Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Advances in modern neuroscience have led to a transformation in the understanding of mental disorders, which are now being reinterpreted as "brain diseases." Objective: To analyze the social, cultural, and bioethical implications of the shift towards a neurobiological paradigm in the understanding of mental disorders. Methods: A critical literature review was conducted, integrating insights from neuroscience, psychiatry, sociology, and bioethics to evaluate the impact of the neurobiological perspective. Results: The reinterpretation of mental disorders as brain diseases has significant implications, including changes in patient autonomy, the concept of biosociality, and ethical considerations regarding treatment. Initiatives like the "Decade of the Brain" and the "BRAIN Initiative" have fostered research linking brain dysfunctions to clinical symptoms, shaping both clinical practice and public perception. Conclusion: The neurobiological paradigm shift offers opportunities for advances in treatment but raises ethical, social, and cultural challenges. A balanced, interdisciplinary approach is essential to ensure fair and inclusive mental health policies and practices.
Source: Revista de Bioética y Derecho
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415917591