integrate information you have learned throughout the term with current trends in neuropsychological research.

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There is a final paper/project in this course. The final project is designed to help you connect the information you learned in this course to real-life problems. I would like to see you integrate information you have learned throughout the term with current trends in neuropsychological research. For the final paper, you will write a 4-5 page paper. You are to:

  • Select one of the chapters from our Norman Doidge book, The Brain that Changes Itself.
  • Include a brief overview of the chapter and the neurological disorders/concepts Doidge examined in his chapter.
  • Select at least 2-3 peer reviewed articles (dated from 2012-present) which address concerns like those Doidge discussed in the chapter of your choice.
  • Present current research findings, what the latest treatment approaches are for the given neuropsychological concerns discussed in the chapter, as well as your insights into what the future of neuropsychological treatment for the disorder you reviewed in the Doidge chapter looks like.
  • Support the points you make in your paper with relevant sources you select.
  • Be sure to include a discussion of the evidence available for the etiology of the disorder.
  • Use APA formatting guidelines.

Note: You may use your text as a reference, however, this will not count towards your 2-3 journal article requirements. You may find articles in the library. They have a very extensive collection.

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    TheBrainThatChangesItself.pdf

d describe how your behaviors and those of your conversation partner change as a result of the perceived stereotypes that others hold.

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It will need to be 12-point font, double spaced. You do not need to cite references for this paper OR put it in APA format.

For the first part of this assignment, you will describe the community you grew up in, specifics about its ethnic/cultural/income/political makeup, and your introduction to the notion that others are different from you. Go back as far as you can remember and come forward, thinking about events and people in your environment that may have shaped any biases or stereotypes that you hold (1-2 pages). (I have done this part) just check the grammar and rewrite it in your way.

 

For the second part of this assignment, you will have a conversation about biases and stereotypes with someone who is different from you in some way. You decide how to interpret “difference”. They can be from another part of the country (or a completely different country) from you, a different race or culture from you, come from a different socio-economic background, come from a family with different political viewpoints than yours, have differing abilities from you, be part of a different generation, etc. The conversation should last at least 15 minutes. The topic of conversation will be about personal biases and stereotypes that you hold. In the conversation, you will. . .

1) Describe the biases/stereotypes you hold about others (and where you think they came from) to your conversation partner and ask your conversation partner to describe the biases/stereotypes they hold about others to you.

2) Talk about if you feel your biases affect your behavior in any way and have your partner do the same.

3) Reflect with your conversation partner about biases/stereotypes that you feel other people hold about you (so both of you will talk about this from your own perspective).

4)  Decide whether you alter your behavior when you are around people whom you believe hold a bias/stereotype about you.

For the final part of this assignment, you will reflect on the conversation you had (2-3 pages).

1) You will explain how you are different from the person with whom you had the conversation.

2) You will summarize your own thoughts about the biases and stereotypes that you hold and how your thoughts compare to your conversation partner.  How were they similar? How were they different? Reflect on why this might be the case.

3) You will summarize the biases and stereotypes that you feel others hold about you. Also summarize the biases and stereotypes that your conversation partner felt that others hold about him/her and describe how your behaviors and those of your conversation partner change as a result of the perceived stereotypes that others hold.

Define and analyze the biological, psychological, and sociological theories of drugs

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several factors regarding theories of drug use are discussed in your textbook, including Genetic, Physiological, and Protective factors. As part of your written assignment be sure to highlight such factors and or other theoretical models that are used to explain substance abuse.

Define and analyze the biological, psychological, and sociological theories of drugs. Describe any differences and/or similarities between the three theories. Take a position on one of the three and defend why you believe that particular theory seems to be the strongest. Support your position with at least three outside, scholarly sources. Your paper should be 3-5 pages (excluding title and reference pages).

Identify a plan to incorporate self-care techniques for maintaining personal and professional health.

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Personal and Professional Development Plan

Structure your action plan as follows:

· Divide the plan into two sections: Personal Development and Professional Development.

· For the Personal Development section, describe what you have identified for the following areas:

o Professional organizations and activities that will facilitate progress towards personal and development goals.

o Identify a plan to incorporate self-care techniques for maintaining personal and professional health.

· For the Professional Development section, describe what you have identified for the following areas:

o Professional organizations and activities that will facilitate progress towards professional development goals.

o Activities designed to maintain knowledge regarding the application of ethical principles in professional interactions.

o Activities designed to facilitate continual cultural competence.

o Requirements and processes for obtaining licensure.

· Explain why you feel each component is a necessary part of your development plan.

· Indicate whether this is an activity that is a one-time event, or if it will be an ongoing practice.

· If it is an ongoing practice, describe how it will be incorporated into your schedule.

· If these activities include external resources, such as classes or conferences, include descriptive information and a timeline for completing the activity.

Project Requirements

To achieve a successful project experience and outcome, you are expected to meet the following requirements.

· Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message and is characterized by correct grammatical usage and mechanical elements of scholarly writing. Present assignments in a narrative, paragraph format. You may include subheadings, but incorporate transitional phrases to link sections.

· APA formatting: APA formatting is required, including proper citations, references, title page, page headers, page numbers, and section headers. Refer to APA style and formatting for more information.

· Scholarly publication: When applicable, required scholarly research articles should be current; that is, no more than five years old.

· Number of pages: 5–7 pages. Assignment page length excludes the title page and reference pages (no abstract or table of contents necessary).

· Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Resources

· APA Style and Format.

Unit 3 Discussion 1

Self-Disclosure as a Counseling Tool

As counselors develop their therapeutic style and foundation, the question of self-disclosure arises both for group and individual counselors. Self-disclosure can be an effective therapeutic tool when used appropriately by the counseling professional.

As both group and individual counselors develop their therapeutic style and foundation, the issue of unfinished business must constantly be addressed, as it can be a major hindrance in development. It can also cause counselors to avoid uncomfortable topics, to not use appropriate techniques, or to become unaware of their own need for self-care.

For this discussion, recall a personal challenge you have experienced in your life that may not be resolved and could negatively impact the therapeutic relationship. Without describing this challenge in detail, describe how you think this experience might affect your work with clients. Cite a scholarly source to support your analysis.

how might you contribute to positive social change within your community?

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3- to 5-page paper that includes two sections:

Section One: Community-Based Prevention Programs

  • Briefly describe the community you selected, including demographics and geographic characteristics.
  • Describe three community-based addiction-prevention programs.
  • Describe prevention strategies used in each of the programs.
  • Explain which prevention program strategies might be most effective in each program.
  • Explain what elements might be missing from these prevention programs.

Section Two: Making a Difference

  • If you choose to work in the field of addictions, how might you contribute to positive social change within your community? Be specific and include examples based on what you have learned in this course.

how do we know that intelligence is hereditary?

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Seven Perspectives of Psychology – Terms Checklist

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic

The psychodynamic approach was promoted by Sigmund Freud, who believed that many of our impulses are driven by sex. Freud, who was medically trained in neurology, developed a theory of personality that made the assumption that human motivation was propelled by conflicts between instinctual, mostly unconscious, psychological forces. He called these intrapsychic elements the id, ego and superego.

This psychodynamic theory caught on like wild fire and due to its explanatory power for human behavior, became very popular over the following century. Freud’s therapeutic method, called psychoanalysis, was developed to identify the underlying conflicts between intrapsychic structures and resolve them by bringing them to consciousness. Insight therapy was one term used to describe Freud’s treatment approach. Freud also contributed the first developmental theory of human personality. It suggests that human development progresses through psychosexual stages. Each stage is characterized by specific behavioral and psychodynamic developments and challenges.

Although Freud thought of himself as a scientist, and he was indeed very thorough in recording his methods and outcomes, he did not practice scientific methods. Psychoanalytic theory was developed through case study analysis, a qualitative, not scientific, method.

There are a lot of jokes about Freud and his now mostly outdated theories.  But have you ever thought that something about who you are today comes from your experiences as a child?   Say, you blame your smoking habit on an oral fixation that stems from being weaned from breastfeeding too early as a baby.  Well, that also comes from Freud’s theories, and it was an idea that revolutionized how we see ourselves.

