Biopsychosocial Models Flashcards
biomedical model
Only biological, physical aspects of an illness are considered.
Psychological or social factors are largely ignored.
who created and what is Psychosomatic medicine
Developed by Franz Alexander a student of Freud in the early 20th century.
Suggested illness can have psychological causes as well as consequences.
Claimed emotions could be expressed physically
George Engel (1913-1999)
American psychiatrist
Trained in psychoanalysis
Focused on medical, not psychiatric, illness
Formulated the biopsychosocial model
Biopsychosocial models
are the mainstream ideology in contemporary psychiatry
the medical model has little support
it suggests that disorders are cause by a combination of biological, psychological and social factors
provides a more holistic, humanistic and pragmatic framework than one of these factors alone
what causes illness?
Biomedical model
External or internal agents that cause physical changes
Biopsychosocial model
Illness can have biological, psychological and social causes
who is responsible for illness?
Biomedical model
Individuals are not responsible
Biopsychosocial model
The individual may have some responsibility
How should illness be treated?
Biomedical model
By using interventions that seek to change the physical state of the body.
Biopsychosocial model
The whole person should be treated, not just the physical changes
Who is responsible for treatment?
Biomedical model
The medical profession
Biopsychosocial model
The medical profession and the individual
What is the relationship between health and illness?
Biomedical model
They are distinct from one another
Biopsychosocial model
They exist on a continuum
What is the relationship between the mind and body?
Biomedical model
They function independently from one another
Biopsychosocial model
They are separate but interact
What is the role of psychology in health and illness?
Biomedical model
Illness can have psychological consequences but not causes
Biopsychosocial model
Psychological factors contribute at all stages along the continuum from healthy through to being ill
what is electicism and + and -
Eclecticism - the ability to individualise treatment to the patient
Can be advantageous - tailoring treatment to the patient
Can be disadvantageous - the freedom to do whatever one wants to
problems with the biopsychosocial model are partially historical and partially practical:
Historically, the ‘psycho’ in biopsychosocial models referred to psychoanalysis, and so psychoanalytic theory has been over represented
Practically, therapists/psychiatrists could pick and choose therapies based on personal opinion rather than empirical evidence
Possible that some psychological disorders are not always caused by a combination of all three factors, they should be considered.
Practical difficulties of looking at all factors of biopsychosocial in experiments
Sample size
Difficulty in recruiting - both practically and ethically - samples with particular environmental influence, e.g. trauma
Cost
Biopsychosocial models suggest that the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors cause…
Both psychological and physical disorders
