Which option below presents a plausible combination that could cause a mental disorder?

• A. Only genetic factors
• B. Only traumatic events
• C. Inheriting the tendency to develop one, a traumatic event, alcoholism
• D. Poor nutrition

Answer: (C)

Mental disorders often come from multiple interacting factors rather than a single cause. If someone has a genetic tendency toward such a condition, a traumatic event can act as a strong stressor that pushes vulnerability toward illness. Add alcohol use, which can disturb mood, sleep, and brain chemistry, and you have an environment where the underlying vulnerability is more likely to manifest as a disorder. So, a combination of inheriting a tendency, experiencing a traumatic event, and alcoholism provides a plausible path to developing a mental disorder. While genetics alone, or a traumatic event alone, or poor nutrition alone can influence risk, they don’t capture the way these factors can work together to precipitate illness.