The Psychiatric Disorders and Their Treatment

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Schizophrenia
Drug Abuse case
Anxiety case
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Daily, several individuals are found to be afflicted by some form of psychiatric disorder, for example, schizophrenia and anxiety disorder (Pakhare, 2007). Furthermore, in relation to the nature-nurture issue, the psychiatric disorders are passed on from parents, developed due to environmental factors, or are a blend of both factors. Lastly, every psychiatric disorder category has dissimilar management methods, which assist in establishing suitable means of treatment.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, an ailment of the brain, is one of the severe and chronic disorders that have affected humankind for a long time. Nevertheless, since it has been poorly understood throughout history, its victims have been undeservingly put to shame. The condition is not a split personality, but it is an infrequent and unusual brain disorder.

Similar to cancer or diabetes, the disease has a biological basis. Schizophrenia is a common ailment, with about 2.5 million patients in the United Sates alone. Whereas there is no known cure for the disorder, it is possible to treat the condition. A number of its victims act in response to drug therapy and most of them are capable of leading satisfying lives.

A number of factors are attributed to cause Schizophrenia. The first factor is genes and the environment. Experts have long known that this medical condition runs in most families. The disease is present in an estimated one percent of the whole population. It has been found in about ten percent of individuals who have first-degree relative (a parent, brother, or sister) with the illness.

Individuals who have second-degree relatives such as aunts, uncles or grandparents diagnosed with the illness are also more susceptible to get the disease. The chance is highest for an identical twin of an individual with the disorder. The identical twin has up to forty to sixty-five percent chance of developing the illness in the course of his or life (Tsuang, Faraone, and Johnson, 1997).

Medical experts think that a number of genes are related with an increased chance of developing the disorder, but that no single gene is able to cause it entirely by its own. In fact, latest scientific investigation has discovered that victims are likely to develop increased rates of unusual genetic mutations. These genetic variations entail several different genes, which perhaps interrupts normal brain development.

Other recent research propose that the disease may develop in part when a particular gene that is crucial in formulating essential brain chemicals fails to function. This malfunctioning may impinge on the part of the brain that is engaged in developing higher functioning skills.

Studies into this gene have not been completed yet; therefore, it is still difficult to use the genetic information to foretell persons who are likely to develop schizophrenia. Nevertheless, researchers have not understood fully the genetic differences that contribute to this disorder. Those that are understood increase the risk only by a small level. Moreover, it possibly involves more than genes to cause the disease.

Medical experts believe that interactions between genes and the environment are factors that can lead to the disorder. The condition causes the lateral ventricles of the brain to be enlarged, impairs the performance of the frontal regions of the brain, and reduces the volume of the temporal lobe, hippocampus, amygdala, components of the limbic system, and regions of the Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG) parts of the brain. The prefrontal cortex, area of the brain associated with memory, is also severely affected by the disease.

Secondly, scientists think that abnormalities in brain chemistry and structure play a role in schizophrenia development. The disparity in the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain that involves a number of neurotransmitters (substances that let brain cells to communicate with one another) has been attributed to this condition.

Experts are carrying more research on the relation of brain chemistry to schizophrenia. There is a distinct difference between brains of victims afflicted by schizophrenia and those of healthy individuals, for instance, fluid-filled cavities at the center of the brain, referred to as ventricles, are bigger in some individuals with the disorder.

The brains of individuals afflicted with schizophrenia are also likely to have limited amount of grey matter and various parts of their brain may have limited or increased biological activity. In addition, investigations of brain tissue after death have discovered marked variations in the brains of victims of the disorder.

Studies have revealed a number of changes in the distribution or features of the brain cells that may have taken place before birth. Some studies have concluded that problems during the period of brain development before birth may result in faulty connections, which may fail to show up until one has reached adolescence stage.

During adolescence, significant transformations take place in the brain, which can activate psychotic symptoms. Studies have revealed so much about schizophrenia, although more investigations are needed to better understand how it develops.

Schizophrenia is characterized by a variety of distinct and expected associated symptoms, which are mainly categorized into positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms denote the presence of grossly abnormal behavior not present in healthy people.

They include hallucinations where victims see, hear, smell, or feel things that no one else detects, delusions where the victim has false beliefs that are not component of his or her culture, thought disorders, and movement disorders that appear as agitated body movements (Hirsch and Weinberger, 2003, p.5).

Negative symptoms are related to interruption of normal emotions and behaviors and can be difficult to detect since they are similar to depression or other conditions. They include lack of pleasure in life and abnormal speech problems. Cognitive symptoms are delicate and may be difficult to detect. They include poor executive functioning, difficulty in paying attention and difficulties with working memory. Cognitive symptoms may further complicate a victim’s daily life.

Schizophrenia is a complicated condition that impairs the normal functioning of the brain, life experience and behavior of its victims. The brain functions to respond to stimuli and modulates them. People afflicted with this disorder are unable to modulate the various mechanisms of the brain. Processes in this disease lacks a single basis, the condition is multi factorial. Studies have indicated that the brains of victims lack adequate myelin around the nerves.

