George Engel Biopsychosocial Model

Firstly, the importance of using George Engel’s biopsychosocial model cannot be undermined simply as a theoretical notion learnt during BH lecture. It has practical applications in diagnosis and management of a patient’s problem because it incorporates the teaching of biological sciences with the psychological and social aspect of an illness. The biopsychosocial model represents a newer, broader and more holistic approach than the prevailing biomedical model which is based purely on the concept of the human body as a biological machine (Carrio, Suchman, & Epstein, 2004). For example, patient X shows biological symptoms of liver damage due to excessive drinking. However the underlying physiological reason to this is because patient X is depressed. Moreover, patient X lives in an area where
This was done through communicating with patients to gain an awareness of how their disease has impacted their daily lifestyle and on their emotional wellbeing. It is also worth noting the cultural conventions of a society in which one is practising in because it may be useful in understanding the sociological aspect in the biopsychosocial model. For instance, through observing doctors taking history from a patient, I acknowledged that traditional medicine is still widely sought by the older population as it was believed to be a more effective cure than modern day drugs. This traditional thinking can often explain why patients do not take their prescribed drugs. When this is coupled with the lack of communication between the patient and the doctor, it can be detrimental to the patient’s recovery. Therefore, I was constantly reminded throughout my clinical attachment that a doctor should always make time to listen to their patient because it could provide essential clues to their diagnosis and