Psychologists in this school of thought believe that unconscious drives and experiences from early childhood are at the root of your behaviors and that conflict arises when societal restrictions are placed on these urges.

Other psychodynamic theories arose, like those of Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, Margaret Mahler, and famous developmentalists like Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson, but all made the same basic assumption: There is a dynamic mind, conscious and unconscious, that influences the behavior of humans. Elements of the unconscious psyche interact to produce motives for behavior and thought processes.

Describe how the following concepts are linked to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in your life event:

· The Unconscious – Id, Ego, Superego

· Stages of Psychosexual development – Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital

Oedipus complex, Electra complex, identification, fixation

· Dreams – manifest and latent content

· Defense Mechanisms – repression, regression, displacement, denial, sublimation, projection. rationalization, reaction formation

· Inferiority complex

· Collective unconscious

Behavioral

In an attempt to bring scientific method to bear on the understanding of human behavior, John B. Watson, using ideas he had gleaned from the likes of Ivan Pavlov and others, decided to declare that psychology should only concern itself with observable behavior. A science of behavior was built on only observable behavior. Assumptions about underlying psychological causes of behavior were not admitted. The unconscious was declared fictitious and its study, a waste of time. Serious psychology would focus on observable, controllable, behavior. The behavioral perspective gained great momentum in the 20th century because it was a powerful tool in training, education, and industry. Critics claimed that behaviorism was dehumanizing. John B. Watson and others conducted a thorough explication of Classical Conditioning and B. F. Skinner, responding somewhat to the critics of behaviorism’s dehumanization, explained and expertly defended the processes of Operant Conditioning.

Behavioral psychologists believe that external environmental stimuli influence your behavior and that you can be trained to act a certain way. Behaviorists like B.F. Skinner don’t believe in free will. They believe that you learn through a system of reinforcement and punishment in your environment. The behavioral approach is really effective when you don’t care what someone thinks, as long as you get the desired behavior. The influence of these theories affects us every day and throughout our lives, impacting everything from why we follow the rules of the road when driving to how advertising companies build campaigns to get us to buy their products.

Describe how the following behavioral concepts/terms are relevant to your life event

Modules 18 – 20

· Classical conditioning (always involves a reflex)

· unconditioned stimulus

· unconditioned response

· neutral stimulus

· conditioned stimulus

· conditioned response

· Generalization,

· Discrimination,

· Extinction

· Spontaneous recovery

· Operant conditioning

· Thorndike’s Law of Effect

· Reinforcers

· positive

· negative

· primary

· secondary

· Reinforcement schedules

· Fixed ratio

· variable ratio

· fixed interval

· variable interval

· Punishers

· positive

· negative

· unintended effects of punishment

· Generalization,

· Discrimination,

· Extinction

· Spontaneous recovery

· Latent learning

· Intrinsic/Extrinsic motivation

· Observational learning/modeling

Cognitive

In contrast to behaviorists, cognitive psychologists believe that your behavior is determined by your expectations and emotions. Cognitive psychologist Jean Piaget would argue that you remember things based on what you already know.  You also solve problems based on your memory of past experiences.

So, with this approach, we turn away from people as machines without free will and delve back into thoughts and feelings. How you act is based upon internal processes, and there is much more emphasis upon individuals.  From a cognitive perspective, your expectations of an upcoming party will affect how you feel and act while you’re there and will color your memory of the night after you return home.

The cognitive perspective developed explanations for human behavior that suggest that human behavior is at times thoughtful and can be controlled by thought processes. Indeed, the cognitive perspective suggests that much of human behavior is mediated by thought processes like memory and attention, belief systems, attitudes and language. Cognitivists believe that humans bring significant conscious processes into the mix and that much of human behavior is mediated by conscious processes. Belief systems, value systems, thought processes, reason and intelligence have a significant impact on why we do the things we do and act the way we act. The cognitive perspective suggests that much of human behavior is significantly influenced by cognitive processes and is thus amenable to our thoughtful control.

