Abstract
Within the context of multi-disciplinary practice, relevant legislation and social policy, this essay outlines and evaluates two methods of intervention applicable to working with children and young people with a mental health disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The methods of intervention that are outlined and evaluated are cognitive behavioural therapy and opportunity led work. The essay also addresses the challenges inherent in practicing across different value bases and theoretical understandings of the medical and social model of mental health. Throughout the essay, an awareness of oppressive and discriminatory practice is present.

From the Paper
"There are two theoretical perspectives to take into consideration when working with people with mental health issues; the medical model and the social model. The medical model has a broad application however it does originally sit in the field of medicine. The medical model follows a general series of events; diagnosis stage, prescriptive stage and curative stage. The diagnostic stage is when the individual goes to see the professional, be it a doctor or a psychologist. The prescriptive stage is when the individual describes what is wrong with them or explains what is happening to them. The curative stage is the resolution stage where the professional attempts to find a solution to the problem. The medical model does not take into consideration any external forces such as family or social networks when dealing with the individual whereas the social model is based on these external influences on the individual. The medical model is defined by a set medical framework and this then defines how the individual will be viewed, this differs from social work as the interventions are always client led."

Tags:depression, obsessions, thought, patterns, behaviour

Abstract
This paper explains the many types of schizophrenia and how it effect the patient's life. The paper outlines the development of medications to treat this disease but stresses that these drugs are not without problems. The paper concludes that the treatment goal for schizophrenia is to discover a medication that enables the patient to live a normal life with no risk of relapse; however, at present, there is no such drug.

From the Paper
"Although these drug treatments have been able to mask the symptoms of schizophrenia and for some that may give access to a normal way of life away from living in hospitals but they have yet to find a cure. And these drugs, especially the classical antipsychotics, are associated with a variety of different side effects. Due to these side effects causing so much distress to patients they often they stop taking their medication which leads to relapses in their symptoms, which in turn leads to repeated hospitalizations."

Tags:symptoms neuroleptics chlorpromazine clozapine, side effects

Abstract
This paper explores the organic causes of amnesia, including Alzheimer's disease, with reference to shortage of ACH and Ronald Reagon who developed the disease in 1994. It also examines alcohol abuse, Korsakoff psychosis and the deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), hippocampal damage due to encephalitis and lesions within the brain.

From the Paper
"Prolonged low levels or complete lack of thiamine, which the body uses to convert carbohydrates into energy, eventually affects the brain and nervous system. Low levels of thiamine within chronic alcoholics, is due to what could be explained as malnutrition. Most heavy drinkers have poor eating habits, usually supplementing food with alcohol, hence nutrition is overly inadequate and essential vitamins the body requires are not received. Alcohol furthermore can inflame the lining in the stomach and delay the body's natural ability to absorb key vitamins it does receive. Over time this prolonged deficiency in thiamine, significantly damages important areas of the brain critical for memory, such as the thalamus and the basal forebrain."

Tags:abuse, alcohol, cognitive, encephalitis, herpes, hippocampus, simplex

Abstract
This paper looks at the imbalance of dopamine in neurological disorders and attempts to explain why they occur and the treatments that are used to combat them. It also examines how it is specific to disorders caused by imbalances in dopamine levels such as schizophrenia.

From the Paper
"Antagonism of dopamine receptors leads to interference with normal functioning of these pathways, bringing about unwanted side effects as well as the desired antipsychotic effect. By dopaminergic antagonism (blocking the dopamine receptor sites) of the mesolimbic mesocortical pathway it is thought that typical neuroleptics exert their antipsychotic effects. The side effects of mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic inhibition are sedation and impaired performance."

Tags:altzhiemers, brain, depression, parkinsons, schizophrenia

Abstract
This paper examines and substantiates Freud's theory of the 'unconscious' and with reference to his own work, offers a justification for ones belief in its existence. It also draws attention to the infamous case of the Rat Man, a discussion of which inevitably highlights a number of key Freudian concepts fundamental to the development of psychoanalysis.

From the Paper
"According to Freud, the "unconscious" consists of a great many mental states, beliefs and desires of which the individual is unaware, and such beliefs or desires are deeply submerged within the individuals mind, indeed it can be said that they are actively 'repressed'. These unconscious thoughts often reveal themselves in dreams, or can produce hysterical symptoms within the individual, yet such revelations arrive often in metaphors or symbols, the translation of which is a necessary factor in the comprehension of such beliefs or desires. It should also be understood that the 'unconscious' is 'autonomous to the relative activity of the brain' , and this concept helps one to understand the notion of 'conflict' within the individual."

