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The Mental Health System: Definitions and Diagnoses

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Mental Health Informatics

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Abstract

The way we define health and well-being has shifted throughout human history. This chapter reviews three primary views of health and illness (pathogenic, salutogenic, and halogenic models) and how each view influences our understanding of mental health and illness. We discuss the idea that health and illness may be viewed both as a continuum of wellness, and as distinct, but related, concepts. Next, we review various theories of psychopathology (biological, psychological, and social theories) and introduce the current biopsychosocial theory of illness. Finally, we review the two primary nosologies used for diagnosing mental health conditions, and estimating their prevalence, in the United States.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC, USA

    John L. Beyer & Mina Boazak

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  1. John L. Beyer
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Correspondence to Mina Boazak .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Jessica D. Tenenbaum

  2. Six Aims for Behavioral Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Piper A. Ranallo

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Beyer, J.L., Boazak, M. (2021). The Mental Health System: Definitions and Diagnoses. In: Tenenbaum, J.D., Ranallo, P.A. (eds) Mental Health Informatics. Health Informatics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70558-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70558-9_3

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