The Aspect of Psychological Disorder - Case Study Example

Psychological Disorder (ADHD) Introduction According to chapter 14 of the book “exploring psychology by David g Myers”, a psychological disorder is defined as a dysfunction in the biological, psychological and mental developmental process that is significant and underlines mental functioning. It is crucial to note the author of the book insinuates that a mental disorder is a behavioral or a mental pattern that causes suffering or inability to function normally for the affected individual. Mental disorder has economic and social effects both to the individual and to the community. The social implications of mental illness are as a result of the stigmatization the family and the significant others in the life of a mentally ill patient face in the process of care for the victim (Myers, P. 270-300). The aspect of psychological disorder can be viewed through two approaches in health care. Medical model of health care indicates that mental disorders are conditions that can be diagnosed, and treatment be affected to help in the resolution of the condition. Nevertheless, the social aspect of healthcare view mental disorder as a condition that affects a person’s physical, mental and environmental well-being. According to the social aspect, management of mental disorder should be broad in aspect, allowing an address for both physiological and social aspects of an individual’s health (Graham, Seth, and Coghill, P. 181). Mental disorders could be congenital in onset or could also be acquired during the developmental stages of a child’s life. In an attempt to critically understand the nature, effects and the management possibilities of mental illness, this study concentrates on attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The focus on ADHD is thus carried out through an analysis of chapter 14 of “exploring psychology by David g Myers”. Attention deficit hyperactive disorder. History. ADHD, unlike other health conditions, is one that does not show signs through medical tests like blood tests. ADHD has been present and realized by the early groups of medical teams beginning the first century. Nevertheless, it was during the periods of Hippocrates that a condition with the same manifestations as ADHD was described. Between 460 and 370 Hippocratic medics described a condition similar to ADHD as having restlessness, failure to concentrate and low memory. However, the term ADHD was for the first time introduced in 1980 in the third edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual on mental disorders (Able et al., P. 97). The definition of attention deficit hyperactive disorder was reformed in 1994 to include other three conditions with attention deficit being the predominantly hyperactive – impulsive disorder, inattentive disorder and the combination of the two. ADHD normally appears in childhood, but can occasionally be diagnosed in adulthood, especially if there are sign in childhood that were overlooked. Nevertheless, with the combination of the modern psychotic treatments and psychotherapy, ADHD is manageable, and the person can regain a normal functional life. Causes of attention deficit hyperactive disorder. The etiology of ADHD is not yet known, but scientific study through the field of genetics suggests that genes have an active function in the development of the condition. It has been determined that ADHD is familial in nature and tends to be inherited on a sexual pattern. Another school of scientific thought insinuates that the condition is caused by a combination of several factors. This school suggests that, other than the genetic factors, a combination of genetic and environmental conditions play a crucial role in exacerbation of ADHD (Able et al., P. 97). Through a genetic study, research reveals that children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder have thinner brain tissues than their non-affected counterparts. The thinness in brain tissues is normally predominant in areas that control the regulation of attention. The signs of ADHD are predominant in childhood than in adulthood. This is because as a child grows, the areas of thinness in brain tissues that regulate attention equally grow and the child can gain normal attention. Through environmental studies, research reveals that there is a positive relationship between exposure to cigarette smoke and alcohol consumption to the acquisition of ADHD. Antenatal exposure to cigarette predisposes a child to the development of ADHD. On other aspects of environmental factors, preschool children who are exposed to high lead levels are like wisely susceptible to the development of ADHD. Sustenance of a brain injury by the children is an indicating factor for the development of attention deficit hyperactive disorder in childhood. However, ADHD develops, because of physical injury is quick to resolve as the brain tissues grow and the injury heals (Tripp and Wickens, P. 579). Signs and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactive disorder. The main sign of the condition is inattention. The child manifesting with the condition is unable to concentrate for longer than a specific time limit. Inattention is characterized by the child performing other actions or activities other than the task allocated. Hyperactivity is another of the key sign of the condition. In this regard, the child appears to be more active that the peers. The extent of activity for a child could be a whole day and can only be overtaken by sleep. ADHD equally presents with impulsive conditions. The impulsive nature of the child with the disorder manifests with rush and vigor to perform tasks that are of interest. Nevertheless, the child loses interest in some of these tasks within a short duration (Graham, Seth, and Coghill, P. 181). Inattention as a symptom of ADHD presents with the child being easily distracted, switching from one activity to another frequently and miss details. The symptoms are also marked with difficulty in focusing, not seeming to listen when being spoken to and appear to be daydreaming. For hypersensitivity, the child with ADHD fidgets on the seat, becomes talkative, is in a constant motion and experiences difficulty doing a quiet task. Statistics and issues involved. According to the American national institute of mental health (NIMH), children who have ADHD are estimated to be 3% to 5%. The condition presents during preschool periods but has its peek manifestation among the school-going children. The statistics equally reveal that the condition occurs in between 8% and 10% among the school-going children. The increase in the rate of presentation among the school goers is because of the new diagnosis of the condition among the school goers. About 4.1% of the American adults aged 18 and above are affected by attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Approximately 9% of the teenage Americans between the age of 13 and 18 years are affected by the condition. The statistical studies show that the number of children being diagnosed with ADHD is increasing. The increase in diagnosis rate is as a result of improved technological advancement and improvement in diagnostic equipment (Tripp and Wickens, P. 579). Critical analysis of ADHD. Presentation with a psychological disorder draws the question of legality in prosecution in case an individual presented in a court of law. The legal insanity defense created in 1843 stipulates that a mentally ill person be under sanctuary of the law not to be convicted of the crime committed. Nevertheless, ADHD raises questions whether it should be considered as a mental illness and the affected to benefit from the sanctuary. It thus calls for the societal understanding that the people with ADHD though not violent but should be considered as a mental condition and must be accorded the necessary ethical consideration that individuals with mental illnesses are treated with (Graham, Seth, and Coghill, P. 181). Conclusion. A review of the book exploring psychology by David g Myers brings into account both the social and medical ethical aspects with which the mentally ill patients should be treated. Mental illness is a condition that affects all members of the society. The effect of mental illness is manifested in the economic sphere when a significant public allocation funds must be set aside for the care of the mentally ill patients. Management of ADHD should attract a multi-sectorial approach ensuring the affected individual benefits from both emotional and psychological support. Bibliography. Able, Stephen L et al. “Functional and Psychosocial Impairment in Adults with Undiagnosed ADHD.” Psychological medicine 37 (2007): 97–107. Graham, J., S. Seth, and D. Coghill. “ADHD.” Medicine 2007: 181–185. Myers, David G. “Exploring Psychology (9th Ed. in Modules). [References].” (2003) (2003): Exploring psychology. Tripp, Gail, and Jeffery R. Wickens. “Neurobiology of ADHD.” Neuropharmacology 2009: 579–589. Read More