title: On the possibility of ethological explanations of psychiatric disorders.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005010:Ethology; D005260:Female; D000882:Haplorhini; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012931:Social Environment
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones