Outline of an Action-Oriented Classification of Mental Disorders: A Hypothetical Model Pages 122-130

Bernhard J. Mitterauer

University of Salzburg, Volitronics-Institute for Basic Research, Psychopathology and Brain Philosophy, Gotthard Guenther Archives, Autobahnweg 7, A-5071 Wals (Salzburg), Austria

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12970/2310-8231.2014.02.02.5

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Abstract: The outline of an action-oriented classification of mental disorders is mainly theoretically proposed. Based on the discussion and interpretation of the “Schichtenregel” (three-layer-rule) by the German psychiatrist Karl Jaspers, a synaptic model is elaborated for the pathophysiology of depression, mania and schizophrenia. According to a logic of balance, synapses may be balanced, underbalanced (depression), overbalanced (mania), or unbalanced (schizophrenia). From a psychological point of view, patients with a major depression are hyperintentional, patients with mania are hypointentional, and in the case of schizophrenia they are dysintentional. Decisive in the synaptic model proposed is the number of receptors for neurotransmitters expressed in the membranes of astrocytes. A normal or disturbed balance of behavior can be described as variables of the intentional programs and as values of the description of their feasibility. This enables a computer supported classification of an action-oriented diagnostic manual. The future realization of this procedure may improve psychiatric research and especially clinical practice.

Keywords: Mental disorders, synaptic imbalance, disordered intentionality, therapeutic feasibility, classification. Read more