Promoting healthy lives and well-being for all: The contribution of the International College of Person-Centered Medicine (ICPCM)

Abstract

This article defines the scope of Person-Centered Medicine, traces its roots in ancient conceptions, explains the reasons for the revival of this perspective in our times, and highlights the contribution of the International College of Person-Centered Medicine (ICPCM) in the promotion of the personcentered perspective in health and disease. The value of communication is underlined with reference to both diagnosis and treatment. The concept of Health is considered historically and the inclusiveness, holistic vista and positive health orientation of the WHO definition of Health (1948) is underlined. It is emphasized that Mental Health Promotion is differentiated conceptually from Disease Prevention in that promotion deals with health and prevention deals with illness, the relationship of Health Promotion with Salutogenesis (Antonovsky 1996) is noted and it is pointed out that among the targets of health promotion, preservation of peace is also included (WHO, 2004). In line with this, the ICPCM has supported and co-signed the Athens Anti-War Declaration (2016). Evaluating the impact of Health Promotion efforts is a necessary but difficult task as it requires targeted research and there are many inherent confounding factors. The social or environmental contexts of health behaviors should be taken into account as well as the subjective indicators of health. In an attempt to resolve the difficulties arising from this issue, the ICPCM has developed a prototype "Person-centered Care Index" (Kirisci et al 2016). With reference to Education it is pointed out that it is necessary for the educators to speak with the students rather than speak to them. Concerning research, the ICPCM in its 2013 Geneva Declaration has identified the main research areas in the person-centered field. The importance of assuring healthy lives and well-being for ALL is underlined and the difficulties associated with the achievement of this goal are noted. Lastly, the need to apply the principles of Person-centered Medicine to victims of natural, human-made and economic disasters (Christodoulou et al 2016) is underlined, especially in view of the frequent occurrence of these disasters in our times. In conclusion, the contribution of the ICPCM during the ten years of its existence, with reference to the sensitization of health professionals in the Person-centered approach is noted. This contribution has been carried out in line with the principles of the ICPCM and with its Geneva Declarations.

Suffering and Salutogenesis: A Conceptual Analysis of Lessons for Psychiatry From Existential Positive Psychology (PP2.0) in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In principle, the integration of PP2.0 into a broader salutogenic framework for psychological intervention, particularly in the context of COVID-19, has many advantages over conventional approaches. The development of a formal therapeutic model or manual for such an intervention would require further inputs from a wide range of stakeholders, including (1) direct perspectives from persons affected by the pandemic across countries and cultures (Alipour et al, 2020;Mazumder et al, 2021); (2) discussions with healthcare workers handling mental health issues during the pandemic, to outline their perceptions of the "conventional" psychiatric approach and the limitations thereof (Bommersbach et al, 2021); (3) expert opinions from specialists already involved in interventions based on a salutogenic, PP2.0, or person-centered approach (Christodoulou et al, 2018;Wong, 2020); (4) inputs from local community and spiritual leaders, to identify those aspects of meaningfulness and coherence that are culturally relevant and could foster resilience (Thompkins et al, 2020); (5) the perspectives of social science experts and policy makers on which systemic interventions could foster a SOC and strengthen resistance resources (Christodoulou et al, 2018;Alvarez et al, 2020); (6) specific advice from experts in information technology, in order to devise optimal strategies on adapting salutogenic-PP2.0 principles to interventions delivered via mobile or social media platforms (Goransson et al, 2020), and (7) careful planning of intervention trials in collaboration with experts in biostatistics and research methodology, to avoid the methodological flaws that affected earlier studies in this field (Alvarez et al, 2020). It is hoped that the preliminary steps outlined in this paper are of use not only to researchers, but to clinicians and those involved in formulating policies to help those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…Such an approach is largely isomorphic with the concept of "person-centered medicine, " which emphasizes the individuality and contextual realities of a person and their adaptation to illness and adversity. In fact, the International College of Person-Centered Medicine (ICPCM) has acknowledged the central role of salutogenic concepts in promoting and preserving health and well-being during crises, such as wars, natural disasters and pandemics (Christodoulou et al, 2018).…”

Individualisation, personalisation and person-centredness in mental healthcare: a scoping review of concepts and linguistic network visualisation

“…Person-centered medicine aims at the promotion of health and well-being of the totality of the person. The person is perceived as the center and goal of health care and the emphasis is shifted from patient to person 42…”

“…The person is perceived as the center and goal of health care and the emphasis is shifted from patient to person. 42 …”

Mode of Operation of Greek Spas and their Effect on the Rehabilitation and Improvement of the Quality of Life of People with Musculoskeletal Problems

“…et al ., 1996, Riiser et all ., 2020. The concept of quality of life is closely related to the definition of health by the World Health Organization (WHO), as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not only the absence of disease or disability (Christodoulou et al ., 2018). In 1982, Kaplan and Bush the term "Health-related Quality of Life" (Health-related Quality of Life), to separate from the general term Quality of Life the aspects related to the individual's health status.…”