Mental disorders - Assignment Example

It would be thought, that the stigmatisation and negative imagery would be limited to the general population but in reality it can also be observed among doctors and nurses, who are supposed to be derived of any such negative thoughts or ill feelings. It is relevant to focus on decisions made by the neurologists, principles of correct diagnostics and medication choice. Consequently, in the modern field of psychology, a neurologist plays an important role of a physician, who is able to choose an integrative approach to treat a mental disease.

Case 1 The first case with 25 year’s girl and brain death is a difficult case. This girl is not in coma, but her brain cannot perform its functions to the fullest extent anymore. Unlike patients with coma, who may show neurological signs, such as a variable activity of brain, electrical impulses, the patients with death brain will not show these symptoms (Bernat, 1998; Christensen & Uzzell, 1994). There is no response to external stimuli and the patient feels no pain in case his brain is dead.

Moreover, the patient shows no response to bright light; her eyes are fixed in case any other tests result in no reactions obtained from the patient, than his brain is dead (Maruish & Moses, 1997). A confirmatory test is required in case the clinical examination shows no neurological function (Ciccarelli & White, 2007). In case this test is positive, then girl’s brain is dead and there is no way to bring her back to life. A serious and fatal strike exerted by dead brain on the nervous system results in human body’s functioning is ceased.

The term “brain death” is defined in the following way: “irreversible unconsciousness with complete loss of brain function” (Rourke, 2008). Car accident is a serious injury, which may inevitably result in brain death. Still, some reflexes may exist. For example, the movement of the limbs or trunks does not mean that the brain is not dead. Thus, nervous system shows only residual signs of physical activity of a patient and his reactions to external stimuli. In reality, brain death cannot be treated and a family of a patient may donate organs of their relative.

The role of neurologist is the most decisive one, because he may claim whether brain is dead or not. To choose a correct diagnostics is the first and foremost step in taking further measures in case of brain death. Case 2 In the second case, 18 year-old boy suffers from schizophrenia. He has auditory hallucinations and it results in his anxiety, negative emotions, depression and unsociability. This boy suffers from disordered thoughts and feels confused in the society. Medical treatment should be the following: to introduce antipsychotic medications in order to reduce symptoms of the disease (for example, Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Fluphenazine and others) (Bernat, 1998; Christensen & Uzzell, 1994).

Actually, the boy suffers from a nervous breakdown and he cannot live in the society, because of “the devil promising him eternal damnation”. Thus, it is possible to use “atypical” antipsychotics developed in 90s (Weiner, 1997). For example, Clozaril is effective in hallucination’s treatment, though a patient may further suffer from a loss of a large number of blood cells (Carpenter, 1997). There is a need to facilitate boy’s suffering from acute schizophrenia he has. That is why he has hostile moods and shows this to the surrounding people (Carpenter, 1997).

The role of neurologist in this case should be not only a role of a man, who is able to prescribe a medicine, but to