New Mental Health ideas that challenge old psychology

By: Aditya Shukla, Cognition Today

Mental health concepts are heavily influenced by medical sciences and philosophies in various cultures.

But new research shows older assumptions from medicine and culture do not fit mental health concepts as defined in the DSM and ICD.

Transdiagnosis

Diagnositic criteria do not fit real-world mental health problems. Transdiagnosis is a model of mental health that says symptoms are connected to each other and mental health issues overlap with each other very deeply.

Symptoms morph

One mental health issue transforms into something else. E.g., anxiety can transform into depression. Sleep issues can transform into negative thinking. Relationship problems can transform into health issues.

Intervention changes the issue

Seeking therapy or any form of recovery can convert one issue into another. E.g., Anxiety can lead to a gym-focused life that later transforms into body-image issues

No Root Cause

Since issues have many components like emotion, thoughts, motivation, body, social, spirituality, culture, etc., a root cause doesn't exist in most cases. It many different systems affecting many other systems.

Maintaining factors

Transdiagnosis cares about what aspects of life are feeding a problem or protecting against a problem instead of identifying a root cause that may or may not exist.

More on productivity

Psychology concepts experts know

Biases that affect business decision-making

Share
Share