Abstract This paper presents a general overview and discussion of the psychological disorders known as Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Disorder. The paper presents definitions of both disorders and discusses several aspects associated with these disorders including diagnosis, prevalence, general etiology, risk factors, genetic and biological causes, symptoms of each disorder and need for interventions.
From the Paper "This research paper presents conduct disorder and antisocial disorder. Related to conduct disorder the following are discussed: definition, diagnosis, prevalence, general etiology and risk factors, genetic and biological causes and risk factors, disorder onset as a risk factor, familial and racial risk factors, childhood risk behaviors, developmental progression, course and consequences and assessment, treatment and forensic issues. Related to antisocial disorder the following are discussed: definition, diagnosis, prevalence, general etiology and risk factors, genetic and biological causes and risk factors..."
This paper analyzes and examines anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder, including treatments available and recommendations for improving the awareness of these disorders.
Abstract Anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder are two of the most devastating psychological illnesses. Providing a concise and detailed overview of the various types of anxiety disorders and the different stages of bipolar disorder, as well as a discussion of treatment options, the author argues that while improvements have been made to the treatment and understanding of these illnesses, further improvements are necessary, including the integration of drug therapy and psychotherapy.
From the Paper "Despite the increasing awareness, education, knowledge, treatment, and understanding of psychological disorders, there is still no clear-cut, quick fix, and uniform method available to diagnose and/or eliminate (or at least reduce) mental illnesses and psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder are two of the most common mental illnesses that prevent an individual from functioning normally. While most individuals may arguably prefer to remain ignorant of the existence of anxiety disorders and/or bipolar disorder, the fact is that more than 23 million individuals suffer from anxiety disorders (Harvard, 1) while more than 3 million individuals suffer from bipolar disorder (Hollandsworth)."
A detailed essay covering the diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prevention and prognosis of each pervasive developmental disorder such as autism, Rett syndrome, etc.
Abstract A paper which covers the main points of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, including autism, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger's syndrome, and 'pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified' (PDDNOS). The treatment, prevention, diagnosis, signs and symptoms, and treatment of each disorder is covered.
Table of Contents:
Asperger's Syndrome
What is Asperger's Syndrome?
Characteristics & Diagnosis
Diagnostic Criteria
Treatment
Autistic Disorder What is Autism?
Causes, Incidence, Risk Factors
Prevention
Diagnosing Autism
Treatment
Prognosis
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder What is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder?
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnostic Criteria
Causes, Incidence, Other Risk
Prevention
Diagnosis
Signs and Tests
Prognosis
Treatment
Monitoring the Condition
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
What is PPDNOS?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Rett Syndrome
What is Rett Syndrome?
Causes, Incidence
Diagnosis
Signs and Tests
Treatment
Prognosis
What we learned?
Bibliography
From the Paper "Early diagnosis and appropriate educational programs are very important to children with autism or PDD. Public Law 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), includes autism as a disability category. From the age of three, children with autism and PDD are eligible for an educational program appropriate to their individual needs. Educational programs for students with autism or PDD focus on improving communication, social, academic, behavioral, and daily living skills. Behavior and communication problems that interfere with learning sometimes require the assistance of a knowledgeable professional in the autism field who develops and helps to implement a plan which can be carried out at home and school."
Abstract This paper discusses dissociative disorders and the types of behavior that are associated with dissociative disorders. The paper first provides a short history on mental illnesses and defines dissociative disorders. The paper then addresses the diagnostic methods for dissociative disorders and also the syndromes that might surface. In addition, the paper gives several examples of dissociative disorders such as dissociative fugue, depersonalization disorder and dissociative identity disorder. The paper also discusses several treatment methods for dissociative disorders.
From the Paper "Before a person is said to have a mental disorder, he needs to be diagnosed to determine the factors that contributed to his or her present condition and to properly administer the necessary treatment. Dissociative disorders vary in their seriousness and the unexpectedness of occurrence. The gravity of illness may vary, depending on the person's exposure to events that may have triggered such disorder. Certain factors such as traumatic experiences can cause moderate or severe forms of dissociation. These traumatic memories such as physical torture, sexual and emotional abuse, frightening event like accident, and other forms of harassment are stored in the human brain differently as compared to the normal memories."
Abstract This paper discusses how important the proper diagnosis of a patient's mood disorder is for finding the proper treatment. Disorders covered include: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, cyclothymic, bi-polar I, and bi-polar II. The author shows how the disorders are broken down into domains and indicates the symptoms for each and how they should be treated.
