Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

In:

Submitted By heatheruga81
Words 954
Pages 4
Diagnosis and Treatment
University of Phoenix
Heather Pitts
BEH225

Insomnia Insomnia is a classified as a disorder but not as a disease. Although most people suffer at one point in their life with insomnia, not all cases get discovered and treated. Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that people fight with on daily basses. A person tends to deal with not being able to sleep, feel tired and drained, restless, and in some people, have mood swings because of being tired from not sleeping. People dealing with insomnia often have a hard time initiating sleep or maintaining sleep. Insomnia does not have a specific age group that is targeted but in some areas, most targeted with insomnia are those in unhealthy environments. Eating habits, social environments, work spaces, and family atmosphere all can play in developing insomnia.
Causes of Insomnia As mentioned earlier, insomnia comes mostly from other problems affecting the person. Stress however is one of the most common issues. People who often worry with problems such as work, school, family, and financials often have the problem with restlessness. By being stressed over a certain issue keeps the brain active with needless thoughts and not allowing the brain to come to rest. The issue next to stress would be medications. Often people take medications that are to help with one problem but end up affecting a person’s sleeping habits. If a person goes in reporting problems with pain, a doctor may prescribe a medication that will make a person jittery and not able to sleep. According to Mayo Clinic (1998), “Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including some pain medication combinations, decongestants and weight-loss products, contain caffeine and other stimulants” (Causes, para. 5). One more issue for a cause of stress is caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. These all carry high doses of stimulants which can alter with a person’s sleeping habits. Even though alcohol is considered a sedative, by drinking alcohol can cause a person to not reach a needed deeper pattern of sleep leaving the person feeling not rested or not sleeping a full term of sleep. People often think of alcohol as a way to rest and unwind from other stress related things; however alcohol does not help a person to sleep the deeper sleep that allows the mind to relax and regenerate to full potential.
Diagnosis of Insomnia Diagnosing insomnia is often a long ongoing process for some people. By seeking a medical doctor who specializes in insomnia, many tests can be ran to help discover a person who may feel or believe that they are suffering from insomnia. One of the tests doctors do is by giving a person a journal and telling the person to write their daily activities and food intakes. Another thing a person can keep track of in the journal to help them is by notating what events happen in the person’s life and how they affected the person directly. Another form of diagnosing insomnia is by taking a test called Epworth Sleepiness Scale. According to Health Central (2005) , “The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) uses a simple questionnaire to measure excessive sleepiness during eight situations” (Measuring Sleepiness, para. 1). This questioner consists of a series of questions relation to how a person may or may not doze off in normal everyday situations such as watching TV, laying down, driving, or sitting in a quite atmosphere.
Treatment for Insomnia After taking steps to identify what type of insomnia or if a person has insomnia, the right treatment can be taken to help fix the problem a person is having with sleeping. One of the simplest forms of fixing insomnia is altering a person living environments. By simply taking out distractions from a bedroom or changing the lighting may help to fix the problem.
Another source is by increasing a person’s exercise habits. By giving the body the right amount of exercise can help to create better circulation in a person’s breathing and blood flow and allow the body to know when sleep is needed rather than feeling restless or anxious.
If exercise and changing a person’s bedroom environment do not seem to help rectify the insomnia, a person may need the assistance of proper medications prescribed by a doctor. Most sleeping medications prescribed by a doctor however are not for use of long periods of time. The dangers of becoming addicted can become harmful if used for long periods of time. According to WebMD (1995), many sleep medicines cause side effects, such as low blood pressure, anxiety, and nausea (Medicines, para. 2). Although this form of treatment may be helpful, to older adults this can become a problem due to the fact that the medicines prescribed can affect the ability to think clearly. Another problem with medications used to treat insomnia is that a person’s body can create a tolerance to the over use of medications and may feel the need to take more than prescribed.
Although the insomnia is not considered a disease, this disorder can create a life long struggle if not handled properly. By seeking proper treatment, insomnia can be handled with many forms of treatment. Proper diagnosis for insomnia is the first step to taking the right steps for managing this disorder. By seeking help with insomnia by a medical professional, a person can be able to fully treat and manage this disorder very commonly known to most people.

