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

Peer 1 

Nicole Sorrentino

Introduction

Many factors can influence the development of psychopathology. These factors can include genetics or biological influences, psychological factors, and lastly social factors. It is important for a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner to take all of these factors into account when diagnosing and treating a patient as these factors can help to distinguish the root cause of a patient's presentation. The following discussion will review biological factors such as genetics, psychological factors, and social factors that influence the development of psychopathology.

Biological factors

Genetic and neuroscientific factors can both influence the development of psychopathology. Genetic factors are passed down from birth and are hereditary. A family history of psychopathology can cause an individual to be more at risk of developing psychological disorders. For example, if an individual's mother and grandmother have been diagnosed with depression, there is a good chance that the individual could develop depression at some point in their life. The same holds true for medical diagnosis. If an individual has family members with diabetes, genetics can cause an individual to be more at risk for diabetes later on in life. Mariz, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to analyze how environmental and genetic factors influence the development of psychopathology. Their review concluded that individuals are influenced by genes from being in the womb to childbirth and even after they are born, however as the individual begins to grow and interact with their environment, this often will exacerbate genetic characteristics (Mariz et al., 2021). This review shows how genetics can influence psychopathology by creating a foundation of genes that the individual may carry on throughout life which can be exacerbated by environmental influences.

Social Factors

Social factors are things within an individual’s environment that can influence their health and wellbeing. Some social factors that can influence the development of psychopathology include (but are not limited to) socio-economic status, household income, household family environment, work environment, and traumatic experiences. Children can be affected by their environment growing up which can affect neurodevelopment and lead to the development of a psychological disorder later on in life. Children who are raised in abusive environments have an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and/or aggressive/abusive behaviors of their own due to the environment they were raised in. A study conducted by Zhang and colleagues assessed how parental and social factors affect the psychopathology of offspring leading to behavioral problems and effects of cognition in children. Their study concluded that parental psychopathology, socioeconomic status, and social environment and interactions posed the largest risk leading to behavioral problems in children as well as cognitive performance (Zhang et al., 2020). The environment in which a child is raised does have a strong influence on the psychopathology of the child as they grow up. I have personally witnessed this firsthand between myself and my cousin. Both of us were adopted at birth into different hard-working families. Our biological family would be considered low economic status and very few people in our biological family either did not complete or even attend college. Being raised by hard working parents have turned us both into hard working individuals. He went on to become a M.D and I am currently working on becoming a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner. We both have met our biological parents, we both agree that had we not been adopted, we would more than likely not be where we are today in life. Both of us not don’t drink except socially, and both of our biological parents drink daily. Another trait we did not pick up due to being raised in a different environment than our biological environment. This was firsthand experience for me on how social factors can influence offspring and goes hand in hand with social factors affecting psychopathology. Social factors in adults can also affect the mental health of the individual. Stressful environments within work and marriages/relationships can lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions. An abusive relationship can lead to the development of depression and/or. In conclusion, people who are exposed to stressors within their environment and/or unfavorable circumstances are at greater risk of developing mental health disorders over the course of their life (Kirkbride et al., 2024) thus concluding social factors can influence psychopathology.

Psychological Factors

Psychological factors that influence the development of psychopathology include cognitive factors, emotional factors, and personality traits. Cognitive factors can be broken down into perception, attention, memory, and language. In summary, cognitive factors refer to how an individual might process and interpret a situation (perception), what information the individual may focus on (attention), how the situation is encoded, stored, then later retrieved (memory), and how the individual comprehends and explains the situation witnessed (language). This process happens without even having to think about it. Social cognitive theory explains how behaviors can be learned for watching another individual, if behaviors are rewarded, then an individual would more than likely repeat the behavior. However, if an individual sees the behavior end in a negative result, or is punished, they may not repeat the behavior (Nickerson, 2024). This is seen in substance abuse, specifically in children who are raised around family members who may abuse drugs and/or alcohol. Some children may witness their parents drinking and see the negative influence alcohol has had in their life in their parents lives and choose to never try alcohol so that they never end up like their parents. However, some children may notice their parents become less stressed and happier when under the influence. This individual may choose to drink when they become older due to the relief it brought their parents leading to a substance abuse disorder in their future.

