Neuroessentialism: Theoretical and Clinical Considerations

Neuroessentialism is the view that the definitive way of explaining human psychological experience is by reference to the brain and its activity. This leads to the view that psychological disorders, such as depression, are fundamentally brain disorders. Neuroessentialism has grown increasingly popular for academic and public audiences. It has also attracted critics. This article describes neuroessentialism, the reasons for its rising prominence, and the theoretical and clinical concerns it raises. It connects these concerns to evidence from empirical studies that suggest that neuroessentialistic conceptualization of depression can have negative clinical impacts that need to be considered by mental health professionals.