Analyzing Psychological Disorders: Schizophrenia, Anxiety, and Anorexia - Term Paper Example

?Running Head: ANALYZING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Analyzing Psychological Disorders: Schizophrenia, Anxiety and Anorexia It is widely appreciated that the brain and the nervous system control the behavior of a person; the link between biology and psychological disorders. Understanding of this area of study known as biopsychology is important in understanding the biological basis of psychological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and drug-induced psychoses, ultimately resulting in application to treat these diseases. One of the most common neurobiological diseases is schizophrenia, a condition with numerous data gaps although it has been known for a long time. For such an important disorder, it is crucial to study its causes, associated brain areas affected, symptoms and treatment on the basis of biopsychology. Insomnia and anorexia are also two of the common disorders affecting people, and it is equally important to also study the two in the context of biopsychology. This can be done best through exploring case studies while analyzing them in relation to the nature-nurture issue and proposing therapeutic interventions alongside their advantages and disadvantages. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental illness that is characterized by problems in thought, behavior and social patterns. It is regarded as one of the most common psychoses, affecting about 1% of the world’s entire population which translates to several millions across the world. It is more prevalent in men, with statistics showing that it affects about one and a half times more men than women. Schizophrenia is heterogeneous, one of the reasons behind the difficulties in studying it as a neurological disorder. However, it has been classified into five categories; paranoid schizophrenia which is characterized by many delusions and hallucinations unaccompanied by loss of motor function and speech or behavior disorganization, disorganized schizophrenia in which the patient’s speech and behavior are affected, catatonic schizophrenia where there is difficulty in moving or excessive movement; undifferentiated schizophrenia where the individual bears symptoms of paranoid, disorganized and catatonic schizophrenia, and lastly residual schizophrenia where there only mild rather than full blown symptoms, usually withdrawal and disinterest (Bengston, 2001). Areas of the brain affected in schizophrenia The connection between the behavioral problems in schizophrenia and the anatomical brain areas affected is important in studying the disease in terms biopsychology. The forebrain serves the role of cognition-which involves thinking, learning and making decisions-, hearing and recognition. Skewed thought organization resulting in delusions, and auditory and visual hallucinations in schizophrenia result from the frontal lobe. In schizophrenia, the effect on the hindbrain-which describes the pons, medulla and cerebellum and serves motor functions and posture management-results in difficulty in movement and uncontrolled motor activity accompanied with little or no response to environmental stimuli. The other area of the brain affected in schizophrenia is the limbic system. It includes the hippocampus and amygdale and regulates emotions, learning and memory. Its impairment disorganizes behavior and interrupts the social life of the patient (Walding, 2011). Causal factors of schizophrenia The causes of schizophrenia are a subject of much debate, but several experts have settled on a number of factors that could result in the condition. Genetics is one of the main factors behind the disorder, with scientists observing that it runs in families. Statistics indicate that schizophrenia people who at least have a first degree or second degree relative suffering from the disorder are more likely to develop it themselves as compared to rest of the population. For an identical twin, the risk of developing the disorder is as high as 65%. However, scientists have postulated that no gene by itself causes the disease and instead several genes are associated with increased predisposition to it. The most recent research indicates that individuals suffering from schizophrenia have higher numbers of genetic mutations, while ongoing studies are currently investigating a gene whose malfunction in making critical brain chemicals is thought to result in schizophrenia. The proposed genetic cause is thought to work in interaction with the environment, where exposures to certain viral infections and antenatal malnutrition increase the risk of developing the disorder (NIMH, 2009). A chemical basis to schizophrenia is also postulated, where imbalances involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate and complex chemical reactions within the brain may result in schizophrenia. Interruptions in the chemical communication at synapses in among brain cells is implicated in the disorder, hence much effort is being put in the study of the chemistry of the brain in a bid to link it to schizophrenia. Other efforts in research are investigating the role of pre-birth development of