Critically evaluate how psychological theories, concepts and explanations have been employed in a clinical area of applied psychology
'Critically evaluate how psychological theories, concepts and explanations have been employed in one area of applied psychology covered on the module ' The main objective of this essay is to look at the way psychological theories have been employed in the development of causal explanations and subsequent treatments for the mental health disorder depression. It will focus largely upon two main theories; cognitive and biological, as these two are contrasting theories each offering radically different conceptions and treatments for depression. It will also be argued that although traditional psychology has much to offer to the understanding of depression, there are new theories emerging which take a critical position in the understanding of Depression as a mental disorder in today's society. Firstly, it is important to discuss what is meant when describing 'depression' in terms of this essay and as a mental health disorder in the wider context of society. The initial problem faced by those who try to understand depression is that the term is widely used in everyday contexts within society. Nemerott (1998:42) reflects this in his assertion that 'clinical depression is quite different from the blues everyone feels at one time or another'. In fact, the comparison of the two can be seen to be trying to compare 'a scratch and a compound fracture' (Walker, 2008:5). The reality is
The influence of clincian's background and values in the interview
Running head: ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW The Influence of Clincian's Background and Values in The Interview An Assignment Submitted in Partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology February 2011 Abstract Clinicians always impose their individual style, personal belief, cultural background, professional knowledge, and own's value on the patient when do assessment interview. Their background and values will influence the interview process and outcomes. It is because clinicians might have cultural biases and expectations about the behavior. To be clinically competent, clinicians should be able to work in multiethnic, multicultural societies, and provide care for patients with diverse backgrounds. Key words: culture, background, values, belief, clinician The influence of clincian's background and values in the interview According to J. H. Resnick (1991) defined and descibed clinincal psychology as "The field of clinical psychology involves research, teaching, and services relevant to the applications of principles, methods, and procedures for understanding, predicting, and alleviating intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social and behavioral maladjustment, disability and discomfort, applied to a wide range of client populations". The assessment interview is the most basic and the most helpful technique used
ADD/ADHD: Is Ritalin the Answer?
Experiential Workshop Essay Carolyn Liddell ADD/ADHD: Is Ritalin the Answer? Dr. David B. Stein presented this workshop on ADHD. Dr. Stein is a practising clinical psychologist at Longwood College, whose two sons were once prescribed Ritalin, the main medication used to treat ADHD. He focuses his research on the diagnosis and treatment of attentional, motivational, and behavioural problems in children, and has held workshops similar to this one giving realistic, practical and effective alternatives to Ritalin for over twenty-five years. Dr. Stein has written several books and papers on the subject of treating ADHD without medication, such as 'Ritalin is not the answer' (1999) and 'Unravelling the ADD/ADHD fiasco' (2001). In his book, 'Ritalin is not the answer' he states that in the United States, nearly one tenth of school-aged children are being prescribed mood-altering drugs. He lists some of the side effects of these drugs as insomnia, tearfulness, rebound irritability, personality change, nervousness, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations and cardiac arrhythmia. The children who are given these drugs have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Stein challenges and disputes this common practice, and advocates that a behavioural programme is much safer and more
IS THE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME A BRAIN DISORDER OR RATHER A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM?
STUDENT ESSAY No: 30 ANORMAL PSYCHOLOGY TERM 1 2 NOVEMBER 2007 IS THE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME A BRAIN DISORDER OR RATHER A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM? WORK COUNT: 2180 . INTRODUCTION Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is characterised by a sudden onset of debilitating, persistent fatigue and loss of energy which lasts for more than six months and cannot be attributed to other medical or psychiatric conditions, as established by the Centers of Disease Control. Particular subjective complaints of patients are headache, sore throat, tender and painful lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain, substantial impairment of short term memory and concentration, sleep disturbances and depression (Holmes et al., 1988). The aetiology of CFS remains unclear, although evidence exists for and against the importance of virological, immune, endocrine, psychological, and other factors as being aetiologically important. CFS is thought to have a worldwide prevalence of 0.4-1%, with women being more likely to develop the disease than men and children (Barrows, 1995). This essay will be weighing up the evidence for the role of brain abnormalities and psychological problems in determining the aetiology of the disorder. Nevertheless, the most likely outcome is that it is a heterogeneous condition with a multifactorial aetiology. 2. NEUROLOGICAL FACTORS 2.1
The Inheritance of Behavioural Patterns
The Inheritance of Behavioural Patterns When one suggests that a behavior is determined genetically, then one horribly oversimplifies the situation, and negates the importance of culture and free will in determining how a person behaves. One behavior that has gained large-scale acceptance as having a partial genetic cause is that of alcoholism. This genetic cause I expressed in terms of risk factor. It has often been noted that the children of alcoholics are more at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol than are other children. in the last five or so years, technique arising from the Human Genome Project have made it possible to sequence human genes and actually try to pinpoint the locus of the genes associated with alcohol risk. One of the studies examined in this paper even goes so far as to suggest that the gene that is associated with alcoholism determines not only one's risk for alcohol, but even the alcohol consumption habits of social drinkers. This is significant because it suggests that even normal behavior is genetically determined. Some studies of alcohol addiction correlate the risk for addiction with social disorders in general, which can be seen from childhood. It is one of the points of this paper that such correlations do not represent a genetic predisposition to antisocial behavior, but rather a potential cause for alcoholism which is not necessarily genetic.
