The Biopsychosocial Model
Summary
TLDRThis video discusses the biopsychosocial model, which considers biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health. Historically, healthcare focused on the biomedical model, which solely emphasized biological causes of disease. However, George Engel introduced the biopsychosocial model, arguing that health is influenced by the interaction between biology, psychology, and social context. The video explains how these factors contribute to conditions like depression and how a holistic approach can improve patient care. This model encourages patient-centered care by addressing multiple dimensions of health, leading to better outcomes.
Takeaways
- đŹ The biopsychosocial model integrates biological, psychological, and social factors to explain health outcomes, unlike the reductionist biomedical model.
- đ The biomedical model focused on biochemical alterations as the sole cause of illness, emphasizing diagnosis through signs, symptoms, and lab tests.
- đ§ George Engel introduced the biopsychosocial model to bring a more holistic, human-centered approach to healthcare, considering the patient's subjective experience.
- 𧏠Biological influences on health include genetic makeup, neurochemistry, physical health, diet, lifestyle, and immune responses.
- đ§ââïž Psychological factors include personality, coping skills, emotions, self-esteem, and mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
- đ„ Social factors such as socioeconomic status, work, relationships, culture, and societal pressures can heavily impact health and contribute to conditions like depression or stress.
- âïž The interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors determines health outcomes; none of these factors alone is sufficient to explain illness.
- đ The biopsychosocial model shows that health issues like depression can stem from a combination of genetic predisposition, negative thinking, and stressful life events.
- đ Each factor in the model influences the others, making it crucial to address all aspectsâbiological, psychological, and socialâwhen treating health issues.
- đŻ The ultimate goal of the biopsychosocial model is to create patient-centered care plans that promote better health outcomes by addressing all influencing factors.
Q & A
What is the biopsychosocial model?
-The biopsychosocial model is a holistic approach to understanding health, which considers the dynamic interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors in determining overall health outcomes.
How does the biopsychosocial model differ from the biomedical model?
-The biomedical model focuses primarily on biological factors like biochemical changes, emphasizing physical symptoms and lab tests for diagnosis. In contrast, the biopsychosocial model includes psychological and social influences along with biological factors, offering a more comprehensive view of health.
What are some limitations of the biomedical model?
-The biomedical model is linear and reductionist, focusing only on biological causes of illness. It overlooks the subjective experiences of the patient and ignores psychological and social factors that can influence health.
Who introduced the biopsychosocial model, and why?
-George Engel introduced the biopsychosocial model as an alternative to the reductionist biomedical model. He believed that to adequately understand and treat patients, clinicians must consider biological, psychological, and social dimensions of illness.
What are some biological factors that influence health according to the biopsychosocial model?
-Biological factors include genetic makeup, physical health, neurochemistry (e.g., neurotransmitter levels), and the immune and stress responses. For example, genetic vulnerability and neurotransmitter imbalances can influence mental health conditions like schizophrenia and depression.
How do psychological factors contribute to health outcomes in the biopsychosocial model?
-Psychological factors include personality traits, emotions, attitudes, beliefs, coping skills, and self-esteem. For example, a person with low self-esteem or negative thought patterns may be more prone to conditions like depression.
What role do social factors play in determining health outcomes?
-Social factors encompass socio-economic status, family circumstances, interpersonal relationships, cultural beliefs, and environmental influences. Stressful life events, social norms, and cultural expectations can contribute to mental and physical health issues, such as depression or eating disorders.
Can you provide an example of how biological, psychological, and social factors might interact in a specific health condition?
-In the case of depression, biological factors like genetic vulnerability and neurotransmitter imbalances, psychological factors such as negative thinking and low self-esteem, and social factors like stressful life events or lack of support can all interact to influence the development and severity of the condition.
What is the significance of integrating biological, psychological, and social factors in patient care?
-Integrating all three factors allows healthcare providers to develop a more personalized and comprehensive treatment plan. This approach can improve patient outcomes by addressing not just the biological symptoms, but also the psychological and social issues that may contribute to illness.
What are some potential limitations of the biopsychosocial model?
-While the biopsychosocial model provides a more holistic approach, its complexity can make it difficult to apply consistently in clinical practice. Additionally, it may require more resources and time to fully consider all factors involved in a patient's health.
Outlines
đ§ Introduction to the Biopsychosocial Model
This paragraph introduces the biopsychosocial model and its relevance in understanding the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors in health. It contrasts this model with the older biomedical model, which focused narrowly on biological components of illness, such as biochemical changes and lab tests, and led to the dehumanization of patients. Engelâs biopsychosocial model highlights the importance of addressing all three dimensionsâbiological, psychological, and socialâto provide a holistic understanding of health.
