oneself of
Girl Interrupted Diagnosis and Treatment
Girl Interrupted Diagnosis and Treatment Amanda Millard This movie took place in the 1960's, where Kaysen was admitted into a mental hospital and is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It would be difficult to treat her from the beginning since she was unaware that she had a disorder and that she was only there to get rest and be stress free for an awhile. Kaysen was admitted into the mental hospital when she tried to commit suicide by taking several pills. As in borderline personality disorder, they try to hurt themselves in order to make them feel better about themselves or give them a sense of living. It also can take away the emptiness that they may be feeling. The best way to treat a person with this type of disorder is psychotherapy, which in the past has showed some improvement for people with borderline personality disorder. It is important in psychodynamic therapy for Kaysen to focus on the central relationship disturbance, poor sense of self, and pervasive loneliness and emptiness. This can be combined with cognitive-behavioral approaches to help the patient, or Kaysen in this case, to recognize the perspectives of others. Antidepressant, antibipolar, antianxiety, and antipsychotic drugs could also be used in helping individuals with this disorder to calm their emotional and aggressive storms. Another form of treatment that is becoming more
nature and nurture
From the document that I read about the nature debate on eating disorders, I found out that the nature theory on eating disorders was put forward by biologists. Biologists look at the body mainly and they are interested in how the body functions affect the mind and behaviour. They also look for causes of behaviour in hormones and neurochemicals. The main point for the nature debate on eating disorder assumes that the fundamental causes of eating disorders are to be found in some combination of genetics, abnormalities in the structure of the brain and how it works. Biologist tries to prove their evidence by looking at the effect of genes in twins; this study was done by Holland et al 1984. Monozygotic twins share exactly the same genes, while dizygotic twins share an average half of each other's genetic information. From Holland et al study, biologist conclude that MZ twins share exactly the same genetic information, therefore if one MZ twin has an eating disorder that is determined entirely genetically, then the other twin must also have it, due to the fact that they both have the same genetic structure. Further researches have been done to support the findings of Holland et al like the study on bulimia by Kendler et al 1991. From Kendler et al study he found out that there are genetic risk factors involved in bulimia nervosa (a form of eating disorder). Biologist also
Literature review on research methods;How effective is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of Childhood Anxiety?
How effective is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of Childhood Anxiety? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, also referred to as CBT is an approach that "focuses on thought processes and how these might be maladaptive" (Sanders P 2009 p 58). The following literature review will explore and summarise four selected pieces of research that look at the use of CBT in the treatment of childhood anxiety and how effective it is. The term childhood in this case is referred to as children aged between 4 and 7 years. The term anxiety as referred to in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is an Anxiety Disorder which is a psychological condition (DSM-IV 2010). It manifests itself as unusual or abnormal behavior such as; Panic attacks, Agoraphobia or Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder amongst others. (DSM-IV 2010) Search Strategy An online search was conducted using the University of Salford's research data base SOLAR. This is accessed online via the University of Salford's Blackboard. In SOLAR you opt for the ' find databases' search area. This area then enables you to access online research specific to the school or area of study, in this case Health and Social Care and then the subject area, Counselling and Psychotherapy. Solar then gives the option of a more specific database search engine such as EBSCO the academic search premier database (EBSCO
How did Freud change our understanding of hysteria?
How did Freud change our understanding of hysteria? Hysteria is a psychological disorder defined by historian Luckhurst as one which "is famed for the tormenting of the body by the troubled mind-as among the most pervasive human disorders; yet, at the same time, it is the most elusive.1 And it is indeed this 'elusiveness' that has made the study of hysteria a subject of much popularity, particularly amongst many famous psychologists including: Sigmund Freud, Joseph Breuer and Jean Martin Charcot. However, this essay will focus on the one man who is famed for being the "Father of Psychoanalysis", and although his ideas were not entirely developed independently, they were truly compilations of ideas forged by the network of intellectuals during the late nineteenth century, yet Freud is the man we remember, the man who utterly transformed our perspective of hysteria and how we view it in today's society. In order to fully understand how Freud changed our understanding of hysteria this essay will look at the treatment of hysteria, in particular the famous case of Anna O, and his theories which were developed as a consequence of this study- some of which caused controversy, but all of which still very much alive today in the twenty-first century, whether they are credible or not. To understand how Freud changed our understanding of hysteria, it must first be looked at how
Research and statistical significance for a pilot study on CBT for children with anxiety disorders
Identifying the Statistical Significance of a Research Process. The long-term impact of anxiety disorders in children can affect their social interactions, personal relationships and future academic/career progression. This can result in family dysfunction, substance abuse and/or other mental disorders (Allgulander & Lavori 1991; Burton 2006 as cited in Manassis et al 2009 p 1). Research in this area is extensive and in order to look at a more specific way of treating anxiety related disorders in young children the selected paper, 'Evaluating a cognitive behavioural therapy group program for anxious five to seven year old children: A pilot study' (Monga et al 2009) has been chosen to assess the teams particular use of research methods, data analysis and what the outcome of an adapted form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has on treating anxious 5-7 year olds. Research Significance. The research article was developed by Dr. Young (SFU 2011) and two child Psychiatrists, Dr. Suneeta Monga and Dr. Mary Owens at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto who also provided sponsorship. There is evidence to show that anxiety in children can start at a young age (Cartwright-Hatton 2004). Previous research has been carried out primarily on children above the age of 8. Dr Young and her team had looked at the methods used for treatment from previous research such as the FRIENDS
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Dan Smith Final Paper Oppositional Defiant Disorder There are many different psychological disorders that can affect people of all ages. Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a psychiatric disorder in which aggressiveness and the purposeful bothering and irritating of others. This disorder can be treated. But, it is treated only if the characteristics are observed, and correctly diagnosed with the disorder. The observation of an individual shows the symptoms he or she suffers from and determines how the person is to be treated correctly. Research: Oppositional Defiant Disorder is characterized as a pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting for at least six months during which many varieties of negative actions are present. These symptoms are not necessarily all present but usually the majority of them will be if the specimen has Oppositional Defiant Disorder. The subject will often lose their temper when they do not get there way or if they are made fun of. He or she will constantly argue with, most in not all, adults they come into contact with because they view them as authority figures that they are supposed to listen to. The person in question will then often defies or refuses to conform to adults' rules or even requests. The subject will often annoy others for pleasure. They will sometimes become angry and resentful when something they do not like is
Children of Alcoholics
Emily Lechner Margie Eckroth-Bucher Alcohol: Use and Abuse 4 March 2004 Children of Alcoholics Introduction Many issues and debates have been raised over the fact that children of alcoholics are at a higher risk for alcoholism and behavioral problems. In the United States, alcoholism is a huge issue, especially when it deals with the innocent children. Should they be punished as well as their alcoholic parents? The purpose of this paper is to address the issues involving children of alcoholics, whether it's a genetic predisposition or a learned behavior that their chances of becoming dependent are increased. Some interventions involving screenings, support groups, coping, and alternative activities to benefit these children will also be discussed. Common characteristics of these children will be reviewed as well. Analysis of the Problem An estimated 11 million children under the age of 18 years live in households with at least one alcoholic parent, and more than 28 million Americans are the child of an alcoholic (NACA). This is a major problem in America. It is a problem because it is not fair to these children to have to grow up this way. Many of them end up having behavioral problems, becoming alcoholics, and even end up in jail. Children with alcoholic parents have a four times greater risk of becoming an alcoholic themselves (NIAAA). The factors
Efficacy and safety of SSRIs in the treatment of childhood depression
Efficacy and safety of SSRIs in the treatment of childhood depression Background: Just as our concepts of childhood have changed, so have our concepts of childhood problems. It was only in the late 1980s that our understanding of childhood depression began a far reaching transformation. Before this, childhood depression was viewed as very rare, different from adult depression, and not amenable to treatment with antidepressants. A shift in theory, and consequently practice, then took place as Influential academics claimed that childhood depression was more common than previously thought (8-20% of children and adolescents), resembled adult depression, and was amenable to treatment with antidepressants (often resulting in antidepressants Becoming a first line treatment). Childhood depression has become a popular Notion, reflecting the broader cultural changes that have taken place in our view of childhood and its problems. "These days we are as likely to use medicalised terminology to describe children's feelings (such as depressed) as we are less pathological descriptions (such as unhappy). Children with depressive disorders lack interest in activities they previously enjoyed, criticize themselves, and are pessimistic or hopeless about the future. They may feel sad or irritable. Problems at school arise from indecision and difficulties with concentration. Depressed
Describe one explanation of anorexia nervosa and evaluate this explanation using research studies and/or alternative explanations
Describe one explanation of anorexia nervosa and evaluate this explanation using research studies and/or alternative explanations One explanation of anorexia nervosa is the biological approach (medical model). The basic assumption of this approach suggests abnormality is a result of a physical illness or disease, just like any other illness, such as chicken pox for example. Abnormality therefore has an underlying physical cause and in relation to eating disorders, this explanation suggests they are a physical illness. It provides genetic and biochemical explanations for the cause of eating disorders. The genetic argument rests on the assumption that disorders are hereditary (passed on in the genetic information of parents to children). This idea argues that individuals with family members who have the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, would therefore be at an increased risk of developing the disorder themselves. As yet, scientific research has not been able to identify specific genes associated with eating disorders. However, the American Psychiatric Association (1994) reports an increased risk of eating disorders among first-degree biological relatives which supports the idea that eating disorders may be hereditary. Although, families generally share the same home environment and so other factors may therefore have a causal influence. Foe example, the child may have