Mental Health Term Paper Ideas
Term paper topics should be chosen carefully and with much forethought. A researchable topic is essential to the success of your paper. If your teacher or professor has restricted the subject matter to mental health, there are many ideas from which to choose. Find a subject that interests you or about which you are passionate and it should make the completion of your paper far less painful.
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Marijuana and Schizophrenia
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One hotly debated topic, especially in light of the heavy marijuana use in today's society, is the relationship between marijuana and schizophrenia. Scientists have suspected a link since the 1960s, and studies published as recently as 2011 seem to indicate that marijuana use, especially early marijuana use, could contribute to the development of schizophrenia in later life. This may hold particularly true in the case of individuals with a genetic predisposition or history of the disease. However, a July 21, 2010 article on the Time website casts doubt on the viability of the studies, based on the study groups. This topic may be an interesting yet controversial one for you, whether you are a student on the high school or college level.
Strange Addictions
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Reality shows on TV today, such as "My Strange Addiction," may cause people to temporarily recoil and then glue themselves to the TV to watch as people eat inedible objects and perform strange rituals that defy comprehension. As this topic resulted in the creation of a reality TV show, it may be a mental health topic that will keep your reader or readers captivated as you try to explain the psychology of people with different types of unfathomable addictions. You may also choose to explain in your term paper what it is that causes people to be captivated by watching odd or addictive behavior in other individuals.
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Adult Children of Divorce
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According to data cited on the website Childstats.gov, in 2008, only 67 percent of children up to age 17 resided in the home of two married parents. In 1980, the figure was 77 percent. If you find Sigmund Freud's theories regarding familial relationships interesting, you may choose to put a Freudian spin on the lasting effects of divorce on an adult child, discussing how it may or may not have impacted his views on adult relationships and whether it increases his chances of divorcing.
Antidepressant Use
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Antidepressant drugs are marketed for their usefulness in treating individuals with depression, while attorneys market their services to assist those who consider themselves damaged by the drugs' side effects. An interesting term paper in light of these facts might debate the pros and cons of the effects of modern antidepressants on the individual, weighing the benefits against the risks.
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References
- The College of Idaho: Guidelines
- Allegheny College: Writing in Psychology
- Miller-McCune: The Cannabis and Schizophrenia Conundrum; Marcia Meier; March 1, 2010
- Archives of General Psychiatry: Evidence That Familial Liability for Psychosis Is Expressed as Differential Sensitivity to Cannabis
- Time: The Link Between Marijuana and Schizophrenia; Maia Szalavitz; July 21, 2010
- TLC: My Strange Addiction
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
