ANALYZING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Analyzing Psychological Disorders



Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion3

1. Eating Disorder3

Areas of the Brain Affected3

Causal Factors3

Associated Symptoms4

The Neural Basis4

Any Helpful Drug Interventions or Solutions4

2. Sleeping disorder4

Areas of the Brain Affected5

Causal Factors5

Associated Symptoms5

The Neural Basis6

Any Helpful Drug Interventions or Solutions6

3. Addiction6

Areas of the brain affected6

Causal Factors7

Associated Symptoms8

The Neural Basis8

Any Helpful Drug Interventions or Solutions8

4. Tourettes syndrome8

Areas of the brain affected8

Causal Factors9

Associated Symptoms10

The Neural Basis10

Any Helpful Drug Interventions or Solutions10

Conclusion10

Analyzing Psychological Disorders

Introduction

The term bio-psychology is a name given to that area of science which studies the relationship between biology and behaviour. Biopsychologists deal with many systems found in the body. Most of the work involves the brain and the rest of the nervous system. The use of experiments and research evidence is of significance to a biopsychologist's practice. This paper reviews case studies of patients affected with neurological and psychological health problems (Ferragud, 2009).

Discussion

1. Eating disorder

Areas of the Brain Affected

Uher, Treasure, Heining, Braninwr and Campbell (2006) evaluated brain activation patterns in men and women to presentation of gustatory or visual-rood stimuli during tasting and non-fasting. They found different, and overall stronger, brain activation patterns in women than in men, which they proposed, were modulated by internal states.

Causal Factors

There is no single cause of eating disorders. In all probability, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa result from the complex interaction of biological, socio-cultural, family, and individual variables.

Associated Symptoms

Associated eating disorder symptoms can be classified by categories, including situational (e.g. avoiding an unpleasant activity), physiological (e.g. reduction of hunger), psychological (e.g. experiencing a sense of accomplishment by losing weight), and interpersonal (e.g. expressed concern from others).

The Neural Basis

In order to understand the neural basis for body-image disturbance, we need to find out about how a mental image of the body is constructed in normal development. Such a complex representation of the body will encompass visual, tactile, vestibular, soma sensory and visceral perceptual information, matched against stored template memories (King and Hopkins, 2008).

Any Helpful Drug Interventions or Solutions

Tranquillizers or anti histamines are also often used to reduce the high levels or anxiety in eating disorders like binge eating. Although there are no controlled studies, low doses of the atypical antipsychotic (particularly olanzapine) have been used to alleviate anxiety during re-feeding.

2. Sleeping Disorder

Areas of the brain affected

In 1968, Roger J. Broughton described four common sleep disorders as abnormalities of the arousal process: Sleep enuresis (bed-wetting) somnambulism (walking in sleep, sleep terrors, and nightmares). At that time, it was believed that all four of these disorders shared common electro-physiological and clinical features. The reticular formation of the brain stem contains those neurons involved in autonomic and sleep-related functions.

Causal Factors

Sleep disorders are caused by certain medical conditions such as pain, endocrine disorders, and pain. Other causes include use of stimulants such as caffeine and cocaine. A number of psychiatric conditions coexist with sleep disorders. These include mild depression and bipolar disorder. Elevated levels of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, serotonin and dopamine may also cause sleep ...