Describe how the following concepts are linked to your thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviors in your life event:

Modules 21 – 23

Memory processes –

· encoding

· storage

· retrieval

· recall vs. recognition

· context effects

· mood congruent memory

Stage Model of memory

· sensory memories (iconic, echoic, haptic)

· short-term memory

· long-term memory

Automatic processing vs. Effortful Processing

Rehearsal

Memory Effects

· Spacing Effect

· Next-in-Line Effect

· Serial Position Effect

Types of Encoding

· Semantic

· Visual

· Auditory

Memory Strategies (Mnemonics)

· Chunking

· Hierarchies

Stress & Flashbulb memories

Implicit memories (memory for events)

Explicit memories (memory for actions)

Forgetting

· encoding failure

· memory decay

· retrieval failure

· retroactive interference

· proactive interference

· Misinformation Effect

· Source amnesia

Module 24 – Thinking

concept

prototype

algorithm

heuristic

confirmation bias

fixation

representativeness heuristic

availability heuristic

belief perseverance

intuition – benefits and limitations

framing effect

Modules 26 & 27 – Intelligence

emotional intelligence

Savant syndrome

Binet & Simon – mental age

Intelligence test

Aptitude test

Achievement test

Percentage of WAIS scores that fall between 85 and 115

reliability

validity – content validity, predictive validity

mental retardation – characteristics and 4 levels

how do we know that intelligence is hereditary?

why is environment also important?

Flynn effect

Neuroscience/Biological

The biological/neuroscience perspective is a broad scientific perspective that assumes that human behavior and thought processes have a biological basis. Biology includes investigations into biochemistry of behavior associated with neurotransmitters and hormones, genetics and heritability, and the psychophysics of sensation and perception. Physiological psychology, neuroscience, psychoneuroimunology and psychopharmacology are all part of the biological perspective. Because the biological perspective relies on scientific methods, its scope of investigation is limited to variables that can be controlled. Research methods are quantitative and seek to produce findings that can be replicated and that are generalizable across populations.

Practical outcomes of biological psychology include the booming trade in psychopharmaceuticals, an understanding of mental illness that provides viable remedies for certain very serious disorders, and diagnostic brain scanning tools that are at the leading edge of neuroscience.

Biopsychologists look at how your nervous system, hormones and genetic makeup affect your behavior. Biological psychologists explore the connection between your mental states and your brain, nerves and hormones to explore how your thoughts, moods and actions are shaped. So what does that mean? It means that for the biological approach, you are the sum of your parts.  You think the way you do because of the way your brain is built and because of your body’s needs.  All of your choices are based on your physical body.  The biological approach attempts to understand the healthy brain, but it also examines the mind and body to figure out how disorders like schizophrenia develop from genetic roots.

Describe how the nervous systems, neurotransmitters, brain structures are linked to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in your life event

Module 3

Neurons (parts and functions)

dendrites –

action potential (neural impulse) –

terminal axon branches –

reuptake –

A neuron is like a _______. It either fires or it doesn’t fire. It can’t fire faster or slower or stronger or weaker.

motor neurons –

sensory neurons –

interneurons (and location of them) –

If your hand touches a hot steering wheel ________ neurons carry the message to the _____.

Your brain then uses _______ neurons to sends the message to your hand to move it.

If you hand touches fire, it triggers a ________, so the _________ will intercept the message from the sensory neurons and loop it directly back to the _________ neurons so you will move your hand really fast.

Neurotransmitters and diseases they are linked with

acetylcholine (Ach) –

serotonin –

dopamine –

Organization of nervous systems

sympathetic –

parasympathetic –

(lion story)

Endocrine System – Pituitary gland

Module 4

Cerebellum

Lobes of cerebral cortex and their function

frontal –

parietal –

occipital –

temporal –

Left hemisphere vs right hemisphere (which is the verbal side, which is the non-verbal side?)

Corpus callosum

Split-brain patients

Sensory cortex is most critical for our sense of __________ (e.g., hearing, vision, touch) and the _______ (which body part) takes up the most brain tissue on it.