Conclusion

There are many factors that can lead to a mental health this order or psychopathology. Some factors that can influence the development of psychopathology include biological, psychological, and social factors. When diagnosing and treating patients, it is important for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to incorporate these factors. Reflecting on how these factors can influence the development of a psychological disorder, can help the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to properly diagnose and treat the patient without just masking the symptoms of the diagnosis. By taking a broader approach and understanding how psychological biological and social factors can lead to the development of a psychological disorder, psychiatric nurse practitioner can determine what may have caused the patients diagnosis and better treat the patient versus just treating symptoms.

References

Kirkbride, J. B., Anglin, D. M., Colman, I., Dykxhoorn, J., Jones, P. B., Patalay, P., Pitman, A., Soneson, E., Steare, T., Wright, T., & Griffiths, S. L. (2024). The social determinants of mental health and disorder: Evidence, prevention and recommendations. World Psychiatry : Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 23(1), 58–90. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21160

Nickerson, C. (2024, February 2). Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-cognitive-theory.html

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), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0761-6

Mariz, C., Souza Cruz, O., Moreira, D. (2021) The influence of environmental and genetic factors on the development of psychopathy: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, Volume 62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2021.101715Links to an external site..

Peer 2

 Jessica Willis

Psychopathology, or the development of mental health disorders, arises from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. These influences contribute to how individuals respond to their circumstances, shaping maladaptive patterns that underlie various mental health conditions (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2023). Understanding the multifactorial nature of psychopathology is essential for effective intervention and prevention strategies. 

Biological factors significantly influence the emergence of psychopathology. Genetics play a crucial role in determining an individual’s vulnerability to mental health disorders. Research highlights that specific genetic predispositions can increase susceptibility to conditions such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Additionally, hormonal changes are pivotal in shaping mental health, particularly during adolescence. For example, hormonal fluctuations during puberty in young girls can exacerbate vulnerabilities to psychopathology, such as mood or anxiety disorders (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2024). Neuroendocrine dysregulation, including imbalances in stress-related hormones like cortisol, has also been implicated in the development of various mental health conditions. 

Environmental factors further interact with biological predispositions to shape the trajectory of mental health. Adverse experiences, including stress, trauma, and parenting practices, can significantly impact gene expression through processes such as epigenetic modifications (Smith & Jones, 2024). This interplay between genes and the environment underscores the concept of gene-environment interaction, wherein an individual’s genetic makeup influences their sensitivity to environmental stressors. Brain injuries, whether occurring at birth or later in life, also contribute to psychopathology. The specific area of the brain affected determines the nature of the psychological and behavioral symptoms. For instance, damage to the prefrontal cortex may impair emotional regulation and executive functioning, increasing vulnerability to stressors (Doe et al., 2023). 

Socioeconomic factors are another critical determinant of mental health. Children raised in poverty experience disproportionately high levels of stress due to food insecurity, inadequate access to education, and limited parental support. These stressors not only affect cognitive and emotional development but also increase the likelihood of developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023). Chronic exposure to socioeconomic adversity has been shown to dysregulate stress response systems, further compounding the risk of psychopathology. 

Understanding the multifaceted origins of psychopathology underscores the importance of comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches to mental health. Interventions targeting biological, psychological, and social domains—including genetic counseling, trauma-informed care, and policies aimed at alleviating poverty—are essential in promoting mental well-being and preventing the onset of mental health disorders. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these factors enables clinicians and policymakers to address the root causes of psychopathology, fostering resilience and improved quality of life for affected individuals. 

References 

American Psychiatric Association. (2023). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with mental health disorders. APA Press. 

National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Hormonal influences on adolescent mental health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.govLinks to an external site. 

Smith, J., & Jones, R. (2024). Epigenetics and the environment: Implications for mental health. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 68, 123-135. 

World Health Organization. (2023). Social determinants of mental health. Retrieved from https://www.who.intLinks to an external site. 

Doe, J., Roe, P., & Black, A. (2023). Neural mechanisms underlying psychopathology: Insights from neuroimaging studies. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 146, 45-60.