Which theory attributes mental illness to biological causes?

• A. Somatogenic
• B. Psychogenic
• C. Cognitive
• D. Behavioral

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how mental illness can be explained by biological factors. The somatogenic view holds that mental disorders arise from biological or physiological disturbances—things like brain structure or function, neurochemical imbalances, genetic predispositions, or medical illness. That makes it the best match for attributing mental illness to biology. For example, medical conditions or brain injuries can produce psychiatric-like symptoms, and neurotransmitter dysregulation is linked to mood and thought disorders. In contrast, psychogenic theory points to psychological factors such as stress or trauma, while cognitive and behavioral approaches focus on thoughts and learned behaviors and are more about treatment and explanation of symptoms than their biological roots. Today, we often recognize that biology interacts with psychological and social factors, but when the question asks specifically about biological causes, somatogenic is the correct fit.