Abnormal Psychology
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abnormalpsychologyunit1discussion.docxUnit 1: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology – Discussion
Your post should be at least 400–450 words in length and should extend the discussion of the group supported by your course materials and/or other appropriate resources
Introduction to Abnormal Behavior and Dysfunction
Mental disorders are serious debilitating illnesses that affect the person’s ability to function on a daily basis as the individual did prior to the development of the disorder. Psychologists agree that mental illness affects a person’s thinking (cognition), behavior, and emotional state.
To prepare for this week’s Discussion Board, review the following source:
· Source: Psychology Today (2011). Mental illness on the rise in the U.S. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/therapy-matters/201105/mental-illness-the-rise-in-the-us
Proceed to this week’s Discussion by selecting one of the Case Studies (Accessible from the Course Home) and locating one credible source from the internet or Kaplan Library to discuss the following:
Explain the individual’s symptoms and how the symptoms of the chosen disorder are affecting the individual’s ability to function and live life as he or she normally would on a physical, cognitive, or emotional level.
Here is an example of a good discussion board post done by a previous student: Hello Class,
Shonda exhibits symptoms of schizophrenia which hinders her from functioning normally on a physical, cognitive, and emotional level, affecting her way of life (Kaplan.edu, n.d). According to the National Institute of Mental Health {NIMH} (2014), schizophrenia is a “chronic, severe brain disorder, but the group of symptoms or psychotic episode can be intermittent" (para 1). Shonda experiences auditory hallucinations and delusions which remain with her on a daily basis, but these symptoms can vary in intensity. During the twelve years of Shonda’s mental illness, she has been hospitalized on occasion when her schizophrenia was unmanageable (Kaplan.edu, n.d).
The symptom of auditory hallucination, or hearing voices, typically does not prevent her from going to work. However, during a psychotic episode, the voices become more intense than usual, causing her to be anxious, frightened, and fidgety, from which she hides under the bed and in the closet. Hallucinations are prevalent with someone with schizophrenia, as they see objects, people, smell, or hear things that other people do not see (NIMH, 2014). Audio hallucinations such as hearing voices are the most common among people with schizophrenia (NIMH, 2014). In Shonda’s case, she is upset when the voices are louder, harsher, and more critical than usual.
In addition to hallucinations, Shonda experiences delusions, causing her to strongly believe in something that has been contradicted or disproved. She believes that she is being watched by the CIA and FBI, because they planted tiny cameras in her apartment and at her workplace (Kaplan,n.d). Due to the severe agitation that the hallucinations and delusions induced, her thought patterns have become disjointed which in turn produces incoherent speech. “Disorganized thinking” occurs in people with schizophrenia because they lose touch with reality and logic (NIMH, 2014, para 23).
The specific cause of schizophrenia is not understood, but the symptoms can be managed with proper medical care. Antipsychotic medications help, along with psychosocial treatments (NIMH, 2014). A strong support system could help Shonda, but unfortunately she and her family have lost contact during the course of her mental illness. Overall, Shonda could maintain a semblance of a “normal” life if she continually receives re-evaluation and treatment from her psychiatric center.
STUDENTS NAME
References:
National Institute of Mental Health. (2014). What is schizophrenia? Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml.
Kaplan.edu. (n.d.). Abnormal psychology: Case study. Shonda Retrieved from http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/artsSCi/PS4401404A/case_studies/ps440_cs05_shizophrenia.pdf.
Example of response to another students DQ: John, Excellent information on Shonda and the symptoms of her schizophrenia. You noted that she had been hospitalized on occasion when she was experiencing difficulties with her schizophrenia, why do you think she was hospitalized? There are different reasons that an individual can be hospitalized. One of the reason is the person could decompensate from their medications (National Institute of Mental Health {NIMH}, 2014). Decompensation occurs when an individual no longer is taking the prescribed medication treatment (NIMH, 2014). As their body filters out the medications they start to have stronger behavioral responses to their symptoms (NIMH, 2014). What are some of the triggers that could make an individual not want to take their prescribed psychiatric medications? STUDENT NAME Reference: National Institute of Mental Health. (2014). What is schizophrenia? Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml.
