Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research
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Abstract
Loneliness is not just a phenomenon observed in clinical practice but is a core issue in the study of mental disorders more broadly – psychopathology. Loneliness is the key to the study of all mental disorders as many have shown significant relation to loneliness either as a risk factor for developing or maintaining the disorder, or as a co-occurring condition of the disorder. In other words, loneliness is both a cause and a consequence of mental illness. Specifically, this review explores the relationships of loneliness in cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder), social disorders (social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and reactive attachment disorder), and personality disorders (avoidant personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder). Overall, loneliness is an under-researched concept, yet it plays a nucleus role in many psychological disorders. Recognizing the role of loneliness within psychopathology is crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy, as well as developing more precise clinical interventions and treatment strategies.
Keywords
loneliness, psychopathology, cognitive disorders, social disorders, personality disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, avoidant personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Recommended Citation
Byrd, Natalie S.
(2024)
"Loneliness is the Nucleus for Psychopathology: Relationships with Cognitive, Social, and Personality Disorders,"
Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2024, Article 4.
Available at:
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/soaring/vol2024/iss2/4