Psychopathology in postmodern societies

A growing body of evidence suggests that postmodern societies currently face a significant number of changes imprinted by evolution at a number of levels. These changes are resulting in increasing stress both at the population and individual levels, possibly leading to mental health problems. Many social variables are subject to rapid fluctuations which, in turn, affect changes in society leading to mental health consequences of the population. In this paper we review the available literature on social variables subject to rapid changes in postmodern societies with links to the DSM-5. Methods Search of papers until June 2015 was carried out using PubMed. We considered only on variables that can be identified in societal changes from modernity to postmodernity and that cause stress, mental distress and mental disorders. Results Discomfort is present in situations where the subject experiences feelings of subjective malaise, beyond the presence of biomedical symptoms. Mental disorders are strongly linked with situations such as technology, markets, economic forces, environmental crises, pollution, demographic crisis and cultures in the building process, including their manipulation. Conclusions The review confirms the psychogenic psychological problems and uneasiness connected to crises that post-modern society creates within communities and environments.The DSM-5 offers a potential explanation to the social variance related to psychopathology.