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BPCC-133: Psychological Disorders

BPCC-133: Psychological Disorders

IGNOU Solved Assignment Solution for 2021-22

If you are looking for BPCC-133 IGNOU Solved Assignment solution for the subject Psychological Disorders, you have come to the right place. BPCC-133 solution on this page applies to 2021-22 session students studying in BAG courses of IGNOU.

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Assignment Solution

Assignment Code: BPCC-133 / Asst /TMA /July 2021-2022

Course Code: BPCC-133

Assignment Name: Psychological Disorders

Year: 2021 – 2022 (July 2021 & January 2022 Sessions)

Verification Status: Verified by Professor


NOTE: All questions are compulsory.

 

PART A

Assignment One

2 x 20 = 40

Answer the following questions in about 500 words each. Each question carries 20 marks.

 

Q1. Discuss the causal factors and treatment of substance use disorders.

Ans) Using alcohol or other drugs causes health issues, troubles at job, school, or home. Substance abuse is another name for it.


Factors affecting Substance Use Disorders

The specific cause of addiction is unknown. Genes, drug action, peer pressure, emotional anguish, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress can all play a role.


Many people who acquire a substance use disorder have depression, ADD, PTSD, or other mental issues. Stress, chaos, and low self-esteem are widespread. Children who watch their parents’ taking drugs are more likely to acquire substance use disorders later in life for environmental and genetic causes.


Any substance's addictive property, constitutional sensitivity (diathesis), and environmental reinforcement and demands all contribute to the development of addiction (stressors).


Treatment of Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorders are caused by a mix of biological, psychological, and social variables. Moreover, less than 25% of persons with substantial substance use issues seek help, making treatment difficult for both individuals and medical professionals. The purpose of treatment is to assist someone endure the painful withdrawal process and eventually achieve abstinence. Using certain chemicals (like coffee) is limited to a set level (e.g., 2 cups).


Biological Treatment

Medications are vital in certain substance withdrawal processes. In the presence of a medical expert, certain narcotics like heroin and alcohol are recommended sedatives to treat the distressing symptoms of withdrawal. Medications can also help prevent hazardous withdrawal symptoms including seizures and heart attacks. It is also hoped that biological treatments will deliver similar positive sensations without the addictive properties of alcohol. For psychoactive narcotics like opiates, the addict is given naltrexone, an antagonist that blocks and cancels out the effects of opiates while also producing painful withdrawal symptoms.


Psychosocial Treatment

Most people need both biological and psychological treatment to overcome their addictions. It comes in many forms. First, inpatient institutions help people withdraw from drugs and alcohol while receiving mental health counselling so they may return to their families and jobs. Inpatient facilities are expensive in most countries, including India, and may be out of reach for many. Outpatient treatment is less expensive than inpatient treatment and can be effective. The National Drug De-Addiction Programme in India has funded roughly 483 detoxification and 90 counselling centres around the country. Around 45% of patients seek help for alcoholism. However, due to a lack of funding, many of these centres are floundering.


Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide support group for alcoholics. Alcoholism is a disease, and the organisation seeks to enable people to abstain from it. AA meetings are anonymous, allowing people to seek help without judgement. AA is good for driven people. AA is one of many similar groups in India. Mental health professionals have focused on developing programmes to rehabilitate substance abusers and prevent future use and abuse in high-risk populations including teenagers and young adults. These programmes aimed to change damaging notions and expectations, media inoculation, and peer leadership.


Prevention Programs

Mental health professionals have focused on developing programmes to rehabilitate substance abusers and prevent future use and abuse in high-risk populations including teenagers and young adults. These programmes aimed to change damaging notions and expectations, media inoculation, and peer leadership. It teaches social skills and self-esteem boosting (just say no). Resistance and social skill training work well for girls, but self-esteem building does not. A program's effectiveness depends on how many levels of stakeholders it involves, such as the individual, family, neighbourhood, and classmates. Individuals, families, communities, schools, universities, the media, and non-profit organisations must all be involved for a programme to be effective.



