EXPORT CITATION

Chapter-05 Psychopathology of Mental Disorders

BOOK TITLE: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Author
1. D Jija
2. K Shija
ISBN
9789352701834
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/14194_6
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2018
Pages
27
Author Affiliations
1. Government College of Nursing, Thiruvananthapuram, India
2. Government College of Nursing, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Chapter keywords
Psychopathology, human behavior, human brain, neurotransmitter, neurotransmission, International Classification of Diseases, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, mental illness, psychiatric disorder, mental disorder

Abstract

Psychopathology simply means the study of pathology of mind. It deals with disturbance of human behavior that occurs as a part of disorders of thought, emotion and perception and other cognitive functions. Review of structure and functions of brain are described to help the student nurse in better understanding of psychopathology. Neurotransmission is the process that allows the electrochemical transmission of nerve signals from one neuron to another at synapse. Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. Etiology of abnormal behavior in psychiatric disorders is mentioned and predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors are given to be the cause of metal illnesses. Causes of mental illness are listed as biopsychosocial factors, psychological factors, and sociocultural factors. Two well-known and widely accepted systems in the classification of mental disorders, namely International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) are well described. Signs and symptoms will be different in many psychiatric disorders, and sometimes many of the symptoms are overlapping among them. Knowledge about signs and symptoms of mental illness will be useful in assessment and provision of care.

© 2019 Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.   |   All Rights Reserved