No tenderness or pain was noted, No drainage, no perforation, no swelling or redness noted of the ear canal, Tympanic membrane is pearly gray, Shinny, translucent, non bulging or retracted. No impacted cerumen noted. Cranial Nerve 8 is intact with no auditory hearing loss. He was able to repeat words (Apple and Base ball). Good response to Rinne and Weber test, sound is symmetrical with no
“People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder report that the anxiety that they experience cause substantial interference with their lives and they need a significant dosage of medications to control their symptoms.” (Gerow and Chatmon 2013, p. 258). To try and help Mr. Hudson with his disorder I’m going to try two methods of treatment. The first method would be a psychoactive drug therapy. I will have him try an antianxiety drug called Equanil, a muscle relaxant for his extreme muscle tension. According to Gerow and Chatmon, “When muscular tension is reduced, a person usually reports feeling calm and at ease” (p. 281).
In terms of biochemistry, chemical imbalances in the brain may be involved in certain mental illnesses. Neurotransmitters, for example, play a very important part in behaviour – one theory links depression to low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline. However, the relationship between neurotransmitters and depression is very complex and therefore, more research is needed to discover the exact link between this and the disorder. People suffering from depression, also often have high levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is sometimes referred to as a ‘stress hormone’ because it is produced in times of stress.
Psychologists working from the biological perspective argue that we can inherit a predisposition to anxiety disorders (Morris & Maisto, 2010). In addition, research has shown that there are several parts of the brain that are involved with fear and anxiety, which reinforces the biological connection to anxiety disorders. Many psychologists theorize that anxiety is the result of excessive activation of the brain mechanism responsible for the fight-or-flight response (2011). Fight-or-flight is our brains way of determining the level of danger in a situation. When we are confronted with danger, like the smell of smoke, or a car coming toward us on the street two brain circuits become active and relay information about the danger.
It is noted that his excessive worry led him to see his doctor. Tom also has a problem with controlling Psychological Disorders his anxiety level. He has become aware that it is affecting his mood as he is often irritable, cannot concentrate and suffers from insomnia. All of these symptoms lead to the belief that Tom’s diagnosis is that of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Usually the most effective treatment would be the approach that combines psychological and psychopharmacologic approaches.
Case Study: Anxiety Answer Sheet Diagnosing Tina Student Name: Diagnosing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 1a. Refer to the DSM-IV checklist for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of Tina's symptoms meet any of the criteria? (Be sure to match specific symptoms with specific criteria.) |According the the DSM-IV checklist, Tina’s symptoms match the “Generalized Anxiety Diorder” number 3: “restlessness, easy fatigue, | |irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.” | 1b.
The biological approach is a way of looking at abnormality that assumes that psychological disorders are physical illnesses with physical causes. According to the biological approach, the cause of a psychopathology is to with genetics, neurotransmitters, infection or brain injury. Faulty genes are known to cause some diseases that have psychological effects, such as Huntington’s disease (leads to a deterioration of mental abilities), and Schizophrenia (leading to symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and disorganised behaviour.) A key study into the genetic basis of schizophrenia was done by Gottesman et al, who did a meta-analysis of 40 twin studies. It was found that having an identical twin with schizophrenia gave you a 48% chance of developing the condition.
When serotonin is released by one cell, it enters the next cell through an area of the cell membrane called the receptor. In OCD, some receptors are thought to block serotonin from entering the cell. This leads to a deficiency in the neurotransmitter in key areas of the brain; i.e. people with OCD may have too little serotonin for their nerve cells to communicate effectively.Dopamine activity:40% of OCD patients do not respond to SSRIs, suggesting that, in some at least, other neurotransmitters are involved. Animal studies have shown that high doses of dopamine aginists induce stereotyped movements in animals that resemble the compulsive behaviours found in OCD patients.
It is understood to be a disorder of pain processing and sensitivity. As described before serotonin, catecholamines, and dopamine all have a role in the pathophysiology of this disease. Abnormal functions of the stress response system of the body and the central nervous system are both to blame for fibromyalgia. The serotonin levels within the body have a large role, as this neurotransmitter helps to control pain. Fibromyalgia is often present when an individual has low levels of this specific neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
With this being the case, antipsychotic medications often have side effects that need to be monitored regularly by the health professionals (Young et al, 2011). Compliance is often a challenge with patients either because of the unmanageable side effects they experience or through limited insight. It is a role of the health professionals involved in the care to closely monitor this behaviour, as the effectiveness of the treatment may be affected (Young et al, 2011). Keller, Drexler &Lichtenberg (2009) discuss the benefits of treating paranoid schizophrenia with atypical antipsychotic medication clozapine and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). However both forms of treatment are linked with harsh side effects.