AETIOLOGY OF MENTAL ILLNESS

A.P.Sefasi
BSc Nursing & Midwifery Year 2

March 14, 2016

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 Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

• Identify the possible causes of mental health

problems

• Describe the psychopathology of mental

health problems

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 Introduction
The exact causes of mental health problem are
not known.
There are theories which suggest how mental
health problems come about.
There are multiple possible causal factors of
mental disorders which are categorized into
three.

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 Possible causal factors
Predisposing factors- inherent factors that
make an individual vulnerable to mental
disorders.
Precipitating factors - events that occur
shortly before the onset of a disorder and
appear to have induced it.
Perpetuating factors- prolong a disorder after
it has started.

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Importance of Knowing Aetiology of Mental
Illness
It helps the nurses to evaluate possible causes of
an individual client’s psychiatric disorder.

It increases knowledge of understanding

psychiatric disorders which may contribute to
advances in diagnosis, treatment and
prognosis.

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 Predisposing Factors
• Heredity – genetic predisposition that makes an
individual vulnerable to mental disorders.
• Environment in utero- prenatal infections may affect
the development of the featal central nervous
system .
• Deprivation of basic needs in early childhood
Deprivation of love and up bringing of child in
ambiguous family may lead child to withdrawal from
world of reality into self. Child may start to behave in
strange manner
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 Predisposing Factors
• Early family relationship- child who is exposed to
violence may be traumatised psychologically or may
learn those violent behaviours
• Biochemical influences- Hormonal malformation or
alterations in the levels of some neurotransmitters such
as dopamine could .lead to development of mental
disorders.
• Inability of a child to express inner feelings- Inability of a
child to express inner feelings i.e. anger towards parents
would lead to aggressive behaviour in later stages.

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 Precipitating Factors
Physical factors that could precipitate mental
disorders include traumatic brain injury, toxins
in circulation, and medical conditions.

Psychosocial changes such as divorce, migration

and loss of loved ones could also precipitate a
mental disorder.

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 Perpetuating Factors
The factors that could prolong a mental disorder
include Social isolation, violence and long
term unemployment.

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 Activity
Explain the factors that influence mental health?

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Psychopathology of Mental Health
Problems
The theories suggest the following as causes of
mental health problems:
1. Biological factors
2. Genetic factors
3. Psychosocial factors

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 Biological Factors
Biogenic Amines
• Many studies have reported that there is an
association between abnormalities in biogenic
and mental health problems.
• Biogenic amines are neurotransmitter such as
dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
• It is believed that the dysregulation of biogenic
amines result in mental health problems i.e
dopamine hypothesis states that excess levels of
dopamine causes psychotic symptoms in an
individual 12
 Neuroanatomical abnormalities

Structural abnormalities of the brain are

associated with mental health problems.
Enlarged ventricles in the brain are associated
with schizophrenia
Pathology of limbic system is associated with
mood disorders

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 Neuroanatomical abnormalities
Continued
Neuroendocrine Dysregulation
• The dysregulation of some hormones have been
linked to mental health problems
• However the hypothalamus is responsible for
regulating the endocrine system.
• As such the abnormalities in hormonal levels
may be an indication of an underlying brain
disorder.
• Thyroid disorders are associated with affective
disorders 14
There is correlation between hyper secretion of
cortisol and depression

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 Genetic Factors
• Genetic factors play a role in transmitting
mental health problems from generation to
generation

• Mental health problems ran in families

• Individuals may inherit faulty genes from

parents

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• Some mental health problems are linked with
chromosome 11

• Studies have shown that children born of

parents with a history of mental illness are
more susceptible to mental health problems
than those born of parents without such a
history

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 Psychosocial Factors
Intrapsychic influences-
• It is said that mental break down results from
what an individual does with what others have
done to him.

• Some studies have indicated that usually

stressful life events precede mental health
problems.

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Interpersonal influences
• Abnormal behaviours can be learned from
others through interaction
• Family relationships are linked to onset and
course of mental health problems

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