The biomedical model views mental disorders as biological diseases caused by abnormalities in the brain. It assumes that diseases can be fully explained by deviations from biological norms, leaving no room for social, psychological or behavioral factors. The core tenets are that mental disorders are caused by biological abnormalities in the brain, there is no distinction between mental and physical diseases, and biological treatment is emphasized. Critics argue that this model is too reductionistic and neglects the influence of other important factors like social, cultural and environmental influences on mental health.

1. THE BIOMEDICAL
MODEL
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
BY
Ms. RABIA SHABBIR
NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGIS1T
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2. KNOWN AS…
“disease model”
A reductionistic model
Describing the complex phenomena in terms of its
constituents only
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3. Defining the BIOMEDICAL MODEL
The dominant model of disease today is biomedical, with
molecular biology its basic scientific discipline. It assumes
diseases to be fully accounted for by deviations from the norm
of measurable biological (somatic) variables. It leaves no room
within its framework for the social, psychological, and
behavioral dimensions of illness. The biomedical model not only
requires that disease be dealt with as an entity independent of
social behavior, it also demands that behavioral aberrations be
explained on the basis of disordered somatic (biochemical or
neurophysiological) processes.
Psychiatrist George Engel (1977)
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4. A HISTORICAL DEBATE ON
THE BIOMEDICAL MODEL
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5. • The discovery that general
paresis was caused by a
bacterial microorganism
and could be cured with
penicillin reinforced the
view that biological causes
and cures might be
discovered for other mental
disorders.
• The rapid and enthusiastic
adoption of
electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT), lobotomy, and
insulin coma therapy in
the 1930s and 1940s
encouraged hopes that
mental disorders could be
cured with somatic
therapies.
• In 1950’s, the discovery of compounds that reduced
the symptoms of psychosis, depression, mania,
anxiety, and hyperactivity leads to the use of
medicines for treating mental illnesses.
• Chemical imbalances theories was another bullet to
explain the pathophysiology of mental illnesses;
again putting stress on the biological causes.
• The policy adopted by US to let the drug companies
advertise the psychotropic medicines freely led to
shatter the influence of psychotherapy above
biomedical therapy model.
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6. BIOLOGICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE
BIOMEDICAL MODEL
Biological constituents of Biomedical model:
This model understands the complex diseases in terms of pure
biological processes such as :
• Hormonal imbalance
• Neurophysiological abnormalities
• Genetic defects
• Bacterial infections
• Viral infections
• Physical causes
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7. FOR INSTANCE
• Research has indicated that Bipolar disorder is due to gonadal
hormonal issues in majority of the cases and BP can be treated
with appropriate hormonal therapies.
• Traumatic brain injury is an example of acute trauma that has
both the focal and diffuse effects. (but when we see at
premorbid history, we found many psychological factors such
as lack of social support, impulsive behavior, alcohol intake
etc. which is not explained by the Biomedical model)
• Research results based purely on the biomedical model suggest
that Prenatal viral/bacterial infections and inflammation play
major roles in the genesis of schizophrenia. (ignoring the
environmental triggers)
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8. CORE TENETS OF THE BIOMEDICAL
MODEL
Core tenets of this approach include:
(a) mental disorders are caused by biological abnormalities
principally located in the brain,
(b) there is no meaningful distinction between mental diseases
and physical diseases, and
(c) biological treatment is emphasized
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9. CLAIMS ABOUT DISORDERS
THE BIOMEDICAL MODEL OF
MEDICINE
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10. 1. Disturbances and abnormalities in
biological structures and their physiology
• The biomedical model claims to identify the diseases as been
attributed to the abnormalities or malfunctioning of bodily
processes, the deviation from normal physiological functioning
and also, any sort of disturbance that can cause an abrupt
changes in normal functioning of the body; all can lead to
disorders.
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11. Contd…
• These type of aberrations lead to a significant pattern of
abnormality that can be identified on the basis of “s/s” i.e.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS.
e.g. An MRI of a person with schizophrenia shows abnormally
large lateral lobes of brain, and diminished reduction in the
grey matter.
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12. For the TREATMENT of disorders arising
due to previously mentioned causes, health
practitioners rely on following methods:
•Surgeries
•Vaccinations
•Radiotherapies
•Chemotherapies
•Amputations
•Biotherapies
•Artificial implants
•Supportive materials
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13. 2. Bacterial/Viral infections, Chemical
imbalances & genetic predispositions
• For every disorder, there is a specific etiology.
• Every disease is unique in its pattern of s/s.
• The nature and form of disorder depends upon the underlying
causes.
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14. Contd…
• Underlying causes as discussed by the biomedical model,
includes following:
1. Bacterial infections
2. Viral infections
3. Chemical imbalances
4. Genetic predispositions
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15. Contd…
• E.g. 1st degree family members of individuals with MDD have
a high risk for MDD 2 to 4x higher than that of a general
population.
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16. 3. Health and illness (the only two continuum)
• The disease or biomedical model suggests that an individual
can either be healthy or ill i.e., there is no continuum between
the two states.
• Another supposition by this model is that the Quality of the
person clearly declares him to be healthy or unhealthy.
• The healthy and unhealthy persons are QUALITATIVELY
different.
• No other difference w.r.t. the range of s/s exists.
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17. 4. No influence of cultural/social factors
• Another prediction by the biomedical model suggests that
there is no influence of cultural or social pr environmental
factors upon the diseases.
• The persons are not at all affected by their living
circumstances. Infact, the onset of disorder relies solely on the
factors discussed in claims 1 and 2 of the disease model.
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18. Contd…
• The diseases are NOT TIME BOUND.
• This statement implies that cultural/social/environmental
factors are subject to change with time, thus, they play NO
ROLE IN ONSET OF A PARTICULAR DISEASE.
• Parental separation, war, environmental hazards don’t leave
impact of the physiological functioning of individuals.
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19. 5. MIND & BODY DUALISM
• The biomedical model, also known as disease model or
biomedical model of medicine, prominently states the
DUALISM OF MIND AND BODY, keeping them as
SEPARATE ENTITIES.
• This concept has been famously known as DUALISM.
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20. Contd…
• In the light of this model, the mind is capable of only the
ABSTRACT FUNCTIONS i.e., thinking and feeling.
• The body, on the other hand, is capable of carrying out all the
functioning necessary for survival and it consists of skin,
muscles, brain, nerves, organs etc.
• This model regards the MIND as ABSTRACT & the BODY as
PHYSICAL MATTER.
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21. Contd…
• This model also implies that any change in physical matter
(the biological/physiological functioning) owing to any
causative factors is not at all going to have any impact on the
mental functioning.
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22. DISEASE MODEL- A SINGLE FACTOR
MODEL
•Emphasizing only the biological aspects of
diseases/disorders/malfunctioning
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23. Contd…
• The main critics to the dualistic/disease/biomedical model of
medicine is that it neglects the influence of other factors that
are considered very significant in triggering the disease
processes in any individual.
• It does not consider the social factors.
• It does not consider the cultural factors.
• It lays no emphasis on the environmental crisis as well.
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24. CRITICAL REVIEW ON
BIOMEDICAL MODEL
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25. Contd…
• The biomedical model posits that mental disorders are brain
diseases and emphasizes pharmacological and surgical
treatment to target presumed biological abnormalities.
• Another objection to this model is due to its assumption that
Mental disorders are brain diseases caused by neurotransmitter
dysregulation, genetic anomalies, and defects in brain structure
and function.
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26. contd…
• Mental disorders have become more chronic and severe, and
the number of individuals disabled by their symptoms has
steadily risen in recent decades. This can not be treated with
pharmaceutical or surgical procedures only.
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27. Contd…
• The biomedical model views health as merely the absence of
disease (not fulfilling the WHO’s criteria of HEALTH). Thus,
stating that an individual is ill only if he/she presents with s/s.
• No emphasis is paid on the personality factors and traits of the
individuals, which, in reality, have a profound role in
maintaining or disturbing the well being.
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