Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of conceptualising mental health issues from a biomedical perspective. The biomedical perspective of mental health relies on the approach that mental health is categorical, and these mental disorders are brain diseases that can be treated like physical illnesses, by using medication. This perspective has both advantages and disadvantages, influencing the understanding and treatment of mental health issues. The biomedical approach to conceptualising mental health offers a clear advantage in its ability to categorize individuals into distinct groups based on mental health conditions. This proves especially beneficial when exploring various courses of action, such as treatments. The biomedical approach …show more content…
The act of labelling mental health conditions can serve a functional purpose, providing legitimacy by equating mental illness with physical illness. This parallel not only promotes understanding and normalization, but therefore contributes to the reduction of stigma surrounding mental health issues. Kirkham et al. (2022) found that out of 526 patients 76.3% were satisfied with their mental health services and diagnosis. Furthermore, labelling gives professionals and individuals a common language, making communication easier and aiding in creating personalized treatment plans. Therefore, labelling can be viewed as extremely useful in helping individuals with mental health issues understand their disorder whilst also reducing …show more content…
Haslam and Loughnan's (2014) research highlights the frequent occurrence of dehumanization in medical contexts, especially within biomedically-oriented psychiatric practices. This perspective, treating mental health symptoms as mechanical malfunctions, may result in patients feeling unsatisfied, as it emphasizes symptom suppression rather than a comprehensive understanding of underlying causes. The risk of dehumanization is reinforced by Haslam's (2006) research, which portrayed patients' minds as malfunctioning machines. Laing (1960) argued for psychiatrists to prioritize listening to patients' expressed feelings over focusing solely on symptom sets. This movement views the biomedical approach in a negative light and argues that the biomedical approach's reliance on biology for diagnosis is a disadvantage, as not all mental health patients would benefit from such an approach as the anti-physiatry movement argues the social origins of psychosis such as trauma, which the biomedical perspective neglects in their
In diagnosing mental health the positive outweigh the negative and it generally helps an individual to understand their condition and possible treatments for it. Integrating biological, psychological and social factors and holism when diagnosing a mental health illness is very beneficial because it looks into every aspect and explores the condition in more depth allowing clinicians to find any underlying conditions and to develop an effective case formulation and treatment
Two major critiques of this model is that it individualizes the disorder to the individual and it depoliticizes, fails to take into account how external influences affects the individual. In the medical model approach there are four assumptions for the explanation of this model. The first assumption is the idea of biological reductionism, which means a mental disorder is a biological condition and it is a disease within the brain. Thus, it is only the body that the doctor looks at, while ignoring the social context behind the occurrence. The second assumption within the medical model approach is the idea of the doctrine of specific etiology, which states that there is specific cause for every disease. Further, this suggests that an individual with a mental disorder does not have the ability to change their own behaviour, there is a reliance on medication to cure the illness and that the doctor is the expert in diagnosing and treating the disorder. The third assumption, is one of the mind-body dualism, which means the mind is separate from the body. One of the implications of the mind-body dualism is that there is an ability to treat the brain without engaging the mind. Another implication is that the voice of the patient is less important than locating the illness within the body. The last assumption within the medical model approach to mental illness deals with seeing the body as
Many professionals are qualified and certified to help handle mental health disorders and they vary from a wide range of disciplines. All focus on helping the individual who is struggling with their mental health the professional help that they need and deserve. Many mental health professionals will initially do a biopsychosocial assessment of the person’s life in order to better gauge where the strengths lie in this person’s life and where underlying issues may be held. This assessment includes looking at the person from a biological viewpoint, a psychological viewpoint, and a social viewpoint. The biological perspective looks at a person’s medical needs, including neurological testing. The psychological standpoint focuses on a person’s psychological
The Modified Labelling Theory, created by Link et al., (1989) hypothesized that individuals who were labeled as mentally ill, would manage the stigma they faced through three coping mechanisms; education, withdrawal and secrecy (as cited in Ray & Brooks Dollar, 2014). The Modified Labelling Theory is a credible theory that has been used to approach not only the repercussions of stigma in mental illness, but also to explain behaviours of those who smoke, live with HIV/AIDS, or have a child with a disability (Ray & Brooks Dollar,
Society's understanding of mental health has been revolutionized in recent decades. There has been increased research directed towards mental health, greater support for those who are affected, and a better understanding of it by the general public. In this current generation, mental illnesses are now viewed as serious conditions that need to be properly treated. Mental health is a vital component of an individual's well-being and how he or she is able to cope with the difficulties of life. When challenges arise, mental state is critical to overcoming those challenges.