Plasticity – definition & example

Evolutionary

Our bodies evolved over eons, slowly calibrating to the African savanna on which 98 percent of our ancestors lived and died. So, too, did our brains. Evolutionary psychology postulates that the mind is shaped by pressure to survive and reproduce. We jealously guard romantic partners and cherish our closest relatives above all others, lest we fail to pass on our genes. Men try to have as many children as they can, while women try to find a partner with good resources to have the best chance of them surviving. We easily acquire language, which is critical for cooperation and hence survival. Evolutionary psychology acknowledges these forces but stresses the ultimate (and largely unconscious) gene’s eye view of behavior.

The evolutionary perspective explains human behavior and thought process as resulting from evolutionary processes. The underlying assumption of biological evolution is survival of the species. Human behavior is understood in the light of the question: how does this behavior result from processes that support the survival of the species?

Describe how your life event reflects thoughts, feelings and behaviors that have helped our species adapt, survive and flourish in our environment

Behavior Genetics

In 2003, with the completion of the thirteen year-long Human Genome Project, scientists started a new area for research. After sequencing nearly every gene in the human body, they have new tools and information to learn more about humans than ever before.

These new tools have led to great demand for behavioral geneticists, who work to decipher the intricate ways that the environment and genes interact to influence human behavior and cause disease. A couple of decades ago, twin sets and large families were the only way to explore the role of genes in such complex human traits as intelligence. Today, researchers also have silicon chips and powerful sequencing machinery that allow them to conduct sophisticated searches for the multitude of genetic variants that may influence a single trait. They can even look at the human epigenome, the network of chemical tags that control gene expression.

Many behavioral geneticists hope to learn more about the complex relationship between genes and addiction. But researchers are also trying to answer questions related to development, personality, cognition, language acquisition, music ability and much more. Behavioral geneticists also search for genetic variants linked to such complex diseases as Alzheimer’s, childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes and schizophrenia.

Describe the interaction of your genetics and your environment on your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and behaviors regarding your life event

Social-Cultural

The social/cultural perspective in psychology suggests that human behavior is influenced by social context (who is around you), environmental cues, social pressures and cultural influences. Anyone who has attended a football game will recognize that human behavior is susceptible to influence of the crowd mentality. We are all shaped by the context of our environment and influenced by the perception of authority in our social order. Social psychologists suggest that these forces are very powerful and explain a great deal about the causes of human behavior and thought processes.

Describe how your cultural aspects influence your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and behaviors about your life event.

Cultural Aspects

· religion

· language

· gender

· sexual orientation

· socioeconomic status

· family environment

· neighborhood

· state

· region of the country

· country

· race/ethnicity

review three scholarly journal articles related to your interests in psychology ( why people act the way they do) and relevant to socioeconomic factors

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Socioeconomic Factors: Literature Review

The research and application of psychology is influenced by external factors, such as what we discussed in the previous assignment regarding multiculturalism. Other issues that impact psychology are socioeconomic factors including such things as poverty, access to health care, education, and living conditions/quality of life.

  • For this assignment, you will review three scholarly journal articles related to your interests in psychology ( why people act the way they do) and relevant to socioeconomic factors as described by (but not limited to) the examples above.
  • The scholarly journal articles will be within the last 2–3 years.
  • Search the South University Online Library databases. Other sources, such as textbooks, Wikipedia, and other online sources will not be accepted. Read and analyze each of the articles and create a synopsis.

In your synopsis, make sure to include:

  • A summary of each of the journal articles.
  • Your thoughts and perspectives regarding the concepts covered in each of the journal articles.
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    article1.pdf
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Describe your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and explain why this experience was so important.

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Write a detailed description of a significant life event that has shaped how you think about other people or yourself. Describe your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and explain why this experience was so important. Be sure to choose a life event that fits well with at least one of the perspectives.

APA Format

Times New Roman 12 pt font

Double Space

1 inch margins

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Ways to deal with stress

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Research Article Analysis

This week, choose the following topics for your article analysis assignment:

  • Ways to deal with stress

Search the South University Library databases, such as EBSCOhost and ProQuest, and find two peer-reviewed research journal articles (not more than five years old) related to your selected topics. Other sources, such as the text (other than as supporting citations),

Wikipedia, and other online sources will not be accepted. Read and analyze both the articles and create a synopsis.

