Mental Health Disorders
Definition
Mental Health Disorders
A pattern of behavior or thinking that causes distress or impairment in functioning, deviating from cultural norms.
Key Features of Mental Health Disorders
- Distress: The disorder causes significant emotional pain or discomfort.
- Impairment: It interferes with daily functioning, such as work, relationships, or self-care.
- Deviance: The behavior or thoughts are unusual or abnormal compared to societal norms.
A Look into Anxiety
- This section will focus on anxiety, a disorder characterised by an excess of worrying about future events.
- It may not have a tangible reason.
- It includes disorders like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Explanations for Mental Health Disorders
Biological Explanations
- Genetic Variations: Anxiety disorders have been linked to a variation of the 5-HTTLPR gene, which is involved in serotonin transport.
- Hormonal Imbalances: Elevated cortisol has been linked to anxiety disorders.
- Pre-existing Health Conditions: Chronic illness, for example, may lead to developing anxiety.
- Stress: Prolonged stressful conditions may lead to anxiety.
- Just because there may be a biological link between biology and anxiety, it does not mean it is the only factor.
- It is important to look at cognitive and social factors too.
Chavanne & Robinson (2021)
Aim: Is there a possible biological explanation for anxiety?
Method: A meta-analysis of 181 articles looking into posttraumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobia.
Results: There was a link between both induced and pathological anxiety with increased activation in the left and right insula as well as the cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex.
Therefore, there may be a causal link between neurobiology and anxiety.
NoteCritical Thinking
- What about anxiety disorders that are triggered by an event?
- How does the biological explanation affect treatment?
