Analyzing Psychological Disorders. You are interviewing for a position as a psychologist and have two parts left in the interview process. In Part A, you must analyze the psychiatric disease schizophrenia, discussing parts of the brain affected, the neural basis, symptoms, causes, and drug therapies. In Part B, you need to review four case studies on different disorders, which are provided at the end of Appendix A. You must choose two of the four case studies to analyze. For each case study, you must examine the problem from the perspective of a biopsychologist and include each case's relation to the nature-nurture issue and any relevant portions of the Basics of Biopsychology text. You will also provide your recommendations for any helpful drug interventions or solutions and their side effects. You will be introduced to these concepts throughout the course; your readings and activities will help prepare you to design your paper.
For your final project, you will write a 1,750- to 2,100-word paper that covers the following elements:
1. Introduction
2. Part A: Apply your understanding of the causes and treatments of schizophrenia. Include the following:
• Areas of the brain affected
• Causal factors
• Associated symptoms
• The neural basis
• Appropriate drug therapies
3. Part B: From a biopsychologist's perspective, interpret the two case studies you chose. Include the following in your discussion:
• Your understanding of the problem presented in each case study from the perspective of a biopsychologist
• Each problem's relation to the nature-nurture issue and any relevant portions of the Basics of Biopsychology text
• Any helpful drug interventions or solutions
• Any positive or negative aspects of the drug interventions or solutions
4. Conclusion
Your paper must be written in APA format and posted as an attachment. You must also use at least five outside sources for your paper, including three peer-reviewed articles.
Final Project Timeline
You should budget your time wisely and work on your project throughout the course. As outlined below, some activities and assignments in the course are designed to assist you in creating your final project. If you complete your course activities and use the feedback provided by the instructor, you will be on the right track to complete your project successfully.
• Suggested in Week One: Read the Final Project Overview, Case Studies, and Timeline in Appendix A. Complete the assignment on the nature-nurture issue. Review the concepts behind nature and nurture.
• Suggested in Week Four: Complete the assignment on eating disorders. Review the symptoms and theories behind anorexia.
• Due Week Six: Complete the assignment on sleeping disorders, diseases, and drugs. Review the sleeping disorders and possible drug interventions.
• Due Week Seven: Complete the discussion on drug addiction. Review the concepts of drug addiction, withdrawal, and tolerance. Review possible drug interventions and solutions.
• Due Week Eight: Complete the assignment on psychiatric disorders, diseases, and drugs. Review the concepts relating to schizophrenia and anxiety and the possible drug interventions. Choose the two case studies you will examine for your final project. Begin organizing information on the topics of your choice.
• Due in Week Nine: Submit your final project.
Case Studies
Anorexia
Beth is a normal child raised in a well-balanced home by caring parents. As a teenager, she began to experience an overwhelming fear of gaining weight and becoming fat. Her fear was unfounded because Beth's weight was normal for her height and age. Beth began to diet and lose weight, but regardless of how much she weighed, she had a very poor self-image. Beth has become dangerously thin, but she denies the seriousness of her condition. Regardless of how much weight she loses, she feels like she needs to lose more. Beth has missed several menstrual cycles and continues to severely restrict her food intake. Her weight continues to drop. Beth's mother and father are deeply concerned, but they do not know how to help their daughter (PsychCentral®, 2006).
Drug Abuse
Ron is a 33-year-old man who has been in and out of the court/jail system for the last several years. He started drinking as a teenager but his alcohol abuse began to be a serious problem in his late 20s. Ron has several DUI's (driving under the influence) and has been arrested several times, but he seems unable to control his drinking. To his credit, he admits that he is an alcoholic. Ron has been through a variety of inpatient treatment facilities for his alcoholism, but after a brief time of sobriety, he has always relapsed back into his daily abuse of alcohol. His wife is concerned about him, but she does not know what to do for her husband.
Anxiety
Tom is an engineer, he is happily married, and he is the father of three bright, healthy children. By all appearances, his life is stable and satisfying. Tom, however, suffers from continual worry that he has a difficult time turning off. His anxiety may center on anything from his perceived health problems (he has recently been to his doctor for a physical, but no health issues were discovered) to money and job responsibilities. At times his anxiety peaks to the point that it interferes with his ability to function on the job. Physical symptoms include muscle tension, headaches, and hot flashes that often accompany Tom's anxiety. Tom often feels nauseated, and he becomes easily fatigued. When he feels anxious, Tom has difficulty concentrating, he becomes irritable, and he has difficulty falling asleep at night. All of these symptoms have been present for the last 6 months. Tom has tried to talk himself out of his anxiety, but this has not worked for him. Tom's wife is supportive, but she does not know what to do for her husband (Hauser, 2005).
Insomnia
Mary is a single mother of one child. She has had difficulty sleeping for the last month. Her lack of sleep has caused her to be fatigued during the day, which has caused significant impairment in her professional and social life. Mary has no history of mental disorders (such as depression) nor is she on any kind of prescription medication. Mary does not drink alcohol and does not take any type of street drug. Mary has been to her doctor about this problem, but he has been reluctant to give her any kind of sleep medication for her insomnia because he is concerned about her becoming overly dependant on the medication. Mary is facing yet another night with little sleep.
References
Hauser, J. (2005, February 2). Anxiety: Generalized anxiety disorder. Retrieved November 21, 2006, from the PsychCentral® Web site: https://psychcentral.com.prx.proxywebsite.co.uk/disorders/anxiety/gad.html
PsychCentral®. (2006, November 17). Anorexia nervosa: Symptoms. Retrieved November 21, 2006, from https://psychcentral.com.prx.proxywebsite.co.uk/disorders/sx2.htm
2. Final Project: Analyzing Psychological Disorders
You are interviewing for a psychologist position with a top company. After your face-to-face interview with the team, they have provided you with two additional assignments-Part A and Part B below, which will complete the interview process:
• Part A: A psychologist understands how biology can affect psychological activities and disorders. In your interview, you are asked about your understanding of the causes and treatment(s) of schizophrenia. In your reply, discuss the following:
o Areas of the brain affected
o Causal factors
o Associated symptoms
o The neural basis
o Appropriate drug therapies
• Part B: Part B of the interview consists of interpreting some case studies from a biopsychologist's perspective. You are given four different case studies of disorders and have the option of choosing two out of the four case studies to analyze.
• Write a 1,750- to 2,100-word paper in APA format containing the following:
o Introduction
o Part A of the interview process.
o Part B of the interview process:
• Choose two of the four case studies presented in Appendix A.
• Discuss your understanding of the problem presented in each of the two case studies from the perspective of a biopsychologist.
• Include each problem's relation to the nature-nurture issue and any relevant portions of the Basics to Biopsychology text.
• Use a minimum of five outside resources, including at least 3 peer-reviewed articles.
• Apply any helpful drug interventions or solutions.
• Discuss the positive or negative aspects of these drug interventions or solutions.
o Conclusion