In your synopsis, make sure to include:

  • A summary of each of the journal articles.
  • The main points discussed in the journal articles and how each of them relates to the week’s course and text readings.
  • Your thoughts and perspectives regarding the concepts covered in each of the journal articles.
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    stress.pdf
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Explain the relationship between neurotransmitter and anatomic features and resultant symptoms

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Select the topic for your Critical Review, which is due in Week Six, and briefly analyze its key features and pathophysiology. You may select from any of the following psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia (or schizotypal disorders), bipolar disorder, depression, any of the anxiety disorders, PTSD, chronic pain disorders, Alzheimer’s disease,  Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorder, seizures, ADD/ADHD, autism, OCD, any personality disorder, brain trauma, stroke, encephalitis, meningitis, or migraines.  Other topics may be chosen, with approval of your instructor.

Other topics may be considered but require prior approval by the instructor. However, addiction is not the emphasis of the course. Critical Reviews focusing on addiction, or drugs of addiction, will not be accepted. Your paper must focus on drug treatment and not on other modes of treatment. Papers that discuss psychotherapy, other than in passing, will not be given credit. Ask your instructor for clarification.

Explain your chosen psychiatric disorder in terms of neurotransmitter and receptor theories. Describe the symptomology of the disorder and its relationship with the neurotransmitters involved. Discuss the anatomic changes seen with the disorder. Explain the relationship between neurotransmitter and anatomic features and resultant symptoms. Summarize the interaction(s) between the behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurotransmitter changes seen within the selected disorder.

The paper:

  • Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
  • Must include a separate title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources from the Ashford University Library. These may include the required articles for the assignment.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 

 

Elaborate on the Topic for Your Critical Review

This assignment will be a continuation of the written assignment from Week One. Research a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles in addition to information from your text on the disorder you chose in Week One. Consider the key classes of drugs used to treat the disorder you chose in Week One and explain their action at the neurotransmitter system involved in the disease process. Analyze and describe the agonist-antagonist activity of the drugs and the receptor types and subtypes involved in the disorder. Elaborate on the receptor agonist-antagonist actions of the drugs and describe the most common side effects seen with these drugs. Evaluate the risk-benefits of drug use for this disorder.

The paper:

  • Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length, excluding title page and references page, and it must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Your name
    • Course name and number
    • Your instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources in addition to the text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 

 

Rapid Review 1

Select a psychoactive drug that is of pharmacological interest to you, but not one you will review as part of your Critical Review. For this paper, you may choose drugs of abuse; however, the paper must focus on the pharmacology of the drug and not on the social or addictive aspects. If you focus on addiction and social impact, your paper will not receive credit.

In addition to the text, research a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years on your selected drug. Prepare a three-page summary of the drug using the PSY630 Rapid Review Example paper (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. as a guide.

In your Rapid Review, analyze and explain the pharmacological aspects of the drug as they relate to the following: neurotransmitters affected, receptors, route of administration, half-life, doses, side effects, drug interactions, contraindications, and other important facets of the drug. Explain these aspects of the drug in terms of the psychiatric disorders indicated for the drug and the issue(s) associated with that use. If there is no accepted therapeutic use for the drug, evaluate and describe the actions of the drug with regard to the abuse process.

The paper:

  • Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length, excluding title page and references page, and it must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Your name
    • Course name and number
    • Your instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources in addition to the text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 

 

Rapid Review 2

Select a psychoactive drug that is of pharmacological interest to you, but not one you will review as part of your Critical Review or one that was included in your previous Rapid Review. For this paper, you may choose drugs of abuse; however, the paper must focus on the pharmacology of the drug and not on the social or addictive aspects.  If you focus on addiction and social impact, your paper will not receive credit.

In addition to the text, research a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years on your selected drug. Prepare a three-page summary of the drug using the PSY630 Rapid Review Example paper (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. as a guide.

