Abnormal Psychology: Mood Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Assignment Example

? Discussion Questions: of Discussion Questions Chapter Five Question The first issue underlying the debate of defining mood disorders is regarding the definition of depression to be done in a narrow or brief manner? The second issue is regarding the heterogeneity of mood disorders. There are five most important considerations in differentiating the clinical depression from normal sadness. Firstly, it should be observed that the change in mood is persistent over time but is pervasive in different situations. Secondly, the change is dependent upon the individual’s circumstances i.e. the individual might be missing out on any precipitating event. Thirdly, It should be noted that the individual in unable to undergo any social roles because of impaired ability while in a depressed mood. Fourthly, the mood can be associated with signs and symptoms such as somatic and other behavioral features. And lastly, the quality at which the mood changes is fairly different from normal sadness (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 2 The research has proven that the rate of depression can be observed in the case of younger generation or middle aged people. However, older people or people above 65 are categorized as people who may not have major incidents of depression. Similarly, the rate of bipolar disorders is also considered to be lower in the case of older people (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 3 As per a number of studies, it was found out that an individual may experience a number of stressful events. These events are directly associated with the likelihood of person’s involvement in depression. Thus, the research has proven that stressful life events can be very much helpful in order to predict any likelihood of bipolar disorders. Also, uni-polar depression can be evident in a person’s life if he or she has undergone a loss of a loved one. This is merely noted as a special factor of depression (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 4 Susan Nolen-Hoeksema provided the field of psychology with her study regarding response styles. There are two different styles as denoted by her in her study. The first type of style is regarded as ruminative style which reflects people who would respond to depression by keeping their attention inward. This also underlies their implications of sadness. Secondly, it is the distracting style depicts people who take up a hobby or go otherwise to keep themselves away from depression or halt the attention to the depression symptoms. Both these responses have a lot to do with a personal attention to depression (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 5 Genetics seems to play a significant role in the inheritance of depression, uni-polar disorders as well as bipolar disorders. Genetics, as a factor, is more likely to undertake transmission of these disordered. It has been researched and proven that the bipolar disorder is more likely to be inherited than uni-polar disorders. This claim has been made on the basis of genetics involved in transmission of diseases. The assumption was carried out that denoted such a conclusion i.e. genetics allows the disordered to be prevalent in the biological relatives of people than the general audiences (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 6 Most commonly, practitioners have considered psychotherapy and medication to play an important role in the treatment of depression. Also, it has been suggested that the combination of both the treatments is more likely to provide better implication. As per the research conducted in 1949, it was found out that Salt lithium carbonate can play a better role in removing bipolar mood disorders among individuals by large. The report was conducted by John Case who was a specialist psychiatrist in Australia. In order to alleviate any manic behavior in an individual, it is suggested that the person is given lithium carbonate (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Chapter Six Question 7 A phobia is considered to be a state of fear within an individual which provokes him to think of unusual dangers which might not be true in actuality. This will keep the individual from behaving normally. Common phobias which have been noted are dark, close places, heights, depths, driving, flying, insects or needles. The difference between a phobia and fear is that a person who would be feared may consider blood to be scary while phobia would make that person avoid taking medication to stop bleeding because of the needles that may be injected by the doctor (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 8 Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD), as evident from name, is a state in which a person is more likely to be in extreme cases of anxiety. It should be noted that this disease is basically a mixture of both compulsion and obsessions. In order to undergo diagnosis of OCD, it is important for both compulsion and obsession to be present because they together make up a situation of anxiety. Obsessions, in a normal case, would be mere thoughts making effort to ignore a situation for denial. But in the case of OCD, it is the factor that associates with compulsion and take a more inquisitive stance within an individual (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 9 The lab study conducted by Susan, Mark, Michael and Richard (1984) claimed that even non human primates would undergo fear and phobias. It was noted that a young rhesus monkey aged 28 year and laboratory reared offspring aged 6 years were tested. The results have made it evident that offspring did not rear the fear of snake as their parents. Also, there were no specific experience noted that reflected the fear as common among the monkeys. This study was further used as a reference for similar kind of research work (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). Question 10 The role of the hypothesized though suppression has been critical. Research has proven that the impact may not be very good in initial terms. Although, in order to treat an individual from OCD, it is much important to provide them with suppression, the effectiveness measure of the treatment is less and lower in prediction. The results have shown that the patients are more likely to forget neutral thoughts and may be submissive during the process (Oltmanns & Emery, 2011). References List Oltmanns, T., & Emery, R. (2011). Abnormal Psychology. New York: Pearson. Read More