Q2. Elucidate the symptoms of major depressive disorder. Explain the biological causal factors of unipolar mood disorder.

Ans) Moodiness, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in ordinarily enjoyable activities are all symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). Affected people may also develop delusions or hallucinations.


Symptoms of Depression

Depression symptoms include:

  1. Feeling very sad, hopeless, or worried.

  2. Not enjoying things that used to give you joy.

  3. Being easily irritated or frustrated.

  4. Eating too much or too little.

  5. Changes in how much you sleep.

  6. Having a difficult time concentrating or remembering things.

  7. Experiencing physical problems like headache, stomach-ache, or sexual dysfunction.

  8. Thinking about hurting or killing yourself.

  9. Depressed mood most of the day

  10. Anhedonia/loss of pleasure

  11. Psychomotor retardation or agitation noticed by others, keeping them down, and then fiddling again, and other similar actions.

  12. Fatigue or loss of energy

  13. Insomnia or sleeping too much (hypersomnia

  14. Feelings of worthlessness and guilt about things beyond their control

  15. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness

  16. 1Recurrent thoughts of death.


Unipolar Mood Disorder

Unipolar disorders result from a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors. The above elements may alter brain function, according to research. Unipolar diseases are recurring and require both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.


Unipolar disorder sufferers may experience continuous depression or a loss of interest in some or all elements of daily life. Depressed mood with feelings of melancholy, hopelessness, guilt, and despair. Others' main mood issue is irritability.


Biological Factors

The biochemical processes underlying the development of unipolar mood disorders can be studied in several ways. Genetics, neurochemistry, hormones, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, sleep, and circadian rhythms may all be involved.


Genetics: Depressed people's first-degree relatives are 2-3 times more likely to acquire depression than non-depressed persons. Twin studies found identical twins had higher rates of depression than non-identical twins. Females also concord more than males. Unipolar depression was more common in adoptees' biological relatives than in control adoptees. Depression may be inherited. An abnormality of any of these can be caused by a bad gene.


Neurotransmitters: The efficacy of ECT and antidepressants in unipolar depression suggests neurotransmitter activation. Recent research links depression to reduced dopamine and serotonin levels. Serotonin and unipolar depression Serotonin receptors are less sensitive in depressives. Dopamine sensitivity is associated to anhedonia, motivation, and energy. Brain activity, hormones, and biological cycles have all been studied recently.


Endocrine System/Hormones: According to the stress hypothesis, patients with depression have HPA axis malfunction, resulting in elevated cortisol levels (stress hormone). Thus, depressed people's cortisol levels are out of whack. Elevated cortisol levels are related with depression and severe stress. Neurons hate high cortisol levels. The hippocampal neurons are damaged, causing memory loss and difficulty thinking abstractly. The hippocampal regulates cortisol.


Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology: Many brain areas are reported to be dysfunctional in neurofunctional research. The amygdala has been linked to overactivity and sensitivity to emotional cues. The mechanisms involved in analysing benefits and costs, making decisions, and planning and achieving goals appear less active. That is, a depressed individual responds to emotional inputs with increased emotion but reduced ability to plan (to deal with the stimuli).


Sleep and Circadian Rhythms: Sleep issues in depressed outpatients include early morning awakenings, night-time awakenings, and trouble settling asleep. Aside from sleep, circadian rhythm disturbances (e.g., TSH, cortisol, or internal sleep-wake cycle) have been linked to early morning waking or seasonal depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder; SAD). Seasonal fluctuations in melatonin (a pineal hormone) production have been linked to SAD. Melatonin is exclusively created at night and tends to rise in the winter when there is less sunlight.



Assignment Two



6 x 5 = 30

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. Each question carries 5 marks.

 

Q3. Behavioural perspective in the development of phobia

Ans) Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning can all be used to explain phobias. These are the main causes of aberrant behaviour. Behavioural explanations for phobias include operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and social learning theory.


