Literature DB >> 20237855

Can we define mental disorder by using the criterion of mental dysfunction?

Thomas Schramme1.   

Abstract

The concept of mental disorder is often defined by reference to the notion of mental dysfunction, which is in line with how the concept of disease in somatic medicine is often defined. However, the notions of mental function and dysfunction seem to suffer from some problems that do not affect models of physiological function. Functions in general have a teleological structure; they are effects of traits that are supposed to have a particular purpose, such that, for example, the heart serves the goal of pumping blood. But can we single out mental functions in the same way? Can we identify mental functions scientifically, for instance, by applying evolutionary theory? Or are models of mental functions necessarily value-laden? I want to identify several philosophical problems regarding the notion of mental function and dysfunction and point out some possible solutions. As long as these questions remain unanswered, definitions of mental disorder that rest upon the concept of mental dysfunction will lack a secure foundation.

Entities:  

Mesh:

Year:  2010        PMID: 20237855     DOI: 10.1007/s11017-010-9136-y

Source DB:  PubMed          Journal:  Theor Med Bioeth        ISSN: 1386-7415


  2 in total

1.  Evolutionary versus prototype analyses of the concept of disorder.

Authors:  J C Wakefield
Journal:  J Abnorm Psychol       Date:  1999-08

Review 2.  The concept of mental disorder. On the boundary between biological facts and social values.

Authors:  J C Wakefield
Journal:  Am Psychol       Date:  1992-03
  2 in total
  4 in total

1.  'I hope that I get old before I die': ageing and the concept of disease.

Authors:  Thomas Schramme
Journal:  Theor Med Bioeth       Date:  2013-06

2.  On the nature of mental disorder: towards an objectivist account.

Authors:  Panagiotis Oulis
Journal:  Theor Med Bioeth       Date:  2012-10

3.  How to Draw the Line Between Health and Disease? Start with Suffering.

Authors:  Bjørn Hofmann
Journal:  Health Care Anal       Date:  2021-04-29

4.  On the relation of psychiatric disorder and neural defect.

Authors:  Jan-Hendrik Heinrichs
Journal:  Front Psychol       Date:  2014-01-29
  4 in total

北京卡尤迪生物科技股份有限公司 © 2022-2023.