NAME: CHERNO JENG

ID#: 00182780

ASSIGNMENT

1. EXPLAIN FIVE CAUSES OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL

DISORDERS.
2. GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGING CONCEPTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHIATRY USING UK, MOROCCO,
USA/FRANCE.

Mental and behavioral disorders, has etiologies that are mostly

multifactorial. They involve a complex interaction between
environmental, Biological and Psychological factors. Below are some of
the varied causes of mental disorder. (Jerry March 10, 2017)

1) Genetics (heredity)

Many mental and behavioral disorders, run in families, suggesting that

people who have a family member with a mental illness are more
susceptible to developing a mental illness. Susceptibility is passed on in
families through genes. Experts believe many mental disorders are
linked to abnormalities in many genes, not just one. Mental disorders
itself occurs from the interaction of multiple genes and other factors
such as stress, abuse, or a traumatic event, which can influence or
trigger an illness in a person who has an inherited susceptibility to it.
(kim foundation)

2) Chemical imbalance
Certain mental problems are associated with chemicals imbalances in
the neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters serve as a
communication system between the nerve cells in the brain. If these

Chemicals, are working in a substandard manner or they are whack,

there will be an interruption the brain as it attempts to process
incoming messages. Hence the result is a display of mental disorders.
(Jerry March 10, 2017)

3) Brain injuries and Infection

Defects or injuries in particular parts of the brain have causes mental

conditions. Certain infections damage the brain thus they result into a
mental disorder. Streptococcus bacteria causes, obsessive compulsion
disorder and other mental problems in children. (Jerry March 10, 2017)

4) Poor Nutrition and prenatal costs

Autism as one of the mental disorders is caused by loss of oxygen to the

brain during childbirth. Additionally, during the fetal stages, when the
mother of the unborn baby is into substance abuse, it may result in
damages to the fetus especially the brain tissues. Additionally, exposure
to toxins and poor nutrition leads to mental disorders. Lead poisoning
and B12 deficiency results are some of the common causes of mental
illness. (Jerry March 10, 2017)

5) Neglect

When people feel ignored in their life, they become depressed and as a
time goes, they develop a negative attitude towards life and the most
times they think of committing suicide. (Jerry March 10, 2017)
CHANGING CONCEPTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
WHO, in defining the concept of health, has put equal emphasis on physical,
mental and social well-being. But the latter two are generally blatantly neglected.
Even within the medical fraternity, psychiatry as a profession is looked down
upon. Prevailing ambiguity in conceptualization of mental illnesses, a lack of
emphasis on it in undergraduate medical education and apparent ‘lack-luster’ of
this field; all result in a dearth of crème-de-la-crème in psychiatry, which it needs
desperately.

The field of psychiatry also suffers from a dearth of research funds and initiatives
[Patel V. The future of psychiatry in low- and middle-income countries. Psychol
Med. 2009] and meager scientific evidences still maintain ambiguity regarding
psychiatric illnesses in the minds of common man.[ Plomin R, Davis OS. The
future of genetics in psychology and psychiatry: Microarrays, genome-wide
association, and non-coding RNA. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2009] The bits and
pieces of “hard” scientific evidences that we have now pose serious challenges to
use them in a way so that the revelations do not result in unfounded
discrimination. A seamless integration of the scientific knowledge, an equitable
distribution of the resources and an amalgamation with the primary health care
delivery system in the spirit of “Health for All”, thus making it available,
affordable, and adequate are other challenges.[ Reynolds CF, 3rd, Lewis DA,
Detre T, Schatzberg AF, Kupfer DJ. The future of psychiatry as clinical
neuroscience. Acad Med. 2009]

However, the opportunities are endless. The growth of information and

communication technology will probably lead the future developments in the
field of psychiatry.[ Yellowless P, Nafiz N. The psychiatrist-patient relationship of
the future: Anytime, anywhere? Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2010;] With effortless real-
time multi-centric consultations and research, this will also help with
dissemination of awareness and reducing attached stigma . With identification of
subtle genetic, structural, biochemical and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in
psychiatric patients and ability to “read” complex data with better statistical tools
and analyzing software, we expect to be able to lift the shroud of ambiguity
obscuring psychiatry for ages. In light of the recent findings, we believe the social
and the psychological factors will only become more and more relevant.

Reference

1Jerry March 10, 2017(Possible Causes of Mental Disorders)

2 the kim foundation ( what are the causes of mental illness?)

3. Patel V. The future of psychiatry in low- and middle-income countries.
Psychol Med. 2009.
4. Plomin R, Davis OS. The future of genetics in psychology and psychiatry:
Microarrays, genome-wide association, and non-coding RNA. J Child
Psychol Psychiatry. 2009
5. Yellowless P, Nafiz N. The psychiatrist-patient relationship of the future:
Anytime, anywhere? Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2010.