Diagnoses Of A Mental Disorder (ADHD)

There are many different factors that go into the diagnoses of a mental disorder. Most of the symptoms are based on how a patient acts, feels, or says, but there is one factor that contributes to a diagnosis that cannot be seconded guessed: the brain. Although the change in brain structure, compared to the average person, may be small, some patients suffering from a mental disorder can have abnormalities within their brain that contribute to their mental disorder diagnosis. Sometimes it may just be a decrease or increase in brain activity, but it can also be a deformity in the size or shape of certain brain structures.
Depression is best known as an overwhelming sadness. There are many other symptoms including irritability, lack of sleep,
The striatum is part of the basal ganglia, which purpose is to control movement. Children and adults with ADHD tend to develop their striatum, on average, three years slower than those without the disorder (Weis 2014). Although this may not be a physical or visible symptom, it is a sure aid in indicating whether or not a child has ADHD.
The rate of children being diagnosed with Bipolar Spectrum Disorder (BSD) had increased at an alarming rate in the early 2000’s, eventually coming to a plateau. The reasoning behind why is unclear. BSD is characterized by a series of manic episodes that sometimes including major depressive episodes, depending on where a child is on the spectrum. Some symptoms include tantrums, lack of sleep, reckless activity, and more. Again, like many mental disorders, there is no clear-cut reason as to why children and adults are diagnosed with this disorder, but there are many factors that can aid in the
It is not certain why this happens, but genetics can play a part in the onset. The decreased size of the cerebral volume causes the brain to function differently as well. For example, children with BSD also have a hyperactive amygdala and a hypoactive prefrontal cortex (Weis, 2014). The amygdala is responsible for the brain's “fight or flight” reflex and since it is more sensitive than normal, this can cause problems like developing phobias or acting out repeatedly. The prefrontal cortex, which is in charge of helping us overcome our fears are worries is working slower than needed, which only aids in a child’s anxiety. Children with BSD have trouble regulating their emotions. This can be due to their brain structure that ultimately heightens their anxiety and lowers their ability to calm themselves down.
Autism is best known as impairments in social communications and situations. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is obviously a spectrum, meaning people vary in the severity and their impairments that they suffer from. For example, someone with autism may need a full time caregiver to help them get around every day in the world, or they may have an incredibly high IQ’s and function relatively normal. Usually, people on the ASD have profound interest or excel in a certain aspect. Although people within the spectrum may vary from one another, their brain