According to classical conditioning, associative learning and classical conditioning contribute to the development of phobias. In this scenario, classical conditioning can reveal an individual's relationship with anxiety-provoking events. This method is founded on behaviourism’s belief that the environment shapes behaviour. They also believe that learning occurs through environmental interactions. In general, classical conditioning involves creating a link between two stimuli. This association is thought to be learned.


Q4. DSM-5

Ans) The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is the American Psychiatric Association's taxonomic and diagnostic tool published in 2013. (APA). DSM classifications influence treatment recommendations and provider payment, therefore a new version has practical implications. The DSM-5 is also the first DSM to use Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals in its title.


A minor adjustment to the DSM-IV-TR, yet with considerable variances. The DSM-5 changes include renaming gender identity disorder to gender dysphoria, including binge eating disorder as a discrete eating disorder, renaming and reconceptualizing paraphilias, now called paraphilic disorders, and removing the "bereavement exclusion" for depressive disorders.


Q5. Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Ans) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by a pattern of unwanted thoughts and anxieties (obsessions) that cause you to engage in repetitive actions (compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions create severe distress and interfere with daily tasks.


You can try to ignore or stop your obsessions, but this will only make you feel worse. Finally, you feel compelled to engage in obsessive behaviours to relieve your tension. Despite attempts to ignore or eliminate troublesome thoughts or urges, they persist. This feeds into the OCD's vicious circle of ritualistic activity.


OCD is frequently centred on certain themes, such as an overwhelming fear of being contaminated by germs. You can wash your hands till they're sore and chapped to alleviate your contamination anxieties.


Q6. Genetic influences in Schizophrenia

Ans) Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder with a high heredity. On average, people with schizophrenia and healthy people have different brain structures and functions. We may now utilise genome-wide data to study genetic overlap for both schizophrenia and brain imaging characteristics because common genetic correlations are emerging for both. We combined data from common schizophrenia variant studies with volumes of multiple (mostly subcortical) brain regions.


At the level of common variation genetic architecture or single genetic markers, we found no evidence of genetic overlap between schizophrenia risk and subcortical volume assessments. These findings establish a proof of concept (although based on a limited set of structural brain measures) and lay the groundwork for future research into the genetic covariance between structural and functional brain phenotypes and psychiatric disease risk.


Q7. Pedophilic Disorder

Ans) Pedophilia is also known as pedohebephilllic disorder. Adults who derive sexual pleasure (recurrent, intense, and agonising want and need) from sexual interaction with prepubescent children are diagnosed. Specifically, the criminal must be 18 years old or older than the minor. The DSM criteria now includes child pornography as a sexual gratification method for those with the illness. The diagnosis does not require action. This person may not only be stroking the child's hair but may also be fondling or urging the child to handle his/her genitalia. Penetration is a by-product of the activity, not the purpose. Such behaviours may go undetected for months or even years if not discovered. So that is the most horrible sexual deviation.


Q8. Symptoms of Post-traumatic Disorder

Ans) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can have a big influence on your day-to-day life. Symptoms usually appear within the first month after a traumatic occurrence. However, in a small percentage of instances, symptoms may not develop for months or even years. Some people with PTSD go through phases where their symptoms are less obvious, followed by periods where they become more noticeable. Others get severe symptoms on a regular basis.


Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSD) Someone with PTSD may have nightmares and flashbacks about the horrific event, as well as feelings of loneliness, irritation, and guilt. They may also have sleep issues, such as insomnia, and have trouble concentrating. These symptoms are frequently strong and persistent enough to interfere with a person's day-to-day activities.



PART B

Tutorial

2 x 15 = 30

 

Note: You need to complete the activities according to the given instructions. Please attempt the activities in a coherent and organized manner. The word limit for each activity is around 700 words. Each activity is of 15 marks. For the activities you may refer to relevant offline or online resources. Some useful resources are also listed at the end of each unit.

