On The Possibility of Ethological Explanations of Psychiatric Disorders

This paper discusses: previous ethological and evolutionary explanations of psychiatric disorders; a behavior-physiology interaction framework for explaining the frequency and course of selected psychiatric illnesses; atypical behavioral capacities among persons with psychiatric disorders; behavioral mechanisms; and ethological explanations of the behavior of patients suffering from psychiatric illnesses. The importance of behavior-physiology interactions is emphasized. Possible consequences of current taxonomic systems (DSM-III) are considered. It is concluded that ethology has a vital role in increasing our understanding of psychiatric disorders through identifying: characteristics of disorders; selected causes; degree and type of compromised mechanisms; and, intervention effectiveness.