Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder01:29

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
Introduction to Psychological Disorders01:19

Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Abnormal behavior, often referred to as mental illness, results from changes in brain function that influence thought patterns, behaviors, and social interactions. Psychologists and psychiatrists typically assess abnormal behavior using three primary criteria: deviance, maladaptation, and personal distress, particularly when these traits persist over long periods.
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)01:27

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...
Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive01:24

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
 Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Ethics and law in the application of new technology in forensic psychiatry].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2024
Same author

Neurotechnology in criminal justice: key points for neuroscientists and engineers.

Journal of neural engineering·2024
Same author

Distinguishing Between Endodermal and Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines During Somatic Cell Reprogramming.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2022
Same author

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2021
Same author

[The (im?)possibility of a biological substrate for mental disorders].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2020
Same author

Legal insanity and risk: An international perspective on the justification of indeterminate preventive commitment.

International journal of law and psychiatry·2019
Same journal

[The psychiatrist must adapt: professional development in a changing mental healthcare practice].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2026
Same journal

[The vulnerable clinician: hidden anxieties in psychiatric practice].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2026
Same journal

[Towards a postcolonial psychiatry? The contemporary relevance of Frantz Fanon].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2026
Same journal

[Clinical capacity issues in adult eating disorder care in the Netherlands].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2026
Same journal

[Distance and closeness in the doctor-patient relationship among child and adolescent psychiatrists].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2026
Same journal

[Recovery-oriented thinking reflected in intake reports].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
09:14

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: March 14, 2025

[Seven views on mental disorder].

G Meynen1, A Ralston

  • 1Faculteit Wijsbegeerte VU, Amsterdam. g.meynen@ph.vu.nl

Tijdschrift Voor Psychiatrie
|December 14, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Defining mental disorder is complex, with no single satisfactory definition. Understanding various perspectives is crucial for accurate classification and clinical practice in psychiatry.

More Related Videos

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
09:29

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Published on: January 9, 2015

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
09:14

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: March 14, 2025

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
09:29

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Published on: January 9, 2015

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Philosophy of Medicine
  • Clinical Psychology

Context:

  • Accurate classification systems, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), rely on a clear definition of mental disorder.
  • Understanding the concept of mental disorder is essential for medical practitioners in their daily work and for researchers in the field.

Purpose:

  • To review and analyze key philosophical viewpoints on the definition of mental disorder.
  • To explore the complexities and challenges in demarcating mental disorder.

Summary:

  • Current philosophical literature offers no definitive or universally accepted definition of mental disorder.
  • Despite the lack of a single satisfactory definition, existing perspectives provide valuable insights and elements for a nuanced understanding.
  • The analysis highlights the multifaceted nature of mental disorder and the need for ongoing conceptual refinement.

Impact:

  • The definition and application of mental disorder have significant implications for diagnosis, treatment, and research.
  • Clarifying the concept of mental disorder is a critical responsibility for the field of psychiatry.
  • A more precise conceptualization can improve diagnostic accuracy and guide therapeutic interventions.