From the Paper "Bi-polar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million American adults or about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older (Reiger, 1993). Men and women are equally likely to develop bi-polar disorder. The average age of onset for bi-polar disorders is in the early twenties (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Bi-polar disorders include cyclothymic, bi-polar I, and bi-polar II. Distinction of the actual disorder can sometimes become difficult, therefore, it is crucial to look at all the symptoms the patient is experiencing."
Abstract This paper analyzes and reviews three articles about dissociative personality disorder in order to consider how the conceptual framework for this disorder has changed over the last 50 years. The three articles were read carefully and summarized for basic themes, definitions, and differences. The first article entitled "Multiple Personality Disorder" by W.S. Taylor and M.F. Martin, written in 1944, was one of the first works on this disorder. The next article, "The Osiris Complex," by Colin A. Ross, describes the condition as growing out of childhood abuse and psychological trauma. The third article, titled "Multiple Personality Disorder: Witchcraft Survives in the Twentieth Century," by August Piper, Jr points out some troublesome aspects of the illness, which include more alternate personalities than earlier researchers believed could exist. The reviewer concludes by stating that todays view of dissociative identity disorder is one personality divided into abnormally personified components.
From the Paper " An article titled "Multiple Personality Disorder" written in 1944 by Taylor & Martin was located for comparison to two articles written more recently, "The Osiris Complex: Case Studies in Multiple Personality Disorder" (Ross, 2000) and "Multiple Personality Disorder: Witchcraft Survives in the Twentieth Century" (Piper, 1998). The 1944 article is frequently cited in articles written since 1980 and is considered a seminal work. Because two strands of thought regarding the disorder exist today, it was necessary to compare the old article to two contrasting concepts as articulated in the two more recent articles. The three articles were read carefully and summarized for basic themes, definitions, and differences."
Abstract This paper examines how psychiatric disorders affect people of all ages and walks of life and how some are diagnosable as early as infancy. It analyzes how much of the etiology of today's recognized disorders and syndromes in children are poorly understood and difficult to trace in children and adolescents. It looks at how many factors contribute to this lack of empirical evidence and how studies are ongoing with intent to isolate, define and better treat these conditions in our children. It describes some of these conditions and looks at the etiology, characteristics, morbidity and mortality.
Outline
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia
Adolescent Social Phobia
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
From the Paper "Many clinicians view Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as a neuropsychiatric disorder. These symptoms have been alleviated in early trials by using serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) leading researchers to believe that OCD may be a genetically acquired disorder. Further, neuroimaging indicates the possibility of abnormal functioning in neurological circuits linking cortical areas of the brain to the basal ganglia. SSRIs also appear to help with this disorder. Further studies are being conducted to establish the interrelationship of neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine abnormalities in childhood-onset OCD and will ultimately be compiled to determine the causal factors."
Abstract Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disturbance in which the patient has an exaggerated sense that he or she is important. Likewise, NPD is associated with two other sub-disorders, Narcissistic-Histrionic Mixed Personality Disorder and Narcissistic-Antisocial Mixed Personality Disorder. This paper looks at how the cause of NPD is essentially one thing: a patient's parent unit over-indulging and evaluating the child, all of which generally occurs during the patient's childhood. It explains that, treatment-wise, there are two main options: available hospitalization and therapy, including both individual, or psychotherapy, and group therapy. Although it may not appear to be a very troublesome disorder, patients with it commonly appear in drug rehabilitation programs, centers for youth offenders, and in jails and prisons.
From the Paper "A personality disorder is a disorder is a set of inflexible, maladaptive personality traits that keep a person from function properly in society. More specifically, the Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a disorder that causes the patient to appear arrogant, pompous, and is also unable to experience empathy for other people (Feldman 484). A person with NPD is a person that has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. These people expect special treatment from others, while at the same time blatantly disregarding the rights of those other people (Feldman 484)."
Abstract This paper describes the symptoms of bipolar disorder and explains why it has often been difficult to diagnose in children. The paper describes the most common and easily identifiable symptoms exhibited by children with bi-polar disorder and discusses the type of treatment that is now available to children suffering from the disorder. Additionally, the paper looks at findings from recent research on bi-polar disorder, looks at how parents and families of children with bi-polar disorder are affected and explains why there is reason for optimism regarding future treatment options.
