Biopsychology of Emotion, Stress, and Psychiatric Disorders - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: Biopsychology of Emotions, Stress, and Psychiatric Disorders Biopsychology of Emotions, Stress, and Psychiatric Disorders Name] [Institute’s Name] Biopsychology of Emotions, Stress, and Psychiatric Disorders Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders There are uncountable symptoms of psychiatric disorders; they include, for example, loss of concentration, difficulties in understanding logics and speech, drastic changes in sleeping and eating patterns. People having psychiatric disorders are sharply sensitive to smell, sound, sight, or touch. They have more of illogical thinking and behave like children even in adulthood. They have swift changes in moods and do not show interest in socializing as some become scared of other people. They feel as if they are different from others and live aloof. They start showing bad performance; for example, as regards children, they may start failing in school or lose interest in sports, suddenly stop performing well in the tasks that are usual for them. They lose connection with reality and believe more in their false perceptions and delusions (Dumont & Provost, 1999). When the disorder is going to take a serious condition, people start hurting themselves and others. They suffer from chorea, i.e. they have irregular and unmanageable activities. They have abnormal or very fast heart beat and breathing; along with this, they have high body temperature. People with depression have a feeling of helplessness and they assume that they will never get out of distress and sorrow. They do not feel happy or seek pleasure from any activity; even if they try, they fail in being happy. They either lose weight or gain it largely. They do not have energy to do anything; it would be better to say that their unwillingness takes away their energy and makes them lethargic. It takes them many hours to complete even smaller tasks, and their body does not support them in completing their jobs. They engage in behavior that is harming them – for example, in gambling. Their body starts aching without any reasons, and this pain increases day by day. Known or Suspected Genetics Basis One of the major studies that has helped people understand the genetics basis of depression is twins studies in which scientists tried to find out how frequently the pair of twins has the same traits. If all traits in a person are totally due to genes, then both twins will have same traits, as they possess similar DNA. However, if only one twin has a trait, it shows the importance and impact of environment in shaping the traits. If one twin is depressed, the possibility of other twin to be depressed is of 50% to 60%, whether or not they belong to the same environment. Researchers have discovered that people with depression have less serotonin. Some genes regulate the flow of serotonin in our body; these include tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (Tph2) and Tph-1 (Goodwin & Jamison, 2007). There is another gene responsible for depression in a person, PBRM1; it actually forms proteins that give the genes the permission to work. Brain Structure and Neurotransmitters Known or Suspected to Be Involved  The neurotransmitters that scientists have identified as being responsible for depression are serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine (Goodwin & Jamison, 2007). These neurotransmitters are responsible for regulation of emotions, sleep, appetite, stress, and sexuality, and all these factors are directly pertinent to depression. The endocrine system of a person is also responsible for depression. This system is formed of glands that issue hormones in the body (Goodwin & Jamison, 2007). This system ensures that a hormone is secreted up to a certain level and not more than that. When this system stops functioning properly, it allows excessive or reduced flow of hormone, so a person might become depressed. The endocrine system of body is linked to brain at hypothalamus that controls the activities of sleep, appetite, emotions, and sexual impel. The hypothalamus utilizes neurotransmitters that are somehow responsible for the depression in a person; particularly, “one-half of the people who are depressed have a hormone in excess quantity in their blood, which is cortisol” (Martinowich, Manji, & Bai, 2007). Adrenal glands are responsible for secretion of cortisol, and these glands help people in their response to stressful situations. When the person is in depression, the secretion of cortisol in the blood is excessive; however, it decreases when depression vanishes. Hypothalamus is mainly responsible for high level of cortisol in the blood as it is a prime duty of hypothalamus to regulate the system through which adrenal glands secret cortisol (Martinowich, Manji, & Bai, 2007). Firstly, hypothalamus forms corticotrophic-releasing hormone (CRH), then it stimulates pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). This hormone then gets the secretion of cortisol in the blood by adrenal glands. The level of secretion of cortisol in the blood is normal when endocrine system functions properly with hypothalamus monitoring the level of secretion. When the level increases in the blood, hypothalamus reduces its impact on pituitary gland in manufacturing of corticotrophic-releasing hormone. Nevertheless, when the level reduces, hypothalamus regulates the pituitary gland to form more CRH. When people are depressed, their hypothalamus consistently stimulates pituitary glands to produce CRH without taking into consideration the level of cortisol in the blood. One important point regarding secretion of cortisol is the timing of its release; people who suffer from depression have different timing of this secretion as compared to the normal ones. Normally, cortisol level is highest at 8am and 4pm and lowest during the night, but in people who are depressed cortisol level is regular all the day and sometimes highest in midnight. The Role of Stress or Environment in Bringing About the Symptoms Stress is good for people as far as it keeps them motivated, and it is up to a certain