Rational Choice Theory in Psychiatry

Abstract

The rational choice approach has become more prevalent in many disciplines in recent years. The rational choice theory of neurosis maintains that patients consciously and deliberately adopt neurotic disorders when confronted with intolerable levels of stress. Despite the striking differences, rational choice theory of neurosis continues Freud's framework of thinking as it employs a new concept of repression. According to this new theory, all therapies exert their effect either by disrupting patients’ ability to preserve unawareness, increasing the cost of the symptom, decreasing the patient’s emotional distress, or eliminating the stressor. Repression is defined as a conscious coping mechanism by which the individual deliberately employs distractive measures to eliminate stress-related thoughts from attention in this theory. This article aims to review the definition of rational choice theory and its integrative therapeutic approach in psychiatry.

Keywords

• neurosis
• rationality
• stress