đ Interaction of Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors
Engel argued that a singular focus on biology is insufficient for understanding health. The interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors must be considered as each affects the other. The biopsychosocial model embraces the idea that health is determined by a dynamic interaction between a personâs mind, body, and social context, moving away from the binary nature vs. nurture debate. The model aims to bring more empathy and compassion into medical practice.
âïž The Components of the Biopsychosocial Model
This section elaborates on the three key components of the biopsychosocial model. Biological influences include genetics, physical health, neurochemistry, drug effects, and lifestyle. Psychological influences focus on personality traits, emotions, and coping skills, while social factors include socio-economic status, relationships, and cultural pressures. The paragraph emphasizes how these factors combine and overlap to determine an individualâs overall health and influence risk for various conditions.
đŹ Biological Factors of Health
This paragraph deep dives into biological factors that influence health, such as genetic predispositions, neurochemical imbalances, and physical conditions like disability or illness. Examples include schizophreniaâs genetic risk and how neurotransmitter levels affect conditions like depression. Biological influences also encompass lifestyle choices like drug use, diet, and stress responses. The physiological responses to emotions can be viewed as biological factors that impact overall health.
đ Psychological Influences on Health
Psychological influences on health include an individualâs personality, self-esteem, emotions, coping skills, and attitudes. These factors can exacerbate or mitigate health outcomes. The paragraph highlights how emotions such as sadness or irritability, personality traits like neuroticism, and stress responses can influence mental and physical health. Negative thinking and poor social skills can further contribute to mental health issues, linking psychological states to physical outcomes.
đïž Social Factors and Their Impact on Health
Social influences on health include socio-economic status, interpersonal relationships, and cultural expectations. Events like job loss or relationship breakdowns can increase the risk of illness, while societal norms, such as beauty standards, can lead to disorders like eating disorders. This paragraph also explains how culture influences the expression of mental illnesses, such as anorexia being less common in non-Western societies where thinness is not emphasized. Social pressures, abuse, and education are other significant social factors affecting health.
đ Cultural and Societal Influence on Health
This paragraph explores how cultural and social factors, such as beauty standards and societal expectations, can contribute to health problems. It discusses how pressure to achieve certain ideals, especially those promoted by media and fashion industries, can lead to eating disorders and other health issues. Cultural differences also play a role, as non-Western cultures exhibit lower rates of disorders like anorexia due to different societal values.
𧏠Biological and Psychological Interactions
This section discusses the interaction between biological vulnerabilities and psychological factors in shaping health outcomes. For example, individuals with genetic predispositions may be more prone to negative thinking, increasing their risk for conditions like depression. The paragraph also illustrates how psychological factors, like depression, can exacerbate biological issues, such as leading to substance abuse and, consequently, physical health problems.
âïž Application of the Biopsychosocial Model to Depression
This paragraph applies the biopsychosocial model to depression, discussing how genetic factors, neurotransmitter imbalances, and personality traits can contribute to the condition. It also explores how low self-esteem, negative thinking patterns, and stressful life events increase the risk of depression. The interaction between these factors, including social influences like a lack of support, highlights the complex causes of depression.
đ The Interconnected Nature of Depression's Causes
This paragraph explains how the various factors contributing to depression are interconnected. Social stressors can trigger biological responses, such as changes in brain chemistry, while biological factors like genetic predisposition can make individuals more susceptible to psychological or social stress. The biopsychosocial model underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of all contributing factors to effectively treat depression.
đ Integrating All Factors for Holistic Treatment
This final paragraph emphasizes the importance of integrating biological, psychological, and social factors in treatment. The biopsychosocial model advocates for a patient-centered approach, which improves engagement in health-promoting behaviors like taking medication, eating properly, and exercising. It also gives an example of treating chronic pain using a combination of biological treatments, psychological therapy, and social support. Engel's model remains influential in creating holistic healthcare plans.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄBiopsychosocial model
đĄBiomedical model
đĄGeorge Engel
đĄHolistic approach
đĄPsychological influences
đĄSocial factors
đĄGenetic vulnerability
đĄNeurochemistry
đĄDepression
đĄPatient-centered care
Highlights
The biopsychosocial model addresses the dynamic interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors in health.
The biomedical model, dominant since the mid-20th century, focused exclusively on biological causes of illness, leading to a reductionist and limited view of health.
George Engel introduced the biopsychosocial model to counter the dehumanization of medicine and emphasize a more holistic approach.
Engel argued that health outcomes result from the interplay of biology, psychology, and social context, rather than just one factor.
The biopsychosocial model emphasizes the mutual influence of mind and body, where physical health affects mental health and vice versa.
