Comorbidity and Treatment of Mental Illnesses - Research Paper Example

?Comorbidity and Treatment of Mental Illnesses It seems that Alex has a variety of both mental and physical problems associated with his lifestyle. The combination of the inability to concentrate has leaded to the development of major depressive disorders as well as what appears to be some characteristics of a conduct disorder. The root of Alex’s problems is both a product of genetics and environmental influence. There has been some evidence which has shown that ADHD has genetic factors. The biochemical and neurological chemistry of the brain functioning is based on the delicate balance of the interexchange and use of these chemicals. Changes in these levels can lead to abnormalities. In addition, during the interview with the parents, it was acknowledged that they tolerated this abnormal behavior such as moodiness. He was also having problems at school due to the particular cohort of students he was associating with. The increase in weight could also be attributed to either genetic factors or simply the parents feeding him an unhealthy diet. On a side note, he seemed to have some abnormally shaped facial features which could possibly be the result of trisomy-21 or another genetically linked disorder which could be used to help explain the genetic link behind the psychiatric illnesses. The suicide which followed due to bullying could have also been prompted by a couple factors. The students were making fun of him and over time this wears down a person’s defenses making them vulnerable. People who are suffering from depression and suicide also have low amounts of dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter in the regulation of mood. It is hard to place Alex’s problems at a specific root such as ADHD because there are so many biopsychosocial problems which could be effecting and causing many of the problems in which he is experiencing. First, in order to gather information regarding the roots of the problem, I would focus on the biology and family history as well as the parent’s lifestyle and parenting style. 1. Is there a family history of obesity and any other conditions associated with obesity such as heart disease, cancers, etc.? 2. Is there a history of ADHD or any other diagnosable psychiatric illnesses in the family? 3. Has this behavior always been displayed, or has this been something that has evolved in the past few years? 4. How would you describe your parenting style when dealing with Alex? 5. How would you describe his home life in relation to his social life at school? The questions that I would like to ask Alex would be more related to his ideas of suicide and depression and looking his global index as far as mental health. 1. When and how many times have you considered committing suicide? 2. How does it make you feel when the kid’s bully you… how do you deal with that? 3. How do you feel when you cannot concentrate in class and do your work? 4. What do you want out of life? 5. Is there anything else you want to share as far as how your family, friends, teachers, etc. treat you? Interview 1. When and how many times have you considered committing suicide? There has been a few times in which I have felt like what’s the point in living. Like its hard when you can’t find anything you’re good at, and you see kids doing good in some aspect and I’m just not good at anything. I also am fat and the kids like to make fun of me for that. I feel like what’s the point in living if I can’t be successful or do anything. I have only tried once to go through with my suicide, but I think about it as a way of me escaping from everything. 2. How does it make you feel when the kid’s bully you… how do you deal with that? It makes me feel sad and angry. I feel like they are attacking me and it hurts me on the inside. Sometimes I will get angry and fight back, but then I get into trouble. I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about it because I don’t want to come off as weak to my parents or at school. Most of the time I just want to play video games and be by myself when I go home because I feel like it’s the only thing I can concentrate at. 3. How do you feel when you cannot concentrate in class and do your work? I see all the other kids doing their work and I have this idea that if you do your school work, that they will be successful and get to go to college and stuff and be successful. I don’t see that for myself because I’m fat and I don’t do as good at school as everyone else. I want to, but it sometimes hard to concentrate especially during math. It just makes me feel sad in that what’s the point in living through life if I’m not going to be successful and I’m going to end up living in a box on the street for the rest of my life? 4. What do you want out of life? I want to be successful and make a good life for myself. I think that I want to do something with writing because I like writing stories and things like that. I want my parents and friends to be proud of me, but right now I just don’t see that because I can’t concentrate or excel at anything. 5. Is there anything else you want to share as far as how your family, friends, teachers, etc. treat you? I know that my parents will love me and support me even if I don’t make a lot of money. I just want my friends to be nice to me and just accept who I am and not make fun of me for things I don’t think I can change. My teachers have been nice to me, I just want them to be more understanding and help me with things when I can’t figure them out. Interview Results According to the responses given, it would seem to point to the fact that Alex does suffer from ADHD, which is a genetically inherited component. By seeing a psychiatrist, medication might be able to be used which can help regulate his symptoms. If he could function better, I believe that self-esteem and the depression would go away. In addition, therapy in which he could talk to someone about his problems of depression and suicide would also be beneficial in that he can learn how to cope better with bullying and animosity because it’s something as people we face every day. My personal thoughts on this particular case are that it is both a medical and environmental/social condition. The root of the physiological problems is that there is something wrong with the neurochemistry which is affecting the cognitive and behavioral aspect of psychology. I think that as far as the being overweight issue, that falls on the parents. They should encourage exercise and better dieting. This might also help with the depression because it has been shown that sports help increase endorphins, which naturally make people happier. I would also recommend that he be moved into a learning support community because he may need additional help in his studies and a better environment to ensure he is receiving the proper education in light of his condition. I would like to gain a better understanding as far as the neural structure effects of people that have ADHD. I know that they commented that they have a slightly smaller cerebellum which is important for processing, but I wonder if it has something to do with the prefrontal cortex since this is the area associated with executive processes and decision making. I would also like to learn specifically about the genetic component, as far as if ADHD would fall into the nature vs. nurture debate of childhood development. When diagnosing a child with ADHD, the DSM-IV-TR has very specific guidelines for these diagnoses. In addition to these cognitive components, I believe it is important to also have medical evaluation as well as inventory batteries in order to address it completely. The only smart point that the scientologists had is that the symptoms of ADHD are not uncommon from the rowdiness that children typically behave. Before going and giving them drugs that are not required, brain scans such as an MRI or other neurological analysis can be done to confirm or at least give some substantial proof regarding this condition besides being based on behavior and appearance. Read More