HLTH 1168 – MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT

Name/Student: Ayemoba-Fidelis Gladys Enifomhe

*Review the marking rubric at the end of this document before you begin
answering the questions*

 Responses are to be written in paragraph format; not bulleted points.

 Type your responses in the white boxes after each question. Do not type in the shaded boxes.
 Each response must contain a citation; the citation must be in APA format.
 Use only this form for your responses. Do not change the format of this form.
 Do not remove the rubric from your submission.
 You must include a reference page (APA format). No more than two websites allowed as
references.
1. What is substance abuse? What are the criteria for making a diagnosis? (5 marks)

According to Gloria. M. (2023) Substance abuse is any non food item taken that alters the
function of the mind and /or body which leads to changes in a person’s perception of reality.
This can said occurs when a person overuses or depend on alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription
medications.
When there overindulgence or dependence on substances like opiates/opioids, alcohol ,illegal
drugs, benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, and stimulants, cannabis or mariguana, It is termed as
substance abuse.

1b What are the criteria for making a diagnosis- when there three or more of the following, it
becomes an indication for diagnosis. Withdrawal in the absence of substance, tolerance,
reduced interest in other activities, unable to reduce intake of substance despite attempt to
stop, use continuously despite awareness of problems associated with the use, majority of time
spent on getting, recovering, using substance, persistent desire to cut down, consuming the
substance for a longer period of time than intended.

2. What is schizophrenia? What are the criteria for making a diagnosis? (5 marks)
Large group of disorders causing disturbances in a person’s behaviour and thinking Is known as
schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia refers to both a single condition and a spectrum of conditions that fall under the category of
psychotic disorders. These are conditions where a person experiences some form of “disconnection” from
reality. Those disconnections can take several different forms.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4568-schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex, heterogeneous behavioural and cognitive syndrome that seems to

originate from disruption of brain development caused by genetic or environmental factors, or
both.

Diagnosis is made when the following changes are observed. Changes in emotional state,
 HLTH 1168 – MENTAL ILLNESS ASSIGNMENT
Changes in how they relate to others, Changes in behaviour, reduced ability to relax,
concentrate, or sleep, Withdrawal from friends & family, reduced performance at work or
school, Deteriorating personal appearance, 1+ episodes of talking in a manner difficult to
understand and/or having unusual perceptions which may now progress to delusion,
hallucinations, incoherent speaking, unusual movement and negative symptoms, Lack of
motivation, Social withdrawal, Thought disorder.

3. Explain how neurotransmitters may contribute to schizophrenia. (2marks)

Schizophrenia Is as a result of Chemical imbalance in Brain, neurotransmitters are the sole
carrier of brain activities. Studies revealed that neurotransmitters like dopamine, glutamate,
serotonin, and oxytocin are majorly responsible for schizophrenia therefore, reduced glutamine
activities and excess dopamine, causes structural changes in the brain changing the shape and
size and lose of grey matter, leading to schizophrenia. In the consolidation of information from
short-term memory to long-term memory, spatial navigation causes reduced hippocampus
volume.
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. The finding
that antagonists of a specific glutamate receptor, the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor,
induce psychotic symptoms has led to a wealth of research implicating the glutamate system in
the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6953551/#:~:text=Glutamate%20is%20the
%20major%20excitatory,in%20the%20pathophysiology%20of%20schizophrenia.

4. What is clinical depression? What are the criteria for making a diagnosis? (5 marks)
Clinical depression also known as major depressive disorder is a group of disorders in which the client has
sad, empty, or irritable moods accompanied by physical changes and thought, changes that are severe
enough to affect their ability to function, Associated with severe feelings of worthlessness, self-blame,
sadness, disappointment, and emptiness that last weeks, Impaired ability to perform activities of daily
living, There is feelings that a person may report, loss of interest in pleasure, significant weight loss,
insomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation almost everyday, fatigue, Clients may think about or
attempt suicide/
4b. What is the criteria for making diagnosis? The diagnostic criteria depends on the number of episodes
(single versus recurrent), level of severity, presence of psychosis, and existence of remission (at least 2
months with no significant symptoms).

