Explaining mental health disorders (Psychology HL)

In one line: A mental-health disorder can be explained biologically, cognitively and socioculturally — and a full picture usually needs all three.

In the health and well-being context, a key area of study is explaining a mental-health disorder. We use depression as the threaded example — but the point is the explanations, which you can apply to other disorders too.

This is the concept of perspective in action: the same disorder looks different through each approach's lens, and no single explanation is the whole story. Remember — studies are illustrative; you are not expected to memorise specific research.

Memory hook: Body, mind, world. One disorder, three explanations that complement each other.

Key idea: Each approach points to a different cause — chemistry, thinking, and social circumstances.

Take one person's depression. Biological: a genetic vulnerability plus low serotonin signalling. Cognitive: they interpret setbacks as 'my fault, always'. Sociocultural: recent isolation and job loss. The three combine — which is why the concept of causality here is best seen as an interaction, not one cause.

Go further — higher-level insight: The biopsychosocial model ties them together. Rather than choosing one explanation, this model treats biological, psychological and social factors as interacting causes. Using it shows you can integrate the approaches — exactly what top-band answers do.

Key idea: Each explanation has support and limits; the strongest position integrates them.

So each approach explains part of depression and each has a limitation. A strong evaluation avoids picking just one: it uses the biopsychosocial view, arguing that biological, cognitive and social factors interact, which also explains why combined treatment (medication + therapy + social support) often works best.

Watch out: Don't over-claim one cause. 'Depression is just a chemical imbalance' is reductionist. The evidence points to interacting causes, not a single one.