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Evolutionary Psychiatry

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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Synonyms

Darwinian medicine; Evolutionary mismatch; Vulnerability to mental disorders

Definition

Evolutionary psychiatry applies the principles of evolutionary theory in psychiatric research and clinical practice. It utilizes and synthetizes similar theoretical models and research as Darwinian medicine, but focuses more on specific disciplines including psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral genetics. The evolutionary view of mental complaints highlights the role of functional capacities and biological adaptations in defining psychiatric disorders. This Darwinian approach provides an integrated biopsychosocial model for mental health and a theoretical framework for understanding human vulnerability to mental problems.

Introduction

Similar to Darwinian medicine, evolutionary models of psychiatric disorders contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of human mental health and disorders (Brüne 2015). In order to describe the reasons why humans are vulnerable to mental problems,...

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References

  • Brüne, M. (2015). Textbook of evolutionary psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine: The origins of psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press.

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  • Nesse, R. M. (2015). Evolutionary psychology and mental health. In D. M. Buss (Ed.), The handbook of evolutionary psychology (pp. 903–927). Hoboken: Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470939376.ch32.

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  • Troisi, A., & McGuire, M. T. (1998). Evolution and mental health. In H. S. Friedman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of mental health (Vol. 2, pp. 173–181). San Diego: Academic.

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  • Troisi, A., & McGuire, M. T. (2002). Darwinian psychiatry and the concept of mental disorder. Neuroendocrinology Letters, 23(Suppl 4), 31–38.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary

    Bela Birkas

Authors
  1. Bela Birkas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bela Birkas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Guilherme S. Lopes

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© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Birkas, B. (2019). Evolutionary Psychiatry. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2787-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2787-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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