Human Behavior Problems Human Behavior Problems and Diseasesand Diseases

Copyright 2010. PEER.tamu.edu

Topics to be Covered:Topics to be Covered:

– Common brain problems

– Specific nervous system diseases

– Alcoholism and drug abuse

What Can Happen to the Brain:What Can Happen to the Brain:

• Chemical messengers (transmitters) in the brain Chemical messengers (transmitters) in the brain can be enhanced or suppressed.can be enhanced or suppressed.

Change the anatomy and modify neural pathwaysChange the anatomy and modify neural pathways

• Cells and/or fiber tracts may dieCells and/or fiber tracts may die

Damage to brain can make us behave badly, Damage to brain can make us behave badly, cripple us, or even destroy our personality and cripple us, or even destroy our personality and

sense of self. sense of self.

Major Brain Problems:Major Brain Problems:

• Addiction – compulsive behavior or cravingsAddiction – compulsive behavior or cravings

• Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease - causes death of nerve cells, first in the outer parts of brain (cerebral cortex) that gives us our personality and our ability to think

• DepressionDepression - severe state of feeling bad that is continuous most of the day, every day

• StrokeStroke - interruption of blood supply to brain, due either to hemorrhage or to blocked arteries

• EpilepsyEpilepsy - random episodes of convulsions

• TraumaTrauma - concussion, ruptures of nerve tracts due to mechanical forces (such as sports injuries, car crashes, etc.)

• SchizophreniaSchizophrenia - complex, abnormal behaviors and thought disorders

• Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease - continuous trembling that progresses to poor ability to move

– from all regions  from all regions 

– all countries  all countries 

– all societies all societies

– women and men at all women and men at all stages of life  stages of life 

– among the rich and poor among the rich and poor

– among people living in among people living in urban and rural areas urban and rural areas

People Affected by Brain Disorders Are:

Many People Have Brain & Behavior Problems

• Recent analyses done by World Health Organization show that about 10% of people10% of people in the world suffer from a

mental disorders attributable to mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous systemdiseases of the nervous system..

– This calculates to be about 450 million people450 million people

Some Nervous System Diseases Some Nervous System Diseases Are Common in Children Are Common in Children

ChildrenChildren

1.1. Clinical DepressionClinical Depression

2.2. Post Traumatic Stress DisorderPost Traumatic Stress Disorder

3.3. AutismAutism

Depression is a serious medical illness that can lead to suicide!

Clinical Depression is feeling"down" and "low" and “hopeless" for weeks at a timeweeks at a time. .

Feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days is NOT depression.

You Can Do Things to Prevent Depression!

• People can change how they respond to bad events

• Two basic “explanatory styles” for dealing with bad happenings:– Optimism: belief that the problem is temporary,

an isolated case, and not caused by an inevitable personal deficiency

– Pessimism: belief that the problem is permanent, a generalizable problem, and is caused by an inevitable personal deficiency

Forms of Depression:

Most Common: Most Common:

Major Depressive Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder -low grade depression

Less Common:Less Common:

Psychotic Depression

Postpartum Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder

No Single Known Cause of Depression :

• Most likely, it comes from a combination of – Genetic

– Biochemical

– Environmental

– Psychological factors

Signs and Symptoms of Depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood

• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimismFeelings of hopelessness, pessimism

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed activities that were once enjoyed

Depression and Other Illnesses Often Co-exist:

• Other illnesses may– precede the depressionprecede the depression– cause itcause it– and/or be a consequence of itand/or be a consequence of it

• Mechanisms behind depression and other illnesses differ for every person and situation.

• Research has indicated that the co–existenceco–existence of mood disorders mood disorders and substance abuse substance abuse (alcohol,

drugs) is common among the U.S. population.

Research Indicates that Depressive Illnesses are Disorders of the Brain

• It has been shown that the brains of people who have depression look different than those of people without depression.

