Eating, Substance Abuse, and Personality Disorders
Eating, Substance Abuse, and Personality Disorders
PSY 410
December 18, 2011
Eric Niler, Ph.D.
Eating, Substance Abuse, and Personality Disorders Eating, substance abuse, and personality disorders have one thing in common. They are all impairments to an individual who prevents him or her from functioning normally within society. An individual who is suffering from either condition has biological, environmental, or early childhood as the contributor to his or her illness. This paper will contain the explanation of each disorder using the theoretical perspectives; biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive.
Eating Disorders Eating disorders are a result of an individual who has dissatisfaction about his or her weight and will go to excessive lengths to maintain his or her appearance (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Wanting to maintain a certain weight so that one can become a model or involve themselves in an extracurricular activity in school are just a couple of influences in which can drive an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where individuals are afraid of gaining weight and refuse to maintain a body weight at least 85% of what is considered to be normal (Hansell & Damour, 2008). The biological component of eating disorders explains that genetics, imbalance of hormonal and neurotransmitters, and structural brain abnormalities contribute to the cause of eating disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). After further research, the hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalance has been explained as both the cause and result of eating disorders. For example, the hormones leptin and ghrelin are both at abnormal levels when an individual is suffering from an eating disorder but when the individual has either gained weight or maintained a healthy weight, the hormonal levels return to normal (Hansell & Damour, 2008).. The hormonal abnormalities would seem to be more of a result rather than the
PSY 410
December 18, 2011
Eric Niler, Ph.D.
Eating, Substance Abuse, and Personality Disorders Eating, substance abuse, and personality disorders have one thing in common. They are all impairments to an individual who prevents him or her from functioning normally within society. An individual who is suffering from either condition has biological, environmental, or early childhood as the contributor to his or her illness. This paper will contain the explanation of each disorder using the theoretical perspectives; biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive.
Eating Disorders Eating disorders are a result of an individual who has dissatisfaction about his or her weight and will go to excessive lengths to maintain his or her appearance (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Wanting to maintain a certain weight so that one can become a model or involve themselves in an extracurricular activity in school are just a couple of influences in which can drive an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where individuals are afraid of gaining weight and refuse to maintain a body weight at least 85% of what is considered to be normal (Hansell & Damour, 2008). The biological component of eating disorders explains that genetics, imbalance of hormonal and neurotransmitters, and structural brain abnormalities contribute to the cause of eating disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). After further research, the hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalance has been explained as both the cause and result of eating disorders. For example, the hormones leptin and ghrelin are both at abnormal levels when an individual is suffering from an eating disorder but when the individual has either gained weight or maintained a healthy weight, the hormonal levels return to normal (Hansell & Damour, 2008).. The hormonal abnormalities would seem to be more of a result rather than the