What is a diathesis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A diathesis is a predisposition or vulnerability to developing a particular condition or disorder. It is often used in conjunction with the stress-diathesis model of mental illness, which posits that mental disorders result from the interaction of both environmental stressors and underlying diatheses. While a diathesis may have some biological components, it is not itself a biological cause of mental illness. It is also not an observable symptom of mental illness, but rather a theoretical construct used to explain the development of mental disorders.

What Is a Diathesis