Person has been experiencing at least 5 symptoms for a period of 2 weeks or more,
Symptoms cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning, the symptoms must also not be a result of
substance abuse or another medical condition.

5. What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)? Describe how CBT can be effective for
treating depression? (4 marks)
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CBT is a form of therapy that teaches people how their thoughts, feelings and behaviour
influences each other. It is one of the most evidence-based psychological interventions for the
treatment of different psychiatric disorders like depression ,anxiety, substance abuse and also
some others like psychotic disorder,Behavioral medicine marital discord, stressful situation of
life.
CBT can be effective for treating depression by influencing the thought, feelings and behaviour
of a depressed person by making them go through the therapy and begin to convert negative
feelings to positive feeling. Example, if you believe someone wants to kill you (feelings) and you
start avoiding them (behaviour) and you start feeling unsafe with them (feeling), CBT now
teaches you how to use these relationships to your advantage. A positive change in one of the
factors (feelings or behaviour) can lead to positive change in thought.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most evidence-based psychological
interventions for the treatment of several psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety
disorders, somatoform disorder, and substance use disorder. The uses are recently extended to
psychotic disorders, behavioural medicine, marital discord, stressful life situations, and many
other clinical conditions.
Morrison textbook, website, professor Gloria M.

6. What is bipolar disorder? What are the criteria for making a diagnosis? Explain the
types. (5 marks)
Also known as manic depression disorder, it is a psychiatric disorder characterized with the
hallmark of sudden and dramatic shifts in emotional extremes which could be highs ( mania) or
low (depression). Morrison textbook
Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a
lifelong mood disorder and mental health condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy
levels, thinking patterns and behaviour. These shifts can last for hours, days, weeks or months
and interrupt your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. WEB

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disease that involves profound changes in mood accompanied
by severe changes in feelings, thoughts and behaviours wherein emotions can move quickly
from a deep depression to excessive excitement without apparent reason.
Moore, Nickolas B. Bipolar Disorder Symptoms, Management and Risk Factors. Nova Science
Publishers, Inc., 2013.
https://novapublishers.com/shop/bipolar-disorder-symptoms-management-and-risk-factors/

Criteria includes To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you must have experienced at least one
episode of mania or hypomania. Mental health providers use the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to diagnose the type of bipolar disorder a person may be
experiencing and pattern of symptoms and how much they affect your life during the most
severe episodes are criteria for diagnosis. WEB)
Diagnosis based on severity and duration of altered mood G MORRISON
The main diagnostic features to diagnose bipolar 1 is a manic episode . The occurrence of at
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 HLTH 1168 – MENTAL ILLNESS ASSIGNMENT
least one manic episodes must have been preceded by a depressive or hypomanic episode.
TYPES
Bipolar I- defines with at least one manic episode. Most people with bipolar I will have episodes
of both mania and depression, but an episode of depression isn’t necessary for a diagnosis.

Bipolar II- People with bipolar II experience depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. But
they never experience a full manic episode that’s characteristic of bipolar I disorder.

Cyclothymic disorder- period with hypomamic symptoms that do not meet the criteria for
hypomanic episodes. Fluctuation between hypomania and depression.

Substance-/Medical-Induced bipolar and related disorder -individual with this type of bipolar
disorder suffer from severe and persistent mood disturbance that clinically resembles bipolar,
but there are evidence that it’s as a result of another medical condition.

Other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders: If a person doesn’t meet the
diagnostic criteria for bipolar I, II or cyclothymia but has still experienced periods of clinically
significant abnormal mood elevation, it’s considered other specified or unspecified bipolar
disorder.
Morrison textbook and website

7. Explain why a person with bipolar disorder can be difficult to treat during a manic phase.
(2 marks)
They believe they are fine and nothing is wrong with them, and whatever you’re saying or try to
make them understand won’t make sense to them because they are high in their reality.
If a person is having an intense manic episode, especially if they’re experiencing hallucinations
and delusions, they may need to be hospitalized against their will to protect themselves and
others from possible harm.
Because of increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation during manic
period treatment can be difficult for bipolar disorder.

