Review
The biomedical model of mental disorder: a critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research
Brett J Deacon. Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Nov.
Abstract
The biomedical model posits that mental disorders are brain diseases and emphasizes pharmacological treatment to target presumed biological abnormalities. A biologically-focused approach to science, policy, and practice has dominated the American healthcare system for more than three decades. During this time, the use of psychiatric medications has sharply increased and mental disorders have become commonly regarded as brain diseases caused by chemical imbalances that are corrected with disease-specific drugs. However, despite widespread faith in the potential of neuroscience to revolutionize mental health practice, the biomedical model era has been characterized by a broad lack of clinical innovation and poor mental health outcomes. In addition, the biomedical paradigm has profoundly affected clinical psychology via the adoption of drug trial methodology in psychotherapy research. Although this approach has spurred the development of empirically supported psychological treatments for numerous mental disorders, it has neglected treatment process, inhibited treatment innovation and dissemination, and divided the field along scientist and practitioner lines. The neglected biopsychosocial model represents an appealing alternative to the biomedical approach, and an honest and public dialog about the validity and utility of the biomedical paradigm is urgently needed.
Keywords: Biomedical model; Biopsychosocial model; Chemical imbalance; Disease; Psychotherapy; Treatment.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
Psychotherapy in psychiatry.
Gabbard GO. Gabbard GO. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2007 Feb;19(1):5-12. doi: 10.1080/09540260601080813. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2007. PMID: 17365154 Review.
The fate of integrated treatment: whatever happened to the biopsychosocial psychiatrist?
Gabbard GO, Kay J. Gabbard GO, et al. Am J Psychiatry. 2001 Dec;158(12):1956-63. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.12.1956. Am J Psychiatry. 2001. PMID: 11729008 Review.
[Janus-faced therapy: what is common in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy?].
Túry F. Túry F. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung. 2004 Mar;6(1):30-5. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung. 2004. PMID: 15125312 Review. Hungarian.
Positioning mental health nursing practice within a positive health paradigm.
Wand T. Wand T. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2013 Apr;22(2):116-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2012.00848.x. Epub 2012 Oct 1. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2013. PMID: 23020848 Review.
Pharmacotherapy for the soul and psychotherapy for the body.
Groleger U. Groleger U. Psychiatr Danub. 2007 Sep;19(3):206-8. Psychiatr Danub. 2007. PMID: 17914321
Cited by
Bringing Psychology Students Closer to People with Schizophrenia at Pandemic Time: A Study of a Distance Anti-stigma Intervention With In-presence Opportunistic Control Group.
Magliano L. Magliano L. J Psychosoc Rehabil Ment Health. 2022 Oct 6:1-13. doi: 10.1007/s40737-022-00308-1. Online ahead of print. J Psychosoc Rehabil Ment Health. 2022. PMID: 36217317 Free PMC article.
Choosing a health behaviour theory or model for related research projects: a narrative review.
Beyera GK, O'Brien J, Campbell S. Beyera GK, et al. J Res Nurs. 2022 Aug;27(5):436-446. doi: 10.1177/17449871211051566. Epub 2021 Oct 25. J Res Nurs. 2022. PMID: 36131698
Exploring Continuum and Categorical Conceptualisations of Mental Health and Mental Illness on Australian Websites: A Systematic Review and Content Analysis.
Fernandez DK, Singh S, Deane FP, Vella SA. Fernandez DK, et al. Community Ment Health J. 2022 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s10597-022-01005-w. Online ahead of print. Community Ment Health J. 2022. PMID: 35994182
An examination of the medicalization and pharmaceuticalization processes of anxiety and depressive disorders in Belgium between 2004 and 2013: how may both disorders be intertwined?
Kilian VL, de Velde Sarah V. Kilian VL, et al. Arch Public Health. 2022 Aug 15;80(1):191. doi: 10.1186/s13690-022-00943-x. Arch Public Health. 2022. PMID: 35971128 Free PMC article.
Measuring Positive Mental Health and Depression in Africa: A Variable-Based and Person-Centred Analysis of the Dual-Continua Model.
Khumalo IP, Appiah R, Wilson Fadiji A. Khumalo IP, et al. Front Psychol. 2022 Jun 20;13:885278. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.885278. eCollection 2022. Front Psychol. 2022. PMID: 35795445 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
- Elsevier Science
Other Literature Sources
- scite Smart Citations
Medical
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- MedlinePlus Health Information