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Resilience in the Face of Adversity

1985; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 147; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1192/bjp.147.6.598

1472-1465

Michael Rutter,

Optimism, Hope, and Well-being

Almost since the beginnings of psychiatric practice, there has been a recognition that negative life experiences and stressful happenings may serve to precipitate mental disorders (Garmezy & Rutter, 1985). Nearly 200 years ago, Pinel wrote about the psychiatric risks associated with unexpected reverses or adverse circumstances, and it is reported that his initial question to newly admitted psychiatric patients was: “Have you suffered vexation, grief or reverse of fortune?” Nevertheless, although an appreciation that a variety of stressors may play a role in the genesis of psychiatric disorder has a long history, the systematic study of such effects is much more recent.