Anorexia And Drug Abuse Case Study

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Recommended: Biological vs. sociocultural in eating disorders

The next part of this paper will examine two cases involving anorexia and drug abuse. They will be examined from the Biopsychology perspective. The nature-nurture issue will be explored in connection to each of these disorders. The first case will involve a teenage girl suffering from anorexia. The second case will involve a middle age man who has a drinking problem. Case One: Anorexia

Beth by all accounts was raised in a normal home and is a typical teenager. She became to experience an obsession with gaining weight and becoming fat. Although, Beth weight is normal for her height and age she is dieting and losing weight. She has a poor self-image and as a result has become dangerously thin. Beth refuses to admit she has a problem and as a result is suffering side effects including the loss of her menstrual cycle. Beth’s parents are concerned for their daughter’s health but have no idea how to help her. It is clear that Beth suffers from anorexia. Beth has an abnormal fear of gaining weight. This fear has led her to an unhealthy view of what she should weigh. The media and culture surrounding Beth are used as her justification for her fear of weight. Beth’s ability to ignore both the set point and setting point theory could be linked to the positive-incentive she had developed. Beth sees losing weight as a positive or desired outcome. These views as lead her from seeing any positive-incentive from eating. The fact that Beth has been obsessed with her weight for a while and that she is dangerously slim, would suggest that she has been limiting her food intake for a while. The fact that Beth has limited her intake of food for so long means that eating would only make her feel nauseated. This feeling only justifies her view of not e...

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...t the person may also become addicted to these drugs. Ron would benefit not only from receiving inpatient treatment but also outpatient treatment. Ron would benefit from one on one and group therapy. Involving Ron and his family in AA counseling would help each to better deal with the chances of relapse. There are many psychological disorders that come with their own symptoms, causes and treatments. Schizophrenia, anorexia and drug abuse are three that were discussed in this paper. The benefit in understanding the role nature-nurture play in each disorder may be the key to what causes the disorders. Knowing the neural basis and brain structures involved in the processing of information may help psychologist understand effective treatments. Having an understanding of the bio psychological factors of each disorder may be the key to curing or preventing the disorder.

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