 

o From the beginning of 2020, we are all witnesses to the COVID-19 pandemic. During these challenging times, people have been trying to adjust to the ‘new normal’ amidst the chaos and disruption. Many deaths due to COVID-19 were reported during this period. However, if we see among the non-COVID deaths, mental illness accounts for the highest number. The Indian Psychiatric Society recorded a rise in mental illness early in the lockdown.

In light of the above, highlight the key aspects of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and write on mental healthcare services in India.

 

Note: The content should be written in one’s own words. Please mention reference details of the articles/books, at the end of your write-up.

 

Ans) Mental health difficulties all over the world have been revealed at this unprecedented period. There was already a mental health epidemic in India prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Mental illness accounts for around 15% of all disease conditions worldwide, according to the WHO. Mental diseases range from mild melancholy and anxiety to severe conditions like schizophrenia, according to the WHO.


Mental health stigma, lack of knowledge, awareness and compassion are the key causes of this dangerous condition. India has a severe scarcity of mental health workers.


Key aspects of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

Introduction

On April 7, 2017, the President signed the MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT 2017 into law. This statute protects the rights of people suffering from mental illness.


The legislation defines mental illness as follows: "A significant problem of thinking, emotion, perception, orientation, or memory that impairs judgement, behaviour, ability to perceive reality, or ability to manage the demands of daily living. But it does not consider mental retardation, a condition of delayed or incomplete mental development, defined by low IQ, as a mental disorder."


Prohibited Procedures

'Exclusive prohibition of barbaric and plainly human rights violating methods. These treatments make mental healthcare appear horrible, but patients must be aware that these procedures are outlawed and that they need not be afraid to accept therapy. Consent of the patient undergoing surgery. Approval from the relevant board to operate.


Role of Central Mental Health Authority

It will enlist and register all the mental healthcare institutions under the control of the Central Government and will fund and direct quality services that need to be maintained for different types of mental institutions and list of all the medical professionals which are to be contacted in case of emergency.


Decriminalisation Of Attempt to Suicide

In "section 115

notwithstanding anything contained in Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code any person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and shall not be tried and punished under the said code.


The Appropriate Government shall have a duty to provide care, treatment, and rehabilitation to a person, having severe stress and who attempted to commit suicide, to reduce the risk of recurrence of attempt to commit suicide.


This shows how the act has allowed for sensitive care to be given to victims of suicide who are mentally ill and unaware of their own well-being.


Conclusion

The current healthcare system is inefficient, and we lack infrastructure and personnel in the field, resulting in decreased quality of life and mental health care. The act also attempts to fix the system of institutions by enlisting them and ensuring them function at standards stipulated by the authorities in the act.


Mental Health Care Services in India

Mental healthcare is a legal right in India. A 2017 analysis found that Indian mental health legislation fulfils 68% (119/175) of the WHO Checklist of Mental Health Legislation requirements. However, relative to the country's population, mental health professionals and experts are in short supply. Mental health receives only 0.16 percent of the national healthcare budget. It was published in 2014.


Providing mental health services in primary healthcare involves diagnosing and treating people with mental disorders; putting in place strategies to prevent mental disorders and ensuring that primary healthcare workers can apply key psychosocial and behavioural science skills, for example, interviewing, counselling and interpersonal skills, in their day-to-day work to improve overall health outcomes in primary healthcare.


There are many advantages for integrating mental health services into primary healthcare:

Reduced stigma for people with mental disorders and their families. Because primary healthcare services are not associated with any specific health conditions, stigma is reduced when seeking mental healthcare from a primary healthcare provider (compared to a stand-alone specialised service), making this level of care far more acceptable – and therefore accessible – for most users and families. Integrated care helps to improve access to mental health services and treatment of co-morbid physical conditions.


References

  1. Mondaq Ltd.

Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

CONTRIBUTOR - H K Acharya & Co.

  1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia.

  2. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.


o The World Federation for Mental Health celebrates World Mental Health Day every year on 10th October. The theme of 2021 World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’. Write on the above from a human-rights perspective.

Note: The content should be written in one’s own words. Please mention reference details of the articles/books, at the end of your write-up.

