Mental Health Assignment (H3) – Winter 2015/2016 PSY204 – Foundations of Addictions Name: 6pts. Explain the neurochemical changes underlying the transition from positive to negative reinforcement in addiction, specifically with the reward/anti-reward pathways. For full credit, you must indicate brain regions, projections, and the key neurochemicals involved in these pathways. Diagrams are acceptable for key structures/chemicals, but you must include a discussion of their relationship to one another. 8pts. After having successfully passed PSY204, the Schmo family has requested your presence at their family intervention to provide insight and knowledge. During the intervention, the patient, Joe, agrees that after 20 years of heavy drinking, he has identified himself as an alcoholic and is ready to now seek treatment. However, he is having a difficult time deciding which form of treatment will work best for him. The Schmo family has asked you to explain to Joe the differences between different types of treatments that you learned in class and describe the pros and cons of each so Joe can make an informed decision. Your task is to: Define each type of therapy (Medication, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Group Therapy) and how each would be implemented for Joe Lay out the pros and cons for each type of therapy Provide Joe and the Schmo family with your educated recommendation for which therapy (or combination of therapies) will work best for him and why 4pts. A 23 year-old woman presents to her psychiatrist with the following complaint: “Two weeks ago, I couldn’t stop talking to anyone who will listen. I didn’t sleep much and felt like I could do anything. The past few days, I have been sleeping 16 hours a day and have lost interest in the things I enjoy like yoga and reading.” Predict the diagnosis. What disorder does this patient have (be specific)? Explain why in 1-2 sentences. Diagnosis: Explanation: 4pts. A 45 year-old man presents to his psychiatrist with the following complaint: “Over the past few months, I’ve had difficulty concentrating at work and accomplishing what I need to do. My thoughts are filled with continual apprehension. Once I go home, these thoughts do not go away and prevent me from sleeping well. I’m always worried about what will happen next.” Predict the diagnosis. What disorder does this patient have (be specific)? Explain why in 1-2 sentences. Diagnosis: Explanation: 4pts. You are a paramedic and receive an anonymous call for an ambulance. When you arrive on scene, you find a 32 year old woman presenting shallow breathing, constricted pupils, and dangerously low blood pressure. This woman, later found out to be Karen, is extremely disoriented, if not absent, and is not responding verbally. Next to Karen are a tourniquet, spoon, and empty syringe. Based on your assessment of the scene and of Karen, you determine that she is likely overdosing from Heroin. i. What drug could you administer to quickly relieve most, if not all of Karen’s current symptoms? ii. Which pharmacological treatment would you suggest for long-term maintenance? Why