the brain, considering that certain brain cells are distributed differently or are abnormal in individuals suffering from the disorder (NIMH, 2009). Symptoms of schizophrenia There are two categories of symptoms of schizophrenia; positive (delusions and hallucinations), negative (apathy). The positive ones are an excessive distortion of normal human function, involving audio and visual hallucinations and delusions while the negative ones involve loss of normal function. These include lack of emotion and decline of social skills. Cognitive symptoms are characterized by poor concentration levels, disorganized patterns of thought and memory impairment. A typical schizophrenia patient will generally exhibit delusions, hallucinations, speech disorganization, disorganized behavior, affective flattening, social isolation, disinterest, slow thinking, poor comprehension, and disintegrated thoughts among a host of other symptoms (Larsen & Lublin, 2009). Neural basis Schizophrenic individuals have normal activation of the ventral prefrontal cortex and pre-supplementary motor area. However, studies have indicated that activity in the right parietal cortex is decreased to significant proportions. There is also diminished activation of the right parietal cortex and the hippocampus. All these result in anomalies in relational memory which explains the cognitive problems and psychosis associated with individuals suffering from schizophrenia (Ongur et al, 2006). Appropriate drug therapies for schizophrenia Treatment of schizophrenia involves a combination of drug and psychological therapy. Drug therapy addresses the symptoms of the disorder and thus mostly includes antipsychotic and antidepressant medication. Anti psychotic drugs address the biochemical imbalances in schizophrenia, inhibiting dopamine receptors and thus treating hallucinations and delusions. They include drugs such as fluphenazine and haloperidol. The side effects of these drugs are wide and varied including; blurred vision, constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness, muscle spasms, cramps, tremors and panting among many others. Drugs that target both dopamine and serotonin address both positive and negative symptoms (Grohol, 2006). Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is an overblown form of anxiety and can be defined as an irrational, long-standing kind of worry that is not proportionate to the likelihood or effect of the event an individual is afraid of. Such individuals have a chronic irrational and insurmountable worry about their health, financial position, children safety and even job responsibilities. It is usually accompanied by aches due to tension in muscles, headaches, frequent urination sweating, hot flashes, nausea, throat lumps and breathlessness among other signs (Hauser, 2005). From this definition, it is clear that Tom is suffering from GAD since his health fears are unfounded plus he is worried about finances and job responsibilities. Further, he has developed most of the symptoms associated with GAD. The nature versus nurture aspect of anxiety Tom’s problem can be as a result of either “nature or nurture”. This is a description of the causes of the anxiety, where nature refers to the biological/biochemical causes (including defective genes, chemical imbalances, abnormal brain structures or due to disease) while nurture represents the role of the environment in the development of the disorder. Both the factors are usually at work in a case like Tom’s, but play different roles and to different levels. The interplay between the two then, results in a person who is genetically predisposed to anxiety to either overcome or fall into it. Tom could have inherited genes causing the anxiety from his parents but in a positive environment it would have been difficult for him to develop GAD. The environment in which Tom lives has triggered the anxiety to which he is predisposed. Several authors however suggest that the nature part including neurotransmitter levels, protein differences and genetics is a result of the influence of the environment on an individual and thus the environment is the over-riding factor (Dixon, 2009). Drug interventions in anxiety Some authors suggest that since the nurture part is the important causal factor in GAD, drug interventions are only capable of addressing the effect and not the cause, hence placing much emphasis in the psychological part of the treatment of such patients (Dixon, 2009). Nevertheless, several drugs are available for a case like Tom’s and are aimed at addressing both the psychological problems and their physical effects. The most important things for Tom to consider when pursuing medication as advised by a doctor include the type and length of treatment, side effects and drug interactions. These drugs include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (antidepressants such as SSRIs and venlafaxine), anticonvulsants (such as pregabalin), sedatives (benzodiazepines) and antihistamines. These drugs have the advantage of addressing the chemical imbalances causing anxiety and also have a calming effect on the patient. The side effects that a patient like Tom will suffer from using such medications include