The etiology encompasses a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social elements that influence an individual's susceptibility and experience of mental health disorders. Here's a comprehensive description of the bio-psycho-social factors involved in the etiology of mental disorders

1. Etiology of Mental
Illness
Tejal D. Virola
M.Sc. Nursing (MHN)

2. Learning Objectives
Enlist etiological factors
Discuss the etiology of mental illness

3. Theories to explain psychiatric
disorders
Genetic
Biochemical
Psychological
Behavioural
& cognitive
Social

4. In Mental health, the study of
causation is complicated due to several
reasons:
 Causes are remote in time from the
effects they produce.
 A single cause may lead to several
effects.
 Conversely, a single effect may arise
from several causes.

5. Predisposing
Factors

6. Occur before onset of the disease
Determine individual’s susceptibility
to mental illness
Interact with precipitating factors
resulting in mental illness
Determine person’s vulnerability to
causes

7. Genetic
make up
Physical
damage to
CNS
Adverse
Psychosocial
Influence

8. Precipitating
Factors

9. Events that occur shortly before
the onset of a disorder
Depends partly on the
constitutional factors of the
patient

10. Physical Factors
Physiological Factors
Psychological Factors
Social Factors

11. Perpetuating
Factors

12. Responsible for aggravating or
prolonging the diseases already existing
in an individual.
E.g. Psychosocial stress.

13. Etiological factors of mental
illness
Biological factors
Physiological changes
Psychological factors
Social factors

14. Biological Factors

15. heredity
Biochemical
factors
Brain
Damage
Infection

16. Intoxicati
on
Vascular
Alteratio
n in
brain
function
Tumor
Vitamin
Deficienc
y

17. Injury
Degenerat
ive
diseases
Endocrine
disturban
ces
Physical
defects
and
physical
illness

18. Physiological Changes
Puberty

19. Menstruation
Pregnancy

20. Delivery
Puerperium

22. Psychological Factors
Childhood insecurities
Social and recreational deprivations
Marriage problems

23. Sexual difficulties
Stress, frustration and seasonal
variations

24. Social Factors
Poverty
Unemployment
Injustice
Insecurity
Migration
Urbanization
Gambling
Alcoholism
Prostitution
Broken homes
Divorce
Very big family
Religion
Traditions
Political upheavals
Other social crises