Analyzing Psychological Disorders Essay Example for Free

Analyzing Psychological Disorders EssayA psychiatric or psychological disorder is a disorder of psychological function severe enough to warrant preaching by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Schizophrenia, emotional disorders, foreboding and Tourettes syndrome argon every last(predicate) classified as psychiatric disorders. The distinguishing line between neuropsychological disorders and psychiatric disorders is quite thin. Though the twain types of disorders ar a result of a dysfunctional brain, the malfunctions which create psychiatric disorders remain undefined. Psychiatric disorders atomic number 18 often linked to environmental factors as intimately as dysfunction of the brain. As psychological enquiry advances, treatments and a better understanding of psychiatric disorders comes to bear.The term dementia praecox means a psychic mark or splitting of psychic function. (Pinel, 2007). The NIH National subroutine library of Medicine web site defines schizophre nia as having five different categories catatonic, disorganized, paranoid, residual, and undifferentiated. (NIH National depository library of Medicine, 2008). Each category of the disorder has a particular set of symptoms that is mostly unique to that category of the disorder, just schizophrenia in general creates a psychoneurotic picture of reality which disrupts the persons behavior, logic and emotions. A good example of schizophrenia and the related to dissociative disorders are the movie Sybil or the more recent film A Beautiful Mind, and some other fine example is the television show United States of Tara. Both movies and the Showtime networks serial depict the lives of a person agony with schizophrenia or dissociative disorders.Neu roleptics and antipsychotic drugs are cognize to alleviate symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Clozapine is a type of neuroleptic that does not produce side personal set up equal those associated with Parkinsons disease. The medicati on is known to cause blood disorders. Neuroleptic medication is used to block the dopamine receptors though it takes time for the drug to lessen schizophrenic symptoms. Though neuroleptics help schizophrenics, only certain uncomplainings do win from the relief these drugs can offer. Schizophrenic patients suffering from hallucinations and incoherence react to the medication however schizophrenics suffering from cognitive defects are not affected. The NIH National Library of Medicine web site mentioned atypical antipsychotics have proved to treat symptoms for schizophreniawith few side effects and is the take up option for those suffering with schizophrenia. (NIH National Library of Medicine, 2008).A surgeon in the 1950s and early 1960s used a drug called chlorpromazine on patients to alleviate swelling prior to surgery. The doctor noticed that the medicine acted as a appeasement agent and recommended chlorpromazine to relax unverbalised to control psychotic patients. Chlorpro mazine did not assuage the symptoms of psychosis, but the medicine showed potential for easing some symptoms in schizophrenic patients. During the question process the side effects of chlorpromazine which are symptoms of Parkinsons disease were evident. Researchers concluded that people suffering from Parkinsons disease die from a twinkling level of dopamine. Schizophrenics display a high-level of dopamine. Therefore Parkinsons and Schizophrenia seem to be on the opposition end of the spectrum. A fly the coopthrough emerged in the dopamine theory with Carlsson and Lindqvist.The duo studied the Chlorpromazine in relation to schizophrenia and revised the dopamine theory of schizophrenia. Chlorpromazine was found to block dopamine receptors rather of the original theory of reducing dopamine levels. Therefore, the duo concluded through research that schizophrenia wasnot due to high-levels of dopamine, but with over activity at the dopamine receptors. (Pinel, 2007).Emotional disorde rs are another public figure of a psychiatric disorder. Emotional disorders include bipolar disorder, first gear, and mania. Depression is classified as a call down of unbearable sadness. At some point in a persons life one provide pick up a period of picture due to a tragedy such as loss of a loved one, poor health, or a series of bad luck. However, most people will break through the grip of depression and return to a expression life. Those with depression have a hard time seeing anything in a positive light. Depression ruins relationships at work and in the billet the disease also takes over the person making it difficult to engage in a normal day-to-day routine.Mania is the opposite of depression and is linked to high energy and impulse. A person