Question

Contrast the medical model of psychological disorders with the biopsychosocial approach to disordered behavior. How does this relate to Community Psychology?

Answer 1

Mind and Body being independent or dependent entities has been a question of debate for decades.

Physicians consider mind and body as two seperate entities with no communication between them. The biomedical field, explains any disease as a deviation from the normal functioning of the body. Physicians diagnose and treat patients based on the disease they have acquired and are suffering from. They are just looking to alter the bodily functions and the systems with the help of medication and get the body back to normal functioning. Biomedical perspective, considers any kind of distress as a 'disease'.

Biopsychosocial perspective includes three aspects to an individual's well being, namely; Biological, Psychological and Social factors. Psychologists have viewed mental illness as an interaction between both the mind and the body. The mind and the body interact at different levels. Biological factors like chemical imbalance in the body causes disorders like Bipolar and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Psychological factors like anxiety and stress play an equally important role in the well being of an individual. There is another important aspect involved which is the social factor. In the competitive world that we live in, having a high paid job, unemployment, unstable relationships with partners, societal norms on sexual orientation and gender identity, lack of emotional support from family are some of the most important determinants for the onset of a mental disorder.

All the three aspects above are considered by psychologists during diagnosis and treatment of a person. Whereas, only the normal bodily functioning of a person is considered by physicians during the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.