Causes of mental disorders
A
Research results
Risk factors for mental illness include
Mental illnesses have risk factors, for instance including unequal parental treatment, adverse life events and drug use in
In February 2013, a study found genetic links between five major psychiatric disorders:
may increase the risk of developing certain mental disorders. Throughout the years, there have been inconsistent links found to certain viral infections, substance misuse, and general physical health that have been false.Adverse experiences affect a person's
Theories
General theories
Several
During most of the 20th century, mental illness was ascribable to problematic relationships between children and their parents. This view was held well into the late 1990s, in which people still believed this child-parent relationship was a large determinant of severe mental illness, such as depression and schizophrenia. In the 21st century, additional factors have been identified such as genetic contributions, though experience also plays a role. So, the perceived causes of mental illness have changed over time and will most likely continue to alter while more research develops throughout the years.
Outside the West, community approaches remain a focus.
A practical mixture of models will explain particular issues and disorders, although there may be difficulty defining boundaries for indistinct psychiatric
Medical or biomedical model
An overall distinction is also commonly made between a "medical model" (also known as a biomedical or disease model) and a "social model" (also known as an empowerment or recovery model) of mental disorder and disability, with the former focusing on hypothesized disease processes and symptoms, along with latter focusing on hypothesized social constructionism and social contexts.
The social and medical models of mental disorders each work to identify and study distinct aspects, solutions, and potential therapies of disorders. The intersection and cross reference between the two models can further be used to develop more holistic models of mental disorders. Many criticisms historically of each model is the exclusivity of the other perspective. Therefore, intersectional research improved the impact and importance of future findings.[13]
Biopsychosocial model
The primary model of contemporary mainstream Western psychiatry is the biopsychosocial model (BPS), which integrates biological, psychological, and social factors.[11] The Biopsychosocial model was first conceptualised by George Engel in 1977,[14] suggesting that to understand a person's medical condition it is not simply the biological factors to consider, but also the psychological and social factors . The biopsychosocial approach systematically considers biological, psychological, and social factors and their complex interactions in understanding health, illness, and health care delivery. Biological, psychological, and social factors exist along a continuum of natural systems. The factors within the model contain the following:
- Biological (physiological pathology)
- Psychological (thoughts emotions and behaviours such as psychological distress, fear/avoidance beliefs, current coping methods and attribution)
- Social (socio-economical, socio-environmental, and cultural factors such as work issues, family circumstances and benefits/economics)
This model is commonly used for case conceptualization of psychological disorders as well as chronic pain,[15] with the view that the pain is a psychophysiological behavior pattern that cannot be categorised into biological, psychological, or social factors alone.
A related view, the
Psychoanalytic theories
Attachment theory
Evolutionary psychology
Other theories suggest that mental illness could have evolutionary advantages for the species, including enhancing creativity
Biological factors
Biological factors consist of anything physical that can cause adverse effects on a person's mental health. Biological factors include genetics, prenatal damage, infections, exposure to toxins, brain defects or injuries, and substance abuse. Many professionals believe that the cause of mental disorders is the biology of the brain and the nervous system.
Mind mentions genetic factors, long-term physical health conditions, and head injuries or epilepsy (affecting behavior and mood) as factors that may trigger an episode of mental illness.
Genetics
Some rare mental disorders are caused only by genetics such as Huntington's disease.
Family linkage and some
Research has shown that many conditions are polygenic meaning there are multiple defective genes rather than only one that is responsible for a disorder, and these genes may also be pleiotropic meaning that they cause multiple disorders, not just one.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
In November 1999,
ADHD has a high
The association of maternal smoking observed in large population studies disappears after adjusting for family history of ADHD, which indicates that the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD is due to familial or genetic factors that increase the risk for the confluence of smoking and ADHD.[38][39]
ADHD presents with reduced size, functional connectivity and activation
Bipolar disorder
Although the first
Due to the inconsistent findings in a
Bipolar disorder is associated with reduced expression of specific DNA repair enzymes and increased levels of oxidative DNA damages.[63]Prenatal damage
Any damage that occurs to a fetus while still in its mother's womb is considered prenatal damage. Mental disorders can develop if the pregnant mother uses drugs or alcohol or is exposed to illnesses or infections during pregnancy. Environmental events surrounding
Infection, disease and toxins
Infection
There have been some findings of links between infection by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia.[64]
AIDS has been linked to some mental disorders. Research shows that infections and exposure to toxins such as HIV[65] and streptococcus cause dementia.[66] This HIV infection that makes its way to the brain is called encephalopathy which spreads itself through the brain leading to dementia.[65] The infections or toxins that trigger a change in the brain chemistry can develop into a mental disorder.
Depression and emotional liability may be also be caused by babesiosis.
There is some evidence that there may be a relationship between BoDV-1 infection and psychiatric disease.
The research on Lyme disease caused by a deer tick and toxins is expanding the link between bacterial infections and mental illness.[67]
Disease
Depression, anxiety, mania, psychosis, vegetative symptoms, cognitive deficit and consciousness impairment may be caused by internal disease as well as endocrine and metabolic disorders, deficiency states and neurologic disorders.[68]
Injury and brain defects
Any damage to the brain can cause a mental disorder. The brain is the control system for the nervous system and the rest of the body. Without it, the body cannot function properly.[69]
Increased mood swings, insane behavior, and substance abuse disorders are
Head trauma classifies as either open or closed head injury. In
Findings have indicated abnormal functioning of
Neurotransmitter systems
Abnormal levels of
Simplistic "chemical imbalance" explanations for mental disorders have never received empirical support; and most prominent psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and psychologists have not espoused such ill-defined, facile etiological theories. Instead, neurotransmitter systems have been understood in the context of the
Whereas specific genetic factors may be of importance in the etiology of some, and possibly all, depressions, it is equally conceivable that early experiences of the infant or child may cause enduring biochemical changes, that may predispose some individuals to depressions in adulthood. It is not likely that changes in the metabolism of the biogenic amines alone will account for the complex phenomena of normal or pathological affect.
