Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders, ADHD in Children, Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Treatment, Theory of Mind and Autism, Mental Retardation Classification

This article discusses the similarities and differences between Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders, causes and treatments of ADHD in children, factors contributing to erectile dysfunction, theory of mind and autism, and benefits and limitations of mental retardation classification.

Questions
Student’s Name
University

Question one: Similarities and differences between Borderline and Histrionic
Personality Disorders
One common similarity between the two conditions is that they have an
overlapping diagnostic criteria characterized with poor impulse control, exaggerated
emotional expression, cognitive distortions and excessive attention seeking which makes
them appear out more. In most cases these conditions create behaviour that makes them
seek attention from others rather than allowing it to flow naturally. The fact theta they
have poor impulse control means that they have to rely on manipulation to make others
recognize and feel their presence.
Another similarity between borderline personality disorders histrionic personality
is that the two conditions occur more in women than in men. BPD appears with
depression, anxiety and eating disorders in women while in men it occurs with substance
abuse and personality disorder. On the other hand, histrionic personality disorder in men
is diagnosed with narcissistic personality behaviour in men.
Borderline personality is a condition that makes people experience reckless ad
impulsive behaviour that leads to mood swings. On the other hand, histrionic personality
disorder is a mental condition that makes people emotionally vulnerable thus requiring
constant approval from peers.
Another difference that exists between the two is that histrionic personality
individuals have a lot of drama that they use to seek attention to be recognized by others.
This makes them emotionally vulnerable thus making them sometimes irritating and
disturbing. On the other hand, those with BPD have better emotional intensity that they
use to provoke interest and draw other towards them. Unlike the latter, they do not use

appearance but rather have a way of exploiting people and making them closer with them
realizing that they have a personality disorder.
Question two: Factors not directly related to the properties of the substance that can
impact upon someone’s experiences when using a drug
Mode of transmission- the method that the user uses can lead to different
experiences using the drug. For example drugs that are taken through injection have a
higher intoxication rate as compared to those that are swallowed, inhaled or smoked. This
is because it takes time for the drug to travel into the brain for the user to feel the effects.
The time taken to consume the drug- for intoxication to take place and the user to
feel the effects of the drug, one has to take the minimum amount required for the effects
to be realized. Therefore, those who take longer hours will feel different effects as
compared to those who take shorter time taking the drug.
Poly-drug use- taking more than one drug will have different as compared to one
who takes a single drug. For example, when one mixes a depressant and a stimulant, the
effect is realized when one overpowers the other. On the other hand, if one takes different
drugs that fall under the same category like stimulants or depressant, the effects are
quickly realized due to the greater effect of drug combination. Further, combining drugs
can lead to other health complications like dehydration and ecstasy which are side effects
of drug reaction.
The type of drug can also influence the effects that the user feels. Even drugs that
are categorized under one group may have different intoxication and effects on the
individual. Some people react differently to different drugs due to their purity and

intoxication levels. This means that the chemical content of the drug will influence the
effects that one has from one drug as compared to the other.
Question three: causes of ADHD in children and what kinds of treatments are used
for treating ADHD in young people.
One cause of ADHD is heredity which is related to people which have
experienced this condition (Jain & Katic, 2016). It is genetically related thus it runs in the
family where children with this condition can inherit it from their parents.
Environmental factors like exposure to toxic substances like smoking and taking
alcohol during pregnancy.
Brain injuries can also lead to trauma, brain tumour or stroke that leads to
intention and poor motor regulation.
Gentile, Atiq, & Gillig (2016) suggests that bbehavioural therapies have been
used as first treatment options for the condition. These include behavioural therapy,
school based interventions, social skills training, cognitive therapy and
psychoeducational input. This methods have been successful in helping children recover
since they focus on teaching children behavioural ways of coping with the ADHD.
Stimulant medications are also used to treat the condition by reducing the risk of
unintentional injuries. These include atomoxetine, bupropion, guanfacine and clonidine
which are used in stimulant therapy (Huang & Tsai, 2011). However, stimulant drugs
have been linked to improving academic performance while atomoxetine does not,
although it works well when children are seen getting addicted to stimulants. Research
has shown that 80% of children who have been exposed to ADHD medication have
responded by reporting reduced symptoms (Gentile, Atiq, & Gillig, 2016).

