The Biopsychosocial Model

1453 Words3 Pages

INTRODUCTION
“Don’t treat the disease, treat the patient” [9]. The concept of health has seemed to become complex in definition over the centuries as science improves. “Health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.”-World Health Definition of Health (1948) [9]
In order to understand health, different models or frameworks for thinking have been developed which have been useful. The Biomedical model which evolved since the 19th century from Galen’s (Greek physician 200AD) concept of pathogen, focused on removing the disease/disability and not on prevention or general well-being [9]. The Biopsychosocial model however, doesn’t merely focus on the physical state of the body but recognizes the human being as a complex organism and health as an interaction between the physical/body/biological, mind/psychological and environment/sociological. This model was introduced by George Engel (1977).
Reflection is the process of evaluating ideas/thoughts from experiences and making active decisions. It is a necessary tool in experiential learning.[4] Several models have been developed to facilitate this process but this essay is going to be retrospective and based on John’s model of structured reflection(1992) [3,4]. The general reflective questions will be WHAT? SO WHAT? And THEN WHAT? [4]

To suggest an option for a new theory of healthcare does not necessarily mean to invalidate all previous or existing ones, since their relationship need not to be exclusivist, but may be inclusivist instead.[8] Einstein’s theory for example, progressed beyond Newton’s physics, but the latter still remains relevant till today. Though the Biomedical and Biopsychosocial models each ...

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...versity Library website [accessed 20 Dec. 2013]
[8] Schmidt, J.M., 2012. The Biopsychosocial Model and Its Potential for a New Theory of Homeopathy. Homeopathy (2012), [e-journal], pp.121-128. Available through: Anglia Ruskin University Library website [accessed 20 Dec. 2013]
[9] Shalini, G.J: 2013. Biopsychosocial Model, Professional Development 1. MAHSA University, unpublished.
[10] Sigerist, HE: A History of Medicine: Primitive and Archaic Medicine, Vol 1. Oxford UK, Oxford University Press, 1951
[11] Yolanda, A., 2003. The biopsychosocial model in medical research: the evolution of the health concept over the last two decades. Patient Education and Counseling 53 (2004), [e-journal], pp.239-244. Available through: Anglia Ruskin University Library website [accessed 20 Dec. 2013]

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