Question

PLS HELP 20 POINTS

1. Explain the difference between a mood disorder and an anxiety disorder. How do their symptoms differ? Why is it important to find out the type of disorder rather than treating a patient for mental illness in general?

2. “I don’t believe in psychology,” a relative says. “There’s no way to measure that what people say about their symptoms is true, which means they could be making it up.” Explain why self-reporting is often necessary for the mental health field and how practitioners can treat patients ethically despite the lack of objective measurements in some areas.

Answer 1

A mood disorder primarily involves disturbances in a person's emotional state such as depression or bipolar disorder leading to persistent changes in mood.

An anxiety disorder revolves around excessive worry and fear, causing distress and often leading to physical symptoms.

In medicine, mood disorders like depression result in persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and low energy while bipolar disorder involves cycling between periods of depression and mania.

An anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social anxiety disorder show with excessive worry, restlessness and physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, and rapid heartbeat.

These disorders differ in their core symptoms and emotional states with mood disorders focusing on prolonged shifts in mood and anxiety disorders emphasizing excessive fear and worry.

Identifying the specific type of mental disorder is crucial for tailoring effective treatment, as different disorders require a special therapeutic approaches. This then ensures better outcomes and minimizing potential side effects.