Behavior and Mental Status: NBC News on Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Introduction

The media helps in the creation of awareness of different issues that affect the society. This should be done in a way that is accurate and impacts the target audience in a positive way. Such a way can help them acquire new knowledge about the issue or let them learn how to cope with a particular situation. The NBC News aired the problem that Jack and the family go through and the kind of symptoms Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) has on him, including how this affects his two sisters, Emily and Mackenzie. It is important to properly examine the symptoms of a patient to help find the right treatment for them (Bickley, 2013).

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Question #1

The media identified correctly some of the symptoms of DMDD such as extreme irritability, anger, as well as outbursts of temper, which made Donald, Jack's father, lock Emily and Mackenzie inside their room for the fear of Jack's behavior. The parents failed to deal with Jack's situation. This went to appoint the parents could not handle it anymore and went to an extent of calling the police to help them take care of the troubling situation at home. By considering Jack's age, 12, and these symptoms, it is clear that he was indeed suffering from DMDD.

Question #2

There is some other information about this disorder that the media failed to discuss that is very important to note in the issue of DMDD. The onset of this disorder must be before the age of 10 and the diagnosis should not be made to the patients before the age of 6 or after the age of 18. In the case of Jack, who is in the age bracket that is most likely to be influenced by this disorder, it is not clear when the kid started showing or experiencing these symptoms. The symptoms must have been in existence for at least one year and the relief period must not be longer than 3 months (Grohol, 2017).

Question #3

The coverage of the mental illness by NBC News was not helpful to all the audience. In fact, it added more stigma to the affected patients, as well as those who take care of them such as their parents and siblings. The affected individuals here realized how the hospitals are not ready to help in the care and treatment of these patients. Jack stayed in the emergency department for more than a week and several hospitals are overwhelmed and go to the extent of turning away kids who suffer from psychiatric problems. DMDD is an illness characterized by immense irritability and these patients will not feel any better about such kinds of situations or treatments by the departments that should be helping them.

Question #4

The treatment of DMDD is quite challenging currently considering that it is an illness that has been newly diagnosed. The media coverage, in some way, helps the individuals who handle these patients learn ways of taking care of the patients. For its newness in diagnosis, the treatment considers other related mental disorders that share similar symptoms of temper and irritability such as depression, anxiety illness, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These treatments involve both medications and psychological methods such as training of parents, psychotherapy, as well as computer-aided training. Medications include stimulants, antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics.

References

Bickley, L. S. (2013). Bate's guide to physical examination and history taking. 11th Edition. Philadephia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Grohol, J. (2017). Symptoms of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. Psych Central. Retrieved on September 7, 2018, from https://psychcentral.com/disorders/symptoms-of-disruptive-mood-dysregulation-disorder/

NBC News. Shortage of in-patient psychiatric beds puts kids at risk as more seek care. Retrieved from: https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/shortage-of-in-patient-psychiatric-beds-puts-kids-at-risk-as-more-seek-care-1267320387660?v=raila&