Are there alternatives to the medical model for treating and understanding mental health disorders?
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 DMV-IV, the psychiatric book of disorders used by most in the mental health profession. A label is then determined for the disorder, and psychiatric drugs are generally prescribed. Very simply, the medical model as it is commonly used, which is popular in many psychiatric circles, runs under the assumptions that mental health disorders are chemical imbalances that can be adjusted and controlled with what is considered to be appropriate drugs.
Is this simplistic model for understanding mental health disorders accurate? Quite simply, no. The simple medical model is not an accurate way of viewing mental health disorders. Most who have undergone treatment based on the the use of the “medical model” find themselves disappointed. There are no substitutes for working hard at one’s mental health, with one’s relationships and family. There is no magic pill that can alleviate life’s many interwoven problems or heal emotional wounds.
Psychiatric medication for mental health disorders, including those prescribed for ADHD/ADD, depression and major depression, and bipolar disorder (BD), as well as other mental health disorders, merely address symptoms but do not address the underlying problems behind the mental health disorder.
One might liken it to taking an aspirin for pain. An aspirin will help one to feel a less pain if there is a headache, but it doesn’t address whatever might be the source of the 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 the subject, including those who support the general use of drug treatment for mental health disorders, agree that drugs used in treatment based on the “medical model” address symptoms, but do not address the actual disorder. It It can be comparable to a “chemical band-aid”.
It should be noted that there are other models of mental health which are much more in depth and complete in addressing the many interconnceted factors of mental health. One of those models of mental health is the bioecological model which was developed by Urie Bronfenbreener, Ph.D., who is the originator of the Head Start preschool program in the United States and a widely respected scholar on the subject of mental health, (recently deceased). Dr. Bronfenbrenner developed the thought that social factors on many levels can be and are in fact involved with mental health. While genetics may predispose a person towards mental health difficulties, they do not in general cause mental health disorders. Rather, it is more probably a combination of genetics, with environmental and other factors that are involved. 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, known as the medical model.
Another approach to mental health models, is that of Positive Psychology, developed by Martin Seligam who developed has ideas at Penn State University, U.S.. Rather than starting on the the idea of identifying and labeling disorders, along with subsequent treatment, rather, it starts on a positive foundation, with the goal of building on one’s positives and working towards goals. Positive psychology is a mental health theory 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,
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