Abstract
This paper covers a broad range of areas pertaining to Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating disease that ravages the brain, robs the sufferer of their identity and eventually causes death. It looks at how AD is not an inevitable part of aging or an acceleration of aging and how it is a disease belonging to a category of diseases known as dementias, which cause a severe deterioration of several mental functions such as judgment, language and memory. It explores different areas from its neurochemistry, anatomy and neurophysiology, to the alarming statistics, the psychology and observable behavioral changes in all stages of this disease. It also discusses causes, current treatments, and treatments under investigation.

From the Paper
"The first symptoms of AD occur at a microscopic level which affects many areas of the brain and may begin as early as the 20's. Initially, subtle symptoms arise such as forgetfulness and mood change (Jones, 1999). This is due to nerve cell death in the limbic system which undergoes the most severe degenerative changes in AD. The entorhinal cortex is affected earliest and most severely, and shows the clearest evidence of cell loss. This structure is the major relay through which information from the neocortex gets to the hippocampus and back to the neocortex, and it is this degeneration that is thought to cause initial memory loss in AD (Kolb & Whishaw, 1996). Short-term memory is made worse as the hippocampus is gradually ridden with plaques and tangles. Sadly, even long-term memories fade away."

Tags:aging, brain, chemistry, dementia, gerontology, memory, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry

Abstract
This paper looks at depression, a mental disorder affecting people of all ages from many walks of life. It examines the current research on its main causes and describes the four major types of depression that are known of today, clinical, bipolar disorder or manic depression, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and chronic depression, all of which have a varying detrimental effect on the person they are acting upon. It shows how the type of depression a person has is usually determined by a careful study of his/her background and the symptoms they exhibit on a regular basis. It also discusses methods of diagnosis such as psychological evaluation as well as methods of treatment such as psychotherapy, medication or antidepressants and exercise.

From the Paper
"In the past decade, depression medication has improved dramatically. Not only are the current drugs much more effective than before, the side effects are fewer and less severe (Cohen, 2002). Before the influx of new medications, few drugs were available to fight depression. Without drugs tailored to treat specific symptoms, treatments were rarely effective (Britannica, 2003). Now, with the wide array of drugs available to the public, antidepressant drugs can be matched to the symptoms they are customized to treat. Instead of having a single drug to combat depression, multiple drugs are available to treat specific types of depression. When multiple symptoms are displayed by a patient, an assortment of medication may be required (Staab-Feldman, 1999). It is not uncommon for a secondary medication to be prescribed to boost the effectiveness of the primary medication."

Tags:bipolar, disorder, illness, mental, chronic, sad, manic, clinical, psychotherapy

Abstract
The paper states that Asperger's syndrome falls under the category of pervasive developmental disorders, and was first identified by Hans Asperger in 1944. The paper comments that autism is also a PDD, but is different and often more severe than Asperger's syndrome. Two researchers both identified the disorders in the 1940s, with Hans Asperger identifying what is now called Asperger's syndrome and Leo Kanner, an American, identifying what is now referred to as Kanner's autism. The paper discusses the disorders which are very similar, but yet are still different. It took many years before Asperger's syndrome was researched more thoroughly, as it was initially discounted due to Asperger's research occurring in Nazi Germany, and the seemingly similar topic to Kanner's research. Today the two disorders are separated in the DSM-IV.

Outline
History of Asperger's Syndrome
. - Hans Asperger
. - Leow Kanner
Differentiation of Asperger's from autism and other disorders
. - DSM-IV
. - ICD-10
. - Autism differences
. - Other disorders
Differentiation of Asperger's from Kanner's Autism
. - similarities
. - differences

From the Paper
"In addition to peculiarities in the verbal component of the speech of his subjects, Asperger noted an oddness in the non-verbal aspects of communication. Although all of his subjects spoke fluently, he noted abnormalities in their communication, especially in the use of gaze to establish non-verbal contact in a conversation. He observed an abnormality of gaze, so that "hardly ever does their glance fix brightly on a particular object as a sign of lively attention and contact" and commented that this peculiarity in eye contact was particularly evident when they were in conversation with others."

Tags:purposeful, intelligent, fine, motor, skills, abstract, thinkers

Abstract
This paper describes the history of antidepressants in the U.S. and explains how they physiologically work with the body and affect mood and behavior. The paper then examines four studies conducted on antidepressants. The studies discussed examine the long and short term effects of antidepressant use, the affects of antidepressant use on insomnia, and the effects of antidepressant use in the Latino population.