Biological influences on health include genetic makeup, neurochemistry, drug effects, and physical health conditions such as disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Psychological factors like personality, beliefs, emotions, and coping skills are key components in the biopsychosocial model's approach to health.
Social factors, including socio-economic status, relationships, and cultural beliefs, have a significant impact on an individualâs health.
The model highlights how stress, peer pressure, and cultural expectations can lead to health issues like depression or eating disorders.
Examples of how the biopsychosocial model can be applied include depression, which can be influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
Biological factors influencing depression include genetic vulnerability, neurotransmitter imbalances, and substance abuse.
Psychological factors contributing to depression include negative thinking patterns, low self-esteem, and coping difficulties.
Social influences on depression may stem from traumatic experiences, lack of support, and societal expectations, all of which can trigger or exacerbate mental health issues.
The biopsychosocial model is essential in designing comprehensive treatment plans, addressing both biological treatments and psychological and social interventions.
Despite limitations, Engelâs biopsychosocial model has revolutionized how illness and healing are approached in healthcare, advocating for patient-centered care.
Transcripts
hello and welcome to shorts in
psychology
in this video we'll be discussing the
biopsychosocial model
what it is and how it can be applied to
understand the dynamic interaction
between biological psychological and
social factors in overall health
since the mid 20th century healthcare in
industrialized societies was dominated
by the biomedical model
in other words clinicians believe the
illness is as a result of a biochemical
alteration therefore when assessing
patients
emphasis was placed on disease and its
associated biological components
including
signs and symptoms and the use of
laboratory tests for diagnosis
this limited treatment of a person's
poor health almost exclusively to
medicinal remedies
as a result the biomedical approach has
many limitations
the main one being that it is a very
linear and reductionist model of the
cause of disease
this narrow focus subsequently led
clinicians to regard patients as
objects and ignore the possibility that
the subjective experience of the patient
was worth studying
george engel believed that to understand
and respond adequately to patients
suffering
and to give them a sense of being
understood clinicians must attend
simultaneously to the biological
psychological and social dimensions of
illness
he offered a holistic alternative that
tried to reverse the dehumanization of
medicine
and disempowerment of patients engel
argued that any one factor such as
biology is not sufficient
it is the interplay between people's
biology psychology and social and
cultural context
that determines the course of their
health-related outcomes
rather than nature vs nurture engel said
that it is
a dynamic and interactional mutual
influence of mind and body
what affects the body will often affect
the mind and vice versa
what affects the mind will also often
end up affecting the body
wellness or illness is not simply a
matter of someone's physical state
but is also influenced by that person's
psychological and social status as well
his model struck a resonant chord with
those sectors of the medical profession
that wish to bring more empathy and
compassion into medical practice
engel's new model came to be known as
the bio-psychosocial model
the biopsychosocial model bio for
physiological pathology
psycho for psychological including
thoughts emotions and behaviors
and social for the social environmental
and cultural aspects such as work issues
family circumstances and socio-economic
status
again angle iterated that any one factor
alone
is not sufficient it is the interplay
between people's genetic makeup
mental health and behavior and social
and cultural context that determines the
course of their health related
outcomes let's deep dive into each of
these components and what they encompass
biological influences on health include
an individual's genetic makeup
many disorders have an inherited genetic
vulnerability
the greatest single risk factor for
developing schizophrenia for example
is having a first degree relative with
the disease
physical health and whether the
individual has a disability
or history of physical trauma or
infection can also play a role
neurochemistry so the levels of certain
neurotransmitters or hormones
also play a key role in health other
examples of biological
influences on health include drug
effects diet and lifestyle
the immune and stress responses as
emotions involve a physiological
response they can also be considered a
biological
influence the psychological component of
the virus psychosocial model
seeks to find a psychological foundation
for a particular symptom
or array of symptoms there are a wide
range of possible psychological
influences
some of the main ones include the
individual's personality
perceptions self-esteem attitudes and
beliefs
emotions such as irritability and
overwhelming sadness could also play a
role
other examples of psychological
influences include coping skills
social skills grief and trauma
social factors include socio-economic
status
work school and interpersonal
relationships
for instance losing one's job or ending
a romantic relationship
may place one at risk of stress and
illness
such life events may predispose an
individual to developing depression
which may in turn contribute to physical
health problems
peer group lifestyle and societal norms
can also have a big impact
for example the fashion industry and the
media promote an
unhealthy standard of beauty that
emphasizes thinness over health
this exerts social pressure to attain
this ideal body image
despite the obvious health risks and
could lead an individual to develop an
eating disorder
also included in the social domain are
cultural factors
for instance differences in the
circumstances expectations and belief
systems of different cultural groups
contribute to different prevalence rates
and symptom expression of disorders
for example anorexia is less common in