In your Rapid Review, analyze and explain the pharmacological aspects of the drug as they relate to the following: neurotransmitters affected, receptors, route of administration, half-life, doses, side effects, drug interactions, contraindications, and other important facets of the drug. Explain these aspects of the drug in terms of the psychiatric disorders indicated for the drug and the issue(s) associated with that use. If there is no accepted therapeutic use for the drug, evaluate and describe the actions of the drug with regard to the abuse process.

The paper:

  • Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length, excluding title page and references page, and it must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Your name
    • Course name and number
    • Your instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources in addition to the text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 

Rapid Review 3

Select a psychoactive drug that is of pharmacological interest to you, but not one you will review as part of your Critical Review or one that was included in your previous Rapid Reviews. For this paper, you may choose drugs of abuse; however, the paper must focus on the pharmacology of the drug and not on the social or addictive aspects.  If you focus on addiction and social impact, your paper will not receive credit.

In addition to the text, research a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years on your selected drug. Prepare a three-page summary of the drug using the PSY630 Rapid Review Example paper (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. as a guide.
In your Rapid Review, analyze and explain the pharmacological aspects of the drug as they relate to the following: neurotransmitters affected, receptors, route of administration, half-life, doses, side effects, drug interactions, contraindications, and other important facets of the drug. Explain these aspects of the drug in terms of the psychiatric disorders indicated for the drug and the issue(s) associated with that use. If there is no accepted therapeutic use for the drug, evaluate and describe the actions of the drug with regard to the abuse process.

The paper:

  • Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length, excluding title page and references page, and it must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Your name
    • Course name and number
    • Your instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources in addition to the text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 

 

Critical Review

The final assignment for this class will be a 10-page critical review of the drug treatment for a psychiatric disorder (broadly defined to include psychological and neurological disorders as well). The review will use peer-reviewed sources to evaluate the current drug treatment modalities for the selected disorder and determine the adequacy of those treatments. The paper will be evaluated on the inclusion of the following information:

Introduction 
Evaluate the disorder in terms of symptomatic and behavioral presentation. Include the time, course, and progression of the disorder. Evaluate and explain special features of the disease epidemiology.

Theory
Evaluate the predominant theory or theories regarding the biological basis of the disorder. Explain the disorder in terms of pertinent neurotransmitter and receptor theories and describe the pertinent evidence of their involvement.  Analyze the neurotransmitter systems in terms of the involved receptors and the use receptor agonists and antagonists in the treatment of the disorder receptor. Include information on the anatomic changes to the central nervous system as appropriate to the topic.

Treatment 
Evaluate drug therapies for treating the disorder based on the current understanding of the biological basis of the disorder and the corresponding behavioral effects of the disorder. Explain pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in relation to the disorder and corresponding drug treatment. Describe any side effects and adverse effects of the drug treatment and their biological basis, including issues related to contraindications, interactions, drug metabolism, and elimination. In addition, explain risks, benefits, and ethical implications for high-risk and exceptional treatment conditions.

Conclusion 
Summarize theories of psychiatric disease as they relate to principles of drug action within the chosen topic. Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of the current theory of the disorder and its treatment and evaluate any controversies regarding ethical and/or risk-benefits perspectives associated with the current treatment. Describe possible areas for future research.

Attention Students: The Masters of Arts in Psychology program is utilizing the Pathbrite portfolio tool as a repository for student scholarly work in the form of signature assignments completed within the program. After receiving feedback for this Critical Review, please implement any changes recommended by the instructor, go to Pathbrite (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and upload the revised Critical Review to the portfolio. (Use the Pathbrite Quick-Start Guide (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. to create an account if you do not already have one.) The upload of signature assignments will take place after completing each course. Be certain to upload revised signature assignments throughout the program as the portfolio and its contents will be used in other courses and may be used by individual students as a professional resource tool. See the Pathbrite (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. website for information and further instructions on using this portfolio tool.

Writing the Critical Review
The paper:

  • Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length (not including title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
  • Must include a separate title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must use at least five peer-reviewed sources in addition to the course text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.