From the Paper
"The world of Psychology is advancing more and more everyday with research and studies that can help provide loads of information on different aspects of the science. The four studies presented in this research paper can provide good information on the long-term treatment of depression with antidepressants, the short-term effectiveness of antidepressants when dealing with depression, antidepressant response to sleep deprivation and light therapy in bipolar depression and how Latino's living in the United States have are more likely to discontinue their antidepressant treatment. For future researchers of antidepressants and their effect on the brain, one suggestion would be to elongate the test periods for the different drugs or combination of drugs used to help cope with depression. As mentioned before in this text, the first antidepressant drug was found to have toxic side effects (Drugs and the Brain: Antidepressants, Trujillo, Keith A, Chinn, Andrea B). If researchers are not careful in their tests or rush their drug on to the market without testing it thoroughly, there could be very large consequences."

Tags:psychology, antidepressants, drugs, latino, psychology, mood, behavior

Abstract
This paper discusses self-image and body-image dissatisfaction, and how they correlate with sex, nationality, age and other contributing factors. The author examines such diseases as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and how psychological and physiological issues also coincide with body image and self-perceptions. The paper also looks at how society and the media contribute to body perceptions.

From the Paper
"The effects of body image and dissatisfaction can be harmful and even deadly. Certain diseases such an anorexia and bulimia can be almost directly related with self body image. Researchers, Lautenbacher, Kraehe & Krieg did a study on recovering anorexic women. They say that the perception of body size is a contributing factor to anorexia. As evident, "perception of body size is involved in these processes that determine the cause of anorexia nervosa" , Lautenbacher, Kraehe & Krieg. Body size ties directly to body satisfaction. Even after many anorexic or bulimic people have recovered, researchers suggest they still are unsatisfied with their bodies and how they look. They may gain weight back but still are dissatisfied with their bodies."

Tags:anorexia, dissatisfaction, physiological, psychological, self, bulimia, socioculture, weight

Abstract
The paper refers to the literature concerning obsessive compulsive dsorders (OCD) in children and adolescents that shows how the disorder is not only debilitating but also lacking in the necessary tools for assessment and treatment. The paper discusses the classification of OCD as an anxiety disorder and reveals that the prevalence of the disorder is under diagnosed and underestimated. The paper includes the writer's personal reaction that much more research is necessary within this area of psychology.

Outline:
Lack of Research
What is Known about Childhood and Adolescent OCD
Classification of OCD
Some Additional Research
Prevalence
Personal Reaction

From the Paper
"Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and potentially disabling neuropsychiatric condition, which often emerges during late childhood or early adolescence. This disorder is characterized by recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions which are deemed to be excessive to the extent that they cause distress in a person's life, and disrupt daily living patterns and functioning (APA, 1994). OCD in children tends to dominate every aspect of the affected child's life (Wolff & Wolff, 1991). The presence of obsessive thoughts and the overwhelming need to perform compulsive rituals may adversely affect the child's family and peer relationships, school performance, vocational functioning, participation in extracurricular activities, self-esteem, and emotional well-being (Wand, Furer & Shady, 1993; Thomsen & Jensen, 1991; Toro, Cevera, Osejo & Salamero, 1992)."

Tags:symptoms, rituals, assessment, treatment, depression, suicide

Abstract
The paper discusses the subject of schizophrenia and utilizes the film "A Beautiful Mind," a movie based on the life of John Nash, to introduce the subject. In the movie Nash was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The paper shows how the movie portrays the misperception that genius predisposes people to mental illness. The movie portrays the insulin shock therapy and anti psychotic medications he was given,and his determination never to use them again. The paper shows that schizophrenia symptoms can differ greatly between patients, but they usually exhibit some combination of delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder , movement disorder and inappropriate emotional expression that adversely affects their daily life. Nash, as portrayed in "A Beautiful Mind," exhibited all of those symptoms. The paper highlights the prenatal risks that are connected to schizophrenia and also the many reasons why this topic is important in the practice of medicine and/or mental health.

From the Paper
"There are many reasons why this topic is important in the practice of medicine and/or mental health. One reason is that it is a global problem with virtually all societies identify acute or chronic breakdowns in functioning, although the labeling is not universal. "There are significant gender variations in the findings surrounding schizophrenia. These include neuroanatomical differences, as well as differential developmental and behavioral patterns" (Galliano, 2003, p. 282). As we take individuals, regardless of gender, into account, an awareness of risk factors and then how they typically play out will be beneficial as we try to understand and help."