8. What is panic disorder? What are the criteria for making a diagnosis? (5 marks)
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that involves multiple unexpected panic attacks. A main
feature of panic disorder is that the attacks usually happen without warning and aren’t due to
another mental health or physical condition. There’s often not a specific trigger for them. Not
everyone who experiences a panic attack develops panic disorder.

Criteria for diagnosis is that it happens suddenly, gets to its peak about 10mins from the start
time and then disappears. It comes with at least 4 of the following, palpitation, sweating,
trembling or shaking, feeling short of breath, feeling of choking, chest pain or discomfort,
nausea or abdominal discomfort, feeling dizzy, chills or hot, peresthesias numbness,
derealization, feeling of losing control, Fear of dying. Also, DSM-5 can also be used as a criteria.

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 HLTH 1168 – MENTAL ILLNESS ASSIGNMENT
9. Describe the cycle (that was discussed in class) which leads to the increased isolation of
a person suffering from panic disorder and agoraphobia. (4 marks)
According to Gloria. M. (2023) teaching on panic disorder cycle, there is Increased anxiety
leading to
Panic attack- extreme feeling of fear, triggers a rush of overwhelming fear.

Feelings of mortal danger- this causes mild fear that something unpleasant is about to happen
to them.

Fear of panic attack recurring- feeling that something worse is about to happen.

Constantly scanning environment and own body- obsessive thought about their environment
being dangerous.

Increase anxiety. There is usually tension on the nerves with inability to relax.

References

https://niagara.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?
course_id=_254223_1&content_id=_5531051_1

Gloria. M.( 2023) teaching slide on schizophrenia, substance abuse, depression and cognitive
behavioural therapy.

Morrison-Valfre’s Foundations of Mental Health Care in Canada

https://www.elsevier.ca/ca/product.jsp?isbn=9781771722339

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4568-schizophrenia1

Owen, Michael J., et al. “Schizophrenia.” The Lancet (British Edition), vol. 388, no. 10039, 2016, p. 86–,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01121-6.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6953551/#:~:text=Glutamate%20is%20the
%20major%20excitatory,in%20the%20pathophysiology%20of%20schizophrenia.
McCutcheon RA, Krystal JH, Howes OD. Dopamine and glutamate in schizophrenia: biology,
symptoms and treatment. World Psychiatry. 2020 Feb;19(1):15-33. doi: 10.1002/wps.20693.
PMID: 31922684; PMCID: PMC6953551.

SEE MARKING RUBRIC ON NEXT PAGE

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 HLTH 1168 – MENTAL ILLNESS ASSIGNMENT

Total Possible Marks from Questions #1 - 9 /37

Grammar, Spelling, Citations, and References Rubric /15

3 2 1 0

Zero spelling,
punctuation,
capitalization,
grammar, or usage
errors
In-text citations are
included for all
paraphrased material
Assignment
incorporates at least
five sources (including
author, title, source &
date).
The reference list
accurately reflects all
citations
Two or fewer direct
quotes used. Each
quote is limited to one
sentence in length.
*APA format is required.
One, two or three Four or five spelling, More than five
spelling, punctuation, punctuation, spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, capitalization, capitalization,
grammar, or usage grammar, or usage grammar, or usage
errors errors errors
In-text citations are
In-text citations are In-text citations are
included for less than
included for 75 - 99% included for 50 - 75%
50% of paraphrased
of paraphrased of paraphrased
material or no
material material
citations are used.
Assignment Assignment
incorporates three or incorporates one or Assignment
four sources (including two sources (including incorporates zero
author, title, source & author, title, source & sources.
date) date)
The reference list
The reference list The reference list accurately reflects less
accurately reflects 75 - accurately reflects 50 - than 50% of citations
99% of citations 75% of citations or there are no
references.
Five or more direct
Three direct quotes Four direct quotes quotes used. One or
used. Each quote is used. Each quote is more quotes are
limited to one limited to one longer than one
sentence in length. sentence in length. sentence. There are
no citations.
TOTAL /52

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