The biopsychosocial model in Anglo-American psychiatry: Past, present and future?

Abstract

The biopsychosocial model in Anglo-American psychiatry is appraised. Its content and history are described and its scientific and ethical strengths noted. It is situated in relation to competing approaches in the profession, especially an older but enduring biomedical model. The tensions provoked by the latter, in relation to 'anti-psychiatry', the users' movement and 'critical psychiatry' are explored, as a context in which the biopsychosocial model has both emerged and been constrained. At the end of the paper, reasons for the relative lack of success of the model are discussed and its future prospects assessed.

O estigma atribuído pelos psiquiatras aos indivíduos com esquizofrenia

“…Over time psychiatry's explanatory models for mental disorder changed from bio-psycho-social models to more biological models 39,40 . Herewith, the risk of biological reductionism increases 41 , a belief commonly associated with dehumanizing feelings about individuals with mental disorders 38,42,43 .…”

The long case is dead – long live the long case

“…More than simply serving a symbolic function, the long case represents a commitment to a holistic approach, which psychiatry has historically had to fight to preserve in the face of various reductionist influences. The long case is integral to the bio-psychosocial approach, which has had a significant influence on British psychiatry since the 1970s when it became, in the words of Pilgrim (2002) context of illness, and is therefore humanistic as well as scientific (Pilgrim, 2002).…”

Globalization, Conflict and Mental Health

“…Some argue that because mental wellbeing is so embedded in culture there must be a greater exchange on these matters (Skultans and Cox, 2000). The biopsychosocial model emerged within psychiatry (Engel, 1977), in an attempt to broaden the theoretical base of psychiatry, but the psychological and social theories have largely been picked up and developed by other disciplines (Pilgrim, 2002) and any consideration of mental health requires a multi-disciplinary approach.…”