Key Concepts
- The Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model challenges the traditional Biomedical Model, which viewed health solely in terms of biological factors.
- The BPS Model integrates biological, psychological, and social factors, emphasizing their interaction in determining health outcomes.
- Introduced by George L. Engel (1977), the model underscores holism and the active role of patients in managing their health.
- Circular causality is a core principle, highlighting how factors influence one another in a loop (e.g., illness can alter lifestyle, which in turn worsens the illness).
Research Study: Nguyen et al. (2016)
Aim:
To investigate the effectiveness of a treatment program based on the BPS model for managing obesity.
Method:
Retrospective analysis of data from a weight loss program.
Participants:
142 outpatients with an average age of 40 years and starting weight of 95.3 kg.
Procedure:
- The program combined medical education (e.g., understanding insulin's role), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reframe thought patterns, and behavioral interventions to break unhealthy habits.
- Participants were prescribed phentermine (appetite suppressant) and educated on eating schedules, avoiding artificial sweeteners, and maintaining five daily meals.
Results:
- Participants experienced an average 10.8% weight loss (from 210.2 lbs to 187.4 lbs) and a reduction in BMI (from 34.6 to 30.1).
- The program demonstrated effectiveness in integrating holistic approaches for obesity management.
