Abnormal Behavior Analysis Paper

Diagnosing psychological abnormalities and disorders can often prove to be a difficult task because of the many symptoms which could be shared by two (or more) disorders. Not to mention possible underlying symptoms that can go unobserved. Julie, the patient in the given report, was exhibiting behaviors which were out of the norm. She displayed characteristics that could be correlated with both multiple mood disorders and schizophrenia. Julie experienced extreme levels of hyperactivity, a boost in energy that resulted in the inability to sleep for five days. She found her mind flooded with exciting ideas on how to save the world. These lead to the construction of grandiose plans for developing her political power. Ideas came so quickly that she found it hard to articulate and often lost people when trying to explain all that was going on in her mind. The inflow of ideas and endless possibilities appeared to take on a euphoric tone, an experience to which was described as, "a real high," by the provided patient report. She became delusional and was convinced that her reason for not menstruating was because she belonged to a third gender.

Both excessive elation or euphoria were experience by the patient as well as some of the behaviors synonymous with mania. These symptoms were hyperactivity, insomnia, grandiose plans, flight of ideas, and the inflow of exciting ideas. Mania also includes the confused, groggy almost depressed state she was in near the end of her episode. She reported that her leg was numb near the end of her episode. This could be because of depression, which creates the possibility for bipolar disorder. Mania that occurs over a short period of time is referred to by the textbook as “a manic episode” (Durand & Barlow, 2010, p.206). However, mania does not explain the delusions she