Analyzing Psychological Disorders - Term Paper Example

A second part of the paper shall discuss two cases from a biopsychologist’s viewpoint including a discussion of the problem in relation to the nature-nurture issue. This case study shall consider any helpful drug interventions or solutions to the cases, as well as any positive or negative aspects of the drug interventions of solutions. This paper is being conducted in order to ensure a thorough and comprehensive understanding of psychological disorders and the role of health professionals in modifying its impact on patients.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating disease which affects both men and women equally. The term is of Greek origin which basically translates to “split mind” (Coconcea, 2005). Based on that translation, schizophrenia does not also refer to “split personality” or multiple personality disorder, but refers to another disease exhibiting other symptoms in the patient. From a physiological standpoint, the areas of the brain affected by schizophrenia are theorized by different clinicians and experts on the subject matter.

Basically, however, according to the dopamine hypothesis, the neurotransmitter dopamine appears as an overactive neurotransmitter for those with schizophrenia (Campbell, 2010). This over-activity seems to produce motor and cognitive problems in the patient which often manifests as audio and visual hallucinations. In terms of structure as seen in MRI images, the brains of schizophrenics (particularly, the frontal lobe) show reduced gray matter and decreased brain volume (Campbell, 2010). The ventricles and the basal nuclei are also affected since these appear larger for schizophrenics; the hippocampus and amygdala are also different as they appear smaller for these patients (Campbell, 2010).

In a theory set forth by Pierce Howard, he explains that the brain normally goes through the process of “synaptic pruning” from