Biopsychosocial Models

Biopsychosocial model of health psychology

1. Models of Health Psychology Dr Neeta Gupta Practitioner Of CBT,REBT & EFT Associate Professor DAV (PG) College Dehradun

2. The Biopsychosocial model: It  views  health and illness behaviors  as products of biological characteristics ( such as genes), behavioral factors ( such as lifestyle, stress, and health beliefs), and social conditions (such as cultural influences , family relationships, and social support).

3. The biopsychosocial model is an inter-disciplinary model that looks at the interconnection between  biology, psychology, and  socio-environmental  factors. The model specifically examines how these aspects play a role in topics ranging from health and disease, to human development. The model was first advocated by George L. Engel in 1977, and has become an alternative to the biomedical dominance of many health care systems .

4. George Engel suggested this model to understand a person's medical condition it is not simply the biological factors to consider, but also the psychological and social factors.

5. Biological factors: (physiological pathology ): Some  biological  and  genetic factors  affect specific populations more than others. Examples of  biological  and  genetic  determinants of  health  include age, sex, inherited conditions and  genetic  make-up .

6. Psychological factors (thoughts emotions and behaviours such as psychological distress, fear/avoidance beliefs, current coping methods and attribution)

7. Social factors (socio-economical, socio-environmental, and cultural factors suchs as work issues, family circumstances and benefits/economics)

8. This model is commonly used in chronic pain, with the view that the pain is a psychophysiological behaviour pattern that cannot be categorised into biological, psychological, or social factors alone. There are suggestions that physiotherapy should integrate psychological treatment to address all components comprising the experience of chronic pain .

9. Assumptions of Biopsychosocial model: 1.Individual should be held responsible for his/her health. 2.The whole person should be treated eg , behaviour change, change in belief,and coping strategies and compliances with medical recommendations. 3.The focus is the whole person treated not just their physical illness, the person is therefore responsible for their treatment ( eg,Taking the medicine or changing their behaviour). 4.Health and Illness exist on a continuum. Individual progress along this continuum from health to illness and back again.

10. 5. The focus is on interaction between the mind and the body. 6.Psychological factors are not only consequents but they are contributory factors to all stages along the continuum from health to illness.

11. Evaluation of bio-psychosocial model Strengths: 1.Improve patient satisfaction, better adherence to prescriptions, more maintained behaviour change, better physical and psychological health. 2.Development and application of techniques to reduce health risk behaviour . 3.Reduce multiple visits and admission into hospitals. 4.Individuals with health challenges are acknowledged to be active participants in the recovery process and good health, rather than mere passive victims.

12. 6.Bio-psychosocial model can be used as a predictor of pain and other psychosocial problems resulting into development appropriate prevention and intervention strategies . 7.Development and introduction of programmes of life quality improvement for chronic patients, physically disabled individuals and the elderly patients . 8.Development and application of psychosocial support for the terminally ill patients and their families . 9.The use of the biopsychosocial model as a clinical practice guide in physiotherapy allows the physiotherapist to be aware of all the factors that influence the patient's state of health. In addition, it allows laying the foundations of  pain neuroscience education.

13. Limitations of bio-psychosocial model: Time-consuming and expensive. It requires more information be gathered during the assessment about an individual’s socioeconomic status, culture, religion, as well as psychological factors that might affect the individual’s condition. There is a lack of theoretical basis of bio-psychosocial model and scientific evidence to support the model . The complex relations between causes and effects of biological, psychological and social factors to influence the state of health and or occurrence of diseases.

14. REFERENCES; https :// www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/pluginfile.php/1223815/mod_oucontent/oucontent/62622/da4ddc15/ac0d8e1b/s826_ol_fig7_bpse_model_for_mental_health.small.png https:// onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/a9411043-620b-4308-9e1d-f06d1603ec64/anp_1029_fu1.gif https:// pbs.twimg.com/media/DfuevOOX4AAStgI.jpg https:// embed.widencdn.net/img/veritas/cgcqmeax1g/1200x675px/chronic-pain-model.webp https://www.intechopen.com/books/psychology-of-health-biopsychosocial-approach/introductory-chapter-bio-psychosocial-model-of-health https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DfCM_6sWAAIcNCc.jpg