 

Ans) Mental Health in an Unequal World.

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 every year to create awareness about mental illness, to prioritise, sensitise and focus on spreading awareness of the importance of public mental health issues prevailing in people and empowering them against stigma and discriminating anyone. The theme of World Mental Health Day this year as observed on Sunday was mental health in an unequal world.


The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that health is complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.


According to WHO, mental health is stated as one’s well-being in which the individual understands his or her own abilities, and can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and contribute to the community. Mental disorders of varying severity affected one in seven Indians even prior to Covid 19 pandemic. This number has significantly increased during and after the peak of the pandemic.


According to the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (2017) about 200 million or 20 crore people are having mental disorders in the country. According to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), nearly 80 per cent of those suffering from mental disorders do not receive treatment for years, and mental health disorders are also accompanied by stigma, thereby affecting education and livelihood opportunities. This can increase the poverty levels of our country if not addressed. Mental disorders are reported to be a major cause of suicides and Indian’s account for more than one-fourth of deaths by suicide globally.


It was an unequal world before the Covid-19 pandemic but now after the pandemic it has become even more unequal. This has triggered a global crisis in terms of heath care, finances, employment, education, and relationships. It has affected us in many ways—health wise- both physically and mentally, economically, socially, and created an educational crisis world over. The pandemic has created more inequality by creating more mental health issues in everyone all over the world be it children, adults, or the older people. It has further strained our overstretched and inadequate mental health care services. The plethora of problems brought about by the pandemic has polarised the world by making the poor poorer and heightened its medical and mental health problems. The rich were always able to access the treatment easily and they could pay and receive the best treatment before and even during the pandemic, but the poor were not able to get/access it easily. The treatment gap for mental health problems has greatly increased especially for the poor.


Access to mental health services is unequal, with most people in low-income countries unable to access mental health services at all. The investment in mental health, even in higher income countries, is disproportionate to the overall health budget and there are deficiencies in the quality of care. Those who suffer with mental health disorders continue to experience stigma and discrimination, which also affects those around them.


The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted health inequalities and will continue to affect all of us in some way. Many bereave the loss of loved ones or are survivors trying to cope with the effects of serious illness. Many have lost their jobs or face extremely challenging working conditions. Seafarers are confined to their ships, uncertain when they will be reunited with families and fear not being able to access medical care when they need it. For medical care practitioners and all key workers to whom we owe so much, the pandemic is sure to leave mental scars long into the future.


Yet, mental health receives unequal priority from all quarters, including policymakers, parents, teachers, workplaces, insurance companies, and even medical fraternity. While India’s budgetary allocation in 2021 increased appreciably by 137% for overall health care, strangely, mental health did not find even a mention in the budget speech or budgetary provision.


All of us have been affected by social distancing measures, though ironically there has been a positive effect in that the pandemic has raised awareness around the importance of mental health. Wise words are in the saying that “we should lock-in what we have learnt from lockdowns”. There are already many good initiatives underway in our communities and workplaces. The greater challenge is to ensure that no-one is left alone without help. Mental health and ensuing wellbeing are an inseparable part of a happy, healthy, and productive life. It’s necessary to look more from a preventive and fostering perspective.


Conclusion

The 2021 World Mental Health Day campaign “Mental Health in an Unequal World’ provides an opportunity for us to come together and act together to highlight how inequality can be addressed to ensure people are able to enjoy good mental health.


Building a society in which people are less worried about their inequalities in terms of financial circumstances, gender identity, caste, access to mental health support etc. has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety, thereby increasing life satisfaction and work productivity and improvement in overall wellbeing. We should believe that it is possible to act, collectively and individually, to reduce the inequalities thereby improving the mental health of the people.


Proactive action is required at the individual, family, community, and governmental level. Let us unite and build resilient communities by reducing the impact of social inequalities in which everyone can flourish equally.


References

  1. The Pioneer- Friday 12, November 2021.

  2. Gard online website.

  3. Deccan Herald.

  4. Imphal Free Press.

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