Discussion: Factors That Influence the Development of Psychopathology Photo Credit: Getty Images/Blend Images In many realms of medicine, objective diagnoses can be made: A clavicula is broken.  An infection is present. TSH levels meet the diagnostic criteria for hypothyroidism. Psychiatry, on the other hand, deals with psychological phenomena and behaviors. Can these, too, be “defined objectively and by scientific criteria (Gergen, 1985), or are they social constructions?” (Sadock et al., 2015). Thanks to myriad advances during recent decades, we know that psychopathology is caused by many interacting factors. Theoretical and clinical contributions to the field have come from the neural sciences, genetics, psychology, and social-cultural sciences. How do these factors impact the expression, classification, diagnosis, and prevalence of psychopathology, and why might it be important for a nurse practitioner to take a multidimensional, integrative approach? To Prepare: Review this week’s Learning Resources, considering the many interacting factors that contribute to the development of psychopathology. Consider how theoretical perspective on psychopathology impacts the work of the PMHNP. By Day 3 of Week 1 Explain the biological (genetic and neuroscientific); psychological (behavioral and cognitive processes, emotional, developmental); and social, cultural, and interpersonal factors that influence the development of psychopathology. Week 1: History and Theories of Psychopathology The history of the diagnosis of mental disorders is fraught with examples of how cultural norms and prejudices interfere with and warp a diagnosis. The result is that normal behavior and orientations have been pathologized as an illness or disease. An example of this would be the story of Alan Turing, the famous British computer scientist of the 20th century, who was instrumental in inventing modern computers and deciphering German code in World War II. He was convicted in 1952 in England of gross indecency for being gay. Turing was forced by the courts to undergo 12 months of hormone therapy and could no longer work for the British government. At the time, homosexuality was pathologized as a mental disorder in the  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  and was criminalized in most Western countries. It was not until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) finally removed homosexuality from the  DSM . Historically, the process of rendering a diagnosis has been used to pathologize those who fell outside what was considered the cultural norm of human behavior. This process often marginalized diagnosed populations and prevented individuals from receiving appropriate care. It is of utmost importance to consider cultural issues that influence how you as a clinician interpret a client’s behavior and how cultural issues influence how a client may express behavior. This week, you explore the history of psychopathology and the evolut ...

1. Discussion: Factors That Influence the Development of
Psychopathology
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Blend Images
In many realms of medicine, objective diagnoses can be made:
A clavicula is broken. An infection is present. TSH levels meet
the diagnostic criteria for hypothyroidism. Psychiatry, on the
other hand, deals with psychological phenomena and behaviors.
Can these, too, be “defined objectively and by scientific criteria
(Gergen, 1985), or are they social constructions?” (Sadock et
al., 2015).
Thanks to myriad advances during recent decades, we know that
psychopathology is caused by many interacting factors.
Theoretical and clinical contributions to the field have come
from the neural sciences, genetics, psychology, and social-
cultural sciences. How do these factors impact the expression,
classification, diagnosis, and prevalence of psychopathology,
and why might it be important for a nurse practitioner to take a
multidimensional, integrative approach?
To Prepare:
Review this week’s Learning Resources, considering the many
interacting factors that contribute to the development of
psychopathology.
Consider how theoretical perspective on psychopathology
impacts the work of the PMHNP.
By Day 3 of Week 1

2. Explain the biological (genetic and neuroscientific);
psychological (behavioral and cognitive processes, emotional,
developmental); and social, cultural, and interpersonal factors
that influence the development of psychopathology.
Week 1: History and Theories of Psychopathology
The history of the diagnosis of mental disorders is fraught with
examples of how cultural norms and prejudices interfere with
and warp a diagnosis. The result is that normal behavior and
orientations have been pathologized as an illness or disease. An
example of this would be the story of Alan Turing, the famous
British computer scientist of the 20th century, who was
instrumental in inventing modern computers and deciphering
German code in World War II. He was convicted in 1952 in
England of gross indecency for being gay. Turing was forced by
the courts to undergo 12 months of hormone therapy and could
no longer work for the British government. At the time,
homosexuality was pathologized as a mental disorder in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
and was criminalized in most Western countries. It was not
until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association (APA)
finally removed homosexuality from the
DSM
.
Historically, the process of rendering a diagnosis has been used
to pathologize those who fell outside what was considered the
cultural norm of human behavior. This process often
marginalized diagnosed populations and prevented individuals
from receiving appropriate care. It is of utmost importance to
consider cultural issues that influence how you as a clinician
interpret a client’s behavior and how cultural issues influence

3. how a client may express behavior. This week, you explore the
history of psychopathology and the evolution of theoretical
perspectives in the field.
Learning Objective
Students will:
Analyze historical and currently recognized biological,
psychological, and sociocultural factors that inform the
expression, course, and prevalence of psychopathology
Learning Resources
Required Readings
(click to expand/reduce)
Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2015).
Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry
(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Chapter 1, Neural Sciences
Chapter 2, Contributions of the Psychosocial Sciences
Chapter 3, Contributions of the Sociocultural Sciences
Chapter 4, Theories of Personality and Psychopathology
Chapter 31.17c, Child Psychiatry: Other Conditions: Identity
Problem
Butcher, J. N., & Kendall, P. C. (2018). Introduction to
childhood and adolescent psychopathology. In J. N. Butcher &

4. P. C. Kendall (Eds.),
APA handbook of psychopathology: Child and adolescent
psychopathology
.,
Vol. 2.
(pp. 3–14). American Psychological Association. https://doi-
org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000065-001
Cheung, F. M., & Mak, W. W. S. (2018). Sociocultural factors
in psychopathology. In J. N. Butcher & J. M. Hooley (Eds.),
APA handbook of psychopathology: Psychopathology:
Understanding, assessing, and treating adult mental disorders
.,
Vol. 1.
(pp. 127–147). American Psychological Association.
https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000064-006
Jackson, C. E., & Milberg, W. P. (2018). Examination of
neurological and neuropsychological features in
psychopathology. In J. N. Butcher & J. M. Hooley (Eds.),
APA handbook of psychopathology: Psychopathology:
Understanding, assessing, and treating adult mental disorders
.,
Vol. 1
. (pp. 65–90). American Psychological Association. https://doi-
org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000064-004
Masten, A. S., & Kalstabakken, A. W. (2018). Developmental
perspectives on psychopathology in children and adolescents. In
J. N. Butcher & P. C. Kendall (Eds.),
APA handbook of psychopathology: Child and adolescent
psychopathology
.,
Vol. 2.
(pp. 15–36). American Psychological Association. https://doi-
org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000065-002