Common Mental Health Disorders Caused by Adversity, not Chemistry?

[Judi Lynn]

By Rick Nauert PhD
Associate News Editor
Last updated: 5 Jun 2020
~ 2 MIN READ

Emerging research suggests some of the most common mental disorders including depression, anxiety and PTSD, might not be disorders at all, rather a response to adversity. As such, an effective strategy for the afflictions may be to find a social or cultural solution.

In the study, Washington State University biological anthropologists propose a new approach to mental illness that would be informed by human evolution. They contend that modern psychology, and in particular its use of drugs like antidepressants, has largely failed to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders.

In the paper, published in the Yearbook of Physical Anthropology, the authors share that the global prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders has remained steady at 4.4% and 4% respectively from 1990 to 2010.

The authors also theorize that depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder may be primarily responses to adversity; therefore, only treating the “psychic pain” of these issues with drugs will not solve the underlying problem.

More:
https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/06/05/common-mental-health-disorders-caused-by-adversity-not-chemistry/156839.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Makes A Good Deal Of Sense, Ma'am

Most of human history can be viewed as a great mass of chronically depressed people, lorded over by a handful of sociopaths and psychopaths.

Given actual conditions of disease and violence, it is hard to think many people prior to our era reached maturity without being scarred by episodes that today would be considered sufficient to induce post-traumatic stress disorder. Both this, and frequent bouts of extreme anxiety would have been normal, not aberrant.

[Judi Lynn]

2. So good to see your comments. It actually does seem like a natural reaction to stress.

Could never understand how there are some who seem blissfully unaware, unaffected, untouched by any life experiences.

Thank you!

[SheltieLover]

3. 100% correct in my opiniin

And from my professional observations.

I worked in the mental health side of substance dependence for a few years & every female I worked with had been sexually assaulted.

Research reflects that combat veterans with PTSD quite frequently have an underlying Reactive Attachment Disorder.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247759677_The_Attachment_Characteristics_of_Combat_Veterans_with_PTSD

A small study, but findings are robust.

These folks are tough to treat, as the amygdala is uneducable. This is the reason phobias are frequently irrational from a conscious perspective, yet the triggers continue to elicit undesired effects.

There are modalities which are effective, such as neurotherapy & EMDR but for many, in my opinion, medications only mask symptoms. Neural networks must be addressed to overcome trauma.

Thank you for your post, as always.