limit; however, when stress crosses its limits, it becomes very dangerous and ruins the lives of people. Stress can occur due to various things such as death of loved ones, loss of job, or end of a relationship that was a person’s backbone. When people are unable to come out of these situations and constantly think about them while keeping all other activities aside, they start suffering from stress, extinction of which ultimately leads to depression. Stress does not only occur because of negative events but also because of happening of something new or changing of accustomed activities – for example, due to getting into a new relationship, moving to a new place, house, or city, or starting a new job (Pittenger & Duman, 2007). It is not necessary that every time a person is depressed, he or she is depressed because of stress; there are people who do not have any kind of stress in their lives and still they are considerably depressed. This might be due to some genetic or neurological problems. Researchers and scientists talk about a phenomenon called kindling effect, which says that the first depression episode makes person more vulnerable for further depressive episodes, as they changes the brain structure and limbic system slightly. However, these slight changes may increase if corrective actions in the forms of therapies and treatments are not taken soon after the first episode. Stress also occurs when people have different roles and they cannot keep balance between them. When people cannot give equal or justified time to their work and families, they take stress. Stress also comes with changes in age, mostly in late adolescence and early adulthood when families constantly remind their children about their responsibilities, and they have to leave their families for independence. Midlife crisis is another important factor, which leads to stress and depression. These crises include dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the lifestyle that was pleasing for the person for a long time. Person is losing interest in the hobbies and activities that were of great interest previously. He or she wants to do things that are entirely different and that might be the cause of harm for him or her. One becomes puzzled of what one is and what is one’s role in the world. These questions leave a person in deep thoughts and do not let him or her do anything. When people have a lot of debt and they are unable to pay it, they suffer from stress and may make suicidal attempts. Debt is due to environmental factors, because in today’s era credit is easily available for people through credit cards and bank loans. Another important factor can be huge loss in shares which people are unable to bear, so they become victims of depression. Sometimes, depression is due to internal dissatisfaction, which is because of less involvement in religious practices or charitable activities; however, this does not apply to everybody. Known Treatments or Treatments Currently Being Researched There are many treatments which can save people from depression and make them live a better life. The causes and levels of depression are diverse in different people, so different treatments are appropriate for them. Firstly, it is important to if the depression is due to some medical problems or external factors. Selection of treatment for depression also requires a lot of time, because it is not easy to identify the right treatment for a particular person; therefore, trial and error process is to be used (Uher & McGuffin, 2010). As regards treatment, if people entirely rely on medication, it is not going to work. Along with medication, use of exercises, social support and therapies will bring best results. Moreover, treatment will not show immediate results; if a person wants a relief from a depression, he or she will have to wait and give his or her full commitment. Regular exercise is very helpful when it comes to treating depression; it triggers the serotonins, endorphins, and other chemicals. A simple walk and aerobic activities for an hour would contribute greatly in treating the depression. Nutrition plays very important role in treating depression, eating balanced and nutritious food keeps a person vitalized and prevents him or her from rapid changes in mood. Sleeping well is very important for people who suffer from depression, as sleeplessness worsens the condition of depression; therefore, depressed people should sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours a day. Finding therapists who help managing stress is very useful, and finding a good therapist is not a difficult task. Today, talk therapy is widely used to treat depression; this therapy provides people with different skills that can prevent them from depression (Garber & Hilsman, 1992). A combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and interpersonal therapy can be very positive. The therapies help people take out negative attitudes and let them know the root causes of their depression. By doing this, people receive encouragement to fight their depression and come out of it as soon as possible. References Dumont, M., & Provost, M. A. (1999). Resilience in Adolescents: Protective Role of Social Support, Coping Strategies, Self-Esteem, and Social Activities on Experience of Stress and Depression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 343-363. Garber, J., & Hilsman, R. (1992). Cognitions, Stress, and Depression in Children and Adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 129-167. Goodwin, F. K., & Jamison, K. R. (2007). Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression, Volume 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Martinowich, K., Manji, H., & Bai, L. (2007). New Insights into BDNF Function in Depression and Anxiety. Nature Neurosceince, 1089-1093. Pittenger, C., & Duman, R. S. (2007). Stress, Depression, and Neuroplasticity: A Convergence of Mechanisms. Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews, 88-109. Uher, R., & McGuffin, P. (2010). The Moderation by the Serotonin Transporter Gene of Environmental Adversity in the Etiology of Depression: 2009 Update. Molecular Psychiatry, 18- 22. Read More