...Explanations and Treatment of Abnormal Behaviour Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a type of abnormal psychology. Abnormality can be defined in three ways as a deviation from statistical norm, a deviation from the social norms and cultural relativism. However there are problems with defining abnormalities in terms of a system that relies on subjective judgment of a person’s behaviour. For example, someone experiencing hallucinations in Puerto Rico would be attributed to external forces (e.g. Spiritual visitations). However in the western world, the same hallucinations would be considered abnormal (Berry et al 1992). Mental Disorders are classified today by using, The Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria 295.40 (Schizophrenia), and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision(IDC-10) are used to aid in the psychiatric diagnosis of the disorder. Introduction The term ‘Schizophrenia’ was first used in 1911 by Swiss psychiatrist, Eugen Bleuler, and literally means ‘split mind’. He used the term to describe a general class of disorders that are characterised by a number of similar symptoms. These were: * Disorganised thought processes. * A split between intellect and emotion. * A split between intellect and external reality Schizophrenia typically begins in early adulthood; between the ages of 15 and 25. Men tend to get develop schizophrenia somewhat earlier than women; whereas most males become...
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...DISCUSSION OF HOW PEOPLE LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA CAN LIVE WITH THE CONDITION. PYC4802,PSYCHOPATHOLOGY.UNIQUE NUMBER 668049.STUDENT NO.48415952 Page 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------PAGE 1. Schizophrenia--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 2. Symptoms ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 2.1. Positive symptoms----------------------------------------------------------------------4 Hallucinations---------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Delusions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Disorganized Thinking (Speech)----------------------------------------------------------5 Disorganized or Catatonic Behavior-----------------------------------------------------5 2.2. Negative symptoms--------------------------------------------------------------------5 Alogia-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Affective flattening--------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Avolition----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 3. Types of schizophrenia--------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Paranoid Schizophrenia-------------------------------------------------------------------------6 ...
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...Introduction Regardless of whether the psychosis is functional or organic, consciousness may be constructed from input from our senses, however when experiencing psychosis symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, may provoke the experience of stimuli such as hearing voices or visual disturbances that are not rooted in reality. There is some evidence that psychotic symptoms may be provoked or aggravated by emotional distress, the negative relationship between negative affect and psychotic symptoms, therefore, supports the use of psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Family Intervention (FI) in ameliorating psychotic symptoms. As such we should consider our choice strategy when targeting psychotic symptoms,...
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...behaviour involves any behaviour that is significantly different from the norm. for instance some one who is very clever is considered normal in terms of cleverness average on the other hand if some one is less or below the average he or she is considered abnormal. Therefore in the statistical impression, strange behavior improper behaviour could be classified as abnormal. Deviation from Social Norms defines the change or deviation of an individual, from society's traditional acts for example in some cultural backgrounds when couple are getting married women is responsible for every thing while others give the responsibility to the man and they thing other except from their tradition cultural believes is abnormal and they think if some does something different that he or she is deviated from cultural and social norms. There are also a number of principles for one to look at before reaching a judgment as to whether someone has deviated from society's norms. Firstly one of these for instant are cultural norms the cultural definition of abnormality includes any behaviour that deviates from cultural norms because what some one may be seen as normal in one culture, may be seen as...
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...Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects many people in the world today. Most people with this disease are considered disabled because daily life as a normal citizen is almost impossible. “People with schizophrenia may hear voices that other people don't hear. They may think other people are trying to hurt them. Sometimes they don't make any sense when they talk,” (National Institute of Mental Health). The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from mild to severe depending on the patient. “Schizophrenia is characterized by the following symptoms; delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking and emotional unresponsiveness,” (Simon, Harvey, and David Zieve). There is not yet a single cause of schizophrenia that is known. “Rather, it appears to be a result of multiple causes such as genetic factors, environmental and psychological assaults, and possible hormonal changes that alter the brain’s chemistry,” (Simon, Harvey, and David Zieve). There are many risk factors of schizophrenia such as, age, gender, intelligence, cultural and geographic factors, socioeconomic factors, famine and malnutrition, and other factors are associated with this illness. “Schizophrenia is categorized as a brain disease, not a psychological disorder, and drug treatment is the primary therapy,” (Simon, Harvey, and David Zieve). There are other therapies available to help with this disease. “The doctor will use one or more verbal screening tests to help determine whether a patient’s symptoms meet the criteria...