Other regions of the brain also exhibit impaired functioning in affected persons as discussed in the earlier sections of this paper. Recent research has discovered that several neurotransmitters are involved in the disorder. Dopamine and Dopamine receptors have been recognized for some time now and the common medication for managing this condition interacts with dopamine receptors. NMDA, GABA and the cholinergic system have recently been discovered to also influence schizophrenia.

The appropriate drug therapy for schizophrenia usually needs a blend of antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety drug treatment. The treatments focus on reducing the symptoms of the disorder. It has been observed that many individuals quit taking the drugs prescribed for the disease, particularly when they do not get well soon and when the side effects are more severe.

One is advised to start medication with a drug such as clozapine, which is cheaper and more efficient. Antipsychotic treatment assists patients to regain the normal biochemical balance and reduce the likelihood of a relapse.

Drug Abuse case

Ron long time abuse of alcohol has probably been caused by attempts to deny, cope with, or hide an underlying psychological problem, which has ultimately made him to be addicted to drinking alcohol. He has probably been fighting against loneliness, guilt, or self–reproach in his life.

The addiction has come because the alcohol has been stimulating Ron’s brain pleasure reward pathway (PRP). Dopamine neurotransmitter is significant in PRP. Alcohol stimulates PRP, which then spontaneously increases the level of dopamine. This produces euphoric effect to the victim. The brain is then wired in such a way that it wants to achieve the dopamine highness repeatedly, hence the addiction (Clinic, 2008, para.1).

The cause of alcohol abuse has not been left out of the nature-nurture debate. Some people attribute it to be due to nature (hereditary factors) while others nurture (environmental factors). Studies have shown that there is a possibility of people inheriting genes from their parents that can lead to alcoholism. The type of lifestyle a person lives is also a factor. The kind of friends a person has, the level of stress in a person’s life, and availability of alcohol are all risk factors.

The problem of alcoholism that Ron has is currently incurable, but it can be treated. In this case, a combination of counseling and medications programs can be administered to Ron to assist him stop taking alcohol. This can help me bring to a close his drinking habit and rebuild his work and family life. Oral medications, for example, disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamparosate have been successfully employed to reduce alcoholism.

Although alcoholism treatment is beneficial for good number individuals, there are different levels of success in treating it. A number of former addicts stop taking alcohol and remain sober, while others have durations when they experience sobriety with bouts of relapse. Some people also suffer from withdrawal symptoms, for example, shakiness, nausea, and sweating upon abandoning taking alcohol. Nevertheless, the longer an individual stays away from alcohol, the more effective the treatment process becomes.

Anxiety case

Tom is suffering from Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) a condition in which he gets too much anxious and worried about daily life happenings without any clear grounds for getting worried. Research has indicated that there is a relation between anxiety disorder and specific parts of the brain.

In a normal person, the thought process allows him or her to observe a situation and process the information. This then establishes if anxiety is required to “kick in” to arouse responsive action. In those affected by anxiety disorder, for example Tom, this process is triggered due to circumstances that really do not need a “flight or fight” responsive action (Hauser, 2005).

The exact cause of this tendency has not been understood fully. However, a number of factors, including genetics (nature), and environmental factors (nurture), appear to add to its development. Some studies have suggested that family history is a risk factor to the development of anxiety disorder.

This implies that the propensity to develop this condition may be inherited between the members of the family. Trauma and stressful factors, for example, abuse, loss of a close relative or friend, divorce, loss of employment, dropping out of school, may trigger development of anxiety disorder. The abuse and stopping the taking of addictive drugs may also worsen the condition.

Tom can appropriately use medication to treat his condition. This will assist him since the disorder interferes with his daily activities. He may consider using benzodiazepines for short-term treatment. This leaves him feeling calm and relaxed by reducing the physical symptoms of the disorder.

For long-term treatment, he may consider using antidepressants to alleviate his condition. Tom may also use cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy can assist him get rid of distorted thinking by having a more realistic look at agonizing situations. The use of anti-anxiety drugs may bring a number of complications. Side effects of the medications, for example, sleepiness, weight gain, and sexual problems, depend on the specific drug and the individual using them.

Conclusion

The indispensable aspect in understanding psychiatric disorders is to realize that those who are afflicted with the condition are normal human beings. The only difference is that the victims are suffering from a medical condition that weakens normal thinking and behavior. Treatment and prevention of this medical condition is best achieved by seeking for knowledge that can alleviate the suffering of the afflicted.

Reference List

Clinic, M. (2008). Alcoholism causes. MayoClinic.com. Web.

Hauser, J. (2005). Anxiety: Generalized anxiety disorder. Psych Central. Web.

Hirsch, S., & Weinberger, D. (2003). Schizophrenia (2^nd ed.). Malden: Blackwell Publishing Company.

Pakhare, J. (2007). Types of Mental Illness: List of Mental Disorders. Buzzle.com. Web.

Tsuang, M.T., Faraone, S. V., & Johnson, P.D. (1997). Schizophrenia: the facts. New York: Oxford University Press.

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