Final Project: Analyzing Biopsychological Disorder

Final Project: Analyzing Biopsychological Disorder

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Diagnosis of psychological diseases and disorders come from the physiological point of view. During part A of my final presentation, I will be discussing the psychological disorder, Schizophrenia. I will be covering the areas of the brain affected, the possible causal factors, the associated symptoms, the neural basis and the appropriate drug therapies. During part B of my final presentation, I will be reviewing the Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa. I will be relating both of these case studies to the nature/nurture debate and the theories of etiology. Helpful drug interventions or solutions and the positive or negative aspects of these solutions will also be discussed.

Part A: Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia comes from the symptoms which indicate that there is a "splitting of psychic functions (Pinel, 2009)." This condition is known as one of the most complicated disorders exhibited by humans and effects approximately 24 million people worldwide. Symptoms of this disorder include but are not limited to delusions, hallucinations; and disorganized behaviors interspersed with moments of blunted emotions, apathy, and withdrawal (Lundbeck, 2006).

The areas of the brain that are implicated by schizophrenia are the forebrain, hindbrain, and limbic system. It is thought that this disorder is caused by a disruption in some of the functional circuits rather than one specific abnormality in a certain area of the brain. Eventhough the brain areas involved in this circuit have not been defined the frontal lobe, temporal lobe; limbic system (specifically the cingulate gyrus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus), and the thalamus are all thought to be involved. The cerebellum that forms part of the hindbrain has also been shown to be affected (Schizophrenia: Aetiology).

The dopamine hypothesis suggests that schizophrenia is caused by an overactive dopamine system in the brain. All aspects of motor, cognitive and emotional functioning can be disrupted by large amounts of dopamine and less striatal activity; thus causing acute schizophrenic psychosis. Excessive dopamine was once thought to be caused by an increased activity of D2 class of dopamine receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Studies now show that a reduced number of D1 classes of dopamine receptors may be the reason behind the rise in dopamine concentration. Other neurotransmitters said to be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia are serotonin, glutamate, gamma aminobutyric acid and acetylcholine (Schizophrenia: Aetiology).

Brain imaging studies contribute information to the etiology of schizophrenia. These studies give further credence to the theory that neural development issues contribute to the development of this disorder. There is also abnormal brain laterality that cannot be explained by the dopamine theory (Pinel, 2009).

Structural changes are most often found in the forebrain. Reductions of grey matter within the frontal lobe and decreased brain volume and activity have also been noted. Ventricles and the basal nuclei have been found to be larger than normal where the hippocampus and amygdala are found to be smaller. Alterations in blood flow to the brain have also been associated with schizophrenia (Schizophrenia: Aetiology).

Schizophrenia is a life-long condition that is treated more than it is cured. It is often considered to be a combination of a thought, mood, and anxiety disorder. Medication is the primary treatment for this disorder or for someone with similar thought disorders. A combination of antipsychotic, antidepressant, and antianxiety medication is required. The downfall to this treatment is that people often go off of their medication during different stages in their life. After about the first year of treatment is when most people are more likely to discontinue their medications because the side effects are difficult to tolerate. A recent National Institute of Mental Study showed that regardless of the drug, three-quarters of all patients stop taking their medications (Grohol, 2006).

Though it is not the treatment of choice, psychotherapy can also be used. This method is used mainly to help maintain a person on their medication, teach them needed social skills, and also support their weekly goals and activities within their community. Giving someone with schizophrenia advice, reassurance, education, modeling, limit setting, and reality testing can also be beneficial during psychotherapy. Every day activities such as cooking, personal hygiene and communication with others is a difficult task with those affected by schizophrenia. During therapy or rehabilitation therapy, a person may be able to regain confidence to take care of their selves and live a fuller life (Grohol, 2006).

Throughout many years, intensive research has been done to figure out what causes schizophrenia and what treatments are more effective but no cure has been found. However, it is possible to treat the psychotic symptoms and help patients lead a more normal life.

Part B: Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa

For the second half of our final presentation, the class was given four biopsychological analyses and was ask to choose two to examine. During the examination of these case study disorders, I will be relating each one to the nature/nurture debate and evaluating the advantages of any drug therapies. Case study A is a teenager that has signs of Anorexia Nervosa and Case study B is a middle aged man with signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Axia College, n.d.).

Anorexia Nervosa

During early teenage years, Beth began experiencing a fear of gaining weight. Beth was at normal weight for her height and age. Because of this fear, she started to diet and lose weight. It did not matter how much weight she lost, she still looked in the mirror and saw herself as fat. Due to massive dieting, Beth has become unhealthily thin but does not realize the severity of her condition (Axia College, n.d.). Upon reviewing this case and the symptoms according to her parents, I would diagnose Beth with Anorexia Nervosa.

Adolescent females often begin to diet because of social cues that dictate physical attractiveness and acceptable weight limits. Anorexia Nervosa is often developed if a person's personality exhibits highly controlled, rigid, or obsessive behaviors (Pinel, and Assanand, 2000). Another element that provides insight to this disorders' development is the negative