• Parts of the brain function abnormally, like those responsible for regulating mood, thinking, sleep, appetite and behavior.

• Also, important neurotransmitters appear to be out of balance.

Discuss the differences in these two pictures.

Post Traumatic Stress Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):Disorder (PTSD):

• PTSD develops after exposure to a terrifying event terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.was threatened.

• Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD

include:– violent personal assaultsviolent personal assaults– natural or human-caused disastersnatural or human-caused disasters– accidentsaccidents– military combat military combat

Firefighters at the site of The World Trade Center attacks.

PTSD Symptoms:PTSD Symptoms:

Symptoms can include but arenot limited to:

• Persistent frightening Persistent frightening thoughts and memories of thoughts and memories of their ordeal their ordeal

• Feel emotionally numb, Feel emotionally numb, especially with people they especially with people they were once close to were once close to

• Sleep problemsSleep problems• Feeling detached or numbFeeling detached or numb• Easily startledEasily startled

PTSD Symptoms in Children:PTSD Symptoms in Children:Symptoms in children may include:

• Bedwetting, when they’d learned how to use the toilet before.

• Forgetting how or being unable to talk.

• Acting out the scary event during playtime.

• Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult.

Lasting Affects of PTSD:Lasting Affects of PTSD:

• In PTSD, the natural “fight-or-flight” response is changed or damaged.

• People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger.

The brain is like a machine, all the parts need to work properly!

Triggering PTSD:Triggering PTSD:“PTSD often smolderssmolders at a sort of sub-threshold levelsub-threshold level,” said Barry Fisher, MD, medical director of the behavioral medicine clinic at Highland Drive VA Hospital in Pittsburgh.

“A current life stressorlife stressor—losing a job, getting divorced—can tip the balance, because it brings anxiety anxiety and triggerstriggers thoughts about the last time the person felt he was in a life-threatening situation.”

Autism Occurs Early in Chldhood

• Autism is a neurological disorder that impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.

• Experts estimate autism occurs in one of every one-hundred births and 1 to 1.5 million Americans are living with autism.

• It is the 2nd most common developmental disorder. Ranges in severity.

Autism Has Serious Consequences

• Causes severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others.

• Can be diagnosed as early as 18 months of age.

Autism Symptoms Are Easy to Spot:

Possible Indicators:• Does not babble, point, or make meaningful

gestures by 1 year of age • Does not speak one word by 16 months • Does not combine two words by 2 years • Does not respond to name • Loses language or social skills

Others: • Poor eye contact • Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys • Excessively lines up toys or other objects • Is attached to one particular toy or object • Doesn't smile • At times seems to be hearing impaired

Autism Involves Most of the Brain:

Psychology Is the Psychology Is the Study of the MindStudy of the Mind

• Psychology is an academic and applied discipline which involves the scientific study of human or animal mental functions and behaviors.

Many Mental Functions Are Many Mental Functions Are Studied by Psychologists Studied by Psychologists

• Psychologists study such phenomena as– Perception– Cognition– Attention– Emotion– Motivation– Personality– Behavior – Interpersonal relationships

Psychology Includes TreatmentPsychology Includes Treatment• Two approaches:

medicines, “cognitive” therapy, often in combination

• Medications: adjust levels of neurotransmitters

• Cognitive therapy aims to identify troubling emotions, their causes, and how to think through a solution.

Alcoholism Is Not Rare:

• Signs:– Drinking excessive amounts frequently– Inability to curb drinking despite medical,

psychological, or social complications– Increased tolerance to alcohol– Occurrence of withdrawal symptoms when the

person stops drinking

• People Affected:– 7.4% of U.S. population, mostly young people

Addiction is a Compulsive Behavior:

Two basic kinds:– Psychological - you do it because you

like how it feels = positive reinforcement

– Physical - you do it because your body now requires it for normal function

• Degree of physical addictiveness scale (worst to least): nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, narcotics, alcohol)

Most addictions begin as psychological

Questions?