Lastly, dietary modifications have also been used as treatment options for
ADAHD. Through use free fatty acid supplements and decreasing artificial food
colouring, children improve by reporting lower symptoms of the condition (Mayes,
Bagwell, & Erkulwater, 2008). Further, iron, magnesium and iodine have been reported
to be other diet supplements that reduce the occurrence of the symptoms.
Question four: theory of mind and how might deficits in theory of mind help to
explain the social difficulties seen in children with autism spectrum disorders?
The theory of mind is the use of mental states like intents, emotions, desires,
knowledge and beliefs to understand why people act in certain ways or to predict their
future reactions (Korkmaz, 2011). This theory seeks to understand how people used their
mind to navigate social situations that they are engaged in. According to the theory
children develop social skills at age of four that the can use to interpret social situations
and understand the actions that they need to take or that have been taken by others.
McHugh & Stewart (2012) suggest that since children learn most things through
imitation, then those who fully develop their minds have social cognitive abilities that are
influenced by the environment that they have grown in. Accordino, Kidd, Politte, Henry,
& McDougle (2016) adds that children improve cognitive abilities with age as they
interact with the environment by learning from others and the things that take place
around them. This leads to the ability to develop social skills required for handling,
responding and reacting to situations.
However, children with autistic personality disorder may have challenges
developing the cognitive skills necessary to cope with the environment. For example, this
leads to delayed development of social aspects like language which makes it difficult for

the children to apply the theory of mind as compared to normal children. Since these
children have a problem with social communication and social interaction this makes it
difficult for them to act in a way that relates to their beliefs, desires, and intentions
(Comer, 2016). Since delayed learning and development is reported in children with this
disorder, it becomes difficult for them to develop the way as normal children to allow
measuring or predicting behaviour patterns (Stichter, Riley-Tillman, & Jimerson, 2016).
Question five: factors that can contribute to the onset and maintenance of erectile
dysfunction, from a bio psychosocial perspective.
Anxiety one of the major issues that cause erectile dysfunction which leads to
vascular issues on the individual. People who experience anxiety based on different
reasons have challenges erecting or maintain their erection since they fail to maintain
themselves in the mood of sex.
Age is also a biological and physical factor that leads to erectile dysfunction. As
people age, their libido goes down which leads to reduced sexual confidence thus leading
to changed future behaviour. There is a difference in sexual arousal between teenagers
and old people since the former have a high sexual activity while the latter have a fading
sexual activity which makes it difficult to manage erections.
Some sexually transmitted diseases like genital herpes (HSV) and genital human
papilloma virus can have a negative impact on erection. Potki, Ziaei, Faramarzi,
Moosazadeh, & Shahhosseini (2017) adds that people who are infected with such
diseases afters sex can develop negative attitudes towards sex which presents challenges
in achieving and maintaining an erection due to fear of sexual relationships and less
optimism in sex.

Question six: the benefits and limitations of the classification of mental retardation
(intellectual disability)
One benefit of classification of mental retardation is the ability to distinguish the
condition with others like autism borderline intellectual functioning, and organic mental
disorders. This is through use of specific signs and symptoms that are particular to a
certain condition.
Another benefit of classification is to facilitate development of a treatment and
educational plans to assist the individual manage the condition (Mash & Wolfe, 2013).
Without understanding the clear condition affecting the patient, it becomes difficult to
design appropriate plans that fit the problem. Since each classification presents
educational challenges required by the individual for support, then classification ensures
that those with the condition have development plans that are tailored to meet their needs.
However, Wilmshurst (2012) adds that mental retardations are related to other
factors like disability which make it difficult for correctly classifying the condition. Since
the signs and symptoms relate to underlying intellectual and adaptive impairments, then
disability presents a bigger challenge for classifying the retardation since each disability
presents unique signs. This means that other conditions or disabilities like learning,
sensory, and motor impairments can produce signs similar to those of mental retardation
thus making it difficult to classify them.

References
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