Engel's Biopsychosocial Model

Doctors treat people: this is a crucial statement which I believe should be at the centre of all decisions made by doctors regarding a patient’s health and wellbeing. Over the last number of years medical practitioners all over the world are beginning to turn away from the biomedical model for practicing medicine and towards treating each patient as an individual. This involves considering how best to treat the whole person, not just the injury they present with. In the past physicians were commonly trained to treat disease, not patients. They were trained to think mechanically i.e. if “X” is present, administer “Y” and if “A” is broken, fix it. However, research has shown that there is so much more to treating a patient than just administering …show more content…
In doing so the biopsychosocial model encourages doctors to explore the disease and illness experience, understand the whole person, find common ground regarding management of the disease or illness, incorporate prevention and health promotion, enhance the patient-doctor relationship, and be realistic about time and resources when devising a unique healthcare plan for the patient (McWhinney, 1995). The impact of Engel’s article was enormous and has influenced medical students all over the world since its publication in 1977. Since then the biopsychosocial model has been placed firmly on the undergraduate teaching agenda of the world’s medical schools and on the educational programme of residency training in psychiatry in many places (Shorter, 2005). I feel that this model of treating patients will be of great importance to me in my future as a doctor as it will allow me to provide my patients with a comprehensive diagnosis that addresses all aspects of their illness. In order to be fully effective doctors it is important that we integrate our diagnosis of diseases with an understanding of our patients' experiences of life and their illnesses. Only then can we care for the whole person and give explanations and advice that are appropriate for that individual (Schofield, …show more content…
Strategy and Summary (S): The best way to prepare your patient for what lies ahead is to ensure that they understand everything you have told them. Patients who have a clear plan for the future are less likely to feel anxious and uncertain. The patient may not be ready do discuss treatment options at this time as it may be too much information all at once but you should ask them their preference in regards to this. Often doctors are reluctant to discuss prognosis with patients for fear that it will destroy any hope the patient might have for a recovery. In order to overcome this it is a good idea to explore the individual patients expectations and goals for example symptom control and to make sure that the patient receives the best possible treatment and continuity of