Trouble in the Mind, Movie Review Example

Introduction

The documentary Trouble in the Mind: Panic Disorders is part of the Trouble in the Mind series that gives a detailed overview of the mental disorder. This psychological documentary covers the signs and symptoms, etiology, treatments, and primary demographic affected. Currently, there are approximately 6 million people suffering from panic disorder in the United States.

Signs and Symptoms

Panic disorder is often incapacitating, progressing from a free-floating anxiety to a feeling of an upcoming death or devastating event. These attacks rarely stem from any external circumstances. The person often experiences a pounding heart, dizziness, light-headedness and sweatiness. Additionally, there is a sense of extreme cold, chest pains, nausea and a sense that there is not enough air to breathe. These attacks may last up to 10 minutes while the signs and symptoms resonate much longer with the patient.

Demographics

Women are more than twice as likely to experience panic disorder than men. The onset of the disorder typically occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood with a predilection for development seemingly linked to genetics. While all ethnicities are at risk for developing panic disorder, whites are more likely to suffer this disorder than blacks.

Pharmacological Interventions

Psychotherapeutics are the most prevalent modes of therapy in the pharmaceutical industry. Many have debated the efficacy of psychotherapeutic drugs as well as its legitimacy as a mode of therapy. The arguments found to be in favor of the use of psychotropic medications are by far more convincing. Panic disorder is often mollified by continuous psychotherapy along with the prescribed medications known as anti-anxiety drugs. In fact, the treatment of panic disorder is far more effective when it is accompanied with continuous therapy and counseling. When medications are the sole treatment, there is a large reduction in reducing the recurrence of attacks and managing the stressors.

In terms of effectively treating panic disorder, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs), and benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed remedies. The most prescribed medications within these classifications are sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), duloxetine (Cymbalta), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), and sometimes alprazolam (Xanax), though its effects wear off so quickly, this is alprazolam is no longer the drug of choice. Diazepam (Valium) was also heavily prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders and panic disorder until its highly-addictive, dependency and habit-formation became evident in the last few decades.

Though the efficacy of psychotherapeutic drugs seems evident, there are still many researchers and doctors who discredit the use of pharmacology in helping patients. While the pharmaceuticals are useful in allaying many symptoms, they do not cure the disorder entirely. In the case of benzodiazepines and antidepressants, they are effective in mollifying the chemical imbalances associated with panic disorder. However, unless these medications are accompanied with consistent psychotherapy, the underlying psychological issues (usually unresolved issues harbored in the subconscious)will prevail and allow panic attacks to be a continual threat to the patient. The fact that drugs treat but don’t cure is an enormous factor in the detractors of psychotherapy pharmaceuticals.

References

Butcher, J.N., Mineka, S., & Hooley, J.M. (2010). Abnormal psychology. New York, NY: Pearson Education.

Boyden, Barbara (Producer) & Robinson, D. (Director).(1999). Trouble in Mind: Panic Disorder. Canada: Sleeping Giant Productions