Sigelman and Rider define developmental psychopathology as “a field of study concerned with the origins and course of maladaptive or psychopathological behavior” (Sigelman & Rider, 2015, p. 590). In Layman’s terms, psychopathology is the study of mental disorders. The majority of developmental psychopathologists believe that these mental disorders result from the developmental process, as opposed to a disease that the individual is born with. There are a multitude of psychopathologic disorders in existence, but this paper will solely focus on two of them: eating disorders and autism.
The first type of psychopathologic disorder that will be discussed is an eating disorder. According to the American Psychological Association (2011), there are …show more content…
Theorist 1 Theorist 2 There are many factors believed to be associated with the development and worsening of Autism, but researchers are unable to say with certainty that they know the official cause. While they are unsure, there are two factors that are believed to cause Autism. The strongest cause identified thus far is genetics. There are suspicions that over 100 genes contribute to Autism, but only 6 have been identified (Scherer, 2011). Most cases of Autism are either inherited or are caused by a new mutation of their genes.
The second factor believed to affect Autism is the environment. According to Scherer, studies have shown that “environmental agents can lead to increased rates of genetic changes” (2011). One epigenetic contributor to Autism is believed to be microbes in the gut. These microbes are capable of turning off and on other genes, so if they develop incorrectly, they can cause significant issues. These issues can alter the genes that are responsible for proper brain development, and possibly cause Autism. What are the treatment options? Replacing flawed microbial ecosystems by purging and with the use of antibiotics and replacing them with a healthy