Beh 225 Week 8 Assignment
Running Header: ASSIGNMENT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Assignment: Diagnosis and Treatment
XXXXXXXXXX
March XX, XXXX
Axia College, University of Phoenix
Instructor
Diagnosis and Treatment
For many Americans it is difficult to come to terms with any type of medical diagnosis. Some may know the warning signs and simply ignore them. Unfortunately mental disorders have plagued many people for years. Going without diagnosis and treatment can have devastating effects to themselves and their families. According to the National Institute of Mental Health “Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder” (NIMH, 2009). These disorders come in several forms and can have many different warning signs. For some these signs or symptoms can be mild and for others the signs are immediately noticed.
“Mood disorders are characterized by disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state sometimes referred to as affect.” (Psychological Disorders, 2010) Because everyone has their own mental capacity it can be difficult for a professional to diagnose. Some people can’t cry unless it is a highly emotional situation, others can cry at the first sign of emotional distress. While others may show anger in a stressful situation and some may feel the tendency to laugh. These are all nature human behaviors; each of these emotions can also be signs or symptoms of mood disorders. Because these signs and symptoms are so broad and are also specific to several different mood disorders they can be misdiagnosed for years.
The range of mood disorders can vary but there are significant signs and symptoms to look for. For some with mood disorders they have extreme highs and lows, meaning that they are extremely happy one minute and can be extremely sad the next. In patients with depression you may see that the “person feels overwhelmed with sadness; they may have
Assignment: Diagnosis and Treatment
XXXXXXXXXX
March XX, XXXX
Axia College, University of Phoenix
Instructor
Diagnosis and Treatment
For many Americans it is difficult to come to terms with any type of medical diagnosis. Some may know the warning signs and simply ignore them. Unfortunately mental disorders have plagued many people for years. Going without diagnosis and treatment can have devastating effects to themselves and their families. According to the National Institute of Mental Health “Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder” (NIMH, 2009). These disorders come in several forms and can have many different warning signs. For some these signs or symptoms can be mild and for others the signs are immediately noticed.
“Mood disorders are characterized by disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state sometimes referred to as affect.” (Psychological Disorders, 2010) Because everyone has their own mental capacity it can be difficult for a professional to diagnose. Some people can’t cry unless it is a highly emotional situation, others can cry at the first sign of emotional distress. While others may show anger in a stressful situation and some may feel the tendency to laugh. These are all nature human behaviors; each of these emotions can also be signs or symptoms of mood disorders. Because these signs and symptoms are so broad and are also specific to several different mood disorders they can be misdiagnosed for years.
The range of mood disorders can vary but there are significant signs and symptoms to look for. For some with mood disorders they have extreme highs and lows, meaning that they are extremely happy one minute and can be extremely sad the next. In patients with depression you may see that the “person feels overwhelmed with sadness; they may have
References: Centers for Disease Control, (2006) CDC data and statistic referring to dementia and other related illnesses, Retrieved from website on March 12, 2010 URL: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsBRFSSDepressionAnxiety/ National Institute of Mental Health, (2009) The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America, Retrieved from website on March 12, 2010. URL: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml Psychological Disorders, (2010) Axia College, University of Phoenix student website, BEH 225 course materials, located at student website, Retrieved March 4,2010