It is generally accepted within healthcare that to understand mental health we must adopt the biopsychosocial model. This model assumes that an interdependent relationship exists between biological, psychological and social factors which are involved in all aspects of mental health (Toates, 2010, p. 14). To be true to the model research must be holistic and not investigate the factors in isolation.
However, mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders and there are a number of problems that can interfere with a person’s cognitive, social and emotional abilities. Biological approaches to mental health view all psychiatric disorders as being caused by organic factors such as genetic and biochemical factors. The role of psychiatrists or clinical psychologists is to help the patient cope with the illness or control the effects of it by means of medication or therapy (Cardwell, Clark, and Meldrum, 2008). In contrast to the biological theory, the social theory to mental ill health offers a holistic approach to try and understand mental disorders. This means that there may also be social factors that may influence a person’s resistance or susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. These could be triggered by certain life events such as a tragedy or stress. It also takes into consideration the labelling theory where society labels a person as ‘mentally ill’ who then accepts that status (self-fulfilling prophecy) and may lead to a severe mental
Arben, P. (1996). Are Mental Illnesses Biological Diseases? Some Public Policy Implications. Health and Social Work, 21, 66-69.
Physiology treats mental disorders in the same way like a fractured bone. It considers symptoms to be outward signs of the inner physical disorder and believe that if symptoms are grouped together and classified into a condition, the actual cause can be discovered and suitable physical treatment can then applie...
What do you think of when someone brings up the topic of mental health in the country? Many people are influenced by negative stigma and preconceptions associated with mental illness. Those with mental illnesses are all too commonly subjected to these negative stigmas. These views can lead to discrimination, which may be the cause of why those suffering from mental disorders are so poorly cared for and often don’t seek treatment. The Mayo Clinic reports that some harmful effects of these prejudices based on mental illness cause: reluctance to seek help of treatment, lack of understanding from family or friends, fewer opportunities to work, bullying and inadequate health insurance.
In conclusion biological psychology is vital during mental illness and understanding how human beings behave, since human behavior is triggered by the mind. Despite its many strengths and supportive facts, biological psychology fails to consider the social and emotional aspect of the person and the things that can affect them outside of their biology.
According to the C.D.C ( Centers for Disease Control) the term mental health is commonly used in reference to mental illness. However, knowledge in the field has advanced to a level that completely separates the two terminologies. But even so mental health and mental illness are indeed in fact related, they represent different psychological state of mind with in a person. Mental health refers to our physical and emotional well being. Mental health is mainly all about how we behave, interact, and think. It c...
In the past, mental illness was taboo to discuss and there was fear surrounding the topic. However, remarkable strides have been made in figuring out the causes of the disease and weighing the most effective treatments specialized for each specific disease. According to the American Psychotic Association, “A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.”
Mental disorders are rapidly becoming more common with each new generation born in the world. Currently, nearly one in two people suffer from some form of depression, anxiety, or other mental health problem at some point in their lives (Editor). With so many people suffering from their mental illnesses, steps have been taken in order to get help needed for these people but progress has been slow. In the medical world, hospitals are treating those with physical problems with more care than those with mental problems. Prescription drugs can only do so much helping the mentally ill go through their daily lives and more should be done to help those who need more than medicine to cope with their illness. Mental health should be considered just as important as physical health because of how advanced physical healing is, how the public reacts to those with mental illness, and due to the consequences that could happen if the illness is not correctly helped.
Mental illness is the condition that significantly impede with an individual’s emotional, cognitive or social abilities (Savy and Sawyer, 2009). According to (Savy and Sawyer, 2009) neurological, metabolic, genetic and psychological causes are contributing factors for various types of mental illness like depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse and progression of condition. An elaborate system known as DSM-IV-TR gives a classification system that acts to separate mental illness into diagnostic categories based on the description of symptoms of illness (Savy and Sawyer, 2009). The exact primarily causes of mental illness are complicated, however, it seems to occur in a psychologically and biologically prone individual, in the trigger of environmental and social stress (Elder, Evans and Nizette, 2007).