Substance abuse
Substance abuse, especially long-term abuse, can cause or exacerbate many mental disorders.
Correlations of mental disorders with drug use include
Environmental factors
The term "environment" is very loosely defined in the context of mental illnesses. Unlike biological and psychological causes, environmental causes denote a wide range of stressors that individuals experience in everyday life. They are more psychologically than biologically based.[70] Events that evoke feelings of loss are the most likely to cause a mental disorder to develop in an individual.[10]
Environmental factors include but are not limited to dysfunctional home life, poor interpesonal relationships, substance abuse, not meeting social expectations, low self-esteem, and poverty.[10] The British charity organisation Mind lists childhood abuse, trauma, violence, neglect, social isolation, discrimination, grief, stress, homelessness, social disadvantage, debt, unemployment, caring for a family member or friend, and significant trauma as an adult (such as war, an accident, or being the victim of a violent crime) as possible triggers of an episode of mental illness.[71]
Repeating generational patterns, behaviors that passed down through different familial generations, are also a risk factor for mental illness, especially in children.[72]
Life events and emotional stress
Mistreatment in childhood or adulthood (including
The main risks appear to be from the accumulation of such experiences over time, although a single major trauma can sometimes lead to disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder. Resilience to such experiences varies; a person may be resistant to some stressors but not to others. The psychological resilience of an individual can be affected by genetics, temperamental characteristics, cognitive flexibility, coping strategies, and previous experiences.[75] For example, in the case of bipolar disorder, stress is not a specific cause but does place genetically and biologically vulnerable people at risk for more severe forms of the illness.[76][77]
Adverse childhood experiences
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study has shown a strong
ACEs may affect the structural and functional development of the brain and lead to abnormalities, and
Poor parenting is a risk factor for depression and anxiety. Separation, grief in families, and other forms childhood trauma are risk factors for schizophrenia.[85] Children are more susceptible to psychological harm from traumatic events than adults,[86] but their reaction does vary by individual child, age, the type of event, and the length of exposure.
Neglect is a form of mistreatment in which the responsible caretakers fail to provide the necessary age-appropriate care, supervision, and protection. It is different from abuse in that it is, in this context, not intentional in causing harms.[87] The long-term effects of neglect can be reduced physical, emotional, and mental health throughout the victim's life.[88][89]
Familial and close relationships
Parental divorce, death, absence, or the lack of stability appears to increase the risk of mental disorders in a child.[90] Early social privation, and the lack of "ongoing, harmonious, secure, committed" relationships have been implicated in the development of mental illnesses.[91] Continuous conflict with friends, one's support system, and family can all increase the risk of developing a mental illness or can worsen one's mental health.[92]
Divorce is a factor that affects adults as well as children. Divorcees may have emotional adjustment problems due to a loss of intimacy and social connections; however, new statistics show that the negative effects of divorce have been overstated.[93]
Social expectations and self-esteem
Having both too low or too high self-esteem can be detrimental to an individual's mental health.[94][95] Low self-esteem in particular can result in aggression, self-deprecating behavior, anxiety, and other mental disorders.[96] Being perceived as someone who does not "fit in" can result in bullying and other types of emotional abuse,[97][98] which can lead to the victim experiencing depression, anger, and loneliness.[99]
Poverty
Studies show that there is a direct correlation between poverty and mental illness: the lower the socioeconomic status of an individual, the higher the risk of mental illness. Impoverished people in England, defined as those who live in the lowest 20% income bracket, are two to three times more likely to develop mental illness than those of a higher economic class.[100] This increased risk remains consistent for all poor individuals regardless of any in-group demographic differences, as all disadvantaged families experience economic stressors such as unemployment or lack of housing. A lower or more insecure educational, occupational, economic, or social position is generally linked to more mental disorders.[101] Children from these backgrounds may have low levels of self-efficiency and self-worth.[102] Studies have also shown a strong relationship between poverty and substance abuse, another risk factor in the onset of mental disorders.[103]
Problems in one's community or culture including poverty, unemployment or underemployment, a lack of social cohesion, and migration have been associated with the development of mental disorders.[104] Personal resources, community factors, and interactions between individual and regional-level income levels have been implicated.[105] Socioeconomic deprivation in neighborhoods can cause worsen mental health, even after accounting for genetic factors.[106] According to a 2009 meta-analysis by Paul and Moser, countries with high income inequality and poor unemployment protections have worse mental health outcomes among the unemployed.[107]
The effects of different socioeconomic factors varies by country.
Psychological and individual factors, including resilience
Some clinicians believe that psychological characteristics alone determine mental disorders. Others speculate that abnormal behavior can be explained by a mix of social and psychological factors. In many examples, environmental and psychological triggers complement one another resulting in emotional stress, which in turn activates a mental illness. Each person is unique in how they will react to psychological stressors. What may break one person may have little to no effect on another. Psychological stressors, which can trigger mental illness, are as follows: emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, loss of a significant loved one, neglect, and being unable to relate to others.[112]
The inability to relate to others is also known as emotional detachment. Emotional detachment makes it difficult for an individual to empathize with others or to share their feelings. These individuals tend to stress the importance of their independence and tend to struggle relating to others. An emotionally detached person may try to rationalize or apply logic to a situation to which there is no logical explanation. Often, the inability to relate to others stems from a traumatic event.
Mental characteristics of individuals, as assessed by both neurological and psychological studies, have been linked to the development and maintenance of mental disorders. This includes cognitive or
See also
References
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