Tags:developmental, behavioral, patterns, prematurity

From the Paper
"Over the past decades a number of prominent individuals have been attacked or killed by people with a psychosis or other mental disorders, including ex-Beatle John Lennon and former U.S. President, Ronald Reagan. Although these cases may be spectacular, violence and aggression displayed by the mentally ill is usually directed against partners or family members, rather than others (Danielson et al, 1998). There is little evidence of an increasing number of violent acts made by patients with psychosis, but literature suggests that patients with major mental disorders have an increased risk for committing such acts compared with the general population (Munro, 2000). ). Fed by highly selected information in the mass media about their very rare contribution to one type of tragedy, homicide, the public and politicians believe, or are being encouraged to believe through the mass media, that unless people with a mental disorder are once more segregated, the streets will not be safe."

Tags:abuse, asylum, homicide, insane, integration, schizophrenia, substance, violence

Abstract
This paper looks at the root of evil which manifests itself in serial killing. It also analyzes the morality of serial killers by studying the behaviorial patterns of Bundy, Berkowitz, Gacy, and Toole. It examines the lack of moral development in serial killers, specifically those which fall into the category of psychopaths.

From the Paper
"The lack of morality displayed by serial killers is something that is easily identifiable through hindsight. Once their malicious and brutal "secret lives" have been brought to the forefront, it is quite easy to say that these men (and sometimes women) have no concept of morality. If this lack of morality is so obvious, why then do we not notice it prior to their murderous rampages? The most likely answer to this question is that the majority of serial killers can be classified as psychopaths. According to John E. Conklin (1997, 564) a psychopath is "a person who has a specific cluster of personality traits; is asocial, aggressive, highly impulsive, and unable to form lasting bonds of affection with others; and feels little or no guilt for antisocial activities." Clecky (1976) has outline 16 major characteristics of psychopaths, which include: intelligent, rational, calm, unreliable, insincere, without shame or remorse, having poor judgment, without capacity for love, unemotional, poor insight, indifferent to the trust of kindness of others, over-reactive to alcohol, suicidal, impersonal sex life, lacking long term goals, and inadequately motivated antisocial behaviour. Due to their high levels of intelligence, psychopaths are capable of being very manipulative, and thus are able to feign the appropriate emotions necessary to blending in with society. Psychopaths make a conscious effort to distance themselves socially, and share intimacy with only those whom they can control psychologically. Thus, the immorality of psychopaths often goes unnoticed by the general public. It is not until a serial killer is captured that their personality is scrutinized closely enough to recognize the symptoms of psychopathology. These symptoms may even continue to hide after the killer has been apprehended. When Ted Bundy was first arrested he quickly made friends with his captives, and was granted special privileges which eventually lead to his ability to escape. Thus the very symptoms of psychopathology are what make it so difficult to detect prior to a serial killer's conviction."

Tags:criminal, justice, psychology, bundy, berkovitz, gacy, toole, disorder

Abstract
Many sexual predators have admitted that they cannot control their urges to sexually and violently abuse women and children. This paper advocates that more strict legislative measures are needed that would prevent vulnerable individuals from being raped, abused and possibly killed by essentially "incurable" predators. It puts forward the proposal that if people were assured a harsh punishment if they were to commit a crime, they would be less likely to be able to justify their criminal actions as being "worth the risk". It discusses the holes in current legislation and how offenders are often not required to undergo sex offender treatment or evaluation and they are released into the community without being forced to adhere to sex offender registration laws and evaluates Megan's law. Megan's Law refers to the series of laws introduced in New Jersey following the murder of seven year-old Megan Kanka who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by her neighbor, a twice convicted sex offender who had committed a similar crime only months before. It analyzes the increasing public awareness and concern about crime together with intense media focus on the issue.

From the Paper
"According to Princeton University professor John DeIulio, "almost half of the country's 671,000 parolees and probationers are caught committing serious new offenses within three years" (Feinsilber, 1997). Many sexual predators have admitted that they cannot control their urges to sexually and violently abuse women and children. For this reason we should not allow these dangerous criminals to terrorize our neighborhoods, schools and homes. It is therefore my contention that more strict legislative measures are needed that would prevent vulnerable individuals from being raped, abused and possibly killed by these essentially "incurable" predators."

Tags:child, deviants, law, legal, molesters, rapists, sexual, megan, criminals