Reference
Health Central. (2005). Diagnosis of Insomnia. Retrieved from http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-introduction-000027_6-145.html Mayo Clinic. (1998). Causes. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/insomnia/ds00187/dsection=causes WebMD. (1995). Sleep Disorders Health Center. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/insomnia-treatment-overview

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Running head: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT Diagnosis and Treatment BEH 225 6-11-11 University of Phoenix Diagnosis and Treatment I will be talking about today is (ADHD) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or (ADD) the definitions of (ADHD) (ADD) is the child being hyper and being impulsivity and it may be both of a combination. The issues can be diagnosed as the (ADHD) the individual would be out of control in the normal range for the child age and the growth (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011). In diagnosed of the ADHD ADD it does appear in the child behavior for the mental disorder the doctors can diagnosed the problem it first at school when the child does not pay any attention the teacher and will lose the interest in playing games or looking at TV and do not pay any attention to the parents and the homework. The child goes out of control they act up in the store with the parents (Psych Central 2011). The cause of the child and adult (ADHD), (ADD) it is inherited by a relative who has the same problem the individual brain it has lower dopamine in the brain. The children has ADHD ADD has thinner brain tissues in the brain and it the gens does show the various and not lasting as the child grow up in the brain of the child the brain will grow to a normal level as the thickness and the problem will decreased for the child having ADHD or ADD there is some work that need to be...

Words: 884 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment Axia College of the University of Phoenix BEH/225 Introduction to Behavior Science August 25, 2009 Individual mood disorders are distinguished by disruptions in a brain or extended emotional state. Many people have the ability to have happiness or to feel sadness depending on the situation, but one can also be joyous, depressed, and remorseful. People can also find themselves on the other side of the emotional scope with either consistently being excited and euphoric or constantly sad, depending on the particular circumstances of one’s personal lives. With many individuals with mood disorders, it can develop to be more extreme measures of disorders, like euphoria and sorry. There are many types of mood disorder a person can become susceptible to, some types of would include depression, mania and bipolar disease. Depression is distinguished by overwhelming feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities and/or hobbies, and perhaps excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness. Mania is characterized by ecstatic states, extreme physical activity, excessive talkativeness, distractedness, and something elaborateness. Bipolar is a mood disorder in which periods of mania and depression alternate with each lasting a day or so and sometimes with periods of normal moods intervening and intertwining. The current trends in diagnosis consist of biological, psychological, and social factors. With...

Words: 826 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatments

...Diagnosis and Treatments April BEH 225 May 19, 2012 Diagnosis and Treatments Autism is a psychological disorder that affects approximately one in five-hundred children (Morris & Maisto, 2002). It is a significant disorder that is characterized by deficits in social impairments and abnormal motor behaviorisms. While there is no known cause to this disorder, it is believed that autism may stem from biological factors. Over the years Autism was speculated to have a link between vaccines that were administered to the children because of possible mercury exposure containing Thimersosal (Love to Know Everything You'd Love to Know, 2011). However, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Office of Special Masters determined that the measles, mumps, and the rubella vaccine were not the cause of autism. In another perspective, a study done thru John Hopkins University and the Broad Institute of Harvard found a genetic code that is associated with Autism. The research studied the genetics of 1,031 families that had a minimum of two autistic members of the family. It was found that all the families exhibited the same pattern on the fifth chromosome near the gene semaphorin 5a. This gene’s expression was at a lower rate in the study with participants (Love to Know Everything You'd Love to Know, 2011). Additional studies have found that there may also be a link between Autism and autoimmune diseases. While most would advocate that Autism is a biological circumstance it...

