Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Critical Review - Essay Example From this, five study cohorts were organized with each cohort grouped in two: one group receiving CBT and the other one receiving ST. Data on all participants assessed at baseline, post-treatment, 3 month, and 12-month follow-up on measures of symptoms, mood, self-esteem, insight, social functioning, and hospitalizations by research assistants blind to treatment group were treated with importance and analysed utilising the general linear models (GLM) comparing outcomes (continuous variables) across time for the two treatment groups and also for categorical outcomes. Primary results of the study which centre on the beliefs as to the severity of voices and global auditory hallucinations were measured utilising the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales for auditory hallucinations (PSYRATS) and the Belief about Voices Questionnaire—Revised (BAVQ-R), while the secondary outcomes which include psychotic symptoms, self-esteem, social functioning, insight, depression, and hospitalization we re measured through interview and self-report utilising Social Functioning Scale (SFS); the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES); and the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS). Results of the study indicate that both interventions are beneficial although on different outcomes: Enhanced ST was specifically effective in reducing auditory hallucinations, while group CBT was found specifically effective in reducing general psychotic symptoms. The inconsistency of these results with other recent group CBT studies – Barrowclough et al. (2006), Bechdolf et al. (2004) nor Wykes et al. (2005) – may be attributed to the basic differences of the participants in this study from those previous current studies which may have resulted to differences in a number of variables. More importantly, although enhance ST and group CBT have proven effective in different outcomes, the positive impact of enhanced ST on beliefs about auditory hallucinations

Week3 DQ Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week3 DQ Team - Essay Example The clear distinction between the two terms can be understood on the basis of their definitions. A habit, or habituation, is â€Å"becoming accustomed to any behavior or condition, including psychoactive substance use.† In contrast, an addiction is defined as â€Å"Repeated use of a psychoactive substance, to the extent that the user is periodically or chronically intoxicated, shows a compulsion to take the preferred substance, has great difficulty in voluntarily ceasing or modifying substance use, and exhibits determination to obtain psychoactive substance by almost any means† (WHO Lexicon, 2008). Based on the above, we can clearly distinguish between habituation and addiction. Habituation differs from addiction mainly in the absence of physical and psychological dependence, as a desire rather than a compulsion for the substance and the absence of a tendency to progressively increase the dose. A habit is a pattern of behavior which tends to be repetitive and is executed by conscious choice. It is regular, tends to result in beneficial outcomes and usually increases efficiency. On the other hand, an addiction dominates one’s life to the exclusion of all other activities and responsibilities and has a detrimental effect on the individual and society. Withdrawal symptoms characterize an addict’s efforts to stop usage of the substance. Habits and addictions basically differ in the degree of dependence. Unlike habits, addictions include compulsion, craving, increased tolerance for the substance and withdrawal symptoms. A nightcap, which becomes the customary pre-requ isite for a good night’s sleep, is a habit. The need for increasing quantities of alcohol to feel good is an addiction. An allergy is defined as â€Å"abnormal sensitivity to a substance which is normally tolerated and generally considered harmless† (AAAAI Website). The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against foreign bodies, or antigens, which are protein molecules