Celebrating Two Years of Growth and the Launch of Nessays
It’s hard to believe we started the Evolution & Psychiatry Substack 2 years ago this month!
Since then we have delivered 40 articles on the topic in various forms ranging from essays and clinical cases to interviews with researchers/scholars.
It all started on May 5, 2023, when we published our very first article, attempting to answer the perrenial question:
What is Evolutionary Psychiatry?
Evolutionary psychiatry seeks to blend the theory of evolution with current understanding of mental disorders. It has it primordial roots in ethology and biology, furthered by evolutionary psychology and medicine, which are gaining much traction in recent times (
By integrating evolutionary theory with psychiatric practice, evolutionary psychiatry offers a holistic framework that complements traditional approaches. It doesn't negate the importance of immediate causes or treatments but adds depth to our understanding of mental health by considering the evolutionary origins of our behaviors and emotions.
All the way to our most popular article, The Hypercuriosity Theory of ADHD, which has racked up about 30,000 views, 800 likes, and 173 restacks.
The Hypercuriosity Theory of ADHD
It is an absolute pleasure to introduce to our readers Anne-Laure Le Cunff who recently published a paper in Evolutionary Psychological Science titled:
In The Hypercuriosity Theory of ADHD, Anne-Laure Le Cunff offers a compelling reframing of ADHD features—not as a deficit, but as an evolutionary adaptation rooted in heightened curiosity. Rather than viewing distractibility and impulsivity as mere dysfunctions, Le Cunff posits that these traits may have conferred advantages in ancestral environments, where rapid information gathering and novelty-seeking behaviors were beneficial for survival.
We hope to break even more ground in our 3rd year by offering a diverse range of articles that delve into emerging trends, spotlight voices in the field, and provide thought-provoking perspectives across the discipline.
A reminder that all articles, previous and upcoming, in the Evolution & Psychiatry Substack are free and will remain free. This supports our ongoing endevaour to bring evolutionary thinking to our understanding of mental health, disorder and illness to the widest readership possible, including clinical and non-clinical readers. Also a very huge thank you those who have become paid subscribers - this Substack is run entirely on passion by busy clinicans but your support means the world.
We hope you will discuss and share widely the fresh perspectives and concepts that others in this growing field are bringing to the table.
‘Nessays’
We would also like to draw to the attention of our readers a new Substack launched by Dr Randy Nesse himself: ‘Nessays’
In a recent Q&A on Psychiatry at the Margins, Randolph Nesse—a founder of evolutionary psychiatry—discusses why natural selection has left humans susceptible to mental disorders.
In the interview, Nesse critiques the tendency to view psychiatric conditions as evolutionary adaptations, cautioning against oversimplified narratives that gain traction on social media. He emphasizes that while certain traits associated with disorders might have conferred advantages, this doesn't imply the disorders themselves are adaptive. Instead, factors like genetic drift, trade-offs, and the limitations of natural selection offer more useful explanations.
Nesse also points out that persistent theories—such as a serotonin deficiency causing depression or dopamine excess leading to schizophrenia—have been debunked yet continue to influence research and treatment. He argues for a more nuanced understanding that considers the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.
Ultimately, Nesse advocates for embracing the complexity of mental disorders, moving beyond simplistic explanations to foster a deeper understanding of their origins and manifestations.
Those unfamilar with his work should check out the full excellent interview by Awais Aftab:
If you enjoyed this article and would like to discover more about Evolutionary Psychiatry please consider:
subscribing to our Substack to receive regular content updates
visiting the webpage of the Evolution and Psychiatry Special Interest Group within the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
visiting the webpage of the Evolutionary Psychiatry Special Interest Group within the Royal College of Psychiatrists
exploring a Youtube playlist on curated presentations by the Evolution and Psychiatry Special Interest Group within the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
exploring the Youtube page of the Evolutionary Psychiatry Special Interest Group within the Royal College of Psychiatrists
exploring the Evolving Psychiatry podcast