Question

1a) Explain how the brain’s reward circuitry plays a role with disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, as well as Binge Eating Disorder. Be sure to explain how it’s effect differs with Binge Eating Disorder vs. Anorexia and Bulimia? (3pts)

1b) Discuss and differentiate what depersonalization and derealization are (the features, not just the disorder itself – remember, these can occur outside of the actual Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder). What can cause these to occur? (4pts)

1c)Explain your understanding of what “personality” refers to, and then discuss what constitutes a “personality disorder.”

Answer 1

1) a )Anorexia Nervosa is defined as a severe restriction of food intake caused by a fear of gaining weight .Majority are females and the onset is during adolescence. The main psychopathological feature is the dread of fatness,weight phobia and a drive for thinness.There is a significant relationship between the brains response to taste stimuli and high levels of anxiety.The brain in Anorexia is able to recognise hunger signals,but individual with the disorder may lack an interest to consume food because they are not able to convert or transfer this hunger signal into the motivation to eat. As per the research report of Kaye and team women recovered from Anorexia Nervosa tend to show decreased brain response to both food and money in brain reward regions,and the women recovered from Bulimia Nervosa tend to show increased brain reward response.Binge eating disorder have altered reward sensitivity and food related attentional biases. A person with BED have greater cognitive attentional biases towards food, decreased reward sensitivities, and altered brain activation in regions associated with impulsivity and compulsivity.

1)b) Depersonalization disorder involves a disruption of personal identity. The main feature of this syndrome is , a sense of strangeness or unrelity in oneself. The exact cause is not known.But it affect the people who have experienced a life threatening or traumatic event like extremely violence , war etc. Neurologically , it may involve an imbalance in brain chemicals. Depersonalization also occurs as a component of other psychological disorders , particularly anxiety disorders ,depression etc.

The feelings of strangeness in the self are often accompanied by derealization, a feeling of strangeness about the world.When things or people around seem unreal ,then it is derealization. Stress and anxiety are the primary cause of derealization.In derealization disorder also past traumatic experience can affect a lot. A lack of sleep or over stimulating environment can worse the conditions.

1)c) "Personality refers to deeply ingrained patterns of behavior, which include the way one relates to,percieves , and thinks about environment and one self" (American psychiatric association (APA) 1987). Personality includes all aspects related to oneself,all his measurable traits and situational interactions.It incorporates, almost every thing about an individual , a sum total. Personality disorders result when personality traits become abnormal,i.e. become inflexible and maladaptive and cause significant social or occupational impairment or significant subjective distress .