Theories in Psychology – How does the medical model stand up to scrutiny? Are there more accurate models to consider?
The medical model in the field of mental health treatment involves identifying the symptoms of a disorder and matching those symptoms to a list that has been denoted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMV-IV, the psychiatric book of disorders used by most in the mental health profession. A label is identified for the disorder, and psychiatric medication is generally prescribed. To put it simply, the medical model in its purest form, which is popular in many psychiatric circles, runs under the assumptions that mental health disorders are chemical imbalances that can be corrected with what is considered to be appropriate drugs.
Is this simple way of viewing mental health disorders accurate? Quite simply, no. The simple medical model is not an accurate way of viewing psychiatric disorders and their treatment. The majority of those who have undergone treatment for mental health disorders based on the pure application of the medical model find themselves disappointed. There are no substitutes for effort and working hard to overcome mental health difficulties, with one’s relationships and family. There is no magic pill that can solve life’s many interwoven problems or heal emotional wounds.
Psychotropic drugs for most mental health disorders, including those prescribed for ADHD/ADD, depression, and bipolar disorder, as well as most other mental health difficulties, merely address symptoms but often do not take into account the underlying problems behind the mental health disorder.
One might liken it to taking an aspirin. An aspirin will help one to feel a little less pain if there is a headache, but it does nothing to address whatever might be causing that pain, and after the aspirin’s positive effects are over, one again needs to take another aspirin to get the same pain relief. Psychiatric drugs for psychiatric disorders are very similar. Most who have written on this subject, the subject of psychiatric treatment, the subject of mental health, including those who support the general use of prescribing medication for mental health disorders, agree that drugs used in treatment based on the “medical model” address only the symptoms, but do not cure the disorder itself. It It can be compared to a “bio-pharmaceutical band-aid”.
Of note is that there are other models of mental health which are more complete in addressing the many interrelated factors of mental health. One of the most complete models is the bioecological model which was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, who is the one of the founders of the Head Start program in the U.S. and a well respected scholar in the area of mental health, recently deceased. Dr. Bronfenbrenner developed the thought that social factors on many levels contribute to mental health disorders and difficulties. While there is some genetic basis for mental health difficulties, they do not generally cause mental health disorders. Rather, it appears more likely to be a combination of genetics, along with a multiplicity of other factors that contribute. There is a multi-tiered approach to psychology which is more accurate and takes all of the many factors into consideration than does the “chemical imbalance” theory, referred to as the medical model.
Another refreshing approach in mental health, is that of Positive Psychology, which was developed by by Martin Seligam who developed has ideas at Penn State University, U.S.. Instead of building its foundation on the premise of identifying and labeling a disorder, along with subsequent treatment, rather, it it builds on a positive foundation, with the goal of building on one’s positives and working towards positive goals. It is a model of mental health that is pretty mainstream and widely accepted, and the application of which can circumvent the overtreatment through psychiatric drugs that many have experienced.
This article was written by John Samuels from the Association for Natural Psychology. Please also visit our bookstore. Natural psychology, self help for treatment of mental health disorders, natural cures of mental health disorders, depression treatment without drugs, positive parenting, raising and teaching special needs children, and a variety of related subjects are considered. You can also see our new book,
Overcoming ADHD without Medication: A Parent’s and Educator’s Guidebook on Amazon, Alibris and other online locations. The Association for Natural Psychology is a New Jersey non-profit corporation.
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