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The Biopsychosocial and Biomedical Models
Grand Canyon University
PSY-352: Health Psychology
, 2
The Biopsychosocial and Biomedical Models
Every human interacts with health and illness differently. There are biological,
psychological, and social factors that differ from person to person that result in different health
and illness experiences. Because of these differences, it is necessary to have different models of
determining the health status of an individual. This essay will dissect the two commonly
accepted health models in today’s society. Those models are the biomedical model and the
biopsychosocial model.
Biomedical Model vs Biopsychosocial Model
There are two common models that are put in use by physicians to determine the state of
health and illness of patients. Both models use specific factors to determine the causes of such
states. These models are the biomedical model and the biopsychosocial model. These two
models are accepted in today’s society and though they may sound similar, they are slightly
different.
Biomedical Model
In health, the biomedical model has a main focus on biological factors. This model
excludes social, psychological, and environmental elements (Biomedical model definition -
Biomedical models and resources - NCBI bookshelf, n.d.). This model is very modern and is the
leading way in which western doctors and other healthcare professionals diagnose and treat
illnesses (Biomedical model definition - Biomedical models and resources - NCBI bookshelf,
n.d.). This model believes that the absence of disease means that someone is physically well.
Biopsychosocial Model
The biopsychosocial model looks at health in a way that combines biological,
psychological,social, and environmental factors (Borrell-Carrio et al., 2004). This model uses all
The Biopsychosocial and Biomedical Models
Grand Canyon University
PSY-352: Health Psychology
, 2
The Biopsychosocial and Biomedical Models
Every human interacts with health and illness differently. There are biological,
psychological, and social factors that differ from person to person that result in different health
and illness experiences. Because of these differences, it is necessary to have different models of
determining the health status of an individual. This essay will dissect the two commonly
accepted health models in today’s society. Those models are the biomedical model and the
biopsychosocial model.
Biomedical Model vs Biopsychosocial Model
There are two common models that are put in use by physicians to determine the state of
health and illness of patients. Both models use specific factors to determine the causes of such
states. These models are the biomedical model and the biopsychosocial model. These two
models are accepted in today’s society and though they may sound similar, they are slightly
different.
Biomedical Model
In health, the biomedical model has a main focus on biological factors. This model
excludes social, psychological, and environmental elements (Biomedical model definition -
Biomedical models and resources - NCBI bookshelf, n.d.). This model is very modern and is the
leading way in which western doctors and other healthcare professionals diagnose and treat
illnesses (Biomedical model definition - Biomedical models and resources - NCBI bookshelf,
n.d.). This model believes that the absence of disease means that someone is physically well.
Biopsychosocial Model
The biopsychosocial model looks at health in a way that combines biological,
psychological,social, and environmental factors (Borrell-Carrio et al., 2004). This model uses all