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...Disorders, Diseases, and Drugs Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. Schizophrenia is a group of severe brain disorders in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior. About one percent of Americans have this illness. People with the disorder may hear voices other people don't hear. Contrary to some popular belief, schizophrenia isn't split personality or multiple personality. The word "schizophrenia" does mean "split mind," but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated. People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking. Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for them selves, so they rely on others for help. Treatment helps relieve many symptoms of schizophrenia, but most people who have the disorder cope with symptoms throughout their lives. However, many people with schizophrenia can lead rewarding and meaningful lives...
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...processes that occur in the body can lead to more effective drugs and relief for many people suffering from psychological disorders. Schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, and anxiety are all psychological disorders that psychologists must deal with on a regular basis. Understanding these disorders is important for the health and well-being of patients. Part A: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that has many complex symptoms, most of which can also be associated with other disorders (Pinel, 2011). Schizophrenia affects many parts of the brain, including the forebrain and hindbrain. The cingulated gyrus, amygdale, and hippocampus are also affected. These areas are all part of the limbic system. It is believed that schizophrenia occurs when functional circuits of the brain are disturbed, which affects the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and thalamus (Lundbeck Institute, 2011). With such a large area of the brain being affected by this psychiatric disorder, it brings a host of symptoms. These symptoms are divided into two different groups, positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are ones that cause an excess of normal function, and negative symptoms cause a decrease of normal function. Separating the symptoms of schizophrenia can assist professionals with developing an effective treatment plan for their patients. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, incoherent speech, and delusions. Negative symptoms include lack of emotional expression, motivation, and speech, and also an...
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...Mayo clinic states that “Although antidepressants may not cure depression, they can reduce your symptoms” (mayoclinic). With this being said, it is not possible for the antidepressants to cure people, however; the case of the matter is that when an individual has depression, or bi-polar disorder, the disorder is caused by a “chemical imbalance” (webmd.com). Antidepressants affect how the neurotransmitters work. Neurotransmitters are brain chemical that send out information. The chemicals may include “serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine” (webmd.com). Under the umbrella of antidepressants are Reuptake Inhibitors, which are SSRIs, SNRIs, and NDRIs. “The process in which neurotransmitters are naturally reabsorbed back into nerve cells in the brain after they are released to send messages between nerve cells” (webmd.com). Reuptake...
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...The most appropriate DSM-5 Diagnosis for the client would be schizophrenia. This diagnosis is based in the client’s display of all five major symptomatic criteria, with substantial symptom bases found in criteria A1, A3, and A4 – that is, delusions, disorganized thinking / speech, and grossly disorganized / abnormal behavior. The delusions experienced by the patient may be described as both grandiose and persecutory; these are not found simultaneously in a singular thought pattern, but rather run concurrently. The client’s grandiose delusions form the basis of her self-concept, as she is convinced of her being on the verge of a major philosophical and spiritual discovery. This delusion may serve as the primary element in motivating all other...
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...Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes and contents through a number of goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures. The name refers to behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and to therapy based upon a combination of basic behavioral and cognitive principles and research. CBT is thought to be effective for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, tic, and psychotic disorders. Many CBT treatment programs for specific disorders have been evaluated for efficacy; the health-care trend of evidence-based treatment, where specific treatments for symptom-based diagnoses are recommended, has favored CBT over other approaches such as psychodynamic treatments.[1] CBT was primarily developed through an integration of behavior therapy (the term "behavior modification" appears to have been first used by Edward Thorndike) with cognitive psychology research, first by Donald Meichenbaum and several other authors with the label of cognitive-behavior modification in the late 1970s. This tradition thereafter merged with earlier work of a few clinicians, labeled as Cognitive Therapy (CT), developed by Aaron Beck, and Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) developed by Albert Ellis. While rooted in rather different theories, these two traditions have been characterized by a constant reference to experimental research to test hypotheses...
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...I appreciate the opportunity to present to you my knowledge on this particular disorder, schizophrenia as well as the chance to review the two case studies that you have allowed me to review. I am sure I can provide the information you are looking for in a professional manner. To begin, there are many different types of psychological disorders and they are all somewhat the same but also very different. A mental disorder can range from something that slightly disrupts a person’s life, for instance a mild case of anxiety all the way to something as grim as schizophrenia. These disorders affect each aspect of our lives to include cognitive, emotional, and behavioral roles. (Pinel, 2006). Schizophrenia and mental disorders in general are characterized by disturbances of mental functioning, analogous to disturbances of bodily functioning. (Press, 2010) The symptoms vary for those who have been diagnosed as being schizophrenic, as with anything each case will be different in severity. There are two different types of symptoms which are positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms do include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech and inappropriate affect. Negative symptoms include poverty of speech, blunted and flat affect, loss of volition and social withdrawal. To have a better understanding of what each symptom entails we will review each of them. Hallucinations often occur in the hearing realm, meaning individuals hear voices that aren’t really there...
