Assigned neurotransmitter:
serotonin
Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
a. Provide a 3-5 sentence paraphrased summary of the assigned neurotransmitter purpose and function.
b. Link the assigned neurotransmitter to a psychiatric diagnosis or diagnoses.
c. Discuss associated symptoms of the selected diagnosis or diagnoses. Determine if each symptom is related to an excess or deficiency in the neurotransmitter.
d. Identify a drug class that treats the disorder. Discuss whether recommended medications are agonists or antagonists. Explain how the medication impacts the clinical signs and symptoms (treats the diagnosis).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Serotonin: Unraveling its Neurotransmission Role
Summary of Serotonin’s Purpose and Function
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates various physiological processes, including mood, sleep, appetite, and cognition. It plays a crucial role in promoting feelings of well-being, happiness, and emotional stability. Serotonin is also involved in controlling impulses and behaviors, as well as modulating pain perception.
Link to Psychiatric Diagnosis
Serotonin imbalance has been associated with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. In conditions like depression, there may be alterations in serotonin levels, impacting mood regulation and emotional responses.
Associated Symptoms and Neurotransmitter Imbalance
In depression, symptoms like persistent sadness, loss of interest, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and feelings of worthlessness are common. These symptoms are often related to a deficiency in serotonin levels, leading to disruptions in mood regulation and emotional well-being.
Drug Class for Treatment and Mechanism of Action
The drug class frequently used to treat depression and anxiety disorders associated with serotonin imbalance is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, increasing its availability for neural signaling. By acting as reuptake inhibitors (agonists), SSRIs help improve mood, reduce anxiety symptoms, and enhance overall quality of life in individuals with these conditions.
