Final answer:
The medical model of mental illness considers it as a form of disease, characterized by nervous system disorders affecting thinking, mood, and social interactions. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides criteria for diagnosing specific mental illnesses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical model of mental illness views mental illness as a form of disease. According to this model, mental illnesses are nervous system disorders that result in problems with thinking, mood, or relating with other people. These disorders are severe enough to affect a person's quality of life and make it difficult for them to perform daily tasks.
For example, schizophrenia and major depression are two mental illnesses that are recognized as diseases by the medical model. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides criteria for diagnosing mental illnesses and classifying their symptoms.
While there are alternative models of understanding mental illness, such as the cultural systems model, the medical model is widely used in the field of medicine to guide diagnosis, treatment, and research on mental disorders.