Lesson 5.05: Approaches and Treatment

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

As you have learned in this unit, mental disorder, also called a mental illness is a mental or behavioral pattern that causes either suffering or an impaired ability to function in ordinary life and which is not developmentally or socially normal. Mental disorders are generally defined by a combination of how a person feels, acts, thinks, or perceives.

The causes of mental disorders are varied and in some cases unclear, and theories may incorporate findings from a range of fields. In this lesson you will look at treatment for psychological disorders. You will also look at three theories and how they view mental illness. It is important to note that not all perspectives explain every disorder but each perspective has its own theory or view on mental illness.