Comparing Models – Addiction Treatment
In the previous discussion activity for this workshop, you debated the pros and cons of the disease model. As you learned, the disease model dominates the way most clinicians approach mental health conditions despite the fact that the majority of the research doesn’t support this view. The disease model is most entrenched in the realm of addiction, where it is assumed by most medical and psychological professionals working in that field that addiction is caused by a brain disease.
In recent years, the biopsychosocial model has emerged as an alternative way of viewing mental health issues. A simple definition of the biopsychosocial model is a view that attributes disease outcomes to a variety of factors that include biological, psychological, and social elements. For example, a person who is depressed might have a history of depression in their family of origin (biological contribution) but may also have low self-esteem (psychological contribution) and have recently lost their job (social/environmental contribution). The biopsychosocial perspective considers mental health issues from all three of these angles to get a more comprehensive understanding of what might be contributing to the stated problem(s).
Comparing Models – Addiction Treatment
In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to compare and contrast the disease model approach to addiction with the biopsychosocial approach. You are presented with a scenario that you will use to respond to the questions. Your responses will also include an integrative element in which you will assess both the disease model and the biopsychosocial model from a biblical perspective.
Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:
Compare the disease model of treatment with the biopsychosocial model and apply the findings to the treatment of addiction.
Instructions
Read Chapter 4, “Sociocultural Foundations of Mental Health,” in your textbook.
Review the video, Biopsychosocial Model (2:28 minutes).
Comparing Models – Addiction Treatment
To complete this assignment, you will use the following scenario:
A young man comes into the mental health clinic where you work and says he needs help with his alcohol addiction. During the intake interview, you find out that in addition to his alcohol addiction, he is also depressed, out of work, going through a divorce, and has chronic back pain.
Write a three- to four-page paper that addresses the following:
As the intake interviewer, how would you see this man’s addiction if you exclusively took the disease model approach to diagnosing and prescribing treatment?
How would you see this man’s addiction if you took the perspective of the biopsychosocial model?
Why would your diagnosis and treatment suggestions be different based on the biopsychosocial approach? Be specific.
If you want to incorporate a biblical perspective into the treatment plan for this man, which of the two models would lend itself better to that type of plan? Explain.
Fully elaborate your responses. Be sure to cite your sources in APA Style format in the text of your paper and in a reference page at the end.