Psychological Disorders (Essay Sample)

Psychological disorders
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Psychological disorders
Introduction
Psychological disorders refer to the behavioral pattern that causes suffering to the patient or inability to function in ordinary life. It refers to the cessation of purposeful function of emotions, cognition or behavior. Psychological disorders are also known as psychiatric or mental disorders. The most common psychological disorders include depression, dementia, schizophrenia, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and the bipolar disorders (Barlow, 2014). This paper will discuss psychological disorders, their classification, causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and, treatments and management.
Classification of psychological disorders
The classification of psychological disorders is also known as psychiatric nosology. There are currently two widely established systems used to classify psychiatric disorders. The two systems are; International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) produced by the world health organization (WHO) and the other is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that is produced by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The ICD and DSM-5 classifications use operational definitions to classify mental disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2006). ICD-10 classifies mental disorders into ten categories. These categories include; organic, mental and behavioral disorders due to abuse of psychoactive chemicals, Schizophrenia, mood disorders, Neurotic, behavioral syndromes, disorders of personality, mental retardation, disorders of psychological development and behavioral disorders with onset occurring in childhood or adolescent. Disorders that are not clearly specified are classified in an additional group of "unspecified mental disorders." The DSM-IV text revision, 2000 consists of five domains in which a disorder can be assessed. These domains are; Clinical disorders, personality disorders and mental disorders, general medical conditions, Psychological and environmental problems such as limited social supports and, Global assessment of functioning (Gabbard, & American Psychiatric Association, 2014).
There many types of mental disorders and areas of human behavior and personality that can be disordered. For example, fear that interferes with the normal functioning of an individual can be categorized as an anxiety disorder. The commonly known categories of anxiety disorder include; panic disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The mood disorder that involves intense and sustained sadness, despair or melancholia is known as unipolar depression. Bipolar depression involves abnormally high moods known as hypomania that alternates with the normal or depressed moods (Barlow, 2014).
The perception of reality, patterns of belief and language use can also be disordered. For example, a patient can experience hallucinations, thought disorders and delusions. Psychotic disorders in this domain include delusional disorder and schizophrenia. Individuals showing the aspects of both the emotional disorders and schizophrenia are classified in the category of schizoaffective disorders. Individuals who show some characteristics that are associated with Schizophrenia and who do not meet the cut-off criteria are classified in the category of Schizotypy (Barlow, 2014).
The personality disorders are defined as emerging in either childhood, adolescence or, at least, early adulthood (Mash, & Barkley, 2009). An adjustment disorder occurs to individuals who experience an inability to adjust to life after a psychiatric illness or a catastrophic experience. Eating disorders involve inappropriate concern in matters of weight and food. The various categories of this disorder include binge eating disorder, anorexia nervosa and, bulimia nervosa. Sleep disorders such as insomnia are characterized by the disruption of the normal sleep patterns or feeling tired despite sleep appearing normal. Gender dysphoria and sexual disorders include egodystonic homosexuality and dyspareunia. Various types of paraphilia are considered mental disorders. Individuals who are unable to resist urges that can be harmful to others or themselves can be classified as having impulse control disorders. These disorders include the urge to steal (kleptomania) or fire setting (Pyronia). Other behavioral addictions such as gambling addictions and drugs addictions can also be classified as mental disorders (Barlow, 2014). DSM-5 categories these conditions as substance abuse disorders.
Individuals who suffer severe disturbances of their memory, personal identity, general awareness of themselves and their surroundings can be classified as having a dissociative identity disorder. Other cognitive or memory disorders include dementia and amnesia. Various developmental disorders that occur in childhood include; conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, autism and, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These developmental disorders may continue to adulthood. If conduct disorder continues to adulthood, it may be diagnosed as antisocial personality disorder (Mash, & Barkley, 2009). Various less common psychiatric syndromes are named after the people who described them. These mental syndromes include Geschwind syndrome, Ganser syndrome, Capgras syndrome, Othello syndrome, Couvade syndrome among others (Gabbard, & American Psychiatric Association, 2014).
Signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders
The course of the outcome of psychological disorders differs and depends on various factors that are related to the specific disorder, the individual and the social environment. The symptoms of mental disorders can be transient or can be more chronic in nature. Even psychological disorders that are considered as most serious such as Psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders have varied courses (Gabbard, & American Psychiatric Association, 2014).
Some psychological disorders may involve substantial disability while others may be quite limited in their functional effects. The extent of disability or ability can vary over time and across different life settings. Continued disability can be attributed to social discrimination, social exclusion, and institutionalization as well as to the intrinsic effects of the disorder. Other things that may affect functioning include the stress of having to conceal the condition, adverse effects of the medications or mismatch between the variations that are related to the disorder and demands for regularity (Bursztyn, 2011). Though the majority of mental disorders are characterized in negative terms, some mental characteristics that are labeled as disorders can involve creativity that is above average, empathy, goal-striving, nonconformity, or meticulousness.
The number of years of life that are lost as a result of the poor state of health, disability, or premature death is estimated regarding Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Regarding DALYs, the mental disorders rank among the most disabling health conditions. The unipolar disorder is the 3rd leading cause of disability worldwide. Although less common, Schizophrenia is the most disabling disorder worldwide with a total loss of 6.8 million DALY. Bipolar disorder causes 14.4 million, panic disorder 7 million, obsessive-compulsive disorder 5.1, insomnia 3.6 and, post traumatic disorder 3.5 million DALYs (Gabbard, & American Psychiatric Association, 2014). A suicide that is attributed to some underlying mental disorder is the leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under the age of 35years (Tatarelli, Pompili& Girardi, 2007).
Causes
Risk factors for psychological disorders include genetic inheritance such as propensity for high neuroticism or parents having depression. In depression risk factors related to the parents include unequal treatment by parents. In psychosis and schizophrenia, the risk factors include discrimination and migration, separation in families, bereavement, childhood trauma and abuse of drugs such as cannabis. The risk factors for anxiety may include child abuse, anxious childrearing, family history, parental rejection, attitudes and temperament, harsh discipline, high hostility as well as modeling of dysfunctional and drug-abusing behavior (Bursztyn, 2011).
Environmental factors surrounding pregnancy and childbirth are also implicated in the development of psychological disorders. Traumatic injuries of the brain increase the risk of developing certain psychological disorders. Certain viral infections have also been linked to the development of mental disorders. Social influences including neglect, bullying, traumatic events, social stress and, other life experiences are also implicated in the development of psychological disorders. The aspects of the wider community have also been implicated in the development of mental disorders. These aspects include social-economic inequality, employment problems and lack of social cohesion (Schnyder & Cloitre, 2015).
The use of drugs such as cannabis, caffeine and alcohol are correlated with the development of mental disorders. For example, Cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine have been linked to the development of schizophrenia. The mental condition of the individuals who are genetically and biologically vulnerable to bipolar disorder can be made worse by stress such as childhood adversity. However, the relationship between the use of cannabis and the development of bipolar disorder is not clear. There is a common genetic link between autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The gene variations play an important role in the developme...