From the Paper "Twenty years ago depression in children was not considered an issue or a possiblity. Psychiatrists believed children did not possess the necessary depth of cognitive and emotional development in order to suffer from depression. (Dowling, 1981, 128) With the advancements in modern medicine and the study of psychology and psychiatry over the last decade as well as lifestyle choices available, life for bipolar children can be much different than that of their counterparts in the past. Although diagnosis continues to be an area of frustration both for the parent and the psychiatrist, the knowledge that children can have bipolar disorder has made diagnosis more acceptable, recognition of the disease more likely, and treatment more successful.|"
Abstract This well-researched paper examines the rising numbers of people diagnosed with various forms of generalized anxiety disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) are one of the most common mental illnesses in the U.S. with more than 23 million people diagnosed each year. This paper details various varieties of anxiety disorders which fall under the heading of GAD, including: Panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. This paper details the causes and symptoms of GAD as well as the available effective treatments which include: medication, specific forms of psychotherapy known as behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, or a combination of medication and non-medication therapies. This paper also cites the results of a specific case study which ascertained the relative value of medication combined with traditional group therapy versus cognitive therapies alone in treating GAD.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Procedure/Method
Review of the Literature
Summary
References
From the Paper "To ascertain the relative value of medication combined with traditional group therapy vs. cognitive therapies alone in treating generalized anxiety disorder, two groups of young to middle-aged groups were initiated. Each group began with four members, drawn from clients of an Employee Assistance Program; all had developed generalized anxiety disorder after being transferred or otherwise coming under the supervision of various types of ineffective, antisocial, overbearing or micromanaging bosses. All of the participants were looking for other employment, but all had to cope with the situation as is in the meantime; with a soft job market, none expected to be able to wait it out without help and also, many had expressed a need to overcome the anxiety to make the job search possible."
Abstract This study explores the psychological disorder known as reactive attachment disorder. This problem can occur when early childhood attachment patterns are chronically interrupted. The author describes factors that may contribute to this problem and the actual symptoms of the disorder. Finally, the author states that this study was initiated in order to develop a best practices handbook to increase the awareness of this condition and to provide a helpful approach for therapists when working with children who are or have experienced attachment issues. Includes charts and tables.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Significance of the Study
Limitations of the Project
Definition of Terms
Organization of the Project
Chapter Two
Review of the Research on Issues that are Relevant to the Study
Introduction
Attachment Theory and RAD
Diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder Implications of Reactive Attachment Disorder Identifying Effective Treatment for Reactive Attachment Disorder Synthesis of the Review of the Research
Chapter 3: Methodology
Introduction
CHAPTER 4: Product
CHAPTER 5: Conclusion
From the Paper " When early childhood attachment patterns are chronically interrupted, children may develop reactive attachment disorder; unfortunately, RAD remains a widely misunderstood and under-diagnosed disorder (Doggett, Renfro-Michel & Sheperis, 2003). While studies have shown time and again that some children who experience early disruptions in the attachment process are able to cope with such events, others appear to be unable to recover, such as with children suffering from reactive attachment disorder. The symptoms of RAD vary from child to child, of course, but studies have found that a lack of ability to give and receive affection, cruelty to others especially pets, abnormalities in eye contact and speech patterns, lying and stealing, lack of long-term friends, and extreme control problems are common (Flanagan, 1999). Complicating the problem for clinicians are the number of behavioral disorders that can manifest during these early years that may mimic the symptoms of reactive attachment disorder, and the diagnosis of RAD is made only when there are no other likely causes for the lack of social responsiveness, such as mental retardation (Flanagan, 1999)."
A look at the clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder, the cause and prevalence of the disorder, and controversies within the counseling profession related to gender identity disorder.
Abstract This paper reports the diagnostic criteria and typical course of gender identity disorder including the theories of this disorder and the etiology and prevalence of this disorder. Evidence-based treatments found to be most effective are also reported as well as a consensus and controversies of the disorder in this field of study.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Clinical Diagnosis
Cause and Prevalence of GID
Controversies in the Field
Evidence-Based Therapies
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "The work of Duncan Osborne entitled: "Voices- Identity Crisis" relates the condition and the controversies very well in a story that tells of a five-year-old boy whom he treated. Later the child was treated as an adult. Osborne relates that generally these children who have been diagnosed with gender identity disorder grow up to be homosexual. Osborne reports a study conducted in the early 1980's by Green who finds that, among 44 such boys with gender identity disorder that: "...75% were either gay or bisexual and one wanted sex reassignment.""
