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Are Psychological Disorders Caused by Chemical Imbalances?
In abnormal psychology, you learn of the theory that psychological disorders are caused by chemical imbalances. I didn’t think much of it since it was just a theory with no significant clinical proof.
Moreover, when you read case studies, you come to understand that there are a number of factors that could give rise to someone exhibiting a psychological disorder. Stress, genetics, illnesses (such as hyperthyroidism) and environment are four that are commonly cited.
The chemical imbalance argument was always a strange one to me. For starters, what is the appropriate chemical balance that one needs to have? How much of each neurotransmitter should one have? Wouldn’t it vary from person to person, given that each person has varying levels of hormones and different genetics?
What causes these chemical imbalances? Is it stress that causes the neurotransmitters to go haywire? If it was stress, wouldn’t that be the real culprit?
Perhaps the only way to know if the chemical imbalance theory had weight was to examine the drugs that are based on this theory. Did they successfully curb psychological disorders?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides prescribing information on each drug that they approve. Patients rely on the information provided…
