Name : Nafisa Naushin Khan

Module: Health Psychology

Module code: LJMU-7501-PSYSCI-48454
Registration no: 34196-13278786-16364
Essay Topic : : Health Psychology challenges the assumptions underlying the biomedical model.
Assessment Point: Summative assessment 1 (week 4 )
Introduction :

Health psychology, as a dynamic field within the broader domain of psychology, has paved the way
for an in-depth examination of the intricate relationship between the mind and body (Taylor, 2019).
This essay explores the ways in which health psychology challenges the fundamental assumptions
underlying the traditional biomedical model and highlights the shift toward a more comprehensive
understanding of health and illness – the biopsychosocial model.

In the realm of healthcare, two prominent models have historically shaped our understanding of
health and disease: the biomedical model and the biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977). The
biomedical model has long been the dominant framework for explaining illness and its treatment. It
operates on the premise that health conditions are primarily a result of physiological factors and
biological abnormalities (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2018). In this model, diseases are often viewed as
discrete entities that can be isolated and treated with medical interventions, such as drugs or surgical
procedures. It tends to neglect the psychological and social aspects of health, limiting the scope of
understanding and treatment.

The emergence of health psychology and the biopsychosocial model marked a significant departure
from the limitations of the biomedical model (Engel, 1977). The biopsychosocial model
acknowledges that health and illness are complex phenomena influenced not only by biological
factors but also by psychological and social dimensions (Taylor, 2019). This model recognizes that
the interplay between an individual's biology, psychology, and social environment can significantly
impact their health outcomes.

Health psychology, as a discipline, provides a framework for understanding the causes of diseases
and the development of more holistic treatments (Ogden, 2020). It seeks to explore the psychological
and social factors that contribute to the onset and progression of diseases, as well as the role of
behavioral and lifestyle choices in health maintenance and recovery (Taylor, 2019). By integrating
these elements into the healthcare paradigm, health psychology extends the boundaries of traditional
medicine and emphasizes the importance of a patient's overall well-being.

The aim of this essay is to delve deeper into the fundamental differences between the biomedical and
biopsychosocial models, while highlighting the pivotal role that health psychology plays in
challenging the assumptions of the former (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). By doing so, we will gain a
comprehensive understanding of how health psychology contributes to a more inclusive and effective
approach to healthcare, which considers not only the biological aspects but also the psychological
and social factors that shape our health and well-being. In the subsequent sections, we will explore
the key principles, applications, and real-world implications of these models.

The biopsychosocial model presents a significant departure from the conventional biomedical model,
challenging its long-held assumptions across various dimensions of healthcare, encompassing the
initiation of illness, the progression of illness, coping with illness, understanding of illness, and the
underlying causes of illness. This comprehensive approach extends beyond the exclusive focus on
biological factors and incorporates psychological and social dimensions, leading to a more holistic
understanding of chronic health conditions. To elucidate these transformative challenges, we will
refer to evidence from different chronic health conditions.

The biopsychosocial model disrupts the traditional perspective predominantly held by the biomedical
model and manifests its impact across numerous facets of healthcare. These include the initiation of
illness, where the biomedical model typically attributes illness solely to biological factors,
disregarding the potential influence of psychological and social determinants. In stark contrast, the
biopsychosocial model contends that chronic health conditions have multifaceted origins,
emphasizing that factors such as lifestyle, psychosocial stressors, and social determinants can
significantly contribute to the development of these conditions. For instance, when considering Type
2 diabetes, the genetic predisposition is acknowledged as a risk factor, but equally significant are
lifestyle choices such as diet and physical activity, along with psychosocial factors like chronic
stress, which can substantially contribute to the development of the condition (Adler et al., 2007).

Moving on to the progression of illness, the biomedical model often maintains a narrow focus on
biological factors as the primary drivers. However, the biopsychosocial model introduces a paradigm
shift by recognizing the intricate interplay between the mind and body, and the substantial influence
of psychological and social factors on disease progression. In cases like cardiovascular disease,
psychological stress has been linked to the acceleration of atherosclerosis and an increased risk of
heart attacks (Rozanski et al., 1999). This emphasizes the necessity of interventions that target stress
management and lifestyle modifications in addition to medical treatments, challenging the
biomedical model's propensity to rely exclusively on pharmaceutical solutions.

When addressing coping with illness, the biomedical model is often criticized for neglecting the
psychological and social aspects that individuals dealing with chronic conditions face. Patients
grappling with chronic health conditions often encounter emotional distress, fear, and lifestyle
adjustments. The biopsychosocial model recognizes that these psychological and social factors are
integral to effective coping. For example, in the case of cancer, patients not only contend with the
physical aspects of the disease but also experience emotional and social challenges. Consequently,
psychological interventions, support groups, and social services become essential components of a
comprehensive approach to coping with chronic illness (Spiegel et al., 1989).

In the realm of understanding illness, the biopsychosocial model presents a considerably more
comprehensive perspective compared to the traditional biomedical model. The biomedical model has
a tendency to oversimplify illness, often reducing it to a mere compilation of symptoms and
biological markers, thereby offering a limited and overly mechanistic understanding of a patient's
experience (Arnold et al., 2008). In stark contrast, the biopsychosocial model recognizes that
comprehending illness holistically necessitates going beyond the mere biological aspects. It
acknowledges that the lived experience of illness encompasses a multifaceted interplay of biological,
psychological, and social factors, highlighting the significance of embracing patient-centered care
and placing paramount importance on considering the subjective experience of illness in both the
diagnostic and treatment processes.

Furthermore, the biopsychosocial model challenges the conventional perspective on the causes of
illness, particularly in chronic health conditions, in a manner that deviates from the predominantly
proximate biological approach inherent to the biomedical model. In contrast, the biopsychosocial
model adopts a more multifaceted outlook, emphasizing that the causative factors underlying chronic
health conditions are often complex and extend beyond immediate biological determinants
(Drewnowski & Almiron-Roig, 2010). For example, when examining obesity as a significant risk
factor for various chronic conditions, the biopsychosocial model acknowledges that it is not solely a
consequence of poor metabolism. Instead, it recognizes the pivotal influence of psychological
factors, such as emotional eating or stress-induced overeating, and also underscores the role of social
determinants, including access to healthy food and healthcare resources (Drewnowski & Almiron-
Roig, 2010). This holistic approach advocates for a more comprehensive investigation into the
factors contributing to illness, addressing not only the evident symptoms but also the underlying root
causes of chronic health conditions.
In summary, the biopsychosocial model's contribution to the understanding of illness is characterized
by its comprehensive and patient-centered perspective, in contrast to the limited and mechanistic
view offered by the biomedical model. The biopsychosocial approach underscores that a complete
understanding of illness goes beyond merely biological markers and symptoms. It encompasses the
individual's psychological and social dimensions, acknowledging the intricate interplay of these
factors in the experience of illness. This comprehensive outlook on understanding illness has
significant implications for diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the importance of patient-centered
care. Furthermore, the biopsychosocial model challenges the reductionist approach of the biomedical
model by considering that the causes of chronic health conditions are multifaceted and encompass
not only biological factors but also psychological and social determinants. This approach advocates
for a broader examination of causative factors, aiming to address both the visible symptoms and the
underlying root causes of chronic health conditions.

The biopsychosocial model explicits the traditional biomedical model by recognizing the
multifaceted nature of health and illness. This holistic perspective encourages a more comprehensive
understanding of health conditions and emphasizes the importance of addressing not only biological
factors but also the psychological and social dimensions. The integration of psychological and social
elements in healthcare can lead to more effective prevention and management strategies for chronic
health conditions, ultimately improving the overall well-being of individuals grappling with these
conditions.

Challenging the Initiation of Illness : The biomedical model often attributes the initiation of illness
solely to biological factors while overlooking the influence of psychological and social determinants.
In contrast, the biopsychosocial model recognizes that chronic health conditions can have
multifaceted origins. For instance, in the case of Type 2 diabetes, genetic predisposition is a risk
factor, but lifestyle choices, such as diet and physical activity, and psychosocial factors, such as
chronic stress, can significantly contribute to the development of the condition (Adler et al., 2007).

Challenging the Progression of Illness : The progression of chronic health conditions is not solely
determined by biological factors. The biopsychosocial model highlights the dynamic relationship
between mind and body and the impact of psychological and social factors on disease progression.
For example, in the case of cardiovascular disease, psychological stress has been linked to the
acceleration of atherosclerosis and increased risk of heart attacks (Rozanski et al., 1999). The
biopsychosocial approach emphasizes the need for interventions that target stress management and
lifestyle modifications in addition to medical treatments.

Challenging Coping with Illness : The biomedical model often neglects the psychological and social
aspects of coping with chronic illness. Patients dealing with chronic health conditions often grapple
with emotional distress, fear, and lifestyle adjustments. The biopsychosocial model recognizes that
these psychological and social factors are integral to effective coping. In the case of cancer, patients
not only deal with the physical aspects of the disease but also the emotional and social challenges
that come with it. Psychological interventions, support groups, and social services are essential
components of a comprehensive approach to coping with chronic illness (Spiegel et al., 1989).

Challenging Understanding of Illness : The biomedical model tends to reduce illness to a set of
symptoms and biological markers, offering a limited understanding of the patient's experience. The
biopsychosocial model acknowledges that understanding illness goes beyond the biological aspects.
In the case of fibromyalgia, for example, patients often report not only physical pain but also
psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression (Arnold et al., 2008). The biopsychosocial
model emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care and considers the subjective experience of
illness in diagnosis and treatment.

Challenging Causes of Illness : The biomedical model primarily looks at proximate biological causes
of illness, often overlooking distal or underlying factors. The biopsychosocial model recognizes that
the causes of chronic health conditions are multifaceted and may extend beyond immediate
biological factors. For instance, obesity, a significant risk factor for various chronic conditions, is not
merely a result of poor metabolism but is strongly influenced by psychological factors, such as
emotional eating or stress-induced overeating, and social determinants, like access to healthy food
and healthcare resources (Drewnowski & Almiron-Roig, 2010). The biopsychosocial model
encourages a broader examination of causative factors, addressing not only the symptoms but also
the root causes of chronic health conditions.

The biopsychosocial model disagrees the assumptions of the biomedical model by recognizing that
chronic health conditions are influenced by complex interactions among biological, psychological,
and social factors. This holistic perspective offers a more comprehensive understanding of health and
disease, which can lead to more effective prevention and management strategies for chronic health
conditions. By considering the multifaceted nature of health, healthcare providers can provide more
patient-centered and comprehensive care, ultimately improving the well-being of individuals dealing
with chronic illnesses.

In conclusion, this discussion has illuminated the fundamental distinctions between the biomedical
and biopsychosocial models of healthcare, emphasizing the profound impact of the latter on our
understanding of health and illness. The biomedical model, rooted in a reductionist view,
traditionally perceives health conditions as solely driven by physiological factors and biological
abnormalities, often neglecting the intricate interplay of psychological and social dimensions.

Conversely, the biopsychosocial model challenges these assumptions by asserting that health and
illness are multifaceted phenomena influenced by a complex interplay of biological, psychological,
and social factors. The biopsychosocial approach recognizes that the whole person—mind and body
—must be considered in health assessments and interventions. This perspective has significant
implications across several dimensions of healthcare, including the initiation and progression of
illness, coping with illness, understanding of illness, and causes of illness.

In challenging the initiation of illness, the biopsychosocial model highlights the importance of
addressing lifestyle factors, psychosocial stressors, and social determinants in addition to genetic
predispositions. It acknowledges that conditions like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and
obesity are influenced not only by biology but also by individual choices and life circumstances.

When it comes to the progression of illness, the biopsychosocial model underscores the role of
psychological stress, emotional well-being, and lifestyle in shaping health outcomes. Conditions such
as cardiovascular disease and cancer demonstrate the significance of psychological and social factors
in disease progression, advocating for comprehensive interventions that address these aspects
alongside medical treatments.

Coping with illness, under the biopsychosocial model, necessitates a holistic approach that includes
psychological support, social services, and patient-centered care. The recognition of the emotional
and social challenges associated with chronic conditions, as seen in cases like cancer, emphasizes the
importance of addressing the whole person's experience and well-being.
Understanding illness is deepened through the biopsychosocial model, which values the patient's
subjective experience and considers not only the physical symptoms but also the psychological
aspects of illness. Conditions like fibromyalgia underscore that the lived experience of illness goes
beyond objective measurements and should inform diagnosis and treatment.

Lastly, the biopsychosocial model broadens the perspective on the causes of illness, considering
distal as well as proximate factors. The influence of psychological and social factors on conditions
like obesity challenges the reductionist view of causation, emphasizing the importance of addressing
root causes beyond the immediate biological factors.

In conclusion, the biopsychosocial model challenges the traditional boundaries of healthcare by

recognizing that health and illness are not merely biological phenomena. The whole person,
encompassing biological, psychological, and social dimensions, must be considered for a more
comprehensive and effective approach to understanding and managing health and illness. This
holistic perspective encourages patient-centered care and seeks to improve the overall well-being of
individuals dealing with chronic health conditions, offering a promising paradigm for the future of
healthcare.
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Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P. (2018). Psychological testing: Principles, applications, and issues.
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