Tags:complex, fulfilment, man, neuroses, oedipus, rat, wish

Abstract
Schizophrenia is the term used to define a complex and extremely confusing condition, usually when someone has a brain disorder that interferes with the person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others. This paper presents an overview of the historical, social, environmental, genetic and biological aspects of schizophrenia.
Outline
Introduction
History of Schizophrenia
Types of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia as an Illness of the Brain
Genetic Theories of Schizophrenia
Socioeconomic Factors in the Development of Schizophrenia
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Treatment
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Gross (2001) identifies four different types of schizophrenia, 'simple' this often can appear in late adolescence, and the main symptoms can be idleness, social withdrawal, loss of drive and decline in academic or occupational performance. People with this are more likely to become tramps or layabouts, but there are no major psychotic symptoms as there are in other forms of schizophrenia. 'Hebephrenic' this is diagnosed in mainly adolescents and young adults, and probably the nearest thing to what people perceive a mad a person to be like. People who suffer from this can have many delusions and hallucinations and can behave irresponsibly, inappropriately and can be violent at times."

Tags:brain, development, diagnosis, factors, genetic, socioeconomic, symptoms, theories, treatment, types

Abstract
This paper focuses on two theoretical approaches of psychopathology concerning abnormal behavior in humans, the behavioral approach and the cognitive approach. These two approaches are compared and contrasted. The paper considers their effectiveness in both explaining the origins of, and treating mental disorders. The paper's explanation of the behavioral approach includes a look at modeling, operant conditioning and classical conditioning. The cognitive model is portrayed as an evolved behaviorist model. The paper explains that cognitive psychologists believe that cognitive processes, such as thoughts and emotions, drive behavior. The conclusion drawn by the paper is that the therapies that work best are ones that use combinations and treatments of these models, such as the cognitive-behaviorist model.

From the Paper
"The first theoretical approach that shall be focused on is behaviorism. The underlying connotations of this approach is that all human behavior, whether it being internal (mental) or external (observable), is determined by the experiences a person has undergone, and how they have learned from them. One of the positive aspects of behaviorism is that it can be tested, observed and measured easily, unlike most psychological theories and models. Behaviorists have come to the conclusion that all human behavior has been conditioned. This belief originated in the 1950's where psychologists performed experiments on the behavior of organisms and through conditioning they could be taught how to act or behave in certain predicted ways. Through this method they applied several of these methods as being the cause of human functioning and if done incorrectly then could be the cause for abnormal functioning."

Tags:psychology, cognitive, behaviorism, bandura, beck

Abstract
This essay outlines the different syndromes under the personality disorder umbrella as classified by the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM IV). It examines the diagnostic problems that are commonly encountered because of the confusing and overlapping aetiology. It also mentions how the classification system reinforces of gender stereotypes. The causation of personality theories, including trait theories (e.g. Eynsenck), psychoanalytic models, and psychobiology, is then analyzed, and the relationship of these theories to specific disorders is discussed.

From the Paper
"The word personality refers to the, "dynamic organization, inside the person, of psychological systems that create the person's characteristic patterns of behavior, thoughts and feelings" (Allport, 1961, cited in Carver and Scheier, 2004, p.5). People tend to behave in relatively predictable ways, yet personality also develops as a response to environment and change. Most people are able to learn from past experiences and adapt their personalities accordingly. A functional personality is therefore one that is both predictable and flexible to adaptation in accordance with societal rules."

Tags:anti, biological, borderline, diagnosis, disorder, dsm, eysenck, factor, five, freud, gender, illness, mental, model, personality, problems, psycho, psychoanalytic, social, stereotypes, stigma, traits

Abstract
This paper examines the urgent need for changes in the classification of personality disorders. The paper discusses the current classification model for personality set forth by DSM 4. It looks at the problems associated with this system of classification, including high level of co-morbidity and lack of theoretical or empirical rationale for selection of categories. The paper looks at proposed alternative classification systems, such as dimensional systems where extreme scores are representative of psychopathology.

From the Paper
"Personality disorders are longstanding patterns of extreme, inflexible personality traits that are deviant or maladaptive and lead to impaired functioning or subjective distress. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994). The essential feature of a personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture."

Tags:apa, dimensional, psychiatry, research

Abstract
Many sexual predators have admitted that they cannot control their urges to sexually and violently abuse women and children. This paper advocates that more strict legislative measures are needed that would prevent vulnerable individuals from being raped, abused and possibly killed by essentially "incurable" predators. It puts forward the proposal that if people were assured a harsh punishment if they were to commit a crime, they would be less likely to be able to justify their criminal actions as being "worth the risk". It discusses the holes in current legislation and how offenders are often not required to undergo sex offender treatment or evaluation and they are released into the community without being forced to adhere to sex offender registration laws and evaluates Megan's law. Megan's Law refers to the series of laws introduced in New Jersey following the murder of seven year-old Megan Kanka who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by her neighbor, a twice convicted sex offender who had committed a similar crime only months before. It analyzes the increasing public awareness and concern about crime together with intense media focus on the issue.

From the Paper
"According to Princeton University professor John DeIulio, "almost half of the country's 671,000 parolees and probationers are caught committing serious new offenses within three years" (Feinsilber, 1997). Many sexual predators have admitted that they cannot control their urges to sexually and violently abuse women and children. For this reason we should not allow these dangerous criminals to terrorize our neighborhoods, schools and homes. It is therefore my contention that more strict legislative measures are needed that would prevent vulnerable individuals from being raped, abused and possibly killed by these essentially "incurable" predators."

Tags:child, deviants, law, legal, molesters, rapists, sexual, megan, criminals