Final paper: Biopsychological Analysis of a Neuropsychological Disorder

ANXIETY/ STRESS DISORDER

The Selection of Final Project Topic Week 1 Assignment

Miranda Smith

PSY350: Physiological Psychology

Dr. Claire Decristofaro

10/08/2020

Anxiety is the body`s natural response to stress. Fear is the feeling of pressure or

apprehension of what is to happen in an environment. For instance, one may be nervous when

attending a job interview for the very first time. Anxiety develops from several common factors

ANXIETY/ STRESS DISORDER

like financial struggles, political instabilities, and useable events like pandemics, marriage

misunderstandings, and job stress. Feeling of fear doesn’t fade because an individual can`t do

away with emotions from the brain once and for all (Cordova et al., 2017). According to Freud,

anxiety signs attest unconscious disputes and the reason for depth psychiatry is to resolve them.

Contrary, the behavioral theory, anxiety signs arise from a simple adapted reaction.

Post-Traumatic Anxiety/ Stress Disorder

Explain the theories of etiology (causes) with a focus on the neurobiology of the disorder.

One of the common anxiety disorders is a post-traumatic anxiety disorder that develops

in individuals when they suffer a shocking, terrifying, or threatening occurrence. It is common to

feel frightened during and after a threatening event (Roberts et al., 2019). The PTSD disorder is

characterized by the re-occurrence of the trauma via invasive disturbing reminiscence of

situations, hallucinations, and night terrors. PTSD disorder is also clarified by emotional

stupefaction and abstinence of places, events, practices, and people that are commemorative of

the trauma. Post Traumatic stress disorders are also characterized by raised arousals such as

hardship in concentration, feeling jumpy, and being easily annoyed. Therefore, the signs of this

disorder appeal to focus a persistent unusual adjustment of the neurobiological system to the

stress of the observed trauma (Cordova et al., 2017). The systems that monitor trauma include

the endocrine and neurotransmitter pathways and the networks of brain areas kb own to

command anxiety manner at both the sentient and insentient levels.

Explain associated factors in development of the disorder (genetic, environmental, familial,

lifestyle).

Genetic factors, for instance, the FKBP5 gene interacts with the environment promoting

the evolution of Post Traumatic Anxiety/Stress Disorder. Individuals who lack a strong bond

ANXIETY/ STRESS DISORDER

with their families or friends are more prone to have strict physical and emotional responses to a

lesion. Also, having other brain heath issues like fear, pressure, stress, or even having a

background of drug abuse lifestyle, increases the risk of developing PTSD anxiety disorder

(Fenster et al, 2018). Environmental factors such as experiencing parental conflicts or death, low

socioeconomic standards, low education status, teen adversity, and disaster like earthquakes can

also bring fear to an individual, thus, leading to the development of PTSD.

Describe the pathology of the disorder with an emphasis on the abnormalities of nervous

system structure and function, including any genetic and biochemical aspects.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder shows biochemical modifications in the brain and body

of an individual, which are distinct from other disorders like depression. People with PTSD

demonstrate hyperactivity in the companionate arms of the subjective nervous system. It is

demonstrated through the modifications in the heartbeat rate, blood pressure, skin conductance,

and other psychological measures (Roberts et al., 2019). PTSD is also related to endocrine

aspects features such as abnormal command of the cortisol and thyroid hormones. Additionally,

PTSD disorder is genetically be inherited since trauma leaves a chemical mark on an individual`s

genes that may then be received by the coming generations.

Give examples of treatment options, including both drug (pharmacological) and non-drug

(nonpharmacological treatments), with rationales for use of these treatments based on

current understanding of the neurobiology of the disorder.

Treatment of post-trauma stress anxiety disorder can be provided using a non-

pharmacological diagnostics. These include PTSD therapy that focuses on improving symptoms

of the affected individual, developing resolution skills, and restoring the self-confidence alter the

thought patterns disturbing one`s life. Treatment can also be through cognitive processing

ANXIETY/ STRESS DISORDER

therapy that helps an individual to examine his or her thinking about trauma and develop new

techniques to deal with it (Fenster et al, 2018). Other treatment methods include; prolonged

exposure therapy. The therapy involves 8 to 15 lessons of 90 minutes each that helps to learn

breathing skills to eases one`s fear when thinking of what is to happen in the future. Treatment

also can be initiated through medication. A physician uses pharmacological drugs such as

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, paroxetine, and sertraline drugs. These drugs help to

relieve severe fear and other related issues.

Summarize diagnostic and research technologies employed in clinical diagnosis, clinical

and behavioral health care, and basic science research.

There is a wide variety of technologies used by medical providers to help patients to deal

with psychological disorders. They include; Electronic Health Records, Clinical Decision

Support Devices, and Medical imaging Information tools. The technologies assist in the

gathering of patient information through diagnostic strategies, clinical data evaluation, physical

examination, the diagnostic assessment of outcomes, and modeling doctor`s efforts.

Technological medical devices help in the reduction of human errors, saving the time consumed

as well as save storage of patient`s data (Roberts et al., 2019). Although these technologies favor

the above factors, they also have some negatives such that if they are incorrectly applied, it can

lead to diagnostic errors and also require special skills to operate.

In conclusion, there are a lot of human beings around the globe who suffer various

anxiety disorders. It negatively affects their personalities and sense and thus creating polar

issues. Therefore, it is essential to address these disorders and help one another to overcome

faults in their charter that would hinder positive impacts in the working environment. To

evaluate anxiety issues, an individual should try to build their self-esteem and self-confidence

ANXIETY/ STRESS DISORDER

whenever they are they are attending to events like interviews to cope with the anxiety. They

should also feel relaxed and give themselves an exit strategy (Cordova et al., 2017).

Furthermore, living in their moments will boost their confidence, and finally, patients with fear

should seek medication from anxiety therapists to enable them to deal with the disorders.

References

Cordova, M. J., Riba, M. B., & Spiegel, D. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer. The

Lancet Psychiatry, 4(4), 330-338.

ANXIETY/ STRESS DISORDER

Fenster, R. J., Lebois, L. A., Ressler, K. J., & Suh, J. (2018). Brain circuit dysfunction in post-

traumatic stress disorder: from mouse to man. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(9), 535-

551.

Roberts, N. P., Kitchiner, N. J., Kenardy, J., Robertson, L., Lewis, C., & Bisson, J. I. (2019).

Multiple session early psychological interventions for the prevention of post‐traumatic

stress disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (8).