non-western cultures because they
put less emphasis on thinness in women
culture can vary across a small
geographic range
such as from lower income to higher
income areas
and rates of disease and illness differ
across these communities accordingly
there are many other social factors that
can influence overall health
some others include education family
circumstances
abuse and neglect this diagram
shows how biological psychological and
sociological factors
overlap to determine overall health for
example
individuals with a genetic vulnerability
may be more likely to display negative
thinking that puts them at risk for
depression
alternatively psychological factors may
exacerbate a biological predisposition
by putting a genetically vulnerable
person at risk for other risk behaviors
for example depression on its own may
not cause liver problems
but a person with depression may be more
likely to abuse alcohol
and therefore develop liver damage
increased risk taking leads to an
increased likelihood of disease
let's now examine a specific
psychological disorder using the
bio-psychosocial model
the example we use is depression
biological influences could include
genetic inheritability
as depression can run in families
research is also being conducted to
identify genes that contribute to
depression
low levels of neurotransmitters such as
dopamine and serotonin also contribute
to depression in some people
dopamine creates positive feelings
associated with reward and reinforcement
and serotonin is the feel-good chemical
in the brain
many antidepressant medications aim to
increase
serotonin levels in the brain having a
disability
particularly if the individual is
lacking social support
and poor physical health whether it is a
chronic illness or a condition like
obesity can also contribute to
depression
another biological factor is substance
abuse
psychological factors influencing
depression include personality
some people have a more general lifelong
tendency to experience
unpleasant emotions and anxiety in
response to stress
psychologists use terms like neuroticism
and negative effectivity to refer to
this tendency
and people who have it are also more
likely to experience major depression
other psychological factors include
characteristic negative patterns of
thinking
low self-esteem deficits in coping
skills
judgment problems and impaired emotional
intelligence
the ability to perceive understand and
express emotions
that depressed people tend to exhibit to
some degree
these psychological factors can be
influenced by biology
people's innate temperament or their
biologically based personality
characteristics
can influence whether they're more or
less likely to act
in ways characteristic of depression and
by social factors such as what coping
behaviours are modeled for people for
example
by their parents and teachers as they're
growing up
people can also come depressed as a
result of social factors such as
experiencing traumatic situations
early separation lack of social support
or harassment
research has shown that stressful social
events are capable of serving as
triggers for turning genes on and off
causing changes in brain functioning by
this path a social
stressor can trigger a physical cause of
depression
environmental and social causes of
depression can also be far more subtle
than actual trauma
it is not necessary for people to have
been abused as children
to grow up feeling negatively about
themselves or their prospects
because of how they learned to think
about their self-worth
or their ability to successfully respond
to this
tasks and stresses present in daily
living
low socioeconomic status and work
environment can also contribute to
depression
work environment could contribute in a
variety of ways
including due to stress workplace
bullying
lack of stability in the form of
short-term or casual contracts or even
unemployment
social norms relating to expectations of
achievement
sexual preference marital status and
other stereotypes could also be a
contributing factor
furthermore the stigma surrounding
mental illness and the perception that
sufferers are weak
lazy or inadequate could prevent someone
suffering from depression from seeking
help or speaking to others of their
condition similarly
cultural beliefs and expectations could
also contribute to depression
for example if the individual doesn't
meet these expectations
the biopsychosocial model suggests and
the scientific evidence has tended to
confirm
that these inter interdependent factors
all end up influencing each other
depression can be caused by any number
of factors that could appear to be
independent from one another
but are really related as one factor
tends to influence the other factors
it is possible to have a body reaction
to social or mental stress
the opposite is also true where you can
have a social or mental reaction to a
bodily problem
the way that the various causes of
depression affect one another
make it very important that all factors
be taken into account when trying to
form
a complete explanation of depression
recognizing and understanding and
responding to all factors that affect
health requires the health care provider
to integrate the biological aspects of
the disease
with the psychological and social
aspects of the patient
if this occurs the patient is more
likely to engage in health-promoting
behaviors like
taking medication proper diet or
nutrition
and engaging in physical activity
ultimately
the goal of the biopsychosocial model is
to develop a patient-centered care plan
that is realistic in order to achieve
the best possible health
outcomes for example if the model was
used to develop a treatment plan for
chronic pain it might encompass a
variety of approaches at each
level including patient education
biological treatment
such as medication and acupuncture as
well as psychological interventions such
as cognitive behavioral therapy and
mindfulness
while there are limitations to engel's
model its enduring contribution
is that it has changed the way illness
suffering and healing are viewed by
clinicians
i hope this video has helped you to gain
a better understanding of the
biopsychosocial model
and how it can be used to examine some
of the influencing
factors in overall health and develop a
comprehensive treatment plan
thanks for listening
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