PSYCHOLOGY
- Attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome
This is one of the chronic and psychiatric syndromes that have been found to affect many adolescents especially in the late twentieth and the current twenty first centuries. It is necessary to note that the syndrome has been noted to affect people below the adolescence age too, based on several factors, such as the victims’ association and exposure to drugs, alcohol and other chemicals’ abuse. The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome (ADHS) has been found to be a syndrome that has resulted from both genetic, as well as induced sources. However, induced sources (which is largely contributed by abuse of drugs, alcohol as well as harmful chemicals into the body) has been found to be the main cause that leads to the development of this disorder among the people between the ages of twelve and nineteen years, with genetic causes contributing to only 14% of the total number of cases, according to the United States national Institute of mental Health. Some of the impacts that are caused by syndrome heavily affect the victim’s brain cell, killing some of them and infecting others. Consequently, the victim’s mental capacity is highly affected (Zimmerman, 2004).
- Impacts of substance abuse and psychiatric syndromes among adolescents
There are various impacts that are objected and acquired from substance abuse among adolescents. Anxiety, for example, is one of the impacts that have been noted across many adolescents, and also across many different syndromes and psychiatric conditions. With anxiety, there are various outcomes that develop, consequently, and differently affect the adolescents. For example, considering the fact that most of the adolescents are in their junior high, high school and college levels of their education, anxiety heavily affects their performance in school. As a result, the anxiety might affect the students’ concentration in school, resulting to poor performance and consequent stress, which might escalate to depression (American Psychiatric, 2013).
Secondly, it is necessary to note the fact that drugs and substance abuse mostly affect the brain and its functioning. Some of the reasons that lead to the same include the death of brain cells, as well as infection of the same. This consequently leads to various adverse effects, such as an affected neural system, which might affect the sense of feeling. However, this is an impact that results from a continued abuse of specific substance such as nicotine (found in cigarettes) and also alcohol. At the same time, death of brain cells might lead to various, consequent impacts such as impaired vision and clear vision (Zimmerman, 2004).
Lungs’ infection, on the other hand, is yet another consequent outcome that results from the abuse of various substance and drugs, as well as smoking. This leads to breathing difficulties and poor air circulation in the body, since infected lungs lead to poor blood oxygenation. This leads to various impacts such as lowered participation levels on physical activities, as well as inactivity.
Other impacts of substance abuse and psychiatric syndromes among adolescents include hallucinations as a result of damaged brain cells, withdrawal syndromes and lack of group cooperation as well as other non-participatory behavioral impacts. These are mainly as a result of the escalating development of anxiety, stress and depression as earlier illustrated and explained in this paper.
- Students’ clinical diagnosis according to the DSM-IV-TR
One of the most essential things to note concerning the diagnosis and medication (treatment) of young people (adolescents) is that the mode of diagnosis used is likely to not only affect them, but also the people around them, such as their friends and family, especially in their consequent relations. One of the most essential things to note concerning the DSM-IV-TR diagnosis strategy include the fact that it is a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual strategy that will require full and total involvement of the patient, and in this case, therefore, there are several aspects that should be put into consideration, when it comes to the students. For instance, the diagnosis and treatment strategy is likely to affect every other activity that they are involved in, since it requires total commitment (Simkin, 2013). These include aspects such as their education, and involvement in other extra-curricular activities, such as sports and games. At the same time, it will also limit their intake of various products, which will aid in avoiding any stimulation or intoxication. Lastly, the classification of their condition might also affect their social lives, for example, considering the fact that the diagnosis and treatment strategy has various classifications for childhood and adolescent patients, which include mental retardation, learning disorders and tic-disorders amongst others. This might socially affect the students (American Psychiatric, 2013).
References
American Psychiatric. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5 ). New York: Harvard University Press, pp. 78.
Simkin, D. (2013). Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Children with Psychiatric Disorders, An Issue of Child and Adolescents. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, pp. 97.
Zimmerman, M. (2004). Interview Guide For Evaluating Dsm-IV Psychiatric Disorders and the Mental STATUS EXAMINATION. New York: McGraw-Hill Press, pp. 116.
