NRNP 6635 WEEK 1: Factors That Influence the Development of Psychopathology

NRNP 6635 WEEK 1: Factors That Influence the Development of Psychopathology

Factors that Influence the Development of Psychopathology

Biological, psychological, social, cultural, and interpersonal factors influence the development of psychopathology. Biological factors such as genetics and neuroscience contribute to the development of psychopathology. Studies have revealed the existence of inheritability patterns in mental health disorders. People born to a family with a history of mental health problems are increasingly predisposed due to genetics. Neuroscience shows that brain changes contribute to the development of psychopathology. This includes any alterations in brain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which regulate emotions and behaviors (McNaughton, 2020; Smith et al., 2020). Structural brain changes such as those seen in the amygdala also affect arousal and stress response, hence, psychopathology.

Psychological factors such as behavioral and cognitive processes, emotional, and developmental contribute to the development of psychopathology. Behavioral risks such as substance abuse have been associated with mental health problems such as major depression. Exposures to traumatic events such as childhood neglect, sexual abuse, and loss of immediate family members are some of the emotional factors associated with psychopathology. Persistent exposure to stress affects stress responses, which alter emotions, and behaviors, and predispose patients to psychopathology. Developmental problems such as adverse experiences during childhood also contribute to psychopathology (Zhang et al., 2020). For example, childhood trauma alters the hypothalamic-pituitary gland axis, which regulates stress response, hence psychopathology.

Social, cultural, and interpersonal factors also contribute to psychopathology. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty have been associated with an increased risk of mental health problems such as major depression. Low socioeconomic status also affects access to and utilization of mental health services, contributing to worse outcomes in mental health patients. Culture affects the attitude the community has toward mental health problems and the utilization of mental healthcare services. Stereotypes, stigmatization, and isolation of people affected by mental health problems affect service utilization and care outcomes. Interpersonal factors such as peer pressure also predispose to psychopathology (Fonagy et al., 2022; Smith et al., 2020). This can be seen in vices such as substance abuse due to peer pressure, which contribute to mental health problems such as depression and substance use disorders.

References

Fonagy, P., Campbell, C., Constantinou, M., Higgitt, A., Allison, E., & Luyten, P. (2022). Culture and psychopathology: An attempt at reconsidering the role of social learning. Development and Psychopathology, 34(4), 1205–1220. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579421000092

McNaughton, N. (2020). Personality neuroscience and psychopathology: Should we start with biology and look for neural-level factors? Personality Neuroscience, 3, e4. https://doi.org/10.1017/pen.2020.5

Smith, G. T., Atkinson, E. A., Davis, H. A., Riley, E. N., & Oltmanns, J. R. (2020). The General Factor of Psychopathology. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 16(1), 75–98. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-071119-115848

Zhang, H., Lee, Z. X., White, T., & Qiu, A. (2020). Parental and social factors in relation to child psychopathology, behavior, and cognitive function. Translational Psychiatry, 10(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0761-6

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Factors That Influence the Development of Psychopathology

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?” (Boland, Verduin, & Ruiz, 2022).

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?

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

Learning Resources

Required Readings

• Boland, R. & Verduin, M. L. & Ruiz, P. (2022). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry (12th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
  • Chapter 32 “Normal Development and Aging”
  • Chapter 33, “Contributions from the Neurosciences”
  • Chapter 34, “Contributions from the Behavioral and Social Sciences”
  • Chapter 31 “Global and Cultural Issues in Psychiatry”
  • Chapter 35 “A Brief History of Psychiatry”
• Butcher, J. N., & Kendall, P. C. (2018). Introduction to childhood and adolescent psychopathology. In J. N. Butcher & P. C. Kendall (Eds.), APA handbook of psychopathology: Child and adolescent psychopathology

• Links to an external site.., Vol. 2. (pp. 3–14). American Psychological Association. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://doi.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
• Links to an external site.. (pp. 127–147). American Psychological Association. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://doi.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
• Links to an external site.. (pp. 65–90). American Psychological Association. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://doi.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
• Links to an external site.. (pp. 15–36). American Psychological Association. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://doi.org/10.1037/0000065-002
• Document: NRNP 6635 Mid-term Study Guide

• Download NRNP 6635 Mid-term Study Guide

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.

Upload a copy of your discussion writing to the draft Turnitin for plagiarism check.  Your faculty holds the academic freedom to not accept your work and grade at a zero if your work is not uploaded as a draft submission to Turnitin as instructed.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses

By Day 6 of Week 1

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on 2 different days by explaining the implications of why, as an advanced practice nurse, it is important to adopt a multidimensional, integrative model of psychopathology.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link, and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

NRNP_6635_Week1_Discussion_Rubric