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...bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. Describe the drugs used to treat the above disorders in terms of unique pharmacological properties, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and cognitive and behavioral effects. Formulate a pharmacotherapeutic treatment plan when presented with a patient having depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, an anxiety disorder, or insomnia. Discuss the treatment of substance abuse using alcohol abuse as a model. 4. 2. C. Theophylline. D. Pseudoephedrine. Which one of the following antidepressants would be least likely to cause drug-disease or drug-drug interactions for T.N.? A. Venlafaxine. B. Fluvoxamine. C. Phenelzine. D. Fluoxetine. Which one of the following periods represents the continuation therapy phase for T.N.’s depression? A. 6–12 weeks. B. 12–16 weeks. C. 6–12 months. D. 2−3 years. T.N. will be seen initially at monthly intervals to assess antidepressant therapy. Which one of the following instruments is a patient-completed measure of depressive symptoms that could be used to assess his response? A. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. B. Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. C. Beck Depression Inventory. D. Clinical Global Improvement Scale. Which one of the following conditions would lead to an increase in the lithium serum concentration? A. Increased sodium intake. B. Increased fluid intake. C. Initiation of levothyroxine therapy. D. Initiation of ibuprofen therapy. Which one of the...
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...willing to open up to him and wouldn’t shut down when he asked her questions. These two examples show that people are willing to speak with someone that they do not see on a day-to-day basis, and also how it is okay to move at their own pace. They feel less judged working with strangers at times than those who know them on a more personal level. Being able to find someone that they are comfortable with talking to has shown tremendous improvement in their day-to-day lives. Part two of this assignment was to provide a detailed treatment plan for a hypothetical client with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder. The treatment plan needs to include assessment options, goals, interventions, and anything else that is relevant. The initial process in place to begin assisting the client would be to screen and assess the client. There are a few different screening tools that could be beneficial in confirming the schizophrenia diagnosis. Some of those tools include the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical...
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...and the biological relationship of mental disease that goes on in the brain. This knowledge helps to better diagnose and treat patients. Hopefully one day we will know enough to be able and determine an individuals risk for these diseases from a simple blood test or scan. One mental disease suffered by many is Schizophrenia. This disorder present’s itself with both positive and negative symptoms. A positive symptom is classified as something that represents excess or distortion of normal function. This includes symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, incoherent speech or thought, inappropriate affect (failure to react with appropriate emotion to positive or negative events), or odd behavior such as repeating tasks or remaining motionless. Negative symptoms are classified as something that represents reduction or loss of normal function. These symptoms include affective flattering which is the reduction or absence of emotional expression, alogia or reduction of speech, avolition or reduction of motivation, and anhedonia which is the inability to experience pleasure. Early experiential factors are implicated in the development of schizophrenia. These factors include birth complications, early infection, autoimmune reactions, toxins, traumatic injury, and stress. Such factors are thought to alter normal course of neurodevelopment leading to schizophrenia in individuals with...
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...Schizophrenia is characterized by a broad range of unusual behaviors that cause profound disruption in the lives of people suffering from the condition, as well as in the lives of the people around them. Schizophrenia strikes without regard to gender, race, social class or culture. Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, disabling mental disorder typically characterized by a separation between the thought processes and the emotions (Torrey). Schizophrenia is a common disorder, striking one person in every hundred (Schizophrenia). For most people, young adulthood means leaving home, starting a job and starting a family. For most schizophrenics, young adulthood means first admission to a psychiatric hospital. An unfortunate reality for young schizophrenics is the need for hospitalization during their most vibrant and productive time. The age of the first admission is younger for men than women, early twenties for males and mid-twenties for women. The reasoning behind this variation is not exactly known but there is speculation. One biological theory that exists is the help of the female sex hormones. Scientists speculate that these hormones may help delay the horrifying symptoms that afflict schizophrenics. Another question raised is who gets schizophrenia more commonly, men or women? Studies have shown there is no great variation in the numbers but in the severity of the symptoms. Men seem to suffer more severely. Scientists have attempted to explain this through differences...
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