Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders.

It studies symptoms, causes,

and treatments of mental disorders. A mental disorder is a mental health condition that
negatively affects a person’s emotions, thinking, behavior, relationships with others, or overall
functioning. It is characterized by some psychological dysfunction, distress, or atypical response.

[The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health mental health as “...Mental
health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope
with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his
or her community” (WHO, (2018). Strengthening mental health promotion. Geneva, World
Health Organization].

Nearly all abnormal psychology texts present a variety of theories to explain mental disorders.
Research shows that a variety of factors influence the development of a psychological disorder.
Some models consider multiple viewpoints. The biopsychosociocultural model, for example,
suggests that interactions between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors cause
mental disorders.
Biological factors involve genetics, brain anatomy and physiology, central nervous system
functioning, autonomic nervous system reactivity etc. Psychological factors involve personality,
cognition, emotions, learning, coping skills, self-efficacy, values, and the like. Social factors
indicate family and other interpersonal relationships, social support, belonging, love, marital
status, community connections, and so forth. Sociocultural factors mainly refer to race, gender,
sexual orientation, spirituality or religion, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and culture.
No one theoretical perspective is adequate to explain the complexity of the human condition and
the development of mental disorders. Multiple factors influence the development of any single
disorder. Explanations of abnormal behavior must consider biological, psychological, social, and
sociocultural elements.
Not all dimensions contribute equally to a disorder. In the case of some disorders, current
research suggests that certain etiological forces have the strongest influence on the development
of the specific disorder. The multidimensional biopsychosociocultural model is integrative and
interactive. It acknowledges that factors may combine in complex and reciprocal ways so that
people exposed to the same influences may not develop the same disorder and that different
individuals exposed to different factors may develop similar mental disorders.
The biological and psychological strengths and assets of a person and positive aspects of the
person’s social and sociocultural environment can help protect against psychopathology,
minimize symptoms, or facilitate recovery from mental illness. (Sue, D., Sue, D. W. Sue, D, Sue, S.
(2016). Understanding abnormal behavior. USA: Cengage Learning.)

DSM 5 proposes the following classification of mental disorders:

Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Bipolar and Related Disorders
Depressive Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Elimination Disorders
Sleep-Wake Disorders
Sexual Dysfunctions
Gender Dysphoria
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Neurocognitive Disorders
Personality Disorders
Paraphilic Disorders
Other Mental Disorders
Medication-Induced Movement Disorders and Other Adverse Effects of Medication [these are
not mental disorders]
Other Conditions That My Be a Focus of Clinical Attention. [these are not mental disorders]

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Washington, D.C.: APA.
Barlow, D. H. & Durand V. M. (2015). Abnormal psychology : A n integrative approach. USA: Cengage
Learning.
Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. Abnormal psychology. (2014). USA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Comer, R. J. (2015). Abnormal psychology. Worth Publishers.

Sue, D., Sue, D. W. Sue, D, Sue, S. (2016). Understanding abnormal behavior. USA: Cengage Learning.

Kring, A. M. & Johnson, S. L. (2014). Abnormal psychology. USA : John Wiley & Sons, Inc.