Three Theories of Menatl Disorders

This paper looks at the three theories of mental disorders. I will describe them briefly, talk about the causes of mental illness, explain how each theory approaches intervention, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each theory.

The Biological Theory of mental and psychiatric disorders revolves around the brain, and that these disorders are illnesses, or diseases that cause disruptions in the brain to produce the effects of the disorder. This theory says that the brain has specific physical, chemical, or structural problems that cause abnormal behavior. The increase of technological and pharmaceutical advancements, intervention has taken the course of chemical treatment of disorders. Biological theory focuses on the brains function and dysfunction, known as neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and genetics. Psychiatrists focus on the role of neurotransmitters and how they affect human behavior, which leads to a very loose definition of a cure, psychiatric medications. These medications correct the dysfunctions in the brain by changing the amount of neurotransmitters. However, these medications lack in efficacy in diseases like schizophrenia, where the medication only suppresses the symptoms and not the disorder itself. (Schwartz and Corcoran, 64-88).

A weakness of the chemical treatment of disorders is figuring out the dosage, and if the patient responds to the treatment in a predictable way, and if there are other external factors that may affect the treatment. Sometimes a treatment will work for a while, and then cease to work. There are also other side effects of treatment that may cause other problems.

The strengths of this type of treatment is that there is some control over the disorder through balancing the...

... middle of paper ...

...many facets and forms of treatment. Additionally, sometimes the side effects of treatments can cause additional complications or not have lasting effects. Often a combination of these theories is used to treat mental disorders. But it is fascinating that the human brain can be influenced by chemical and sociological factors and that the treatments can also be through chemical and sociological methods.

Works Cited

Hoermann, Simone, Corinne E. Zupanick, and Mark Dombeck. "Cognitive-Behavioral Theory of Personality Disorders." - Personality Disorders. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Schwartz, Sharon, Cheryl Corcoran, Christopher Peterson, and Peggy Thoits. "Chapters 4, 5, and 6." A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health: Social Contexts, Theories, and Systems. By Teresa L. Scheid and Tony N. Brown. Second ed. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. 64-124. Print.