Words: 854 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment University of Phoenix Axia College BEH 225 February 27, 2011 Abstract Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits, which may be excessive or insufficient food intake (Wikipedia, 2011). Diagnosing Eating Disorders The disorder that I have chosen to write about is Eating Disorders. There are many disorders within this category that include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. According to eating disorders the symptoms for diagnosing eating disorders are obsessed with food, body image and weight loss (Healthline, 2011). They may have severely limited food choices, bizarre eating rituals, excessively drink fluids and chew gum, avoid eating with other people, loss of interest in sex, low blood pressure, depressed body temperature, unexplained vomiting, and hair growth of the body or face (Healthline, 2011). Treating Eating Disorders There are numerous treatment options that are used for treating this disorder. Through research, it was found that the best ways to treat eating disorders are through therapy and counseling. Therapy is crucial to treating anorexia and bulimia. A therapist can address any feelings of shame and isolation caused by the eating disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common therapy for eating disorders because it educated about nutrition, healthy weight management, and relaxation techniques (Help Guide, 2011). Nutritional counseling is important to help the person...

Words: 978 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment Elizabeth Rodriguez BEH/225 February 22, 2012 Richard Miller There are close to 15 million Americans who suffer from major depressive disorder today according to figure 12-1 in the Understanding Psychology textbook on page 396 (Morris & Maisto, 2010). Depression is a mood disorder in which a person is stuck in the emotional state of sadness regardless of any positive events in his life. Clinical depression last much longer than “normal” depression. Everyone, at some point in their lives, will experience “normal” depression which is usually a reaction to a stressful event or experience; when that depression continues long after the event it is considered a mood disorder. Depression is brought on by social, biological, and psychological factors and can be treated by therapies and medication. “Major depressive disorder is an episode of intense sadness that may last for several months…” (Understanding Psychology, Chapter 12, pg. 398). Besides the overwhelming feeling of sadness there are usually other symptoms. Concentration may be impaired making reading, working, or making decisions difficult. Problems with concentration and changes in short-term memory can be the first signs of depression. A person can lose interest in food, sex, or other activities he used to take pleasure in. Lack of sleep, Insomnia, or too much sleep is common. In some cases people may develop suicidal thoughts or tendencies; teenagers and young adults are more likely to act...

Words: 917 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment 1 Diagnosis and Treatment Axia College Diagnosis and Treatment 2 There are many different personality disorders. Types include: paranoid, schizotypal, schizoid, borderline, narcissistic, antisocial, dependent, obsessive compulsive (different than obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD) histrionic and avoidant. The person with the personality disorder will tend to blame everyone and everything else for their problems. Not having insight that their behavior affects their life is a hallmark of a personality disorder. A thorough evaluation by a trained professional is the best way to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. Personality disorder is a general term for a type of mental illness in which your ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional. When doctors believe someone has a personality disorder, they typically run a series of medical and psychological tests and exams. These exams and tests generally include: physical exams, laboratory tests, and psychological evaluations. Physical exams may include measuring height and weight, checking vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure...

Words: 818 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment Shirlene Deshields Axia College of the University of Phoenix Mood Disorders are characterized by disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state (Morris and Maisto, 2005). These disorders, also referred to as affective disorders, involve continual feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. Humans by nature have a wide emotional range. One moment a person can be “up” and then “down” the next depending on circumstances. For those with a mood disorder, this range of emotion is significantly constrained. Both Biological and Psychological Factors play a role in the development of mood disorders. There is evidence that exist that proves that this disorder can be passed down through genetics and are caused by certain chemical imbalances in the brain (Morris and Maisto, 2005). The most common mood disorders are depression, and bipolar disorder. When a person is persistently dealing with feelings of sadness beyond a time span of a few weeks, he or she may have depression. The mechanisms that trigger depression are still unknown to researchers. However, two natural substances that allow brain cells to communicate with one another-are also known as neurotransmitters are implicated in depression: serotonin and norepinephrine. Mood disorders are thought to be caused by nature and nurture. Biological factors that may lead to a bipolar episode are chemical imbalances...

Words: 794 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...HCA 240 Checkpoint: Diagnosis and Treatment “I’ve been experiencing lower abdominal pain” “This pain have caused me diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and constipation” “I’ve been coming very dehydrated when these episodes occur” “Due to my inability to eat I have lost some pounds over recent weeks” Barbara Holakovsky. From her symptoms explained it seems to me that Barbara is suffering from Regional Enteritis which is also referred as Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any area of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Since there has not been any diagnosis made, the diagnosis that I would offer is to request lab tests and x rays to determine if the disease seems to appear in Barbara’s body. The types of test that I would run are barium x rays and other x rays for showing where and how severe Crohn's disease is. It’s helpful for finding any problems in parts of the small intestine that can't be easily viewed by other techniques. CT scans for usage of computer-aided X-ray techniques to produce more detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis than can be seen in traditional X-rays, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to allow for to directly viewing the large intestine, which is the lower part of the digestive tract , and a video capsule endoscopy in which Barbara will swallow a small capsule or pill that holds a miniature video camera. As it travels through her small intestine, it sends images of the lining to a receiver...