nausea, reduced libido, blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, insomnia, agitation and sweating. It is important to combine these with psychological techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and applied relaxation in order to ensure proper treatment (National Health Service, 2010). Anorexia Anorexia is an eating disorder that in most cases begins during the ages of puberty; the individuals suffering from it intentionally starve themselves since they deem themselves overweight. The condition, referred to as anorexia nervosa comes in two types; either restricting in which the individual avoids eating food, or purging, where induces vomiting or uses drugs such as laxatives. The symptoms include the individual feeling that they are overweight although they are actually in the right range for their build, age and height and the person’s weight is supposed to be 85% below their required body weight. The individual also misses at least three menstrual cycles. This description perfectly fits Beth, who during her teenage years developed unfounded fears that she was overweight and began persisting habit of dieting to lose weight. She has also missed several menstrual cycles and is persisting with dieting even though her weight has dropped (PsychCentral®, 2006). Anorexia Nervosa: Nature versus Nurture As described earlier, the nature versus nurture describes interplay between biological predisposition to a condition and the environment’s role in triggering it. The genetic link to anorexia has been demonstrated as it runs in families. An individual is 7-12 times more likely to be anorexic if at all there is an anorexic member in the same family. Two genes in individuals such as Beth have been linked to anorexia although their specific role remains unknown, and it is suspected that other genes might be involved. The environment part is the one which has resulted in the disease being previously labeled a “social disease”. The socio-cultural inclination to thinness as exemplified by its glorification by the media has also contributed to individuals tending towards anorexia to a large extent (Lurie, 2003). Drug interventions A combination of psychological care to address the negative self-perception and drugs to address the medical effects of malnutrition and anxiety issues are important for an individual like Beth. Drugs such as antidepressants including amitriptyline and Chlorpromazine may deal with severe obsessions and anxiety while Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) may be sufficient for cases that have not depreciated a lot. The usual side effects of using such drugs include nausea, sleepiness and dry mouth (PsychCentral®, 2006). Conclusion Biopsychology is a field which is increasingly becoming important in the hopes of addressing the problems of most psychiatric disorders. It seeks to find the neural link to behavioral aspects of such disorders, as has been demonstrated for the case of schizophrenia; where certain emotional affects are linked to the various anatomical parts of the brain. In disorders such as anorexia and anxiety, biopsychology enables one to investigate the interplay between “nature and nurture”, providing a logical explanation to causes of such illnesses based on genetics and the environment. This is ultimately important in the treatment of such conditions. References Bengston, M. (2001). Schizophrenia information and treatment, schizophrenia and psychoses. Retrieved August 16, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/schizophrenia/ Dixon, T. (2009), Anxiety disorders: Nature versus nurture. Retrieved August 17, 2011 from http://articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/anxiety-disorder-nature-versus-nurture-9102304.html Grohol, J.M. (2006), Schizophrenia treatment, PsychCentral. Retrieved August 13, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx31t.htm Hauser, J. (2005), Anxiety: Generalized anxiety disorder. PsycheCentral®. Retrieved August 15, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/gad.html Larsen, J.T. & Lublin H. (2009). Schizophrenia. Retrieved August 17, 2011 from http://netdoctor.co.uk/disease/facts/schizophrenia.htm Lurie, K. (2003), Anorexia Genes, ScienCentral. Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392011 National Health Service, (2010), Anxiety treatment. NHS. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from http://nhs.uk/Conditions/Anxiety/Pages/Treatment.aspx National Institute of Mental Health, (2009), Schizophrenia, NIMH Retrieved August 15, 2011 from http://nimh.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml Ongur, D.et al, (2006), The neural basis of relational memory deficits in schizophrenia. NCBI. Retrieved August 15, 2011 from http://ncbi.nih.gov.pumed/16585464 PsychCentral®, (2006), Anorexia nervosa: Treatment. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/treatment-for-anorexia/ PsychCentral®, (2006), Anorexia nervosa: Symptoms. Retrieved August 12, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx2.htm Walding, A. (2011), Areas of the brain affected by schizophrenia. Retrieved August 15, 2011 from http://livestrong.com/article/88264-areas-of-brain-affected-schizophrenia/ Read More