StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Psychological abnormality - Assignment Example

Cite this document
Summary
The main reason for the variations in the definitions of psychological abnormality is the fact that no two individuals are exactly similar (Comer,…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93% of users find it useful
Psychological abnormality
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Psychological abnormality"

Psychological Abnormality of Psychological Abnormality There is consensus among psychologists and other stakeholders that the definition of psychological abnormality is never exact. The main reason for the variations in the definitions of psychological abnormality is the fact that no two individuals are exactly similar (Comer, 2005). However, there are certain terms that feature prominently in these definitions, referred to as the four Ds. These terms are deviance, distress, dysfunctional, and dangerous.

Psychologists, for that reason, apply various criteria and definitions, relevant to a person’s behavior and the context in which a behavior occurs. While distress refers to different and extreme behaviors such as sexual deviance and severe depression, distress implies behaviors such as paranoia, which upset the individual in question (Comer, 2005). Dysfunctional on the other hand refers to the tendencies or conducts that interrupt a person’s everyday activities and functioning such as drug and substance abuse.

Finally, dangerous refers to the damaging behaviors that often manifest in psychologically abnormal people. These four Ds are the characteristics that psychiatrists use in choosing treatments for psychological abnormalities.Antipsychotic MedicationAmong the various interventions used to treat and control psychological abnormalities, psychotic medication is perhaps the most widely applied approach. Being the favorite among many psychiatrists and patients, numerous side effects, both negative and positive, have been identified with the use of antipsychotic drugs (Comer, 2005).

Among the negative effects of antipsychotic medication are weight increase and the resultant diabetes, which could be life-threatening. Consequent to the weight gain and other related side effects, antipsychotics may increase the possibility of a heart attack. The other negative side effects of antipsychotics of significance are postural hypotension, cardio-toxicity, peripheral and central anti-cholinergic effects, sedation, sexual dysfunction, endocrine and hematological effects. Despite the negative impacts, researches have shown that antipsychotic medication is rather effective.

For example, the American Psychiatric Association and the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, supported by research findings, have continually recommended antipsychotics for disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The negative effects of antipsychotics can however be minimized by the optimization of clinical strategies such as dosage reduction, appropriate drug choice, and the careful explanation the nature of the side-effects of antipsychotics to patients and their caregivers (Comer, 2005).

In fact, the preference for an antipsychotic should be determined by an evaluation of the potential effects of the various adverse effects on a patient. ReferenceComer, R. J. (2005). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology, fourth edition. New York, NY: Worth.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Psychological abnormality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/psychology/1582417-psychological-abnormality
(Psychological Abnormality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/psychology/1582417-psychological-abnormality.
“Psychological Abnormality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1582417-psychological-abnormality.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Psychological abnormality

Response to The Selfish Generation

A response to Jenni Russell's The Selfish Generation: Jenni Russell's article for the Guardian newspaper that appeared on 6th December 2003 raises contemporary problems in social interactions.... She laments the fact that as individual, isolated consumers of a capitalist society, people are gradually losing their humanity....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Teeens in concentration camps

Many of the young people in various concentration camps have suffered with wretched surroundings and often faced the threat of death.... These… These teenagers have suffered different problems and they were alienated from their families and other relatives.... During that time teenagers stay aliened years of tiring Cynthia Ozicks "The Shawl portrays the cruelties of Nazi concentration camp....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Whether Prisons Exacerbate or Improve the Mental Health of Those It Contains

It leads to a number of debates and raises a variety of pertinent questions.... Whether incarceration helps to stem crime or contributes to the… One age old problem that continues to affect the incarcerated is that of mental health.... This essay will examine contemporary data to determine if prisons exacerbate or improve the mental health of those it Crime and criminality is as old as the history of man....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

PTSD: A Unique Diagnosis

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is designated as a Psychological abnormality that can result from exposure to traumatic incidents (Wilson, 2012).... Additionally, exposure to trauma is not sufficient to warrant a diagnosis of PTSD PTSD: A Unique Diagnosis Here Here Here Here PTSD: A Unique Diagnosis Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is designated as a Psychological abnormality that can result from exposure to traumatic incidents (Wilson, 2012).... Treating psychological trauma and PTSD....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Do you think that juvenile offenders who have committed a homicide should be tried as adults

Even though there are multiple controversies in this issue, everyone should be punished for the felony one has done; so a young offender should at least be evaluated on the matter of Psychological abnormality and must be provided with special mental treatment along with some legal measures of punishment like a short sentence in prison....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Schizophrenia is a Disease

The author focuses on schizophrenia, a strange psychiatric disease.... This comes under the mental disorder that is linked closely with the impairments which are there due to the perception cycle of the patient and it could also relate with his expressions in terms of realism that he foresees.... hellip; Schizophrenia is a major disease that can affect the normal activities of an individual and needs to be assessed in a proper context for the patients under examination....
8 Pages (2000 words) Term Paper

The Definition of Abnormality With the Reference to Schizophrenia

t is believed from the psychological perspective that no single model can explain the causes of Psychological abnormality.... This coursework "The Definition of abnormality With the Reference to Schizophrenia" examines whether it is possible to define abnormality, unusual behavior that is not in keeping with the prevailing norms, and the discussions in this regard will be made with reference to schizophrenia.... hellip; A major reason why abnormality definitions differ between cultures is because of the ways in which people undergo mental disorders....
7 Pages (1750 words) Coursework

The Nervous System Anxiety

These include biological, psychological, and social dynamic effects.... The psychological effects identified in this paper include stress, depression, dissociation, specific phobias, and agoraphobia.... The paper focuses mainly on the biological, psychological, and social effects of nervous system anxiety....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us