Words: 336 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment Kelly Haggerty BEH/225 April, 21, 2013 Debra Pearce Diagnosis and Treatment There are many psychological disorders that can significantly impact the way in which a person functions within their daily lives, and of these afflictions, depression is rapidly increasing among many within the general population. It is because of this that it has become increasingly imperative for us to come to a better understanding of what depression is, how it manifests, and how to properly diagnose and treat the disorder. We all learn to use our emotions to guide us through life, and while in a healthy emotional state; they will propel us to excel by motivating and encouraging feelings that bring forth a sense of inner peace. However, those suffering with depression will be conflicted with thoughts that encourage negative feelings toward oneself, surroundings, and their overall purpose in life. It is when these negative thoughts take control of ones emotions that they begin to feel a significant interference within their quality of life and that the presence of a mood disorder is recognized. Depression is caused by various factors and they range from genetic predispositions, chemical imbalances, and ongoing stressful exposures. Most frequently, depression is a combination of these factors, and it is because of this that the proper diagnosing of depression may come from many levels and may present treatments that are intrusive and extensive. Diagnosis: In order...

Words: 1916 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Assignment Diagnosis and Treatment Antisocial Personality Disorder Beh/225 There are innumerable psychological disorders that are defined and spoken about. I have chosen to focus upon Antisocial Personality Disorder. This disorder not only affects the person diagnosed with the disease but also affects everyone around that person. This is the reason that trends in diagnosis and treatments change so much, it is broadly studied. The most current issue of “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”, (2012), says that “APD as one of four Personality Disorders along with dramatic and narcissistic personality disorders. Antisocial Personality Disorder is also known as psychopathy, sociopathy or dyssocial personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder. This is a diagnosis concerning individuals who routinely behave with little or no regard for the rights, safety, or feelings of others”. “Dr. Robert Hare, an authority on psychopathy and the originator of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, claims that all psychopaths have APD but not all individuals diagnosed with APD are psychopaths”, (Gale encyclopedia, 2008). Individuals whom are diagnosed with this disorder have a tendency to harm themselves and other members of the general population. This may...

Words: 933 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Checkpoint: Diagnosis and Treatment BEH/225 Introduction to Behavioral Science December 17, 2010 Checkpoint: Diagnosis and Treatment The disorder I have chosen is Schizophrenia, it’s said that schizophrenia means “split personality”. Schizophrenia in the Greek language means “split mind”. Schizophrenia is defined as a severe mental illness distinguished by a variety of symptoms including loss of contact with reality, disorganized thinking, disorganized speech, bizarre behavior, decreased emotional expressiveness, diminished or loss of contact with reality, and diminished to total social withdrawal. Some people can also experience vivid hallucinations, a fake sensory perception, usually voices that are not really there. One percent of the world’s population is affected by schizophrenia, making it the most common form of psychosis. It is important to understand the differences between schizophrenia and psychosis. Psychosis is a term that is used to describe psychotic symptoms. Schizophrenia is a psychosis. There are many different brain disorders that can lead to psychotic symptoms, including tumors, use of illegal drugs, strokes, and infections. Even if a serious case of depression goes on for too long without being treated, psychotic symptoms will start to form. Those few examples just shows that not all psychosis is relate to schizophrenia. This is why doctors may take up to 6 months or more to diagnose a person that may be suspected of having schizophrenia, this is...

