Psychosocial disorders

Psychosocial disorders

Psychosocial disorders are mental conditions that occur from life experiences or neurotic behavioral and cognitive processes. They are physiological and social factors that affect an individual’s normal mental functions. Such diseases present themselves in either episodic, acute, or chronic phases.

Bell’s palsy (BP) is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis on the facial muscles. The annual incidence of BP is at 40,000 persons aged 15-45 (Warner, Hutchison & Varacallo, 2020). Research shows that the condition may occur when the seventh cranial nerve of the geniculate ganglion compresses. The opening to the facial canal is narrow; therefore, when it compresses inflammation and insufficient blood flow occur, causing one side of the face to droop or become stiff. It is an idiopathic condition as most of its causes are unknown. BP is frequent with pregnancies, diabetes, upper respiratory infections, or obesity.

The condition s is characterized by weakness on one side of the face, drooling, inability to close one eye, or drooping of the mouth. The initial physical exam for BP is identifying weakness in the forehead’s muscles with onset in less than 72hours. However, further tests such as electromyography are necessary to confirm the extent of nerve damages. At least 70% of the cases recover without any form of treatment (Warner et al., 2020). There is a lack of evidence-based outcomes, as most cases resolve on their own and rarely recur on a patient.  With recurring cases, physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, or surgery can help to treat the condition.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that results from a traumatic event that exceeds the typical stressor.  People who have experience with war or a traumatic event such as rape are likely to get PTSD. Experience or exposure to trauma reduces the hippocampus and, in turn, the altering of neurohormonal and neurotransmitter functions. It is not easy to diagnose PTSD as it is not a physical condition. Therefore, a physical and psychological evaluation is needed to determine the status (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Some symptoms of the disease include avoidance, night terrors, and emotional numbness. Once there is a diagnosis, planning for treatment and monitoring is essential. The primary treatment for the condition is psychotherapy, which exists in the form of exposure, cognitive and eye movement desensitization, and reprocessing therapies. The therapist helps the patient come up with ways to manage stress or anxiety levels for better mental health.  As with most psychiatric conditions, PTSD has no cure; however, therapy and medicine help to curb the symptoms. Acute management of PTSD is through therapy or antiadrenergic drugs that help to reduce hyperarousal symptoms as acuteness occurs immediately after the traumatic experience. With chronic cases, a combination of therapy and pharmacological treatments is necessary due to its severity. The pharmacological treatments include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and prazosin to reduce nightmares common to PTSD patients.

Depression is a mental health condition characterized by persistence in loss of interest in activities, fatigue, or pessimistic thoughts. The situation is dangerous as it can affect people of all genders and ages. World Health Organization (2020) states that over 264 million persons suffer from depression annually. Lab tests to test the thyroid levels, physical exams, and psychiatric evaluations can help diagnose depression. The most effective treatments include lifestyle changes, medications, support groups, and therapy (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Psychotherapy requires the patient to work with a trained professional to talk about their problems to gain insight. The patient needs constant monitoring from family, friends, and professionals to ensure efficacy with the empirically supported therapy techniques. Several classes of antidepressants can supplement the treatment of moderate-severe cases.

Treatment of mental conditions is crucial as they affect the way people live. Lack of medicine makes the condition and can lead to suicidal tendencies. The high numbers of mental illness or associated conditions are alarming, and there is a need for more diagnosis and treatment channels.

References

Mayo Clinic. (2019). Depression (major depressive disorder). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356013.

Mayo Clinic. (2019). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967.

Warner, M., Hutchison, J., Varacallo, M. (2020). Bell Palsy. Statpearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482290/.

World Health Organization. (2020). Depression. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression.