Treatments and Therapies 1.1 Evaluate three approaches to treating mental disorders. Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with psychopathology and abnormal behavior. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsession-compulsion to sexual deviation. Counselors, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists often work directly in this field in order to understand abnormal psychology. There are several methods used by psychologists to treat mental disorders, I shall be outlining three of those in this essay, namely the psychoanalysis, biological therapies and the behavioural methods respectively.
Psychopathology is the term used to describe psychological function which deviates from the norm. This can include mental disorders, and so explanations of psychopathology attempt to describe why individuals develop these disorders. As with all aspects of psychology, there are many different perspectives, and in this essay the Biological and Cognitive models will be addressed. The biological approach sees mental disorders as caused by abnormal physiological processes such as genetic and biochemical factors. Psychological abnormality, according to this model, is an illness or disease.
Title: Analyse a therapy used in an aspect of Mental Health Care and its Evidence Base Chosen Topic: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is an enduring mental illness and “a major psychiatric disorder, or cluster of disorders, characterised by psychotic symptoms that alter a person’s perception, thoughts, affect and behaviour” (NICE, 2009). “Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talking therapy that attempts cognitive and behavioural change based on an individualised formulation of a client’s personal history, problems and world views” (Tai and Turkington, 2009). It was built on behavioural principles that emphasised “clear relationships between cognition, physiology and emotion” (Beck, 1952). This essay will analyse the use of CBT as a psychosocial intervention to patients with schizophrenia. Additionally, it will discuss definition of severe mental illness and why it is hard to define on a single definition and how it is being assessed for appropriate management and treatment.
Sigmund Freud was the first to challenge the view that mental disorders were caused by physical illness and proposed that psychological factors were responsible for the illness. The psychodynamic approach highlights the importance of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences. Psychodynamic psychologist’s attempt to deal with the mental health issues of their patients by incorporating these ideas and creating therapies using these ideas. The basic concept behind psychoanalysis is that a patient that suffers from mental health problems such as depression can address any regressed feelings thus, the patient gains insight of and can learn to work through their emotional baggage. It is a generalised concept that if the cause of the symptoms were tackled it would only be logical that the symptoms would then cease.
Depression is often misinterpreted in residual schizophrenic, one who no longer suffers from hallucinations, but has no will to live (Mental Health America, 2011). More risk factors and controversy of the disease also include the tendency and concept of suicide to schizophrenics. Ten percent of schizophrenics that attempt to commit suicide every year are successful, while forty percent will try to harm themselves (National Mental Health Institute, 2007). Most people will assume schizophrenia is a violently paranoid disease causing the implication that all schizophrenics are violent, this is not true. The majority of schizophrenics prefer to be left alone and not
Examine how three of the major psychological perspectives explain two mental health conditions. (1500) There are many different perspectives used by psychologists to explain a mental illness. Depression and schizophrenia will be discussed in this essay in relation to a biological, cognitive and behaviourist perspective. This essay will provide evidence for each of the models discussed. It will also include an evaluation of their explanation of the theories for the causes of depression and schizophrenia.
Running Head: PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY Name: University: Course: Tutor: Date: Introduction This paper is intended to discuss the psychoanalytic theory as developed by Sigmund Feud. The paper will also discuss the differences between the relational and isolated-mind view of human and emotion distress. I will also discuss the Heinz Kohut’s psychology of the self. I will also take time to highlight the differences between a theory that understands emotional distress as emanating from the inside of the patient alone versus theories that understand distress as emanating from the relational contexts in which self objects needs are not being met. Further still, I will discuss the differences between the theories that see the patient’s behavior as coming from patients mind alone versus the theories that see the patient as reacting to his/her environment.
Although, the MRI studies have been unable to produce statistically significant evidence in support of volumetric loss of brain mass, several theories associated with the serotonergic and noradrenergic synapses of the brain have prevailed in the neurobiological research literature associated with the etiological cause of depressive affective disorder. The theory historically most researched and prominent in the etiological studies of depression is the monoamine system theory. Evidence shows that monoamine inhibitors increase the levels of serotonin, tryptamine, and norepinephrine, the proteins that are present in the cytoplasm of the neuron of neurotransmitters that regulate mood, well-being and sleep leading to a focus on causes of underactivity of these synapses and receptors for these monoamines (Sourkes,
1) explain the difference between classification and diagnosis - classification identifies the clinical characteristics and symptoms of mental disorders whilst diagnosis is the clinical judgement based on the identified, observed or reported judgement. 2) what are DSM and ICD - the DSM is the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, used to identify specific symptoms if mental disorders. The ICD searches for universality, trying to gain agreement on a universal definition for specific disorders/syndromes. 3) what do social scientists mean by the medicalisation of normal behaviour? This refers to the caution that clinicians must make in diagnosing normal behaviour and OCD, as we all have our own compulsions and obsessions.
Analyzing Psychological Disorders Introduction Many people do not realize how biology can play a role in psychological activities and disorders. Biology is a key aspect of psychology. Understanding the role of biology in behavior and cognitive abilities will create a better understanding of the disorder a person may have. Part A: Schizophrenia “Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. About one percent of Americans have this illness” (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009).