BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACHES

Biopsychosocial Approaches to Mental Health and Social Functioning

Table of Contents

Abstract3

Association Between Mental Ill-Health And Biopsychosocial Stressors4

Psychological And Social Processes That Influence Perceptions About Mental Illnesses And Social Exclusions In Society6

Social Constructs Of Ill-Health May Influence Individuals' Behaviour9

Significant Contribution Of Families11

References17

Abstract

The idea that mental health are influenced by many interacting processes, such as bodily processes, the identity of the Order and the events of life, is very old. This was clearly articulated in the early Greek physicians more than 2000 years ago and existed in many cultures. Early predecessors of modern biopsychosocial approach can be found in Psychobiology approach Meyers, behavioral medicine and psychosomatic medicine. Biopsychosocial approach, however, is most closely identified with understanding of heart disease. These include factors such as genetic vulnerability, poverty and nutrition, smoking and exercise, and overcoming stress factors. Pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases is real, but will have a limited understanding of it is clearly insufficient, and means of prevention, if a person does not understand the psycho-social interaction with the cardiovascular system. One thing is clear, however, that although many doctors of all types according biopsychosocial approach, few actually take it in their clinical practice and research.

Association Between Mental Ill-Health And Biopsychosocial Stressors

Depression is a horrible, affect-laden experience that people often feel trapped in. Even for those with (so called) sub-syndromal depressions such as dysthymia, there is good evidence that, as in major depression, there are significant physiological disturbances of functioning (Bingley & Heginbotham 2001 99). New work is exploring the interaction between mood and immune systems and the way depression compromises immune functioning, increasing vulnerability to a range of physical disorders. Even more worrying are the findings that those who are chronically stressed may be vulnerable to subtle forms of brain damage due to the effects of cortisol on neuronal pathways.

However, because depression and anxiety are like many other disorders, which are end states of interacting processes, we cannot assume that physiological disturbancel tells us much about cause. Indeed, although (for example) genes play a role in some disorders understanding gene transmission is only one of a multitude of factors and pathways that influence how depression and anxiety, in their various physical forms, arise and are passed from generation to generation (for example, via abuse, emotional coldness) or within groups (for example, war, poverty, acceptance of domestic violence, social exclusions). Moreover, social contexts and stress hormones can turn genes on and off; Spieker; et.al. (1999 458) for a fascinating discussion. Many people can become very ill because of toxic environments, and such illnesses are not merely social constructions (although one could argue the whole concept of what constitutes an "illness" is a construction of sorts). There are in fact a host of environmental stressors such as loss of control over adversity, early separation, attachment loss, social support, defeat and social harassment (bullying) that produce profound physiological disturbances and negative states of mind.

The notion of vulnerability is considered from the psychological (mind) and the biological (brain and body) view: Both systems are essentially and ...