Analyzing Psychological Disorders Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analyzing Psychological Disorders - Term Paper ExampleCourses of treatment based on this cast atomic number 18 proposed in both case studies. In the end, this paper points to the more balanced perspective of biopsychology as offering more possibilities for effective treatment of mental indisposition. Introduction The human body is a squad of components working together as a whole entity. Therefore, in understanding mental illness, we must non compartmentalize as separate functions the biological and experiential processes operating in persons presenting themselves to us with psychological issues. The knowledge of a person offers an environment, a history, and a perspective essential to a thorough understanding of his biological components. The biological processes of the human body are essential in the understanding and treatment of mental illness especially the central nervous system, brain functioning, and neurotransmitter activity. Their interactions have a crucial impact on a persons psychological health, affecting how he or she perceives and lives life. Part A dementia praecox Schizophrenia is the most complex of the mental illnesses in its causality, symptomology, and treatment. Yet, an understanding of the neurological and biological functioning of the brain finish not only economic aid medical professionals in finding and applying the best treatments, but also assist patients in coping with the illness in a positive and productive way. (Frese, 1993) The most common symptoms of dementia praecox include auditory hallucinations, delusions of persecution and/or control or delusions of grandeur, disorganized thinking and speech, flat affect (consistently showing little or no emotion), and inappropriate behavior (such as social isolation or catatonia). (See Pinel pg. 457) twain of these symptoms must be present for at least 30 days to meet criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and ideally a thorough physical examination including diagnostic testing should be administered to rule bug out any other possible diagnoses. (Haycock, 2009) Some of the diagnostic testing that includes brain imaging technologies such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and PET (positron emission tomography) scans has also clearly shown that the frontal and temporal lobes and the amygdala are the areas of the brain most altered in schizophrenia patients. (Kircher, et al. 2006, pg 302) Studies that include brain imaging technologies have shown that the connectivity amid these regions of the brain is dysfunctional. (Tregallas, 2009) They have also shown both gray and white brain matter volume abnormalities in schizophrenic patients. (Lim, 2007) In addition, there are also abnormalities in the neurotransmitter systems regulating brain function the outgrowth discovered abnormality being the presence and transmission of dopamine. The neural basis for understanding and treating schizophrenia began with the dopamine theory (see Pinel, pg 458) that sc hizophrenia is caused by excessively high dopamine levels in the brain. As research go on in the effects of the drugs given to schizophrenia patients, it was discovered that while some drugs deplete the supply of dopamine, others engage themselves to dopamine receptors effectively blocking the ability of dopamine to activate them. This blocking of the dopamine activity sends a signal to the brain to produce more dopamine which is then broken down in the synapse resulting in an