Necessary vs. Sufficient Causes and Diagnostics

In this quick lesson, I share definitions of the terms "necessary," "sufficient," and "contributory," explaining how they describe factors relevant for the etiology and diagnosis of mental disorders.
*Contributory Etiological Factor: a factor which generally increases the likelihood of a particular problem
*Contributory Diagnostic Criteria: a symptom which can aid in deciding a diagnosis is warranted, but is not required or uniquely special to that diagnosis
*Necessary Etiological Factor: a causal phenomenon which must be present prior to the onset of the problem of interest (i.e., if the disorder is present, this factor must have preceded it)
*Necessary Diagnostic Factor: a symptom which must be present in order to diagnose a certain problem (i.e., without that symptom, it's not that disorder)
*Sufficient Etiological Factor: a causal phenomenon which is impactful enough on its own to lead to the problem of interest (i.e., if this factor occurs, the disorder will certainly follow)
*Sufficient Diagnostic Factor: a symptom which is satisfactory by itself in determining the presence of a particular disorder (i.e., that symptom alone determines that it's that disorder)

[@cloudsentral5315]

Thank you so much for making this video! Very easy to follow and understand

[@tshepiieyblush2149]

This was very helpful ❤ thank you... you explained it in a type of method i use when studying😅

[@farhanaditya2647]

Thank you! Your explanation is easy to understand. At the end of the video, you mentioned about cause that is solely necessary or solely sufficient. However, is it possible for a cause to be both necessary and sufficient?

[@ProfPash]

Hi Farhan, yes, a cause can be both necessary and sufficient. In mental health we don't have many examples which would fit both. Carl Rogers argued that his humanistic model of psychotherapy/counseling consisted of the core conditions which were both necessary and sufficient to produce improvement (1), but that's a little abstract. More to-the-point might be something like the gene mutation associated with Tay-Sachs Disease (2). 1: counsellingtutor.com/counselling-approaches/person-centred-approach-to-counselling/the-six-necessary-and-sufficient-conditions-for-therapeutic-personality-change/ 2: www.verywellhealth.com/understanding-causality-necessary-and-sufficient-3133021

[@hameumdor6810]

Thankyou!

[@RobinsTinyHomestead]

Could you do something on having bipolar and borderline personality disorder?

[@ProfPash]

Thanks for your comment but I don't currently have plans for a video on that topic, sorry! Maybe in the future.