According to Osborne, Psychologist Kenneth J. Zucker, head of Toronto's Child and Adolescent Gender Identity Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, is a "leading GID expert who has seen roughly 625 children or adolescents since 1978." (2003) According to Osborne, Zucker states that: "The majority of kids will have resolved their gender dysphoria and identify themselves as gay. We're also going to find that around 15% have a significant gender dysphoria that has persisted into adolescence and young adulthood to the point where they are wanting sex reassignment. If we add on to that a small minority of kids who report being heterosexual, we're seeing a real range of outcomes." (Osborne, 2
Tags: theories, assigned sex, cross-sex roles, mood disorders, surgery
This paper addresses the types of eating disorders and statistics regarding these disorders. It also talks about the types of treatments and cultural differences.
Abstract This paper explains how eating disorders are mental disorders presented as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or EDNOS. The need for action is called upon and statistically proven. This paper argues that communication, therapy, feeding intervention, and support groups are needed to fight this phenomenon. It explains that, in all cultures and races, intervention is the key to improvement and prevention and therefore, includes the family, students, teachers, administrators, and community organizations. It shows how a comprehensive school health plan must be created and implemented to prevent the increase of eating disorders. The promotion of acceptance of all people must be infused in daily curriculum. These character traits must be modeled by the teachers and administrators in order to make a maximum impact.
From the Paper "The term eating disorders usually includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia, nervosa, binge eating disorder, and EDNOS (eating disorders not otherwise specified). Although eating disorders deal with food, they are considered a psychological disorder. Siegel, Brisman, and Weindhel (1998) state that" many aspects of eating disorders are not apparent to an outside observer." Healthy People places eating disorders under the category of mental health and disorders. According to Healthy People, "mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof), which are associated with distress and/or impaired functioning" (www.health.gov). These disorders can lead to many health problems including tooth decay, ulcers, loss of menstruation, and death. In addition to the obvious dangers, eating disorders affect people of all "racial and ethnic groups, both genders, and all educational and socioeconomic groups" in the United States (www.health.gov). As educators it is our job to protect the health and future of the children, especially since eating disorders can lead to school failure and lower academic performance. Eating disorders affect children at a young age and "often persist into adulthood and have among the highest death rates of any mental disorder" (www.health.gov). A study done by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (1996) shows that eighty-six percent of Americans report onset of an eating disorder before the age of twenty. Clearly this is within the educators range of responsibility. Eating disorders are a silent epidemic that needs to be stopped."
Abstract This paper presents a discussion on eating disorders, focusing on the two main types of eating disorders known as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The paper describes the psychological elements of the disorders, their physical, psychological and sociological effects, and the therapies available for treating them. The paper also briefly addresses the subject of men and eating disorders.
Table of Contents
Psychological Elements of Eating Disorders Physical, Psychological and Social Effects
What Therapies are available?
A Word about Men
Conclusion
From the Paper "For most of us, eating is just something we do to meet the energy needs of our bodies. But for others, eating can meet many other kinds of needs. We eat when we are happy, such as at a party, sad, as when we are at a funeral. Even religious rituals are associated with either eating or even fasting. We eat when we go out with friends; it is a bonding activity when we go out for a date. Our television commercials are filled with different types of food we eat and even children are bombarded with what certain types of food will do for them, i.e. make them popular or better at sports. Interestingly, despite this increased interest in food we have seen a changed attitude toward body shape over the last half century. Many years ago, women who had full breast and hips were felt to represent fertility and sexuality. Now the ideal woman is considered to be thin, many times unhealthily think. For this reason, dieting is now very common. There is spoken and unspoken prejudice toward the overweight and being fat is associated with being lazy and unattractive. It is no wonder that in the last years, we have seen the development of eating disorders in both men and women alike."
Abstract This paper provides 12 case histories and evaluations of different types of mental disorders. The disorders include: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Dementia of the Alzheimer's type, Paranoid type of Schizophrenia and Major Depressive Disorder.
From the Paper "Peter, a ten-year-old Caucasian boy, was referred to the therapist for diagnosis due to his inability to deal with academic tasks and disruptive behavior over the last seven months. Apart from the involvement of Peter and therapist, Peter's mother and his teacher..."
