To what extent do social factors such as stress cause physical diseases? How do psychological and social factors contribute to the healing process? The biopsychosocial model is an approach to medicine which stresses the importance of a holistic approach. It considers factors outside the biological process of illness when trying to understand health and disease. In this approach, a person's social context and psychological well-being are key factors in their illness and recovery, along with their thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Biopsychosocial Medicine examines the concept and the utility of this approach from its history to its application, and from its philosophical underpinnings to the barriers to its implementation. It is severely critical of the failure of modern medicine to treat the patient not the disease, and its neglect of psychological and social factors in the treatment of the ill. Focusing on chronic disabling ill health, this book takes the examples of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, lower back pain, irritable bowel syndrome and depression to show how the biopsychosocial model can be used in practice. It questions why, even when the biopsychosocial approach has been proved to be more effective than traditional methods in overcoming these disorders, is not more routinely used, and how barriers to its implementation can be overcome. Controversial and challenging, Biopsychosocial Medicine will be essential reading for all those who feel the biomedical model is failing them and their patients. It will enable readers to understand the model and how it can be implemented, in order to enhance their confidence and success as health professionals.
Reviews
In summary, this book allows us to listen in on thoughtful experts deliberating about two models which should complement rather than supplant one another. We need to triangulate the "bio", "psycho", and "social" aspects of illness to provide optimal, patient-cantered care. An overly narrow view results in myopic science as well practice. * Journal of Psychosomatic Research *
... this book offers a tantalising overview of a holistic approach to medicine that avoids, on the one hand, the relativistic paralysis and practical irrelevance of much now rather stale post modern theorising, and on the other, an over determined reduction of all human endeavour to phenotypic expression. So let's hear it for the biopsychosocial approach. * Primary Care and Community Psychiatry *
Controversial and challenging this book is vital reading for health professionals who feel the biomedical approach is failing them and their patients. * The Psychologist, Vol 12, No 12 *
This book thoroughly covers the topic. I have not seen a book like this in a very long time. Certainly there are books on psychosomatic illness but his one puts it all together nicely. The lively discussion following most of the chapters is absolutely enlightening. * Doody's Journal *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198530343
Author Peter White
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 421g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 156mm * 16mm