ABSTRACT
Over the past two decades, a great deal of scientific research has focused on various brain structures and processes, resulting in an increase in the knowledge and understanding of both normal and abnormal conditions. There now is a sufficient accumulation of neuroscientific data to document that disorders such as autism, depressive illnesses, learning disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the result of neuroanatomical and/or neurochemical abnormalities. These, therefore, now may be described as neurobiological disorders, rather than being placed under the category of “mental illness.” This term is being used to describe any severe, chronic “mental” illness that has a physical, neuroanatomical or neurochemical basis.
