5.3 - Explaining and Classifying Psychological Disorders

psychological disorder

a disturbance in people’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that causes distress or suffering and impairs their daily lives

medical model

the concept that diseases (psychological disorders _{^{in this case}}) have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in most cases cured, often through treatment in a hospital 🏥

diathesis-stress model

the concept that genetic predispositions (diathesis) combine with environmental stressors (stress) to influence psychological disorder

epigenetics

the study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression _{^{(w/o a DNA change) [‘above’ or ‘in addition to’ (epi) genetics]}}

DSM-5-TR

the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision; a wisely used system for classifying psychological disorders

-only says symptoms