Investigation into the language based disability (dyslexia) and what problems may arise in written discourse due to the condition
Investigation into the language based disability (dyslexia) and what problems may arise in written discourse due to the condition Introduction: Since an early age, I have always had a keen interest in dyslexia. My brother was diagnosed with having this condition when I was very young; therefore, I have always been aware of the problems that can exist with this condition. Due to my brother's struggle I have been supportive, thus developed a very personal interest in dyslexia. Therefore, when given an open titled research project in English language I chose to pursue my interest into this specific area, looking at the problems that a dyslexic child has with written work. As the title states my main aim in this investigation is to primarily concentrate on the difficulties and problems that may develop in a child's written language due to this condition. "A language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding words, sentences or paragraphs; both oral language and written language are affected" http://www.interdys.org/abcsofdyslexia/page5.asp As you can see from the quote, a main part of the definition of dyslexia relates to problems associated with written English language. I hope to discover that the child's work that I investigate will provide significant data to show such problems exist; letter reversal, word reversal, confusion of words, spelling errors,
Anorexia and Bulimia.
Anorexia and Bulimia a) Anorexics will have a very low body weight due to eating little food, often no more than 600 calories a day. Body weight is typically less than 85% of that expected. Someone with anorexia will have a very distorted attitude about their body weight, eating and food and these thoughts will override hunger, reassurances and threats. Thoughts about bodyweight may exaggerate its importance or minimise the dangers if being considerably underweight. For anorexia to be diagnosed there must be no known medical illnesses that could account for the weight loss and no known psychiatric disorder that may distort thinking about weight, such as obsessive-compulsive and phobic neuroses. b) An individual with bulimia nervosa will frequently binge on food and feel very out of control about their eating. Bingeing involves consuming much more food than most people would consume in that amount of time and in one binge the bulimic may consume several days worth of calories. After a binge the bulimic will purge and carry out inappropriate behaviour to prevent weight being gained. This may include self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or excessive exercise. This cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviour will take place at least twice a week. Another characteristic is that the individual has very distorted thinking about their body image. Self-evaluation depends
Child Sexual Abuse - A Psychologist's Responsibilities
-Child Sexual Abuse- A Psychologist's Responsibilities Name: Penny Hayden Student i.d: 2133799 Tutor: Colleen Respondek Tutorial: Tuesday 6pm Subject: Psyc 347 Abstract The pervasiveness of child sexual abuse in our society is becoming increasingly clear through an academic climate that no longer views this abuse as taboo. However, society at large seems reluctant to acknowledge let alone deal adequately with the issue. Psychologists, primarily because of the nature of their role, are continually faced with harrowing tales of child sexual abuse. As a group, psychologists cannot avoid the issue (Read, Kirsty, Argyle & Aderhold, 2003). Increasingly, research suggests that childhood sexual abuse places a person at a greater risk of a vast array of psychological problems. As a form of prevention psychologists play an important role in educating the public and providing current research (Paolucci, Genius & Vialato, 2001). Child sexual abuse is one of the most pervasive social problems faced by our society (Edwards, George, Holden, Felitti, Anda, 2003). Its impact is profound not only because of the frequency with which it occurs, but also because of the substantial trauma brought to the lives of victims. Historically, the sexual abuse of children was addressed reluctantly due to it being viewed as a disturbing taboo topic. In recent years the mental health
Anorexia is one of the most common eating disorders in the U.S.
Anorexia By Jesse Boyer Anorexia is one of the most common eating disorders in the U.S. People develop this disease in order to lose weight. What separates anorexics from people who exercise and eat healthy is the simple fact that anorexics don't eat. They use harmful ways to keep themselves from eating to the point of starvation. Anorexics first start by trying to control their eating habits but sooner or later their eating habits start to control them and could eventually result in death. Doctors are able to treat anorexia but they do not know the cause of this disorder. Because of this, there is no medication to help prevent or cure anorexia. There are three main factors that contribute to this disorder they are biological, psychological, and societal factors. Everyone thinks that anorexia only effects young teens, particularly teenage girls. Today, anorexia is widely spread out among boys as well as specific groups, such as sports. One percent of teenage girls in the U.S develop this disorder and more then ten percent are diagnosed and die. Doctors around the world have also found some cases of anorexia to be linked to depression, a risk for suicide. Most anorexics or people who have an eating disorder try to keep it a secret. In fact, anorexics live in fear for someone to find out they have this illness. Some of the things an anorexic person does to hide the illness
Discuss Recent Developments in our Understanding of the Pharmacology and Biochemistry of Depression
Discuss Recent Developments in our Understanding of the Pharmacology and Biochemistry of Depression Depression is a mental state which along with mania is classed as an affective disorder and can be defined as a pathological moodstate. Depression is usually phasic and is characterised by a return to normality during remission. Classification of depressive orders is very difficult because the disorders are heterogeneous and the symptoms range from mild to severe and can overlap with those of anxiety, schizophrenia and personality disorders. Generally two main types of depression are recognised; bipolar and unipolar. With unipolar depression, the origins of the illness are unknown and there may be periods of normality. Another type of Unipolar depression has been identified as 'reactive depression' and is generally related to environmental circumstances such as bereavement and changes in financial circumstance and is not usually treated with drugs. With bipolar depression or manic-depressive psychosis, there is an oscillation between depression and mania though, again there are bouts of normality. The discovery of antidepressant drugs resulted in various monoamine hypotheses of depression. The role of the catecholamines (noradrenaline and dopamine) was emphasised as the cause of depressive and manic disorders. (eg Bunney and Davis 1965, Schildkraut 1965,1978, Schildkraut and