Words: 1132 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...BEH/225 September 18, 2011 Annie Hollis I’m going to be talking about Mood Disorders this is a very common disorder in the U.S. Mood disorders are characterized by the disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state, sometime referred to as affect. People tend to have a wide emotional state, one day they can be happy the next they can be sad. They can be cheerful or discouraged, excited or miserable it all depends on what’s going through their head that day. The simplest thing can change the mood of a person in this state of mind or they could be stuck in a particular emotional spectrum. Depression is the one a touch on in my paper; this is the most common mood disorder. Depression is a state in which a person feels overwhelmed with sadness, loses interest in activities, and displays other symptoms such as excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness. People that suffer from this disorder are distant from family and friends and are not in the mood to have fun. They feel people are always talking about them, their always tired, and can’t make the simplest decisions. My cousin had a severe case of depression; she lost interest in sex, food, and spending quality time with her husband. She had trouble concentrating and often said people think she stinks at work. The reason I said she had a severe case because she committed suicide days before our family reunion. Her husband stated the...

Words: 932 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment

...Diagnosis and Treatment BEH/225 August 5, 2012 Ashleigh Louis Mood disorders are very common; they have a broad range of emotions that play a role in the behavior depending on the situation. Depression is the most common mood disorder; a state of mind where a person is overwhelmed with what is occurring in life and feels worthless. A person can have normal depression, clinical depression, which is a more severe form that lasts longer and involves loss of pleasure in nearly everything they do, or dysthymia, depression that lingers for long periods of time but is not major. Mood disorders can be caused by biological, psychological, and social factors because each plays a role in a person’s daily life. Treatment of the disorder has remained quite similar to how it was done years ago with some slight changes being implemented throughout the years to keep current with the times (Morris & Maisto, 2010). Depression is a common and normal reaction to the many life struggles one will face; it just varies in how bad a person gets it. It is very normal for someone to get upset and be sad over something that has occurred in life, but when it starts to affect how a person behaves for a long period of time, then, there may very well be a problem. There is major depression and chronic depression, dysthymia, a DSM-IV-RT is used to distinguish between the two (Morris & Maisto, 2010). A person who just feels blue, cannot think straight, sleep, and does not want to participate in...

Words: 1132 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression

...Trends in Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression University of Phoenix Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression Introduction It is not uncommon for a person to experience feelings of unhappiness or depression. For a majority of people, such feelings are often short-lived. However, for others, it may be a long-term battle that lasts for a longer period of time; it’s those people who experience unvarying unhappiness or depression, which can be deemed as a depressive disorder. Having depressive disorders has the capacity to trespass into a person’s everyday life. Additionally, it has the ability to cause hurting associations between the person who is experiencing it and the people who are close with the person. Depression is a familiar state for most people; however, it can be a severe illness that can have far-reaching affects. Definition of Depression Depression is considered to be a psychological state that entails an elongated period of sadness (Lewis, 2003). Depression is depicted as a mixture of symptoms that slow down a person's capacity to function properly. Depression may only take place briefly within a person’s life, but it is typically recurrent. Depression has the capability to make the sufferer’s life agonizing; a sign, which means that adequate treatment, is required. It should be noted, however, that the illnesses within depressive are not all comprised of similar symptoms; the severity, regularity and period of symptoms...

Words: 1698 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety

...Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety Everyone will experience fear at some point in their lifetime, and the person will usually know why they are afraid. The cause of the fear is identifiable and appropriate to the situation and will pass with time. However, in the case of anxiety disorders, the person either does not know why he or she is afraid or the level of anxiety is inappropriate to the situation. Anxiety disorders are detected when a person suffers from a disorder in which anxiety is a characteristic feature or the avoidance of anxiety seems to motivate abnormal behavior (Morris & Maisto, 2005). National surveys expose the fact that anxiety disorders are more common than any other form of mental disorder (Morris & Maisto, 2005). The main types of anxiety disorders are specific phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (Morris & Maisto, 2005). A very interesting form of anxiety disorder is obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder in which a person feels driven to think disturbing thoughts, perform senseless rituals, or a combination of both (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Obsessions are involuntary thoughts or ideas that continue to occur regardless if the person’s attempts to stop them (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Compulsions are repetitive, ritualistic behaviors that a person feels obligated to perform (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Obsessive thoughts are usually repulsive and...

Words: 878 - Pages: 4