Paper Example on Stress & Its Consequences: The SRRS & GAS

Introduction

The social readjustment rating scale is a method researchers use to administer the process of assessing the level of stress an individual has in their life. Richard Rahe and Thomas Holmes developed the rating scale because they wanted to find out if stress can make someone be sick (Nevid, 2020).

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The Physiological Basis of Stress and the General Adaptation Syndrome

The psychological mechanism of stress involves using the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and the sympathetic nervous system. When an individual says something is stressful, the sympathetic nervous system then releases adrenaline that activates hormones, which will respond with stress such as respiration or accelerated heart rate (Nevid, 2020). The general adaptation syndrome, on the other hand, is a three-stage response to show that the body has stress. Cortisol and adrenaline (stress hormones) are triggered by glucocorticoids (Nevid, 2020). Since adrenaline has already been released, the sugar level goes up, blood pressure rises, and the heart rate increases.

The Basic Features of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

The fifth edition (DSM-5) contains symptoms, descriptions, and other methods for diagnosing mental disorders (Nevid, 2020). The book also offers a common language for clinicians to elaborate more to their patients and establish a reliable and consistent diagnosis that play a role in treating mental disorder (Nevid, 2020). The book also gives a leeway for future revisions to assist in the intervention of medication.

Main Features and Prevalence Of

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - OCD is a long-lasting disorder in which the individual has uncontrollable compulsions and obsessions that makes them feels if they can repeat the process over and over (Nevid, 2020). The prevalence of this disease is in adults aged 18 years and beyond. In females, the prevalence is higher than males.

Body dysmorphic disorder - BDD is an impairing or distressing preoccupation with a slight defect in imagination or appearance that turns out severe if unnoticed. The prevalence shows that BDD affects over 1.7 people of the general world population (Nevid, 2020). In other words, one out of 50 people gets this disease. In the United States, for instance, more than 5 million have been diagnosed with BDD.

Hoarding disorder - individuals with hoarding disorders keep items that other people feel they have no value. Such people find it hard getting parting or getting rid of possession, which later clutters their ability to use their work or living space. The prevalence of this condition shows that 2 to 6% of the general population, particularly boys, often lead to problems functioning and substantial distress (Nevid, 2020).

Identify and Differentiate the Symptoms of Dissociative Amnesia, Depersonalization/ Derealization Disorder, and Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative amnesia - the features of this disease include loss of memory that becomes more severe than regular forgetfulness that still has no explanation medically

Dissociative identity disorder - also known as multiple personality disorder, is a condition characterized by the idea of switching to different identities (Nevid, 2020). Such individuals also have dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue

Depersonalization-derealization disorder - the condition involves an episodic or ongoing sense of being outside or detachment. The individual also observes their feelings, self, and actions from a distance similar to watching a movie (Nevid, 2020). Sometimes the person feels two or more people are talking to him the same as dissociative identity disorder.

Medications Used To Treat Specific Psychological Disorders

Antidepressants - they are used to treat anxiety, depression, and other conditions.

Anti-anxiety medications - the drugs are used to treat panic disorder or anxiety disorder.

Mood stabilizers - the most common use of this medicine is to treat bipolar disorders and episodes of depression and mania (Nevid, 2020).

Antipsychotic medicines - the drugs are used to treat psychotic disorders like bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and sometimes used as antidepressants in the treatment of depression.

References

Nevid, J. (2020). Essentials Of Psychology: concepts and applications. S.l.: Cengage Learning.