suffering from mania appears to be full of energy or hopped up on energy drinks like Red-Bull and caffeine they are filled with such enthusiasm, have boundless energy and talk fast. Though it sounds like an especial(a)thing to be constantly in a good spirits there is a negative side to the disorder. Impulsiveness is a part of mania and many suffers act on impulse not idea before they do anything. The end result is unfinished projects, bills that cannot be paid, and relationships ruined. A person who suffers from manic episodes and depression episodes is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.There are two theories created to explain the causes of emotional disorders. According to Pinel (2007), The monoamine theory of depression holds that depression is associated with under-activity at serotonergic and noradrenergic synapses. It is based on the fact that monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, and selective norepinephrinereuptake inhibitors are all agonistsof serotonin, norepinephrine, or both. The second theory is Diathesis-Stress model. The second theory focuses on genetic predispositions of a person as well as environmental factors that influence the d isorder. This means that people who have stress early on will overreact to stressful situations later in life in turn causing depression. (Pinel, 2007).There are four types of medicine used to treat emotional disorders. Iproniazid is a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) initially used to treat atomic number 65 but failed. On the contrary the patients did not have as many depressive thoughts about the illness. Iproniazid has severe effects when combined with tyramine rich foods. Imipamine is a tricyclic antidepressant which has proven to be more effective than MAOIs. The next medication is Lithium which was shown to alleviate symptoms of mania.The discovery was made when a researcher tested greaseball pigs and the results proved to calm them. Lithium is used as a mood stabilizer in bi-polar patients since it blocks the patient from transitioning between extreme highs and lows. The fourth medicine used more commonly in recent days is selective serotonin-reupta ke inhibitors (SSRIs). The most common of the SSRIs are Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. The SSRIs are reported to have few side effects and are able to treat multiple disorders. (Pinel, 2007).Anxiety is chronic fear that persists in the absence of any direct threat. (Pinel, 2007). Anxiety is accompanied by fast heartbeat, heavy or difficulty breathing and high blood pressure. There are fivetypes of disturbance disorders including general misgiving, phobias, obsessive compulsiveness, panic, and post traumatic stress disorder. Theories involving anxiety disorders presume the amygdala has a role in anxiety disorders. The brains involvement in anxiety is cloudy at best since each patient tested shows different results. (Pinel, 2007). Benzodiazepines and serotonin agonists are the most effective medications used to charge anxiety. Valium and Librium are two of the most commonly prescribed medications, though they tend to authorise the patient drowsy. The medicine isalso known to be highly addictive and is recommended only for short-term usage.buspirone is a serotonin agonist which relaxes the body and causes sleepiness. (Pinel, 2007). Tourettes syndrome is known for involuntary movements or sounds known as tics. The Cedars-Sinai web site notes that the tics can vary from body movements and vocal tics. The tics can be a brusque as involuntary eye blinking or more noticeable yelling of obscene language or phrases. Little is known as to the cause of Tourettes, however there is speculation that the limbic cortex, tie beam cortex and thalamus are connected to the disorder. (Pinel, 2007). With the cause still a mystery there is no repossess for Tourettes, but though counseling, relaxation therapy and hypnosis healthcare professionals can help treat the disorder. (Cedars-Sinai. 2008).Psychiatric disorders vary in many ways. Schizophrenia affects the brain and causes hallucinations, emotional disorders affect a persons mood in extreme ways, and anxiety causes fear and h ealth issues, while Tourettes causes tics ranging from subtle to severe. Over time psychological advances in research and treatment have been made allowing professionals in the field to effectively treat each disorder.ReferencesCEDARS-SINAI. (2008). Tourettes syndrome. Retrieved June 10, 2009, from http//www.csmc.edu/5540.htmlNIH National Library of Medicine. (2008). Medical Encyclopedia Schizophrenia. Retrieved June 9, 2009, from http//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000928.htmPinel, J. P. J. (2007). Basics of Biopsychology. Boston, MA. Allyn and Bacon.